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Saturday 31 August 2013

Games of the week - 27th-29th Aug

Liverpool 4-2 Notts County AET

Anfield, Attendance 42231

Rahim Sterling scored a 4th minute goal to take the lead. Daniel Sturridge scored after 30 minutes to make it 2-0. Two late goals from Arquain and Coombes made it 2-2 and it went to Extra Time. Daniel Sturridge scored after 105 minutes and Henderson scored 5 minutes later to seal the win.

MoTM: Daniel Sturridge
Video: Mels4228

 


Norwich 6-3 Bury

Carrow Road, Attendance 16107

Goals from Olsson, Pirkington and Elmander gave Norwich a 3 -0 lead. Forrester and Edjenguele got goals for Bury in the 75th and 79th minutes. Elmander scored again and Fer got a goal to make it 5-2. Both teams scored in added time to make it 6-3.

MoTM: Elmander
Video: TalkNorwichCity     


 

Legia Warsaw (POL) 2-2 (Agg 3-3*) Steaua Bucharest (ROM)

Polish Police Stadium, Attendance 17000
*Steaua win on away goals

Two early goals from Stanciu and Piovaccri gave Bucharest a 2-0 lead. Radovic got a goal back after 27 minutes. Despite long peiods of pressure Legia only scored once which was in the 90th minute by Rzeznikack, Legia go out on away goals.

MoTM: Cipiran Tatarsusanu (Steaua)
Video: ZMEUnet


Celtic 3-0 (3-2 Agg) Shakhter Karagandea (KAZ)

Parkhead, Attendance 58000

A wonder goal right on Half Time from Kris Commons gave Celtic a 1-0 lead. Goregios Samaras made it 2-0 three minutes after the break. Shakhter came close to scoring twice in quick succesion, with one being cleared off the line. However it was James Forrest's 92nd minute goal which took Celtic to the Champions League group stage.

MoTM: Anthony Stokes
Video: eurofootballsports

Spartak Moscow 2-4 (3-5 Agg) St Gallen

Luzniki Stadium, Attendance: 14000

Spartak Moscow opened the scoring in the first minute with a goal from Ozbiliz. St Gallen then scored 3 goals before half time two from Karanovic and one from Rodriguez. Movsisyan made it 2-3 in the 83rd minute but St Gallen secured one of their greatest victories with a 88th strike from Janjatovic.

MoTM: Karanovic
Video: beeTV

 



    

 

Sunday 25 August 2013

Games of the week - 24-26 Aug 2013

Fulham 1-3 Arsenal

Craven Cottage, Attendance 25622


Arsenal opened the scoring after Olivier Giroud scored after 14 minutes. Lukas Podolski doubled the gunners lead 4 minutes from half time. Poldolski sealed the deal by making it 3-0 with 22 minutes to go. Darren Bent got a consolation goal with 13 minutes to go.

MoTM: Lukas Podolski
Video : Hespress HD



Dundee Utd 4-0 St Johnstone 

Tannadice, Attendance 6992

Dundee United took the lead early on with a wonder goal from Keith Watson followed by a header from David Goodwillie in his first goal in his second spell at Dundee United. Gary Mackay-Steven scored a fantastic goal just before half-time. Stuart Armstrong made it four as he scored from inside the box after 53 minutes.

MoTM: Ryan Dow (Dundee United)
Video: SPFL


Bayer Leverkausen 4-2 Borrusia Monchengladbach

BayArena, Attendance 29243

Stefan Klessing took the lead for Bayer with a 23rd minute penalty, followed 5 minutes later with a goal from Sidney Sam. Two quickfire goals from Monchengladbach brought them level. Sam scored once again to take the lead on the hour mark. Gonzalo Castro sealed the deal 18 minutes from time.

MoTM: Sidney Sam
Video: Sport Channel

Charlton 1 a 3 Doncaster Rovers 

The Valley, Match Abandoned at Half Time

Paul Keegan opened the scoring after two minutes for Doncaster. Before Chris Brown (not the rapper) scored twice in five minutes to make it 3-0. The referee took the players off the field before returning. Charlton got a goal back on 36 minutes scored by Simon Church. At Half Time, referee Lee Collins decided to abandon the match. Paul Keegan was booked twice and sent-off but his goal (his celebration is what he got booked for) won't count but he will have to serve his suspension.

MoTM: British Summer
Video: Football League Championship

Cardiff City 3-2 Manchester City

Cardiff City Stadium, Attendance 27068

Edzen Dzeko took the lead at the start of the second half. Aron Gunnerson equalised on the hour mark. Fraizer Campbell scored for Cardiff twice in eight minutes (79 and 87) to make it 3-1. New signing Alvaro Negredo scored in the 93rd minute but Manchester City were unable to score an equaliser in the three additional minutes remaining.

MoTM: Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff)
Video: ArsenalLoversHD


Celtic 2-2 Inverness CT

Parkhead, Attendance 45160 
 
Celtic's woes continue as they had to come back from two goals down against Inverness as Doran and Foran gave the visitors a two goal lead. Charlie Mulgrew and Adam Matthews were able to salvage a point in this top of the table clash in the Scottish Premiership.

MoTM: Andrew Doran
Video: SPFL

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Games of the week - 16-19 Aug 2013

This year I will have a new series that will show the highlights of the best games from Scotland and England each week. Hope you enjoy. Leave a comment to say what I can improve.

Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 3 (Premier League)
August 17, Emirates Stadium

Highlights of Arsenal's defeat as Christian Benteke scores two goals whilst Arsenal play with ten men. Worries for the Champions League qualifier as Oxlade-Chamberlain injured and goal-line technology is used for the first time in the Premier League.

Attendance - 60004

MoTM - Christain Benteke (Villa)
Video from Football Ghost HD3

Swansea 1 Manchester United 4
August 17, Liberty Stadium  

Robin Van Persie and Danny Wellbeck both score twice as David Moyes starts his first Premier League game as manager with a win. Wayne Rooney came off the bench to set up two goals late on as Manchester United take Swansea to pieces in Wales.
 
Attendance - 20733
MoTM- Robin Van Persie
Video from Kaarlos

 
 
Partick Thistle 1 Heart of Midlothian 1
August 16, Firhill (Scottish Premiership)

A late wonder goal from Hearts secured a draw as they crawl one point closer to 0 points for the administration-struck club.  Partick took the lead with a 84th minute penalty in a great advert for Scottish Football.

Attendance - 6540
MoTM - Jamie Macdonald (Hearts)
 
Video from SPFL
 
 
 
Hibernian 1 Dundee United 1
August 17, Easter Road

Hibs' Scott Robertson with 8 minutes to rescued go a point after two red cards and 65 minutes of Dundee United dominiance. Scotland U21 captain Stuart Armstrong scored to take the lead in the 29th minute.
 
Attendence - 9500
MotM - Gary Mackay-Steven (Dundee Utd)
 
Video from SPFL


Saturday 17 August 2013

Sky Sports Fantasy Football

Firstly I am sorry I haven't been blogging recently as I have broke my wrist in a bike crash and have been feeling ill. I am going to be running a Sky Sports Fantasy Football League under the name of Blogging League and the pin is 8082477. No prizes just for fun. Standings will be on the blog each week if enough people join.

Friday 2 August 2013

Scottish Football Preview

Scottish Premiership

A new title, a new league and a new play-off but no sponser.  With the possibility of two teams relegated and Hearts starting with no money and a 15 point deduction 2013-14 looks to be an interesting season in scottish football.



Aberdeen

The Dons have been the biggest spenders (bar the old firm) this Summer in a bid to give manager Derek McIness a squad to end Aberdeen's under-achievning and 18 year trophey drought. The Reds' first signing was Cape Verde Islands international Cavin Zola on a Free Transfer. Followed by Gregg Wylde and  ex- Scottish international Barry Robson from Bolton and Sheffield United also on free transfers. With another ex-Dundee United star Nicky Weaver signed from the other side of Sheffield. Also with the signing of Willo Flood from Dundee United and the loan signing of Micheal Hector from Readng. My prediction with the new signings is for a top 4 finish.

Celtic

The defending champions will have their sights set on Europe as well as the league. Even with the loss of Victor Wanyama (£12m to Southampton) and Gary Hooper (£5m to Norwich) it is very hard to look past Celtic for the Premiership title. Despite this I dont think that Celtic will runaway with the league. Neil Lennon has signed Amido Balde from Portugese side Vitoria as well as Steve Mouyokolo as a free agent. Celtic didn't have a great pre-season with only one win (2-1 vs Brentford) and five losses.  However, Cetlic beat Cliftonville 5-0 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League 2nd Qualifing round. My prediction is for Celtic to win the League by 15 points.

Dundee United

After 9 summer signings, Jackie MacNamara will be looking to take United to Europe for the fourth time in 5 years. Despite the departure of Jon Daly (to Rangers), Willo Flood, Barry Douglas (Lech Poznan) and Johnny Russell (Derby County £750K) the manager has replaced them with Brian Graham (Raith), Paul Paton (Partick Thistle) and the loan return of Tannadice legend David Goodwillie (Blackburn). This will be the managers first full season in charge of the tannadice club. The Tangerines pre-season tour of Germany and Spain went badly but after a 3-1 victory in Dunfermiline and a 1-0 win away to the FA cup winners, Wigan, United seemed to have peaked at the right time. My prediction is for a top 4 finish.

Heart of Midlothian

Starting the season with a 15 point deduction and the possibility of liquidation. Hearts' season may be over before its begun. Hearts have been able to sign Danny Wilson on a permanent basis. Despite this they have lost quite a number of key first team players, these are : Darren Barr (Kilmarnock), Fraser Mullen (Hibs) and John Sutton (Motherwell). The Jambo's Pre-season has been a mixed bag with a 5-1 defeat to Dinamo Bucherest, a 5-0 win over Raith, a 2-1 win against Dunfermiline, 2-0 win over Crusaders and a 0-0 draw at Palmerston against Queen of the South. My predection is for bottom and relegation.


Hibernian

Hibs manager Pat Fenlon did not experience a great pre-season as they lost one of four friendlies (Nottingham Forest 2-1), drew two (Dumbarton 1-1 and Raith 0-0), and won one (Gibraltar 3-1). Hibs' European campaign was named "embarrassing" as a 0-7 loss to Swedish side Malmo resulting in a 9-0 aggregate loss knocked the Hibees out of Europe. They lost Leigh Griffiths after his loan spell ended and 3 other first team players. However, Hibs signed 6 players including James Collins for £200,000 from Swindon. My prediction is a bottom 6 finish with them fighting to avoid Relegation.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Terry Butcher's side have had a great pre-season with 8 wins and 1 draw including a 7-1 win away to Arbroath and a 1-0 win at the Valley against Charlton. With 12 players - in all but one (northern Ireland) from English clubs, and 14 out, this season Caley will look a lot different to last season. Last season Caley were unlucky to miss out on Europe as they were either 2nd or 3rd for most of last season. My prediction is for a top 6 finish for the Highland side.

Kilmarnock

After the sacking of Kenny Shields, Kilmarnock played three friendlies with two wins (0-1 vs East Fife and 0-2 vs Glentoran) and a draw (2-2 vs Carlisle United). Kille have not lost any players in the transfer window but have only bought Darren Barr from Heart of Midlothian. It will be interesting to see how Kille fare with new manager Allan Johnstone - in his first season in charge. My prediction for the Ayrshire side is similar to last season a bottom 6 finish.

Motherwell

After a great season last season, The Well's pre-season has not been well, with two draws (0-0 vs Doncaster and 1-1 vs Notts Forest) and a loss (2-4 vs Newcastle) this was not the ideal preparation for their Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round match against Kuban Krasdandor. Stewart McCall has signed 7 players and lost 11 including Henrik Ojamma and Nicky Law, though the new signings of John Sutton and Iain Vigurs. My prediction for the Lanarkshire side is for another top 6 finish.

Partick Thistle

Newly promoted Thistle will be looking to stay in the Premiership for more than one season. They have been given a boost by Hearts receiving a 15 point penalty. Partick have lost six first team players two of which to Dundee United (Paul Paton and Chris Erskine) to compensate for this, the Jags have signed eleven new players. Thistle's pre-season has been a mixed bag with  the same number of (two) wins, draws and losses. My prediction for Partick Thistle is to avoid relegation.

Ross County

After a great debut season in Scotland's top flight, manager Derek Adams has strengthened his squad by the addition of two Dutch players and 3 players from other Premiership clubs to the Stags. The team from Ross-shire first match is against Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday at 5:15 live on Sky Sports. Last season Ross County played Celtic second and were unfortunate to only get a 1-1 draw. My prediction for County is that they will lose their surprise factor and will narrowly miss out on top six.

St Johnstone

After their giant-killing of Rosenburg in the Europa League, manager Tommy Wright will be wanting to take their European form into the domestic season. Saints have signed seven players including David Wotherspoon from Hibs and Rory Fallon from Aberdeen, they lost Liam Craig and Rowan Vine to Hibs and Gregory Tade to Cluj. Saints had two wins and a draw in pre-season friendlies. My prediction is for a top six finish for the third year running.

St Mirren

Saints have been active in the transfer market with the signing of ex-dee Gary Harkins but that has been their only signing. The Buddies lost in pre-season to Premier League side Newcastle United 2-0. Last season St Mirren were second last in the SPL, if they do the same they will find themselves in a play-off to stay in the Premiership. Top scorer for St. Mirren Steven Thompson will be looking to improve on his tally of 13 last season. My prediction is for more of the same from the Buddies and a bottom six finish.

Premiership Predection

  1. Celtic (by 15 points)
  2. Dundee United
  3. Motherwell
  4. Aberdeen
  5. St Johnstone
  6. Inverness CT
  7. Kilmarnock
  8. St Mirren
  9. Partick Thistle
  10. Ross County
  11. Heart of Midlothian
  12. Hibernian (R)