Scotland secured their trip to the Euro 2024 Championships without playing a game. After beating us 2-0 on Thursday, Spain went on to beat Norway 1-0 tonight to top the group on goal difference over Scotland. No matter what happens from now on, Scotland can't be caught and still have a chance, however small, of topping the group. Congratulations to Steve Clarke and his team, who are looking like a side who can perform efficiently and confidently.

Scotland play Georgia away on 16 November, while Spain have Cyprus away on the same date. On 19 November, Scotland host Norway with Spain at home against Georgia.

Is anyone out there still breathing?

We scored another five as World War Three continued its inevitably horrific approach.

Levi Amantchi banged in two more for Maidstone in the Cup at Torquay. We should swallow our pride and get him back ASAP. Some nasty EFL team whose forwards keep getting injured will otherwise come in for him. Maybe Mansfield, or even Gillingham, they need goals. But who doesn't want a big strong young striker who can't stop scoring?

Even Huddersfield ..........?

Wakey WakEYE! Yes it's the Billy Cotton Band Show! Followed by Cliff Michelmore and Jean Metcalfe with some appalling easy listening Sunday Lunchtime music from Forces' Favourites, an' it's 1 2 3 what're we fighting for? Oh no I don't give a damn. Next stop Vietnam. Billy Joe and the Fish? Next stop Beirut or Tehran?

Was Cliff Michelmore the most boring broadcaster of all time? Am I the only person old enough to remember him? He'd have made Keir Starmer seem interesting.

And so it's back to John Craven on Newsround, imitating the teacher you never listened to, but who it turns out has discovered the secret of immortality.

Don't Sunday jus' drive you mad?

Former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe has joined National League club Ebbsfleet.

The 27-year-old has made 119 Premier League appearances and featured in the Europa League while at Anfield.

The former England Under-21s player spent four years at Liverpool, making 41 appearances, and had loan spells with Birmingham and Derby before a move to Bournemouth and a spell in Turkey.

"I just want to get back out there, show people what I can do again and play football," he said.

Ibe was an unused substitute on Saturday as Ebbsfleet drew with Slough in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

He was just 15 when he made his English Football League (EFL) debut for Wycombe in 2011. After signing for Liverpool the following year, he made his Premier League debut aged 18.

In 2021 Ibe spoke out about how he had been in a "dark place" and suffering from depression.

He told the Ebbsfleet website: "I've worked hard to be in a position where I am able to focus on football and believe in myself and my ability to contribute on the pitch.

"Being back out there is where I love to be and where I'm most happy but I needed to be healthy and prepared to give myself that chance. The way Ebbsfleet have helped me and put a process in place so I can be ready has been really supportive."

Fleet boss Dennis Kutrieb added: "This is a signing that will generate a lot of discussion outside our club but for us and for Jordon it is only about Ebbsfleet United and getting him back on the pitch to show us what we know he can do.

"Like many of us in our club and the world generally, Jordon has had his personal battles and setbacks, but he has made brave decisions to talk about those issues, made a genuine effort to seek assistance and applied tools daily to improve his overall health."

Oldham Athletic have appointed former Tranmere Rovers boss Micky Mellon as their manager on a three-year deal.

Mellon, 51, had two spells with Rovers, the most recent of which came to an end in March this year.

The Scot has twice won promotion from the National League, with Fleetwood Town as well as Tranmere.

"This is a hugely exciting opportunity at a wonderful club and I am determined to deliver the success that everyone here craves," he told the club website.

"The aspirations of the club and the developments in recent times mean it is a genuine privilege to be joining Oldham Athletic at this juncture. There is so much potential here and the scope to achieve something very special.

"The supporters of this club deserve success and together I want us to embark on a journey that will create lasting memories for us all."

Mellon takes over from David Unsworth at Boundary Park after the former Everton defender was sacked last month after a poor start to the season.

Steven Thompson and Neil Redfearn took over on a caretaker basis and led the team to three wins and three draws to lift them up to 12th in the table.

They both left the club on Thursday and academy manager Paul Murray will take Saturday's FA Cup qualifying tie at Altrincham.

Mellon, who has also had spells in charge of Shrewsbury and Dundee United, will lead the Latics for the first time in the trip to local rivals Rochdale on 21 October.

The 930 of us who turned up for the 4th Qualifying Round FA Cup match saw in the end a closely fought game although the scoreline doesn't quite tell the tale of the game. Fylde bottom of the Conference against a Leek side who at the start of the game were just above the drop zone in the Northern Premier League West division although in fairness they had only played 6 games and had 4 games in hand on other sides.
A heavy shower as I arrived at the ground although that hadn't put off visiting fans who looked to have taken in every pub in Kirkham. Having potted their manager Adam Murray this week, head of football Chris Beech was in charge. The first half was all Fylde had the vast majority of possession although in truth didn't do a lot with it, strangely reluctant to shoot when in a good position however when they got corners that was a danger time for the Tangerine shirted visitors.
The visitors had survived fairly easily for 13 minutes when Fylde got their first corner of the game, the corner was cleared to the left side of the box but was chipped back into the danger zone by Haughton, Ustabasi got a touch on it and in it went, try as they might they couldn't get a second and at the break Leek were still in the game



The second half was a complete turnaround Fylde looked like the lower of the two clubs, in the space of five minutes Leek had missed two sitters, one brilliantly saved by Richardson and the second hit the side netting from very close range, could have been costly but on 55 minutes they were deservedly level, Opoku received the ball in the inside left position dummied a defender before chipping over Richardson into the net. Cue delirium with the away support. Fylde retaliated immediately with a header flashing narrowly over the bar but momentum had changed and the visitors looked to be denied a penalty although from 100 yards away couldn't tell if it was the correct decision.
Then the corner curse struck again corner from the right Graham nodded home easily to put the home side ahead, this time there was no comeback the third also came from a corner ex Crewe player Steve Davis headed home think possibly the keeper could have done better. In the nine minutes of injury time Scully of Leek picked up his second yellow card followed by a red. Fylde went close a couple of times but that would have been harsh on the visitors who all put in a fair shift

Birmingham City have appointed Wayne Rooney as their new manager.

The 37-year-old former England captain has joined the Championship club on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Rooney succeeds Blues head coach John Eustace, who was sacked on Monday after 15 months in charge.

The ex-Everton and Manchester United striker's appointment is the first managerial change made by Blues' new American owners Shelby Companies Limited since they took over in July.

Rooney will be supported by his former England team-mate and current England Under-21 assistant Ashley Cole and his old United colleague John O'Shea, the assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland men's national team.

Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth will also be part of Rooney's backroom staff after both assisted him at DC United.

It will be Rooney's third job in management following spells at the MLS club and Derby County and his first game will be at Middlesbrough on 21 October.

"Wayne is a born winner," Blues co-owner and chairman Tom Wagner said.

"We believe, with the support of his coaching staff, the club, and our supporters, he will take Blues forward on the next stage of our journey.

"His playing philosophy will help to realise the ambitions we have set for Birmingham City.

"Wayne has been preparing for an opportunity like this since he embarked on his coaching education whilst still a player at Manchester United.

"He and his staff have the full support of the board and everyone at the football club."

'I can't wait to get started'
Rooney retired from playing and was appointed Derby boss in January 2021, following a spell in caretaker charge.

His time at Pride Park was marred by off-field troubles. He saved them from relegation from the Championship by a single point four months after taking on the role.

But during his first full season in charge in 2021-22, the Rams were given a 21-point deduction for being in administration and EFL breaches, alongside a transfer embargo. Derby were relegated to League One and Rooney left in June 2022 with the club still in administration.

He returns to England after just over a year with Washington-based DC United.

Wayne Rooney as Derby manager
Wayne Rooney was unable to save Derby from Championship relegation following a 21-point deduction in 2021-22
"I am absolutely delighted to be joining Birmingham City at such an exciting time," Rooney said.

"It is very clear that they have a plan and are committed to realising their ambition for the club."

Rooney added that he and Blues are "fully aligned" on what is expected of him and says the "challenging environments" he has put himself in has "got me ready for this opportunity".

"It's a project that gives me a sense of purpose and I can't wait to get started," he said.

"I have a clear way that I want the team to play, and my coaching staff and I will work hard to implement it. We will create a winning culture here with an identity that gets Blues fans on their feet.

"My job is to elevate the club to the next level. I know what the expectations are and our job is to deliver."

Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook called Rooney's appointment a "defining moment" for the club before adding the new boss will work straight away with technical director Craig Gardner in evaluating the squad and identifying potential transfer targets in January.

What does Rooney inherit?
Birmingham are the longest serving occupants of the Championship, having completed the third of their short stays in the Premier League in 2011.

That was the same year they beat Arsenal at Wembley to win the League Cup, making them the last West Midlands side to lift a trophy.

This is their 13th successive attempt at getting back to the top flight but they have only once gone close to a return, their first season back in the second tier under Chris Hughton in 2011-12, when they were beaten by Ian Holloway's Blackpool in the play-offs.

Birmingham beat neighbours West Brom
Birmingham beat neighbours West Brom at St Andrew's in their last Championship game
Since then, despite the efforts of 10 different bosses, they have come closer to relegation than promotion - twice staying up on the final day, under Lee Clark in 2014 and Harry Redknapp in 2017.

But they are handily placed this season and sixth in the table having won three of their first four league games and then twice last week, to edge within two points of third-placed Preston.

Rooney must 'push club towards Premier League'
Analysis - BBC Radio WM's Birmingham City reporter Richard Wilford

For Wayne Rooney this will be a different challenge - the timing of the managerial change points to high expectations at St Andrew's and the sort of pressure he was more accustomed to during his playing career.

Blues have afforded him a large backroom staff, and the presence of former Wolves midfielder Carl Robinson and Rooney's Derby and DC United colleague Pete Shuttleworth is every bit as important as the bigger names Cole and O'Shea. They add some coaching and analytical experience to the mix.

He inherits a good squad, arguably the best the club has fielded since Chris Hughton was at the helm more than a decade ago.

Now Rooney must show that he can continue pushing the club forward towards a future in the Premier League.

Adam Murray has been sacked as head coach of AFC Fylde, who are bottom of the National League with two wins from 15 games this season.

Murray, 42, helped the Coasters into the non-league's top tier with promotion from National League North last term, after three seasons away.

However, one win in the past 12 games and three straight defeats was enough for the club's ownership to act.

Director of football Chris Beech will take interim charge of the first team.

Fylde host Leek Town in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Premier League

Zinman 16
Blue B 16
Lady J 11
Derby 10
Minizin 6
B.B.B. 5
Dingle 2
Stairs -1

Average scoring week this week with half in double figures and half not!!  Zinman and Blue Baggie lead the way on 16 points each.  For the first time I can recall, these two predicted identical scores across all 10 games with the only differences being where they put the Bonus and Scoreballs, which in the end they matched scores as well!!  They got 2 CSs, got a CR on the Gamball but missed on the Bonus.  Coincidence or not??  I will let you decide!!

Lady Jane was third with 11 points, she missed on both the major balls but like the leaders did get 2 CSs to offset that.  Derby keeps up his solid start to the season with 10 points, got the Gamball but missed on the Bonus.

Minizin is 5th with 6 points, not his best week but he keeps adding points to his total.  BBB saw a bit of a slump, could have been worse had he not been the only player to score positive points on the Bonus!!  Dingles struggles continue with a poor 2 points, he missed on all his balls and needs to find some form from somewhere.  Stairs had another bad week, his third in a row and during those 3 weeks he has totalled only 9 points, his excellent start to the season seems to have deserted him.

111 Minizin
110 Stairs
110 Derby
104 Zinman
94 Blue Baggie
86 BBB
84 Lady Jane
61 Dingle

Plenty of positional changes this week.  Minizin is our new leader with Stairs dreadful form seeing him give up a 14 point lead in the last two weeks!!  To make it worse for Stairs, Derby is now level on 110 points and Zinman has become the 4th player to reach the century and stands just 6 behind him.  Its now very tight at the top!!

Bit of a drop to Blue but at least he has pulled out a bit of a gap to BBB, who is now just 2 points ahead of Lady Jane.  Dingle is doing a Sheffield Wednesday and is well adrift at the bottom and looking like relegation fodder!!!

A couple of stats to ponder, the PL has now amassed a huge 233 points more than the Championship.  Even when you consider there is one more player in the PL the numbers are vastly in their favour.  The PL players are averaging 95 points, thats more than the leader in the Championship where the average is 20 points less at 75!!  If this rate of scoring disparity persists we could see a relegated player getting more points than one of the promoted ones replacing them in the PL!!

Cheers
SCO


Championship

AAA          10pts
Twerton      6
SCO          4
BaggieOne  3
Snooty        2
Themaclad  0
Sanjay      -3

There's nothing like heading into an international break on a high and the Championship was certainly nothing like heading out on a high. Following week 6's ridiculously easy games, it seems I have gained my revenge - the last couple of weeks have produced poor scores but this week set new standards:
The lowest total points of the season - just 22;
The lowest number of correct score predictions - just 2;
The lowest number of correct result predictions - just 18; and
The first complete blow out on the gamball.

Four matches produced negative scores with only Everton and Blackburn's wins achieving double figures. It looks like the Championship need this week off!
AAA achieved a degree of mediocrity as he reached 10 points thanks to the week's high of 4 correct results, half of the correct scores and gaining points from his bonus. Twerton scored half of his points on the bonus to finish 2nd while SCO gained some satisfaction from getting the other correct score but not a lot else, finishing with just 4 points.

BaggieOne and Snooty both got 3 correct results, no correct scores and missed out on the gamball and bonus though BaggieOne did at least pick up a scoreball point. Themaclad failed to trouble the scorers, 2 correct predictions offsetting his losses on the bonus and gamball, while Sanjay turned in a performance only slightly better than James Linnington's as he totally blanked his predictions but was saved from utter humiliation by getting the week's 2nd scoreball point.

AAA    94
Twerton    92
Baggie1    82
SCO        80
Snooty      73
Themaclad 64
Sanjay      42 

Low scores but a change at the top as AAA overhauls Twerton - the only positional change this week. a bit of statting; Only 2 players, unsurprisingly AAA and Twerton have positive bonus totals, while even the reduction in the gamball penalty hasn't stopped Sanjay from accumulation minus 3 points from it. This week saw BaggieOne's 5 week positive gamball streak come to a crashing halt though he remains the highest scorer on this ball.

Some interesting gamball stats (well, I find them interesting!); On average across all games, 20.3% of correct results have been turned into correct scores - for the gamball the equivalent figure is just 7.9%. On average 36% of result predictions are correct - for the gamball this figure is 26%. It seems like I am selecting some tough games for the gamball as it should be!

Zin

https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/foo...th-injury/

This year's Championships get underway in Aberdeen, Scotland, on Saturday 14 October to Saturday 21 October. Aberdeen was the birthplace of many famous people, notably Henry Cecil, racehorse trainer (I could hardly believe that either), Graham Garden of The Goodies (equally unbelievable), Denis Law and Paul Lawrie (now that's more like it!).

The participating teams are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Czechia, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States and Wales.

The Home Nations are -

England - 4th: Ben Fowler (Vice-Skip), 3rd: Anna Fowler (Skip), 2nd: Scott Gibson, 1st: Annabelle Martin

Ireland - Brian Mathews (Skip), Clare McCormick (Vice-Skip), Jason Medhurst (2nd), Stephanie McDonald (Lead)

Scotland - Jack Strawhorn (Skip), Amy Mitchell (Vice-Skip), Kaleb Johnston (2nd), Kirsty Gallacher (Lead)

Wales - Adrian Meikle (Skip), Dawn Watson (Vice-Skip), Andrew Tanner (2nd), Judith Glazier (Lead)
I've named all the right players, but not necessarily in the right order - now, where have I heard that before!

The 34 teams are split into 4 groups, most notably Group A which contains the 4 Home Nations plus Belgium, Israel, Japan, Netherlands and Sweden. More details to come later in the week.