Weekend Round Up

Sunday 8th August

So we have the football season up and running at long last (Although too early some may say), and the first weekend of the next ten months has finally come to an end with Manchester United beating Chelsea in the Charity Shield this afternoon at Wembley.

The season officially began with Norwich hosting Watford on TV on Friday night, with Norwich having been promoted as champions, and playing in front of a large home crowd eager to see them back in the Championship, a home win was expected against favoured relegation candidates, Watford. However Watford had not read the script with them taking all three points in an entertaining 3-2 clash.

The majority of The Championship kicked off on Saturday afternoon with promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest putting in a good shift before being cast aside by Burnley 1-0. Other potential promotion contenders McBoro lost 3-1 at home to Ipswich after going 1-0 up in the first half, and lost Willo Flood to an injury which sees him ruled out for a few months.

Newboys Millwall stunned the Bristol City faithful with a resounding 3-0 thumping that could have, and should have been more, had it not been for England international, David James in goal making some outstanding saves. Goalkeeping was also the crux of the matter at Ricoh Arena where Jamie Ashdown had a nightmare letting the ball roll past him in the 4th minute to start off Eastwood's double to give Coventry a comfortable 2-0 win over Portsmouth. Other results in the championship saw Leeds lose at home to Derby, and strugglers from last season Scunthorpe beat Reading away 2-1.

League One kicked off in earnest at lunchtime on Saturday, with two of the leagues bigger clubs from the South playing each other, Southampton hosting Plymouth. Southampton, clear favourites for the title were missing key players and lost 1-0 to a Summerfield goal, starting them on off on a slow start. Notts County, title winners just a few months ago were given a harsh introduction to life in League One playing Huddersfield, losing to them with Huddersfield dominating the game, showing Notts County fans that it will be a long hard season for them.

Dagenham and Redbridge had the pleasure of playing in Sheffield this weekend at Wednesday, 7 years ago a non league club, this was a big day for The Daggers, who were outclassed by their opponents looking to bounce back to the Championship, losing 2-0, and never looking threatining. Other results in League One saw Brighton beat last years play off finalists, Swindon Town 2-1 away from home. They were not alone in their away win, with MK Dons beating Walsall 2-1, with goals from Baldock and Woodards giving them the win.

League Two saw the arrival of Stevenage who having won the Blue Sq Premier last year, found their first game at home to Maccelsfield to be an expierence with Charlie Griffin scoring a late equaliser for the home side giving them a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw. The other promoted club, Oxford United managed a credible 0-0 draw away to Burton Albion at The Pirelli Stadium, with Burton creating many chances but failing to put any away.



Meanwhile, on the south coast, Torquay managed to beat last seasons contenders, Northampton comfortably in the August sun 3-0, never looking challenged by the visitors at all. Adam Le Fondre got off the mark in his bid to be top scorer in League Two with a goal for Rotherham helping them on their way to a 2-1 home win against Lincoln City. Other results in the league saw Jake Robinson score the first hat trick of the new season as Shrewsbury came from 1 goal down at home to Bradford to win 3-1. Wycombe showed why they got promoted the season before last with a classy individual goal from Pittman helping them onto their way to a 2-0 win at home to Morecambe.

The first weekend of the season is over, and this week coming brings an international week, giving nations a chance to play an over glamourized friendly in front of fans still baying for blood after poor world cup performances (England and France, we're looking at you here really). Alongside the international games is the 1st round of the Carling Cup, which sees a south coast derby as Southampton play Bournemouth, with the victors hoping to draw a premiership side in round two. Stevenage host Portsmouth in the "glamour" tie of the round on Monday night on TV with Portsmouth running out of senior players already, this might be one game too many for them and Cotteril will be deciding between this and the league game against Reading on Saturday for his main priority for his players he still has at the club.