Paullow

Dunston and Newton Aycliffe are doing fine generally and Bishop Auckland are now unbeaten in 8 (4W 4D) and pulling away from the bottom 4 after a slow start. Heaton doing reasonable in their first season at this level, averaging more than a point per game and a respectable GD, but not currently looking amazing for either Ashington or Consett, but there is still a long way to go. Hopefully Sheffield and Ossett keep struggling (nothing against either) and they just need worry about 2 relegation spots instead of 4.

'Wraith of Rod'

Fair play to the lad, love a feel good story of a player going to somewhere so close to their heart.

I've just spent the last 30 mins or so randomly searching about Sheffield United and Wednesday potentially merging, it's never going to happen, but was mainly just seeing what was out there on forums and stuff. I was then then thinking I don't recall them playing each other yet 14 games into the season, and sure enough, they are due to meet at Bramall Lane at 12.30pm on Sunday in their first meeting for 5 and a half years, or only the 5th since early 2012. Always an anticipated fixture that - one of my best mates at Uni was an Owl so I've seen that fixture at Hillsborough at least twice, possibly 3 times in the late 00s, early 10s. It will clash a bit with our Sky match at 2pm, but I'll definitely be tuning in until ours starts.

The have just drawn to 2 lowly placed sides, albeit both away and one they were down to 10 men, but they are still averaging more than 2 points. Things can change, it's still early days, they could lose 3 on the spin and start questioning the manager and stuff, but as it stands, it's hard to see too many teams passing them. 8 points clear of 5th is good going at this stage. West Brom drew 0-0 with Burnley tonight, their 6th draw in a row, and Burnley aren't exactly pulling up treess with 7 points from their last 6 games. Hopefully Leeds and Sheff U can put a run together, or keep that run in SU's case, as they probably do look the two most likely to potentially pass them. Maybe Middlesbrough, but they seem too inconsistent.

Big match starting on TNT Sports 1 now. Feels like Football Manager saves are coming to life.

Always interesting reading the fans perspective and the vast majority do seem to this it was a mistake, although some are thinking it wasn't unexpected: https://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/robins-gone.163984/ That said, although some of the early matches were in and around the Man Utd FA Cup semi final, where they were a whisker from making the final, they did end the season with only 1 point from their final 6 matches: And this year they are on the same amount of points as Plymouth who are currently in the relegation zone, and 4W 4D 12L from his final 20 league matches isn't great reading. Plus their next 3 matches are 3 of the top 4 (Sunderland away, Sheff U home, Burnley away) and then Millwall and WBA shortly after that, so 5 of the current top 7 (top 6 if WBA get something tonight) in their next 6 games, meaning they will have played a lot of the weaker sides in their opening 14 matches, and would likely have got worse before it got better.

Good result that. We probably should want the English sides to do relatively well, as even if we are nowhere near 5th, the ripple effect could mean 7th or 8th get into Europe, but I'd prefer Villa to be in the 9-24 range than 1-8, and add to their schedule. That might actually be better for their fans having 2 extra matches as they will see this as a novelty after being out of the big one for so long and not many European matches in general these past 15 or so years, as it would for us, but more chance of the games catching up with them.

Thursday > Wednesday. Kicks off in the Icelandic capital and then 16 matches to choose from at 5.45pm, headlined by an intriguing Celtic clash in Dublin.

Thursday nights are definitely the best nights for football.

Amorim ruining the co-efficient to make his new job harder When's the last time Man City lost 3 in a row?

Out of the top half again. Howe out!

How did that not go in?

Still in the top half

Brentford score against the run of play. Great strike.

Really good match that. 10 games without a win is piss poor for Wolves, but could have been worse, and at least they are not 7 adrift.

Palace manager

There's no way Aït-Nouri is just 23

I was literally just about to post how it's a huge match . Even at this stage, there's a massive difference between potentially 1 or 7 points adrift of 17th.

Shelbourne!

Yeah, despite Duff, I was hoping for Shelbourne. I've always liked the name and they were my go to team on CM 00/01. 18 years is a long time with no title for a fairly prominent team when it's only a 10/12 team league, and especially when they did win 5 titles in 8 years in the late 90s / early 00s. I've actually got it streaming on my phone in the background on Bet365.

They weren't actually pre match favourites, despite having it in their own hands. Shamrock were 8/11, Shelbourne evens due to the respective fixtures. Rovers currently a goal up, Shels still 0-0, so Shamrock winning on goal difference at it stands.

I was being a bit sarcastic with the toon legend part, that Fulham winner will always stick out, but Damien Duff and Shelbourne in Ireland. They used to be the best team when I was growing but have had a tough time since and have had a few relegations. Shamrock Rovers are the team that can stop them and they ate going for 5 titles in a row.

A former Toon legend can lead his side to their first title in 18 years tonight!

A day of very late goals, mainly equalisers.