Palace set Championship pace

League football returns to Accrington

—– Arsenal over come a tricky looking hurdle in the first leg of their Third Qualifying Round tie in the Champions League.
The Gunners come away from Dinamo Zagreb with a 3-0 advantage after two goals from Cesc Fabregas and a further strike from Robin Van Persie.
Jose Antonio Reyes and Ashley Cole are both left out of the side in anticipation of rumoured moves to Real Madrid and Chelsea, respectively.

—– Crystal Palace are the early pacesetters in the Championship after they beat new manager Peter Taylor’s first club Southend United 3-1 at Selhurst Park.
Burnley (1-0) at Leicester City and Luton Town (1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday) also have two wins from their two games.
Colchester United lose their first-ever home game at Championship level. Plymouth Argyle win 1-0 at Layer Road.

—– Port Vale are the surprise leaders of League One as an Akpo Sodje goal hands the Valiants a 1-0 win at Oldham Athletic.
Title favourites Nottingham Forest retain the 100% record with a 2-0 victory at Blackpool while Brentford (1-0 at Northampton Town), Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0 versus Gillingham) and outsiders Cheltenham Town (1-0 versus Tranmere Rovers) join them on six points.
Huddersfield Town beat Rotherham United 3-0 in the Yorkshire derby at the Galpharm Stadium with their third goal by Gary Taylor-Fletcher believed to be the 500,000th goal in the history of League football (Premiership and Football League) in English senior football.

—– The return of Football League action to Accrington ends in disappointment as Stanley lose 0-2 to Darlington at the Frazer Eagle Stadium.
Manager John Coleman is also disappointed by the response from the local public as the first League game in the Lancashire town for 44 years attracts a crowd of only 2,667.
Darlo are the leaders of League Two with Chester City (3-1 at Bury), Walsall (2-0 versus Stockport County), Swindon Town (2-1 versus Barnet) and Torquay United (1-0 versus Rochdale) also yet to drop a point.

Five weeks after the World Cup Final, less than half of the coaches involved are still in the same job. Only one nation felt the need to appoint their new coach before the Tournament got underway. After five years as No. 2 and three months after his appointment, we are about to discover to what extent Steve McClaren is his own man.

McClaren starts his job at a considerable disadvantage. He is tainted by his association with Eriksson. Was he sitting there saying “Good idea boss” as England failed to perform when the pressure was on in the last three major competitions?

It is also apparent that he was nobody’s first choice for the job and it is impossible to determine what benefit there was felt to be in naming him ( or anyone else ) in advance. Many observers will feel uncomfortable with the FA’s willingness to discuss the selection process in public while it was still in progress, a practice which would be highly unusual in the business world. The danger of this approach is that you may appear to be making things up as you go along.

The FA seems haunted by the same anxiety over unfavourable headlines that characterises New Labour. What else could explain the farcical ‘approach’ to Luiz Felipe Scolari, who regardless of whether he was technically offered a job was unlikely to wish to appear enthusiastic about taking over with the World Cup about to start.

The McClaren succession is good for continuity, we are told. Continuity is an excellent policy when things are going well but something more drastic might have been appropriate in the light of England’s failure when there was actually something at stake in 2002, 2004 and 2006. Guus Hiddink, with his ability to extract big World Cup performances from ordinary players ( as opposed to Eriksson’s tendency to work the opposite ) might have been a more pragmatic choice.

So let’s raise two cheers for Steve. His mentor Jim Smith reckons he’s a lucky coach. With little opportunity for experiment, a dearth of players in key positions and a squad that will require a thorough overhaul before the next World Cup, he could do with some luck.

By John Kirk

Pesch thwarts Sunday Saints

Hearts head Old Firm

—– It’s the start of a new era at Sunderland but a familiar old story as the Black Cats lose their first game under new chairman / manager Niall Quinn.
They lead at Coventry City through Darryl Murphy but the Sky Blues hit back through Stern John and Gary McSheffrey.

—— A last minute strike from veteran striker Paul Peschisolido denies Southampton boss George Burley a victorious return to Derby County.
The Rams take a deserved first-half lead through Seth Johnson but the new-look Saints seem to be heading to three points after goals from Gareth Bale and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

—— It’s a bad weekend for Glasgow as Heart of Midlothian take the early advantage in the SPL title chase with a 2-1 against Celtic at Tynecastle. Roman Bednar scores both the Hearts goals.

Winning starts for Blues and Baggies

Illness scare for Sir Bob

Four weeks after the World Cup Final, the Football League season kicks off.

—– The two clubs relegated from the Premiership who are in action - Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion - both get off to winning starts.
Blues are pushed all the way at St Andrews by Colchester United who are playing their first-ever game at Championship level. City win 2-1 but Cameron Jerome - their £3million summer signing from Cardiff City - is sent-off only four minutes after coming on as a second-half sub.
There’s a happier debut for West Brom’s big summer signing. John Hartson scores both goals as Albion beat Hull City 2-0 at The Hawthorns.
It may only be on alphabetical order, but Burnley have the honour of being the first leaders of the new campaign after they beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Turf Moor.
Due to their early kick-off, Luton Town’s Leon Barnett has the honour of scoring the first goal of the season in a 2-0 win against Leicester City. Hatters boss Mike Newell also signs a new four-year contract.
After consecutive promotions, Southend United carry on their winning ways as a Freddie Eastwood penalty gives them victory against Stoke City at Roots Hall.
Jim Magilton loses his first game in charge of Ipswich Town (1-2 v Crystal Palace) but the greater concern is for Town’s greatest-ever boss. Sir Bobby Robson is paraded in front of the Portman Road crowd having been named the club’s honorary president. The 73 year-old later complains of feeling unwell and is taken to hospital. His condition is said to be comfortable.

—– Chesterfield and Port Vale are both off to flyers in League One. The Spireites win 3-0 at AFC Bournemouth while Vale beat new boys Leyton Orient by the same margin at Vale Park.
Cheltenham Town, promoted via the Play-Offs, post the result of the day with a 2-1 win at Swansea City who reached last term’s League One Play-Off Final.
Last season’s League Two champions Carlisle United beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 in front of 12,031 at Brunton Park.
Promotion favourites Nottingham Forest beat Bradford City 1-0 at the City Ground.
Rotherham United, who start the season with a ten-point deduction, suffer an opening day 0-1 home defeat at the hands of relegated Brighton & Hove Albion.

—– In League Two, Accrington Stanley’s return to the Football League after a 44-year absence ends in a 0-2 defeat at Chester City.
It’s a happier return for Hereford United after their nine-year exile. The Bulls win 2-0 at Stockport County.
Darlington are quickest out of the blocks with Barry Conlon hitting a hat-trick in the 4-0 defeat of Macclesfield Town. Peterborough United also hit four as Bristol Rovers lose at London Road.
In the Lincolnshire derby at Blundell Park, Boston United lead 2-0 but Grimsby Town fight back to win 3-2 with the help of two goals from youngster Peter Bore - the first only seconds after coming on for his debut.

—– In Scotland, Rangers have to come from two down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Dundee United at Ibrox.
The surprise leaders are promoted St Mirren who beat Motherwell 2-0 at Love Street.

Former Celtic boss ends 15-month exile

Rooney off again

—– Amid on-going takeover talk and a club in a state of flux, Martin O’Neill is appointed manager of Aston Villa.
The former Leicester City boss ends his 15-month managerial exile having been previously linked with a number of leading clubs, as well as the England head coach vacancy.
Although it seems he is on the verge of selling his major shareholding, chairman Doug Ellis pulls off a massive coup by managing to persuade the 54 year-old to return to the Premiership
There are four consortia led by American billionaire Randy Lerner, lifelong fan Michael Neville, deputy judge Nicholas Padfield QC and Sven-Goran Eriksson’s agent Athole Still who are trying to takeover at Villa Park.
O’Neill returns to the Premiership after a six-year absence having won three SPL titles with Celtic.
He quit his position at Parkhead in May 2005 to look after his ill wife Geraldine.
As with his previous appointments, O’Neilll will be assisted by John Robertson and Steve Walford.

—– What is about Wayne Rooney and the Portuguese?
34 days after being sent-off against Portugal in the World Cup, Rooney is dismissed in Manchester United’s friendly with FC Porto.
Paul Scholes is also sent-off in United’s 3-1 win in the Amsterdam Tournament.
Both had scored before Rooney was shown a red card in the 42nd minute for an alleged elbowing incident.
Scholes was dismissed for a second booking on 68 minutes.
If referee Ruud Bossen includes them in his report to the Dutch FA, and they pass it on to their English FA, the duo will almost certainly be suspended with Rooney facing a three-game Premiership ban.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Rooney’s reputation is preceding him: “I do not know what the referee was thinking because only a minute before that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was elbowed and he didn’t even warn the player.
“I do not see the difference between what the Porto player did and what Wayne did apart from one of the players is called Wayne Rooney.”

Romanov still not happy

Cork miss out on Milan meeting

—– Heart of Midlothian progress to the Champions League final qualifying round after a comfortable second leg goalless draw with Siroki Brijeg in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Defending a 3-0 lead from the first leg in Edinburgh, Hearts were seldom troubled in a scrappy game.
Owner Vladimir Romanov continues to be a hard man to please though: “I’m not really satisfied. They got the result, but the game was not very good.
“I didn’t like the game itself and I don’t think the team is ready yet for the season.”
Hearts now meet AEK Athens.

—– Cork City miss out on a dream of Champions League Third Qualifying Round meeting with AC Milan after they are beaten 3-0 by Crvena Zvezda.
Already trailing 0-1 from the first leg, the Belgrade club - who won the European Cup in 1991 - go through on a 4-0 aggregate.
Crvena Zvezda now meet Milan whose participation in the Champions League is confirmed by UEFA despite being found guilty in the probe into match-fixing in Serie A.
They were initially banned but were re-instated on appeal, and the decision has now been ratified by UEFA’s emergency panel.

New England boss moves in to FA HQ

The wait for Wembley goes on

—– On Yorkshire Day, a Yorkshireman is the proudest man in the country as Steve McClaren officially begins his new job as England head coach.
From his humble beginnings with Hull City, the 45 year-old from York has risen to the top job in English football.
In a refreshing change to his predecessor, McClaren is full of enthusiasm as he begins ‘a great challenge and a great adventure’.
Speaking from the Football Association’s Soho Square headquarters, Sven-Goran Erikkson’s former assistant adds: “I’m very excited and can’t wait to get started. Looking to the future, I will look to make a few changes and freshen a few things up.
“It’s going to be different from Sven, totally different. I’m going to do it my way. I will be judged on what I do.
“I’ve been itching to get at the job and I’m delighted that period is over now.
“You have to assess the players first of all, and to have a good relationship with the clubs, so we will be speaking to their management, coaching staff and medical staff.
“The aim is to try to bring the whole nation closer together, to bring the England team closer to the clubs and the fans.
“The fans, as we’ve seen, are fantastic and we have to build a team that can achieve something and give the fans something to be proud of.”
An early setback is Alan Shearer’s decision not to join his coaching staff, but Terry Venables is expected to agree to give McClaren the benefit of his experience as he finalises details of his backroom team before making an announcement on 11 August.

—– Steve McClaren’s first game in charge will be a friendly against Greece at Old Trafford on 16 August, but it seems it will be even longer than expected before he’ll become the first England coach to lead the national team out at the new Wembley Stadium.
Australian builders Multiplex announce that the £757million north London stadium would not open until June 2007, although an FA spokesman says there are no plans to book the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the FA Final in May.
That’s despite the embarrassing decision to have to change venue when last season’s FA Cup Final was due to be played at Wembley.
With the pitch and goalposts already in place, the blame game continues as Multiplex point the finger towards Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL).
Multiplex director of communications Peter Murphy tells BBC Radio: “Multiplex as builder is reliant upon our client, WNSL, completing a series of critical works to get us through to the point where we’re capable of actually hosting or running test events and, at this stage, we’re unclear and we haven’t been informed by WNSL when in fact they’ll commence and complete those works.”
A WNSL spokesman replies: “The contract with Multiplex has two critical future milestones which Multiplex have deliberately confused.”
A day in court awaits.