Old Boys Weekend Round Up
To kick off out old boys weekend round up, where better to start than the Premier League. A manic end to Everton's game at St Andrews saw victory snatched away from David Moyes' side with just 7 minutes to go. Joleon Lescott thought he had done enough to secure the three points after 78 minutes, only to be cancelled out by a Zarate free kick, leaving the Toffee's with it all to do in terms of the 4th Champions League spot. With Liverpool having a game in hand and being 2 points ahead, it will be some feat if the blue half of Merseyside find themselves in the top 4 come May.
Meanwhile at the opposite end of the table, Derby County suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Aston Villa. Neither Eddie Lewis nor Tyrone Mears could prevent the six goal romp and will surely want the season to be over as quick as possible. As will manager Paul Jewell who stated in a post match interview that the performance was 'difficult to accept'.
Elsewhere, former North End striker Brian McBride got himself on the score sheet in Fulham's 2-0 win against Reading as they refuse to admit defeat in their bid to avoid the drop.
In the Championship yet another former Preston player aided in their downfall as Jon Macken scored from the penalty spot at Deepdale, to see a 2-1 Barnsley win. Macken wasn't the only former Lilywhite in the Barnsley camp of course, with Simon Davey, Kelham O'Hanlon and Ryan Kidd all enjoying the victory over their former employers.
At The Valley, Andy Gray got himself on the score sheet against Southampton who fielded one time Preston skipper Chris Lucketti. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
An old boys roundup would not be complete without mentioning Stoke City who seem to be collecting former Preston players. Carlo Nash, Richard Cresswell and Danny Pugh all featured as well as Ricardo Fuller who slotted one home from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win for the promotion hopefuls.
Gareth Ainsworth's sterling substitute appearance last week against Preston was enough to see him recalled to the starting line up. He and Patrick Agyemang must have thought that Blackstock's 14th minute goal was enough to secure the three points until a late goal from Turner gave QPR a taste of their own medicine.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Tamas Priskin started his first game for Watford after his loan spell at Deepdale where he helped his side earn a draw against fellow promotion candidates, West Brom.
Into League 1 now and another former Preston player scored from the Penalty spot. This time it was midfielder Brian Stock who put the icing on the cake in a 2-0 win against Swindon Town. Alan McCormack featured also, as his side salvaged a point for promotion-chasing Southend in a 1-1 draw with Northampton.
Elsewhere in League One, on loan Brett Ormerod played the vast majority of Nottingham Forest's 2-0 win over Tranmere likewise with winger Joe Anyisnah who helped Crewe to a 3-0 away win against Yeovil. Marcus Stewart also featured for Yeovil.
To English football's fourth tier now where Omar Daley came on a second half substitute for Bradford against Brentford in the 2-2 draw and Paul Simpson recorded his first win as Shrewsbury manager as they saw off relegation candidates Wrexham in a 3-0 win.