Old Boys Weekend Round-Up
After the international break there was plenty of former North Enders in action this weekend for their respective clubs and as ever we bring you a full, comprehensive round up of all said players.
Firstly, David Moyes' Everton took a shock lead at the Emirates Stadium when Leon Osman put the Toffees ahead after just eight minutes played. Everton managed to hold on to their lead for the remainder of the first half but in the end Arsenal's class shone through and the North London club emerged as 3-1 winners. Nasri, Van Persie and Walcott completed the scoring. Carlo Nash was in reserve for the Toffees.
Stoke City worsened Tottenham's disastrous start to the campaign with a 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium. Ricardo Fuller came on as a second half substitute and missed a penalty for the Potters whilst Richard Cresswell had to make do with a place on the bench.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, David Healy made a second half substitute appearance for Sunderland at Craven Cottage as the Black Cats drew 0-0 with Fulham.
Kevin Kilbane was also a second half substitute as he came on to replace Daniel De Ridder for Wigan's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.
In the Championship, Graham Alexander continued in his new holding midfield role for Burnley as the Clarets earned a valuable point against Birmingham City. Burnley did take the lead through Chris McCann but could not hold on as Cameron Jerome salvaged a point for the Blues.
Both Rob Kozluk and Jon Macken featured for Simon Davey's Barnsley in the Tykes 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Barnsley are still in the mire and will be calling for the likes of Macken to fire their way out of difficulty. Craig Beattie was in from the start for Palace.
Another former loaned striker in the form of Paul Gallagher got on the score sheet again for Plymouth despite ending up on the losing team. The Pilgrims took the lead through the aforementioned Gallagher goal but fell to a 2-1 defeat thanks to goals from Hulse and Green in the second half. Claude Davis was handed a rare start for the Rams having been out of favour with gaffer Paul Jewell in previous games.
Brian Stock and his Doncaster Rovers teammates had to make do with a point against Blackpool as they look to climb out of the bottom three. The game finished 0-0.
Tommy Miller came on as a second half substitute for Ipswich as he replaced the former Real Madrid star Ivan Campo. Despite going 1-0 up, The Tractor Boys found themselves 2-1 down and had to rely on Pablo Counago to net an equaliser and subsequently earn them a point.
Kelvin Wilson was at the heart of the Nottingham Forest defence as the former European Champions fell to a 2-1 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road. Neither Gareth Ainsworth nor Patrick Agyemang were any where to be seen.
Hungarian international and former loaned striker Tamas Priskin was in top form for Watford as he netted two goals in a 3-0 win over Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday. Priskin had not scored this season until the tenth minute on Saturday afternoon and with his second coming thirty minutes later, manager Aidy Boothroyd will be hoping there is more to come from the former Preston man.
Wolves got back to winning ways after two straight defeats as they saw off Coventry at Molineux on Saturday. David Jones, the former Manchester United midfielder, was in from the start for Wolves' 2-1 win.
In League One, winger Jeff Smith came on as a second half substitute for Carlisle's 3-3 draw with Peterborough at Brunton Park on Saturday. The former loaned Preston winger has spent a spell on the sidelines in recent weeks so will be pleased to have got a run out.
Chris Lucketti was an unused substitute for Huddersfield's fixture with Bristol Rovers and has struggled to get back into the starting eleven since coming back from a suspension.
David Lucas, who has recently been given a chance between the sticks for Leeds United, was arguably at fault for two of the three goals he conceded at the New Den. Despite taking the lead, United were beaten 3-1 with Lucas not having the best of games for the Yorkshire outfit.
After having his loan spell extended for another month, Karl Hawley played the full ninety minutes for Northampton as the Cobblers saw off Yeovil in a 3-0 win on Saturday.
Alan McCormack was given a run out for Southend on Saturday during the Essex side's 2-1 win over Swindon. McCormack came on for the remaining eight minutes.
Former skipper Sean Gregan was at the heart of Oldham's defence as the Latics held Leicester to a 1-1 draw at Boundary Park.
When Michael Ricketts gave Walsall an early lead it looked as though the midlands side would go on to take all three points. A goal from Ibehre added weight to those beliefs but sadly, for Walsall this was not to be the case as Hartlepool pulled off one of the greatest comebacks so far this season. Despite being 2-0 down, 'Pool came from behind to win 3-2 with James Brown netting with just seven minutes remaining.
Now to League Two where both Colin Murdock and John Mullin were present for Accrington Stanley at centre half and in midfield respectively as the Lancashire side saw off strugglers Luton in a 2-1 win. Mullin's namesake Paul netted the first for Stanley with Gornall getting the second.
Michael Jackson and David Hibbert both started for Paul Simpson's Shrewsbury Town against Bournemouth on Saturday. The Shrews were impressive again and ran away with an emphatic 4-1 win at New Meadow. Kelvin Langmead watched on form the substitute's bench.
Outside the football league in the Blue Square Premier where Gavin Ward was between the sticks for Wrexham's 2-1 win over Mark Stallard and his Mansfield teammates on Saturday.
Another former Preston goalkeeper, namely Chris Day, kept a clean sheet for Stevenage Borough in their 2-0 win over Salisbury.
This week's old boys XI see's an element of square pegs in round holes, especially at left back and in midfield but nevertheless we were still able to put together a team:
GK. Chris Day (Stevenage Borough)
DR. Rob Kozluk (Barnsley)
DC. Sean Gregan (Oldham Athletic)
DC. Claude Davis (Derby County)
DL. Kelvin Wilson (Nottingham Forest)
MC. Graham Alexander (Burnley)
MC. David Jones (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
MC. John Mullin (Accrington Stanley)
FC. Karl Hawley (Northampton Town)
FC. Paul Gallagher (Plymouth Argyle)
FC. Michael Ricketts (Walsall)
Substitutes:
Richard Cresswell (Stoke), Carlo Nash (Everton), Tamas Priskin (Watford), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan), Chris Lucketti (Huddersfield)