Bolton handed second place

Cardiff extend lead

—– Aston Villa retain their unbeaten record under Martin O’Neill as leaders Chelsea drop Premiership points at Stamford Bridge for the first time this season.Gabby Agbonlahor hits the visitor’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
Bolton Wanderers move up to second with a 2-0 win against Liverpool at the Reebok. They controversially take the lead from a Gary Speed free-kick after Reds keeper Jose Reina was wrongly adjudged to have handled the ball outside the area.
Arsene Wenger celebrates ten years in charge of Arsenal with a 2-1 victory at Charlton Athletic. Robin Van Persie scores both goals - the winner being a stunning volley.
Charlton take over at the bottom of the table after Sheffield United beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Bramall Lane. Phil Jagielka hits a long-range last minute winner.

—– Cardiff City take command at the top of the Championship with an emphatic 4-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ninian Park.
The Bluebirds are five points clear after the chasing pack are all held to 1-1 draws - Birmingham City by Leicester City at St Andrews, Preston North End at Stoke City and Crystal Palace as Peter Taylor makes his first return to former club Hull City.
The point lifts the Tigers off the bottom of the table. They are replaced by Sheffield Wednesday who lose 0-1 at Sunderland.

—— League One leaders Nottingham Forest win for the first time in five games as they beat Swansea City 3-1 at the City Ground.
Yeovil Town are up to second place with a 2-0 win at Brentford while West Country rivals Bristol City are level on points after being held to a goalless draw at Ashton Gate by Oldham Athletic.
Following the departure of Nigel Spackman, Millwall complete a dramatic comeback in the meeting of the bottom two at Rotherham United. Having earlier trailed by two goals, Alan Dunne grabs a last-gasp winner.
Crewe Alexandra are the biggest winners. They beat Carlisle United 5-1 at Gresty Road with a Ryan Lowe hat-trick.

—– Walsall move three points clear at the top of League Two with a 4-0 win against Mansfield Town at the Bescot Stadium.
Despite being held to a 1-1 draw by strugglers Boston United, Swindon Town move back up to second after Wycombe Wanderers lose 1-2 at Accrington Stanley and Lincoln City go down to a surprise 0-2 home defeat by Bury.
Macclesfield Town’s 0-1 defeat at Hereford United means the winless Silkmen are now seven points adrift at the bottom of the table.

—– Following last night’s 2-2 with Grimsby Town, Darlington suspend manager David Hodgson while the Quakers carry out an internal investigation.
The League Two club reveal the inquiry will focus on “the background to open speculation concerning another club’s contact with the manager”.
Hodgson has been linked with the managerial vacancy at AFC Bournemouth.
Reserve team coach Neil Maddison will take charge of team affairs during the inquiry.

FA to extend Compliance Department

Us end 54-year wait

—– Caretaker boss Dean Wilkins is appointed manager of League One side Brighton & Hove Albion following Mark McGhee’s departure earlier in the month.
The former Seagulls captain and brother of Ray Wilkins is promoted from youth coach and handed a contract until the end of the season.
Dean White is named as his assistant, and retains responsibility for scouting and recruitment.

—– The Football Association announces that they are to extend their Compliance Department following the recent high-profile corruption allegations.
There is currently a staff of 13 employed within the department, but the FA has yet to make a decision on how many new members of staff will be brought in.
Chief executive Brian Barwick explains: “We are now in the process of contacting all of those who have made claims in recent days including former players and managers. It is important that we sift innuendo and rumour from the facts.
“Any evidence provided to us will be thoroughly investigated and, whenever appropriate, charges will be brought.”

—– Colchester United bridge a 54-year gap as the beat Ipswich Town 1-0 at Layer Road.United stalwart Karl Duguid scores the 9th minute goal as the Us clinch their first league win against their local rivals since 1 March 1952 when they also won 1-0. The scorer then was Trevor Rowlands.
Colchester are now up to 9th in the Championship - their highest-ever league position.

Blackburn, Newcastle and Spurs reach Euro groups

Liverpool are Stanley Park bound

—– West Ham United’s return to European competition is short-lived as they lose 0-3 at Serie A high-flyers Palermo to go out 0-4 on aggregate in the First Round of the UEFA Cup. The Italian’s Fabio Simplicio scores twice.
Blackburn Rovers produce the most impressive performance with a 2-0 win against big-spending Red Bull Salzburg at Ewood Park to go through 4-2 on aggregate.
Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur - having 1-0 leads from their away legs - both confirmed their expected progress. Newcastle beat Levadia Tallinn 2-1 at St James’ Park while Spurs grab another 1-0 win against Slavia Prague at White Hart Lane.
There’s mixed news for the Scottish clubs. Rangers are through (2-0 v Molde) but Hearts are out (0-2 v Sparta Prague).

—– Liverpool’s aim to build a new 60,000-capacity all-seater stadium now seem almost certain after the club secure European funding.
The European Union Objective One grant of £9million will be spent on regenerating the area around the Stanley Park site.
Liverpool were given the money after guaranteeing that the £180million funding for the entire project is in place.
The club can now claim £5million from Liverpool City Council and £8.9million from the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
The council have already approved a 999-year lease on the stadium site, which is 300 yards away from Anfield.

—– Ken Bates escapes a misconduct charge for his derogatory comments about former club Chelsea.
The Premiership champions had lodged an official complaint with the Football Association accusing the Leeds United chairman of bringing the game into disrepute.
Chelsea claim Bates had made “rude, insulting and inappropriate comments” in a dispute between the clubs over three young players.
In August, Leeds made a formal complaint to the Football League, which was then referred to the FA, over alleged illegal approaches for the youngsters by the London giants.

Blues and Reds continue British domination

Barclays extend Prem sponsorship

—– Didier Drogba and Peter Crouch are the star performers as British clubs continue to excel in the Champions League.
Drogba hits a hat-trick as Chelsea win 3-1 at Levski Sofia while Crouch scores twice as Liverpool beat Galatasary 3-2 at Anfield.

—– Lincoln City miss the chance to go top of League Two as ex-Imp Francis Green scores the only goal in the Lincolnshire derby at Boston United.

—– Barclays renew their sponsorship agreement with the FA Premier League in a deal worth £65.8million.
In a three-year extension to their current contract, it takes Barclays sponsorship of the Premiership up to 2010.
The Premier League, which was formed in 1992, has had a sponsor since 1993.
Barclays backing began in 2004. From 2001 until 2004, Barclaycard was the official sponsor and before that it was the Carling lager brand.

Cole agent suspended

Bond leaves Newcastle

—– The second round of Champions League group games begins with three wins for three British teams.
Manchester United and Celtic are in a strong position in Group F after United win at Benfica with a Louis Saha goal and Celtic beat Copenhagen 1-0in Glasgow with a Kenny Miller penalty.
Arsenal are two points clear at the top of Group G after a 2-0 win against FC Porto at the Emirates Stadium. Thierry Henry and Alexander Hleb score the goals.

—– In League One, Nottingham Forest are still the leaders despite their third consecutive draw. They recover from a first minute goal at Port Vale.
Second-placed Tranmere Rovers also draw after letting a two-goal lead slip against Huddersfield Town at Prenton Park.
Bristol City remain the form team as they move level on points with Rovers following a 1-0 win at AFC Bournemouth.

—– A 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury Town is enough to keep Walsall on top of League Two as Wycombe Wanderers and Swindon Town share the spoils at Adams Park.

—– Jonathan Barnett has his agent’s licence suspended for 18 months (nine of which are suspended) and fined £100,000 for his role in the Ashley Cole tapping-up saga.
An independent Football Association disciplinary commission found Barnett had breached two rules regarding illegal approaches in January 2005.
The commission found two misconduct charges against him - that he procured a breach of Premier League rule K5 regarding illegal approaches and that he was guilty of failing to respect the rights of a third party, namely Arsenal.
Cole finally moved from Arsenal to Chelsea last month.

—– Newcastle United terminate the contract of their assistant manager Kevin Bond.
The 49 year-old was placed on gardening leave after the recent BBC Panorama programme secretly recorded him saying he would consider receiving payments from an agent.
He was employed by Portsmouth at the time of the recording.
In a statement, Bond says: “I am extremely disappointed Newcastle have terminated my contract without any proper investigation into the allegations.
“My lawyers will shortly be going to court to compel the BBC to release full transcripts of the recordings.”

No fairytale finish for Mandaric

Millwall and Spackman part company

—– Portsmouth concede their first Premiership goal of the season as they lose 0-1 to Bolton Wanderers at Fratton Park, and miss the chance of going back to the top of the table.
Kevin Nolan’s first-half volley earns Wanderers their first away league win since December.
Meanwhile, Bolton boss Sam Allardyce confirms he plans to sue the BBC after the allegations of corruption made against him in last week’s Panorama programme.

—– Bolton’s win at Fratton Park denies Milan Mandaric a fairytale tale ending as he formally steps down as chairman of Portsmouth.
He took over seven years ago when Pompey were sixth from bottom of the First Division and in administration. With a victory tonight, he would have left them as leaders of the Premiership.
An emotional Mandaric says: “It’s sad but I am very happy and proud. Looking around and looking back I should say that I am very proud to be walking out in front of these supporters, and to leave them in the shape they are in today.
“It is a sad time, but a good time to walk away.”

—– There’s not such a happy departure at the New Den where manager Nigel Spackman leaves Millwall ‘by mutual consent’ after only four months and ten league games in charge.
Relegated last season, the Lions would be bottom of League One but for Rotherham United’s ten-point deduction.
Millwall have lost all of their last five games despite a massive change of playing staff during the former Liverpool midfielder’s short reign.
His assistant Willie Donachie is placed in temporary charge while Millwall look for their sixth manager since reaching the FA Cup Final two years ago.

Bluebirds flying high

Hearts down Dons

—– A controversial Shola Ameobi goal denies unbeaten Everton victory at Newcastle United.
Despite being clearly in an offside position, the big striker gave Toon an early lead but Everton were level before the break through Tim Cahill.
In the second half, United’s Titus Bramble and Everton’s Tony Hibbert receive second yellow cards within two minutes of each other as both sides finish with ten men.
Everton would have moved up to second with a win.

—– Cardiff City move three points clear at the top of the Championship with a 3-0 win at Southend United.
Darren Purse, Riccardo Scimeca and Joe Ledley claim the Bluebirds goals.

—– A Steve Evans goal ends a run of three consecutive defeats for Wrexham as they beat Hereford United 1-0 at the Racecourse in League Two.

—– Heart of Midlothian stay within three points of SPL leaders Celtic with a 3-1 win at Aberdeen.
Christophe Berra, Mauricio Pinilla and Saulius Mikoliunas net the Hearts goals.

Relief for Pearce

Blues miss out

—– Chelsea return to the top of the Premiership with a 2-0 win in the West London derby at Fulham. Frank Lampard scores both the goals.
Arsenal record their first league win at the Emirates Stadium. The 3-0 victory sends Sheffield United to the bottom of the table.
Reading are finding life in the top flight much more to their liking though. In front of a full house at the Madejski Stadium, they hold Manchester United to a 1-1 draw to leave them in 7th position.
Under pressure Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce sees his team grab a much needed three points with a deserved 2-0 success against West Ham United at the City of Manchester Stadium.
In Randy Lerner’s first home match as chairman, Aston Villa are up in to the top four with a 2-0 win against strugglers Charlton Athletic.
Tottenham Hotspur’s early season woes continue. Despite an improved display, they lose 0-3 at Liverpool.

—– With Cardiff City playing tomorrow, Birmingham City miss the chance to go back to the top of the Championship. Blues lose 2-3 at managerless Leeds United.
Burnley also miss the chance to go second as Southampton move up to third with a 3-2 win at Turf Moor.
John Gregory’s first game in charge of Queens Park Rangers brings a 2-0 win against Hull City at Loftus Road. Rangers move off the bottom to be replaced by the Tigers.
City’s Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday are next-to-bottom after they go down to a last minute goal against ten-man Derby County at Hillsborough.
Managerless West Bromwich Albion draw 2-2 at Luton Town while Roy Keane suffers his first defeat as a manager as Sunderland lose 1-3 at Ipswich Town.

—– In the battle of the top two in League One, Nottingham Forest retain top spot with a goalless draw at Tranmere Rovers.
Third-placed Bristol City take closer order with a 2-0 win at early pacesetters Port Vale.
Bradford City are fourth following a 2-1 win at Cheltenham Town.
At the bottom, Rotherham United are now only a point adrift of Millwall following a 3-2 win at Leyton Orient. Nigel Spackman’s Lions suffer their seventh defeat in ten league games as Northampton Town win 1-0 at the New Den.

—– Lincoln City’s 3-2 win at Wycombe Wanderers allows Walsall to return to the top of League Two courtesy of a 2-1 victory at Bristol Rovers.
Swindon Town are held to a 1-1 draw at Notts County.
In the match of the day, Hartlepool United take a four-goal lead at Peterborough United but are pegged back to 4-3 before securing a 5-3 win. Pool had only scored seven goals in their 11 previous 2006-07 games.
Macclesfield Town remain the only Football League club without a win this season. The Silkmen draw 3-3 with Torquay United at Moss Rose.
The 11 League Two games produce 43 goals.

—– In the first Old Firm meeting of the season, Celtic move seven points clear of Rangers with a 2-0 win at Parkhead. Recent signings Thomas Gravesen and Kenny Miller score their first Buoys’ goals.

Blackwell out, Gregory in

A night of Carling Cup shocks

—– Sam Allardyce publicly denies allegations of corruption made against him during last night’s Panorama programme on BBC TV.
It included two agents claiming they paid bungs to the Bolton Wanderers manager.
In a brief statement, Allardyce says: “Obviously I’m denying all allegations that have been alleged against me. The matter’s in the lawyers’ hands and will be resolved by due process. I have instructed my lawyers to take the appropriate action.”
Newcastle United assistant manager Kevin Bond was also featured in the programme, and he reveals that he is to sue the BBC for libel.

—– The bottom two clubs in the Championship both change their manager.
After incessant speculation, Kevin Blackwell is sacked as manager of Leeds United. Having guided the Yorkshire club through its financial chaos, the 47-year-old - who was appointed in May 2004 - took United to the Play-Off Final last season but the Elland Road club are now second from bottom. It’s their lowest position since April 1962.
The pressure increased on the former Sheffield United coach after Leeds lost successive home games to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland.
Bottom of the table Queens Park Rangers unveil John Gregory as their new manager, with former boss Gary Waddock stepping down to become first-team coach.
The ex-Aston Villa boss returns to management three-and-a-half years after leaving Derby County.
Waddock, who was previously a team mate of Gregory as a player at Loftus Road, temporarily replaced Ian Holloway in February before getting the position full-time in the summer.

—– It’s a night of shocks in the Second Round of the Carling Cup.
Two Premiership clubs go out to League Two clubs with Wycombe Wanderers and Notts County winning at Fulham and Middlesbrough, respectively, while the pressure increases on Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce after they go down 1-2 at League One Chesterfield.

—– In the night’s only Premiership game, Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Anfield. Xabi Alonso scores the second with a shot from inside his own half. His last goal - at Luton Town in the FA Cup in January - was scored from a similar distance.

Ellis era ends at Villa

Wigan in Carling Cup shock

—– In a programme delving in to alleged bungs in football, BBC TV’s Panorama accuses Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce of being involved in illegal payments.
Two agents claim they made the payments to secure transfer deals.
Teni Yerima says he bribed the Bolton boss while Peter Harrison says he paid Allardyce’s son Craig to secure deals with Wanderers.
Similar accusations involving Craig Allardyce were published in the national media in March, and believed to have counted against his father when he applied for the vacant England head coach post.
Sam Allardyce strenuously denies the allegations and quickly confirms he will proceed with legal action.
Harrry Redknapp, Kevin Bond, Frank Arnesen and Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside are also implicated by the programme, as are the actions of another agent Charles Collymore.
The findings in the Premier League’s probe into alleged transfer bungs, headed by Lord Stevens, are due to be published on 2 October.

—– Having increased his shareholding to 89.69%, Randy Lerner officially becomes the new chairman of Aston Villa after Doug Ellis vacates the role.
The American billionaire needs 90% of shares to allow him to compulsorily acquire the remaining 10%.
82 year-old Mr Ellis was chairman from 1968 to 1975 and then again from 1982 until today.

—– Wigan Athletic - finalists in last season’s competition - are the shock victims in the Second Round of the Carling Cup. The Premiership Latics lose 0-2 at League One Crewe Alexandra.
There are also narrow squeaks for Premiership new boys Reading and Watford. Although both are at home, they have to rely on penalties against League Two opposition (Darlington and Accrington Stanley, respectively).