International round-up

Hill charged by FA

Michael Owen (2) and Rio Ferdinand were the heroes as England beat Russia 3-0 at Wembley to leapfrog them in Euro 2008 qualifying group E.

However, the night belongs to Scotland who beat France in the Parc des Princes courtesy of a James McFadden strike and an inspired performance from goalkeeper Craig Gordon. This was Scotland’s second win against the World Cup finalists, following the 1-0 victory at Hampden last October and leaves Alex McLeish’s men on top of Group B.

Northern Ireland would have gone top of Group F if they had won in Reykjavik but it just wasn’t to be. Nigel Worthington’s men remain three points behind Sweden, who have a game in hand, after being beaten 2-1 by Iceland. Armann Smari Bjornnson gave the home side an early lead but David Healy’s second-half penalty restored a deserved parity. The visitors seemed to be in control but a late own-goal from Keith Gillespie broke Irish hearts.

The Republic of Ireland also had a miserable night as they lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic in Prague. Marek Jankulovski scored the only goal after 15 minutes to seemingly end the Republic of Ireland’s chances of qualifying for Euro 2008. To compound matters, Stephen Hunt was sent off after 62 minutes.

Wales beat Slovakia 2-5 in Trnava with goals from Freddy Eastwood, Craig Bellamy (2), an own goal by Jan Durica and a late strike from Simon Davies. This is the first time Wales have scored five goals in an away match in 11 years.

In the Women’s World Cup, Australia beat Ghana 4-1 to record their first win in their fourth World Cup finals appearance. The other Group C encounter saw 1995 winners Norway beat Canada 2-1. Brazil lead Group D after thrashing New Zealand 5-0 while hosts China got off to a winning start by beating Denmark 3-2.

Sunderland wingers Kieran Richardson and Carlos Edwards have both suffered setbacks on their return from injury. The 22-year-old Richardson has been ruled out for up to three months with a stress fracture of the back while winger Carlos Edwards, 28, is likely to miss the next four games after breaking down in training with a similar type of injury to the hamstring problem that has already hampered his season.

Kevin Reynolds, 43, has pleaded guilty to assaulting Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Euston railway station yesterday. He admitted punching Sir Alex in the groin before butting a police community support officer. City of Westminster magistrates warned Reynolds that he faces a jail sentence when he appears at Southwark Crown Court at a later date on charges of actual bodily harm, assault and two public order offences. Reynolds, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody.

The FA has charged Rushden & Diamonds manager Garry Hill with violent conduct relating to an incident involving Salisbury City coach Tommy Widdrington after the final whistle of the Blue Square Premier league match between the clubs. Both clubs have been charged with failing to control the conduct of their players and/or officials. The clubs have until 25 September to respond, Hill has until 26 September.

Nathan Davies

Sir Alex ‘attacked’

Blue Square Premier results

Sunderland legend Ian Porterfield has died, aged 61. Porterfield, who scored the Black Cats’ winning goal against Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final, had been suffering from cancer. Porterfield was a proud Scotsman and enjoyed a successful management career that included spells with Rotherham United, Sheffield United, Aberdeen, Reading and Chelsea. He went on to coach in Korea and took charge of several national teams, and his final job was as boss of Armenia. Porterfield’s widow Glenda said:

“He may have been a football man all his life, but I know him best as a wonderful human being who was liked by everyone he came in contact with.”

Sir Alex Ferguson has suffered minor injuries after an alleged attack at Euston railway station. A 40-year-old man has been charged with actual bodily harm, assault and a public order offence. Sir Alex is not believed to have been badly hurt

England U21’s beat their Bulgarian counterparts 0-2 in Sofia to continue their 100% start to their Uefa U21 Championship qualifying campaign. First-half goals from Tom Huddlestone and Mark Noble were enough to settle the contest.

England were denied an opening Women’s World Cup win as Japan stole a 2-2 draw with the last kick of the game. Kelly Smith scored twice for England. North Korea held the United States of America to a 2-2 draw in Group B. The USA, winners in 1991 and 1999 and pre-tournament favourites, have never lost a game in the group stages of the World Cup finals. Nigeria and Sweden drew 1-1 to leave all four teams in Group B on one point.

Sheffield United have sold midfielder Ahmed Fahti to Egyptian side Al-Ahly for an undisclosed fee.

Notts County have unveiled John Armstrong-Holmes as the club’s acting chairman.

Hibernian have announced record annual net profits of £7.4m.

Rushden & Diamonds have launched an internal investigation into the violent scenes that marred their Blue Square Premier match at Salisbury City on Saturday. This comes after the FA announced on Sunday that they will be holding their own investigation into the match, which saw both teams finish the game with 10 men and a flare-up between both benches after the final whistle. City coach Tommy Widdrington suffered a suspected broken nose following the touchline fracas.

There were two games played in the Blue Square Premier this evening. Grays Athletic held Oxford United to a goalless draw at the Recreation Ground while Halifax Town beat visitors Woking 1-0.

Nathan Davies

Women’s World Cup kicks-off

Woking plans a step closer

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood says he is willing to talk to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov - but not about selling the club. Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein heads a company that wants to gain significant control of the Gunners after selling his shares to Usmanov. Hill-Wood told BBC Sport:

“The major shareholders have no intention of selling and wouldn’t welcome an offer. But we will have a dialogue with any principal or major shareholder. If they’ve got some sensible proposals we’ll listen to them.”

Ken Bates is another chairman who has been forced to insist that his club is not for sale - although he is looking for investors. Reports claimed ex-Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who sold his Magpies stake for £37m, was set to take over Leeds United after he was seen with Bates.

“The club is in profit, the gates are back and we have averages higher than Middlesbrough, Wigan, Reading and Fulham. The ground is slowly being improved and the team is strong. Why would I want to sell?”

However, Bates added that he had received a separate approach from a third party claiming that he knew of a prospective buyer for the club.

The Women’s World Cup kicked off in China with an astonishing opener as defending champions Germany overran a hapless Argentina side 11-0. Not surprisingly, this was a record score for the tournament.

Gillingham have placed assistant manager Mick Docherty and first-team coach Iffy Onuora in temporary charge following Ronnie Jepson’s resignation.

It’s been a busy day at Notts County today as chairman Jeff Moore revealed that he would relinquish the chairmanship once the shareholders and board had elected his successor. Hours later, Howard Wilkinson resigned his position as technical director of the club while fellow director Joanna Adams also resigned. The Magpies have also launched a five-year business plan entitled “Vision 2012″, in which the club is aiming to reach the Championship within five years.

The green light has been given to Woking’s planned redevelopment of their Kingfield ground after the local authority agreed to sell an area of council-owned land next to Kingfield to the club. Speaking on Woking’s website, chairman Chris Ingram said:

“We will draw up detailed plans for new facilities that will provide a stadium worthy of our fans, community and town. When these are ready, we’ll share them with the local community and with our fans.”

Nathan Davies

Glazers deny extent of debts

League Two round-up

Ronnie Jepson has resigned as Gillingham manager. The Gills have lost five of their first six games of the season and are currently 22nd in the League One table. Jepson had been in charge of the Kent club since November 2005 when he replaced Neale Cooper as manager.

A report from the Manchester United Supporters Trust says interest payments have risen to £100m a year on the loan the Glazers took out to buy the club. The Glazer family deny the claim.

Yeovil Town beat previously undefeated Swindon Town 0-1 at the County Ground - a result that moves the Glovers up to fourth in the League One table.

In League Two, Peterborough United also find themselves in fourth position after a 2-1 home victory over Mansfield Town while a late Jermaine Easter penalty was enough for hosts Wycombe Wanderers to end 10-man Brentford’s unbeaten start to the league season.

Nathan Davies

Mixed fortunes for ‘home’ nations

Domestic round-up

Goals from Shaun Wright- Phillips, Michael Owen and Micah Richards gave England an impressive 3-0 victory over Israel in this must-win Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley.

Israel failed to force a save out of England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as Steve McClaren’s men recorded their first victory at the new national stadium to set themselves up for another crucial Group E qualifier against Russia on Wednesday.

Scotland also remain in contention for a place at Euro 2008 after claiming all three points against Lithuania at Hampden. Kris Boyd gave the home side the lead at half-time before Tomas Danilevicus equalised through a hotly disputed spot kick. With only 13 minutes of normal time remaining Stephen McManus restored Scotland lead with James McFadden adding a third late on.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Group F strugglers Latvia in Riga and in Group D the Republic of Ireland picked up a point, courtesy of a 2-2 draw in Slovakia while Wales lost 2-0 against Germany at the Millennium Stadium - a result that realistically ends their hopes of qualification.

Away from the international stage, there were a handful of domestic games played. In League One, Leeds United record their fifth straight league victory, beating Hartlepool United 2-0 at Elland Road, to wipe out their 15-point deficit. Undefeated Leyton Orient remain top after a 1-0 home win over Bournemouth.

Darlington return to the top of League Two after a 0-2 win at Millmoor while Accrington Stanley climbed off the bottom of the table after sweeping aside Grimsby Town 4-1.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

England recall Heskey

Arsenal eased to a 3-1 win over Portsmouth at the Emirates Stadium, despite having Phillipe Senderos sent-off after 48 minutes. By that stage, a spot-kick from Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas’s fourth goal in five games had already given the Gunners a two-goal advantage. This lead was stretched when Tomas Rosicky added a third on 59 minutes. Kanu pulled one back for Pompey against his former club a minute later but it was a mere consolation.

Elsewhere, second-half goals from Zat Knight and Gabriel Agbonlahor helped Aston Villa to a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Villa Park while Benni McCarthy scored the only goal of the game as Blackburn Rovers saw off Manchester City at Ewood Park. This game also saw both sides finish with 10 men. Rovers were the first side to lose a man when Tugay was shown a second yellow card for a tug on Dietmar Hamann after 53 minutes. Richard Dunne saw red for City after a lunge on Roque Santa Cruz on 64 minutes.

In the Scottish Premier League, Celtic beat St Mirren 1-5 at St Mirren Park.

Steve McClaren has recalled Emile Heskey for England’s forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with Israel and Russia. Peter Crouch is suspended for Saturday’s encounter with Israel at Wembley, while Wayne Rooney has been sidelined with a broken bone in his foot.

Nathan Davies

Premier League round-up

Carling Cup third round draw

Liverpool are top of the Premier League table after a 6-0 thrashing of Derby County at Anfield. Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres both notched a double while Ryan Babel and Andrei Voronin were also on the scoresheet. It was a good day for both Merseyside clubs as Everton beat Bolton Wanderers 1-2 at the Reebok Stadium with Yakubu Aiyegbeni scoring on his debut.

Elsewhere, Louis Saha scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United beat Sunderland at Old Trafford, Fulham battled back from 1-3 down to draw 3-3 at home to Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough eased to a 2-0 success over Birmingham City at the Riverside Stadium, West Ham United won 0-3 at Reading, and Newcastle United overcame ten-man Wigan Athletic 1-0 at St James’ Park as Michael Owen scored his first Premier League goal since December 2005. The Latics had Kevin Kilbane harshly sent off at the start of the second half.

Rangers maintained their 100% start to the Scottish Premier League season with a 4-0 victory over Gretna at Ibrox, while Dundee United moved up to fourth after beating Falkirk 2-0. Hibernian managed a 1-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Easter Road but Kilmarnock lost 0-1 at home to Aberdeen.

The third round draw of the Carling Cup has been made and sees Manchester United host Coventry City, Arsenal entertain Newcastle United while holders Chelsea face a trek to the Kingston Communications Stadium where they face Hull City. As well as the clash at the Emirates Stadium, the four other all-Premier League ties see Liverpool drawn away at Reading, Blackburn Rovers entertain Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers tackle Fulham at Craven Cottage and Middlesbrough travel to Tottenham Hotspur. Elsewhere, League Two Morecambe’s reward for beating Preston North End in the second round is a trip to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United. The ties are to be played week commencing September 24.

Nathan Davies