Old Boys Weekend Round-Up
As well as there being plenty of talking points from this weekend's fixtures, we shall take a look at Wednesday night's FA Cup replay's also where a smattering of former North Enders were involved.
Firstly, Brian Stock and his Doncaster Rovers teammates were unable to prevent Aston Villa from progressing to the next round of the cup. Steve Sidwell and John Carew had Villa 2-0 up inside the first twenty minutes before Jason Price pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. Delfouneso made it three just after the hour mark to see a comfortable win for the west Midlands club.
David Healy put Sunderland 1-0 up after just seven minutes at Ewood Park as the Black Cats tried to displace Sam Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers. Makoena levelled the score after 37 minutes which proved to be enough to send the game into extra-time. Benni McCarthy broke Sunderland hearts in the 118th minute with the winner to see Rovers take on Coventry in the next round.
David Moyes' Everton knocked out rivals Liverpool thanks to a Dan Gosling goal in the 118th minute. Neither side could find a goal in the initial 90 but youngster Dan Gosling, who was brought on in the second-half of normal time, dug deep to chip Pepe Reina to send the Evertonians into waves of ecstasy. Carlo Nash was an unused substitute for the Toffees.
Things weren't quite so rosy for another former Preston manager though in the form of Billy Davies. Davies' Forest were 2-0 up thanks to goals from Cohen and a Tyson penalty inside the first 14 minutes before Rob Hulse pulled one back just short of the half hour mark. Paul Green equalised on 60 minutes before former Forest favourite Commons made it three.
To this week's Premier League where Hull City held, now manager-less, Chelsea to a 0-0 draw. Kevin Kilbane played the full ninety minutes for the Tigers' well earned point which proved to be the final straw for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
David Moyes' Everton picked with where they left off in the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Bolton at Goodison Park. Arteta netted the first before a brace from the debutant Jo sealed the win. Carlo Nash was in reserve on the substitute's bench.
David Nugent netted his third goal of the season during Pompey's defeat to Liverpool on Saturday. The former Bury striker put Portsmouth ahead at Fratton Park in the 62nd minute only to see Fabio Aurelio equalise seven minutes later. Hreidarsson put the home side back in front before two goals in five minutes, one each from Kuyt and Torres, ensured the points would be going back to Merseyside.
Another former Preston striker in David Healy, who had also been on a barren spell himself, netted for his new club on Saturday. Healy came on in the second half in place of Djibril Cisse to seal the points for Sunderland in a 2-0 win against Stoke. Healy's 94th minute goal brought to an end a nervy end to the game after Jones had put the Black Cats 1-0 up in the 78th minute. Danny Pugh was at the centre of much controversy as he was adjudged to have handled the ball off the line to save a Steed Malbranque header in the first-half. Despite tens-of-thousands of Sunderland supporters noticing the offence, Rob Styles did not meaning that Pugh got away with it. Ricardo Fuller was substituted early in the first-half after dislocating his shoulder whilst Richard Cresswell completed the ninety minutes.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Dickson Etuhu only managed to play the first 45 for Fulham's 0-0 draw with Wigan before being replaced by new signing Olivier Dacourt.
To the Championship now where Burnley held Birmingham to a 1-1 draw at St Andrews. Martin Paterson put the Clarets ahead after just three minutes of play before veteran striker Kevin Phillips equalised on 37 minutes. Graham Alexander, as ever, played the duration of the match.
Preston's other fierce rivals Blackpool were in action on Saturday and came up against one former Lilywhite. That man was Brian Stock who netted Doncaster's first of three in a 3-2 win at Bloomfield Road. Vaughan put the Seasiders ahead after fifteen minutes before Stock equalised eleven minutes later. DJ Campbell put the Tangerine's back in front but were immediately pegged back by Sam Hird. James Coppinger netted the winner just after the hour mark.
Billy Davies' Nottingham Forest came back from 2-1 down to rescue a point on Saturday against QPR at the City Ground. Lewis McGugan put Forest ahead from the spot on 45 minutes only to see Alberti equalise deep into first half stoppage time. Alberti made it two just three minutes after the restart before Cohen equalised on 67 minutes. Kelvin Wilson played the full ninety minutes for Forest.
Paul Gallagher was in from the start for Plymouth's 3-0 defeat to Derby at Home Park on Saturday. The Pilgrims were unable to build on their draw at Deepdale and instead slipped down the table a little further leaving them precariously looking over their shoulders and into the abyss.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Tommy Miller played the full ninety for Ipswich Town's 3-0 defeat to Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Again, due to the weather, a high number of games in the lower leagues were unable to take place meaning that the there were only a few that did contain former Lilywhites. Firstly Sean Gregan and his Oldham teammates earned themselves a 0-0 draw at high-flying Leicester. Bizarrely, Gregan and his fellow defenders were part of a back four that protected Dean Windass in goal after seeing regular keeper Fleming dismissed in 50 minutes.
Meanwhile, David Lucas was an unused substitute for Leeds United's 2-0 win over Millwall on Monday.
In League Two, Paul Simpson's Shrewsbury Town were sent back to Shropshire without a point for their endeavours after a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Michael Jackson played the full ninety minutes whilst Dave Hibbert made a cameo appearance in the second half with Kelvin Langmead an unused substitute.
Brian Barry-Murphy lasted the duration of Bury's 2-2 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday. Efe Sodje netted a brace for the Shakers whilst Nurse and Benson pegged Bury back.
Omar Daley got himself on the score sheet for Bradford's 2-0 win over Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. Daley put his side ahead in the 45th minute before Boulding made it two on 70 minutes.
Marcus Stewart was also on target at the weekend. The former Sunderland striker put Exeter 1-0 up after just 8 minutes only to see the score reversed after a Jarman brace. Harley equalised with just over ten minutes to go.
In the conference, both Gavin Ward and Nathan Fairhurst played the full ninety for Wrexham's 2-0 win over Lewes sending them up to 5th in the table.