Premier League

Crystal Palace 2-0 Leicester

Joe Ledley had a header cleared off the line for Palace, but that didn’t stop them from getting their first home win of the season – also their first ever home Premier League win in September. Wayne Hennessey was on the bench for Palace, who are now unbeaten in four matches.

Andy King failed to feature for Leicester for the first time this season.


Hull 2-4 Man City

James Chester spent his third consecutive league match on the bench as Hull faced the club where he began his career. Hull fought back from 2-0 down to level against Manchester City. Man City, after all the money they’ve spent, couldn’t actually let Hull get a point, but Hull can feel encouraged by this performance, even though they’ve not won in the league since the opening day.


Man Utd 2-1 West Ham

James Collins watched from the bench as West Ham very nearly got a point at Old Trafford – and probably would have done if the assistant referee hadn’t done his job with the competence that’s usually only displayed by female officials.

Man Utd would have been particularly glad to win after suffering their worst ever start to a Premier League season. Hopefully, Ryan Giggs looked slightly less miserable than usual, but if he did, I didn’t notice.


Sunderland 0-0 Swansea

Jazz Richards made his first Premier League appearance of the season as a substitute – and I believe also his first Premier League appearance since 2011 - taking over the right back position following the dismissal of aspiring Wales international Angel Rangel. Richards, Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor would have been especially happy with the clean sheet as Swansea avoided a third straight league defeat.


Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham

Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal an excellent chance of a first-half goal, but it came to nothing. Not long afterwards, Ramsey injured both his hamstring and (potentially) Wales’ qualification hopes, leaving the field early in the second half, but Arsenal came from behind to draw against their rivals and are unbeaten in the league this season. Ben Davies was again left back in the changing room for Tottenham.


West Brom 4-0 Burnley

Boaz Myhill was on the bench.as West Brom got their biggest win since 2012. Burnley’s defeat meant their goal difference was as bad as Newcastle’s, and with just one goal this season (Sam Vokes can’t return from injury soon enough), they fell to the bottom on goals scored. Liam O’Neil was left out of West Brom’s squad despite an excellent surprise full debut in the League Cup.


Stoke 1-0 Newcastle

Paul Dummett missed from 30 yards for Newcastle, but plenty of his team-mates had equal difficulty from much closer. The defeat leaves Newcastle winless in six games. Stoke are known for their home wins, but this was actually their first in the league this season. Ryan Shawcross must be losing his touch – but considering some of the trouble he’s caused in his time, many would feel that’s probably just as well.



Championship

Birmingham 1-2 Fulham

David Cotterill has apparently created more goalscoring chances than anyone else in the Championship this season, but on this occasion, he was the scorer rather than the creator, curling his shot into the top right corner from 25 yards out. So far so good, but unfortunately for Birmingham, Fulham decided it was high time they added to the single point they’d managed this season. George Williams was an unused substitute for Fulham.


Blackpool 1-3 Norwich

Eliot Parish was an unused substitute for Blackpool as they extended their winless run to ten matches in all competitions.

Norwich bounced back from their shock League cup defeat to Shrewsbury Town – their only defeat of the season – to take the three points against a side who aren’t two divisions below them - or not yet.


Bolton 0-2 Derby

Craig Davies was a 59th-minute substitute for Bolton as he continues to search for his first goal this season that isn’t a penalty. With Bolton only winning once this season and Derby only losing once, the final result probably didn’t come as a surprise.


Bournemouth 2-0 Wigan

Emyr Huws recovered from a slight ankle knock and went straight back into Wigan’s starting line-up as his team extended their winless run to four matches. Despite starting Bournemouth’s League Cup win against Cardiff after recovering from a knee injury, Shaun MacDonald was not in the squad.


Brentford 2-0 Leeds

Steve Morison was on the bench for Leeds as they lost to promoted Brentford. He’s only played four minutes (plus stoppage time) this season after spending the rest of the time on the treatment table with a calf injury. This result ended a four-match unbeaten run for Leeds, which saw them win three of those games.


Cardiff 2-1 Sheff Wed

It’s a bit embarrassing, but Tom James was the only Welshman in Cardiff’s squad, and he didn’t actually get onto the pitch. Caretaker manager Danny Gabbidon chose not to recall either himself or Declan John after the League Cup defeat to Bournemouth, but his team selection obviously worked. Cardiff end a five-match winless run and win at home for the first time since August.


Charlton 0-0 Middlesbrough

A Rhoys Wiggins cross almost set up a late winner for Charlton, but they were unable to take the chance to move into the play-off places. Morgan Fox was an unused substitute, but Simon Church was left out of the squad for the second successive match, despite a not too terrible record of one goal and one assist from three substitute appearances.

Charlton are unbeaten at home in all competitions.


Huddersfield 2-1 Millwall

A long ball from Joel Lynch led to Huddersfield’s first goal, and although Millwall equalised shortly afterwards, it was Huddersfield who went on to take the win, ending a six-match winless match. This was also their first home win of the seasons. Jermaine Easter was left out for Millwall, who have only one win from their last eight matches – and that was against Blackpool.


Ipswich 2-0 Rotherham

Craig Morgan was suspended for Rotherham after picking up an impressive (in a way) five yellow cards in nine games. Let’s hope he doesn’t keep it up all season. Elliott Hewitt came off the bench in the 86th minute for Ipswich, who won their first match after six without a win. It’s now Rotherham’s turn to be winless in six in all competitions.


Nottingham Forest 0-0 Brighton

David Vaughan missed out for Forest after injuring his hamstring approximately four days after returning from a hamstring injury. Andrew Crofts returned to Brighton’s starting line-up after being rested for their League Cup victory over Burton. Forest are unbeaten in the league this season.


Reading 3-3 Wolves

Lee Evans gave Wolves a 2-1 lead just three minutes after they’d equalised against Rotherham, but it only took a minute for Jake Taylor to find Reading’s leveller. Substitute Dave Edwards was responsible for Wolves’ taking the lead on 84 minutes, though some reports class it as an own goal. But sadly for Wolves, the goal fest wasn’t over yet, and the points were shared.


 

League One

Barnsley 0-3 Swindon

An injury to Louis Thompson seems to be the only thing that went badly for Swindon as they beat Barnsley 3-0, extending their unbeaten league run to seven matches. Nathan Thompson no doubt contributed to Swindon’s clean sheet. Lewin Nyatanga probably had a torrid time playing in defence for Barnsley, who drop into the bottom four.


Bradford 1-1 Port Vale

Richard Duffy kept his place in Port Vale’s starting line-up as Port Vale extend their unbeaten run to two matches - which isn’t too bad when you’ve just lost five matches in a row. But if you look at it from a slightly less positive angle, Port Vale have won only one of their last eight.


Bristol City 3-2 MK Dons

Dave Richards and Wes Burns were unused substitutes for Bristol City, who continued their unbeaten start to the season with victory over the team who were in second place. Burns has only seven minutes of first-team football this season. Richards has none, but he’s a goalkeeper so that isn’t as embarrassing.


Chesterfield 1-1 Notts Co

Jordan Cranston made it five starts out of five since joining Notts County from Nuneaton Town, while there was also an eleventh start of the season for Jake Cassidy. County are winless in five following this match. If Cassidy could score his third goal of the season sometime soon, I’m sure his loan club would appreciate it.


Coventry 0-2 Preston

Aaron Phillips was an unused substitute for Coventry, who lost their third match in a row – and their first at the Ricoh Arena since returning to the venue earlier this month. But they were facing Preston, who would be unbeaten were it not for that shock random defeat to Walsall.


Crawley 2-0 Yeovil

Gwion Edwards got his first assist of the season as Crawley beat Yeovil 1-0 and got their second win in four league matches – a big improvement on the four defeats suffered in the four matches before that. Joe Walsh also played 90 minutes for Crawley.


Crewe 0-3 Colchester

Rhys Healey celebrated being given international clearance with his first senior goal for Colchester, with a bit of help from Crewe defender George Ray, who couldn’t handle Healey’s pace. Sanchez Watt scored the winning goal, also setting up the second. Billy Waters was lively for Crewe and came close to giving them the lead. Crewe are effectively five points from safety, but Colchester’s second win of the season moves them out of the bottom four.


Leyton Orient 2-3 Rochdale

Lloyd James left the field after 26 matches after going in for a 50-50 challenge and coming off much worse. It was later confirmed the midfielder has a broken leg. The last thing Orient needed was more bad news, but the defeat leaves them a point above the relegation zone. Two of Rochdale’s goals were from Matt Done, who has eight in ten matches. What a pity he turned out not to be Welsh.  


Oldham 3-2 Scunthorpe

James Wilson found himself momentarily helping out the wrong team when a misplaced defensive header led to Scunthorpe’s opening goal. Luckily for him, it was Oldham who took the points, extending their unbeaten run to six matches.


Peterborough 1-0 Fleetwood

Chris Maxwell did well to keep out a 30-yard drive, but he again found himself on the losing side, with Fleetwood now winless in seven – though their excellent start to the season means they’re just three points behind the play-off places, and six points behind second-placed Peterborough.


Sheff Utd 2-1 Gillingham

Josh Pritchard made his first league start for Gillingham, but couldn’t stop them from losing to Sheffield United (though let’s be fair, not many teams beat them). Aaron Morris was an unused substitute for Gillingham, who have just one win from their last five games. Ben Davies played 71 minutes for the winners, who have only lost one of their last seven.


Walsall 3-0 Doncaster

Tom Bradshaw returned from injury and scored his fifth goal in ten starts as Walsall moved out of the bottom four. Bradshaw is responsible for half of Walsall’s goals this season, and scored the second goal in this match early in the second half.


 

League Two

Burton 1-0 Cheltenham

Troy Brown picked up his fifth yellow card of the season as Cheltenham lost to Burton. After an impressive start to the season, Cheltenham are now winless in five with three defeats. True, they were playing table-toppers Burton on this occasion – but Burton had lost their last two prior to this match.


Carlisle 1-0 Tranmere

A goalkeeping injury meant Dan Hanford made his Carlisle debut and he didn’t exactly disgrace himself, keeping a clean sheet as Carlisle claimed their first win. He also prevented a Tranmere goal when he saved at the feet of Eliot Richards. Owain Fôn Williams didn’t have quite such an enjoyable time in the other goal. Jason Koumas came off the bench for Tranmere on 80 minutes.


Exeter 2-1 Bury

Daniel Nardiello returned to Bury’s starting line-up after scoring two goals as a substitute. But it was his former club Exeter who took the points. Christian Ribeiro and Arron Davies, who almost scored with a stunning half-volley from 20 yards, both played 90 minutes for Exeter. Nicky Adams could have scored a tap-in for Bury, but he seemed to get his feet mixed up. Craig Jones also started for Bury.


Luton 2-0 Oxford Utd

Jake Howells passed a fitness test after missing Luton’s last match with injury, and although he missed a penalty, he did the next best thing by scoring from the rebound. He also set up Luton’s opening goal with a pinpoint cross. Luton are now unbeaten in four and out of the play-offs on goal difference.


Morecambe 0-1 Northampton

Kaid Mohamed was kept off the scoresheet when his close-range volley was superbly saved, but one goal was enough for Northampton to get their fourth win in six matches and move ahead of Morecambe on goal difference. After spending a couple of seasons at the wrong end of the table, Northampton are keeping up the pressure on the top three.


Newport 4-1 Wimbledon

Darren Jones was a doubt for Newport after suffering from illness, but he recovered to take his place in defence as Newport extended their unbeaten run to seven matches. Regan Poole and Tom Owen-Evans were on the bench, but Mike Flynn and Aaron Collins didn’t recover from injuries, as hoped.


Stevenage 3-0 Mansfield

Lee Beevers was in defence for Mansfield as they suffered their biggest defeat of the season. The match reports don’t seem to mention Beevers’ defending, which might be a good sign. With five wins and five defeats from their ten games, Mansfield are only out of the play-off places on goal difference.


Wycombe 1-0 Cambridge

Joe Jacobson played 90 minutes for Wycombe as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches – but things might not have ended quite so well if Jacobson hadn’t been on hand to block a cross-shot from a dangerous Cambridge. Aaron Holloway, said to be ‘pushing for a start’, was an 82nd-minute substitute.


 

Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen 3-2 Inverness

Ash Taylor played 90 minutes for Aberdeen as they beat the formerly high-flying Inverness.

Marley Watkins scored Inverness’ second goal of the match and his own second in two matches.


Ross County 2-1 Dundee

Kyle Letheren was in goal for Dundee as they lost their second game in a row to the formerly pointless Ross County.


 

La Liga

Villareal 0-2 Real Madrid

Gareth Bale played 90 minutes for Real Madrid. He had chances, but couldn’t add to his three goals this season.