Newcastle United get their season off to an early start as they open their Intertoto Cup campaign with two goals in the first six minutes.
The Geordies go on to stroll to a 3-1 win in the first leg of the Third Round tie in what is tagged ZTS Dubnica’s biggest game in their 79-year history.
Shaun Wright-Phillips has a change of heart and asks Manchester City for permission to speak to Chelsea. - Newcastle United get their season off to an early start as they open their Intertoto Cup campaign with two goals in the first six minutes. The Geordies go on to stroll to a 3-1 win in the first leg of the Third Round tie in what is tagged ZTS Dubnica’s biggest game in their 79-year history. After Michael Chopra opened the scoring, Alan Shearer successfully claims the second after earlier reports credited Charles N’Zogbia or a Robert Novak own goal. It means the United legend moves to within seven goals of Jackie Milburn’s record of 200 goals in all competitions. The Slovakians reply through Lukas Tesak but James Milner’s 70th strike secures a comfortable victory.
- Shaun Wright-Phillips has a change of heart and asks Manchester City for permission to speak to Chelsea. The adopted son of former Arsenal striker Ian Wright accepts a long-term contract, worth an estimated £60,000 a week to triple his wages at City, after the clubs agreed a £21million fee for the England international. City manager Stuart Pearce is left seething but he is now expected to move for Fulham’s Andrew Cole or Southampton’s Peter Crouch.
- Members of FC United of Manchester - the club formed by disgruntled Manchester United supporters following the £790 million takeover by American billionaire Malcolm Glazer - reflect on yesterday’s first-ever game. A crowd in excess of 2,500 at Leigh RMI’s Hilton Park saw them earn a creditable goalless draw against their Conference North neighbours. Manager Karl Marginson comments ‘the backing we received today was magnificent and I’m confident that we can go from strength to strength’. FC United have agreed a 12-month ground share with League Two Bury, and will play nine rungs below Premiership level in the North West Counties League.
- Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson backs Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho’s criticism of Arsenal. After Mourinho claimed that the Blues have been treated unfairly compared to the Gunners, Sir Alex told the Sunday Mirror ‘Jose Mourinho has needed just a year to find out what I’ve been saying for the last seven - that Arsenal do run the game here’.
- Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat signs a one-year deal to take charge of the United Arab Emirates national side. The Dutchman, who led Holland to the Euro 2004 semi-finals, resigned as Borussia Moenchengladbach coach in April.
