Old Boys Weekend Round-Up
This week's round-up kicks-off as ever with the Premiership and Championship action before taking a look at the first round of the FA Cup.
David Moyes' Everton left it until late to seal the points at Upton Park on Saturday after going 1-0 down. Jack Collison put West Ham ahead before defender Joleon Lescott equalised on 83 minutes to spark a bizarre last 7 minutes. Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha netted a brace in a matter of two minutes to give the Toffees a 3-1 win, much to the delight of the travelling Evertonians. Carlo Nash witnessed all from the Everton substitute's bench.
Former Everton winger Kevin Kilbane watched on from the substitute's bench as his Wigan Athletic teammates recorded a 0-0 draw with newly promoted Stoke on Saturday. Ricardo Fuller was in from the start for Stoke whilst Richard Cresswell made his obligatory substitute appearance late on. Cresswell was booked for his endeavours just seconds after coming on.
To conclude our round-up of the Premiership, David Healy came on as a substitute during Sunderland's 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday. With ten minutes remaining and the score tied at 1-1, Healy was sent on in search of a winner only to see Jermain Defoe net a late penalty to seal the points for Pompey and consequently give Tony Adams his first win as Portsmouth boss.
In the Championship, Swansea piled on the misery for Watford with a 3-1 win over the Hornets on Sunday. Tamas Priskin made a late appearance from the bench but was unable to pose any sort of attacking threat for Watford who now find themselves in the bottom three.
Simon Whaley's name was this week added to the whole host of Preston North End related personnel at Oakwell after he completed his one month loan move. The Preston winger was put straight into the starting eleven for Barnsley's fixture with Sheffield United on Saturday as was Rob Kozluk. Simon Davey, Ryan Kidd and Kelham O'Hanlon were all watching on from the dugout to witness the Tykes' 2-1 defeat.
Craig Beattie was in from the start for Crystal Palace's 2-0 win over Coventry on Saturday. The on-loan West Brom striker put on an impressive display and will feel aggrieved not to have got himself on the score sheet himself.
Kelvin Wilson was back in the Nottingham Forest side for their 1-1 draw with Birmingham on Saturday. The former Preston and Notts County centre half slotted back in at the heart of the Forest defence after a period of absence.
Struggling Charlton Athletic thought they had done enough to seal all three points after Andy Gray netted a 92nd minute penalty to give the Addicks the lead. Much to his dismay, Emile Mpenza was on hand to convert a penalty of his own at the other end just two minutes later leaving the score tied at 2-2. Paul Gallagher was in from the start but was replaced by the aforementioned Emile Mpenza whilst Yan Folly was an unused substitute.
Patrick Agyemang made a return to the QPR side as Rangers beat Cardiff 1-0 on Saturday. Rangers, led by former Preston winger Gareth Ainsworth, waited till the 80th minute to net the decisive goal with Gavin Mahon being credited with such. The win now means Rangers are up to 7th place, poised to occupy a play-off position.
Paul Jewell's Derby crashed to a 3-0 defeat to Reading on Saturday at the Madejski Stadium. Claude Davis came on as a substitute shortly after half time to replace Martin Albrechsten but was unable to thwart the Berkshire side in their tracks.
Former North End midfielder Brian Stock was in the Doncaster side that lost to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough this weekend. Leon Clark got the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for Wednesday. Rovers currently prop up the Championship on a paltry nine points.
To conclude our round-up of the Championship, and indeed the league games played this weekend, we turn travel to the Black Country. Former skipper Graham Alexander played the full ninety minutes for Burnley's 2-0 defeat to high-flying Wolves on Saturday. Michael Kightly scored both goals, one in each half, to give the home side the win.
With no League One and Two fixtures taking place this weekend, we turn our attentions to the FA Cup first round where, firstly, John Halls was in from the start for Brentford's 3-1 win over Havant & Waterlooville. The win subsequently ends the non-league minnows' dreams of a repeat of a possible trip to Anfield like last year.
Midfielder Alan McCormack was at the heart of Southend's midfield for their FA Cup tie with AFC Telford on Saturday. The Essex side found themselves 2-1 down to minnows Telford before Christophe saved their blushes with a 90th minute equaliser to force a replay.
John Mullin is another former Preston midfielder whose side will have to replay their first round of the FA Cup tie after Accrington Stanley drew 0-0 with Tranmere. Colin Murdock was an unused substitute.
Former North End manager Paul Simpson labelled his side's defeat to Blyth Spartans as 'shameful' after witnessing a lack lustre display to send the Shrews crashing out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle. Michael Jackson was in from the start whilst Kelvin Langmead was an unused substitute for the 3-1 defeat. Grant Holt netted a consolation goal for the Shrews.
Former England international, Michael Ricketts fired the Saddlers into a 25th minute lead on Saturday only to end up on the losing side. Walsall conceded an equaliser just prior to the interval before falling apart in the second half. Hooper netted his second with Hurst completing the scoring in the 90th minute.
Two former North End loanees got themselves on the score sheet at the MK Bowl on Saturday as both Omar Daley and Jemal Johnson netted for Bradford and MK Dons respectively. Daley put the visitors in the lead before Johnson equalised, sending both sides in at the break level. Lee scored an 82nd minute winner to see the visitors advancing to the second round of the cup.
Kevin Nicholls made a return to first team action on Saturday for Luton Town's FA Cup tie with Altrincham. The game ended in a 0-0 draw with Nicholls substituted at half-time.
Chris Day was between the sticks for Stevenage Borough's trip to the Walkers Stadium on Saturday as they took on Leicester City. Despite having a run of clean sheets this season, Day was unable to keep the Foxes at bay as the Conference side fell to a 3-0 defeat.
Steve Basham's 84th minute goal for Exeter City sparked a mini-revival but were unable to fully come back from 3-0 down to Curzon Ashton. The former Southampton and Preston striker made it 3-1 with six minutes to go before Moxey added a second on the 90th minute. All of which proved not to be enough as Curzon went through to the 2nd round. Marcus Stewart played the full ninety minutes for Exeter.
And finally, Sean Gregan was at the heart of the Oldham Athletic defence before being substituted at half-time. The Latics 2-2 drew with Cheltenham Town after coming back from being 2-0 down.