18/08/2012 The Football League Show

Here we go again, after 105 days, the great British sporting summer

Bolton find themselves under Championship for the first time in

chosen a tougher opening fixture And after four his Edexcel,

Rotherham are back on home turf with more than a nod and a wink to

There was more than local bragging reward for scoring Northern Ireland

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pas Crewe equaliser against Finland Burnley were about to score, and

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Bogdan denies Patterson again. It is Bogdan versus the rest at the

moment. Patterson finding so much space, the confidence to go from

close to a goal there, which would have given us a contest in the

If you're at planned the opening day, could it have gone better than

performances, great debuts, and all have not been with him that much.

Obviously, we put in a great Overall, disappointed to start the

game really well, first 15 or 20 minutes. Bolton gave the ball away

a bit cheaply, and that gave encouragement to Burnley. From then

on, that is why he was delighted with the performance. The start was

poor, but they recovered and won the way? Was he playing him on the

side? He looks a couple of yards onside for me. He looks around to

check. I think that is a really fortunate break, he looks again! A

considering no Rodriguez at Turf Moor, so to see your other striker

another dimension. He really needs to develop a good partnership, and

we saw that today with Austin and Paterson, they did really well at

times. They are good players, and I expect more from them? I thought it

was going to be a very difficult game. Fabrice Muamba or retiring,

it is sad, but it goes on. They needed an easier start to the

season, rather than going to Owen Coyle's old club for a local derby.

Championship new boys fared at Elland Road, where Leeds macro have

been at the centre of a takeover Wolves striker for handball. A

were all over the place. He was given a bigger headache there. What

a terrific ball that has turned out to be poor start Leeds are ahead,

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Luciano Becchio sparked pandemonium Neil Warnock is chasing a record

has been an uncomfortable afternoon English football. It was a cracking

tho their global adviser but nothing sur prices the fans.

Branding Pederson a pensioner wasn't too shrewd and the old boy

wasn't too shrewd and the old boy didn't do too bad. Richards off the

mark after playing in France and Turkey. Ipswich were at the other

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they continued to force the pace. said off the field, we will do our

talking on the pitch. It was a good performance. Wednesday's first half

display in the Cup at the start of the week had Dave Jones spitting

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had been a nightmare start almost had a fairy-tale ending.

deserved the point and should have got all three, to be fair. After

three years away, Charlton are back points en route to their League One

title, but even with that record St Andrews promised a difficult start.

Yann Kermorgant could not believe his first league start, crowning an

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unforgettable summer for the matched only by the utility of the

the far post. Helguson hits the bar, San fortunate. -- so unfortunate.

He wanted it more than anybody else. Clarke, with a real captain's job -

might have just been going wide. Once again, to deny Huddersfield

Town. Gnashing of teeth from Huddersfield Town who could have

put this game to bed. Into added time we go. They can't Clear. It

falls for Hartson. The opening night of the championship season,

it scores the goal that surely gives Cardiff all three points.

Heroics from Marshall at one end. The skipper secured the points at

I thought we were brave on the ball to keep going, to keep probing.

Eventually, we got the break. see how well we played, the shape

of the team, the opportunities that we had. When you see that the

goalkeeper was made Man of the Match, we are disappointed. Proud

of the players application. A lot of encouraging signs.

Huddersfield can count themselves unlucky not to get a point. They

were thwarted by an incredible performance from the Cardiff

goalkeeper. I was really impressed. They had the better chances in the

first half and they did not take them. Lots of chances at goal but

He tries to direct it into the far corner. Simon Grayson will be very

pleased with his goalkeeper's The Championship is so open, Leeds

being one of the contenders. Paddy Kenny was instrumental in their one

and only goal against Wolves, an incredible ball. It was something

we have seen from them many times. He is great with his distribution.

A great ball, a great cross and a A great ball, a great cross and a

great finish by Becchio. It is what goalkeepers need to do. It is a

wonderful cross. He finishes it well. A good decision to take it

with his head. Wolves coming unstuck, another team coming down

were Blackburn. There build up was hardly ideal. The football idea --

adviser was saying that if Steve Kean doesn't win his first three

games he will be sacked. He has apologised. It has gone from the

sublime to the ridiculous, last season they were not saying

anything, this season they are saying too much. They have gone out,

they have invested. Murphy, Etuhu. They have spent quite well. He

unfortunately Leon Best is out for six months. Steve Kean can be

confident. I know he has retracted it but you have got to keep quiet.

They have managed to get on with Black pool were back in competitive

action for the first time since falling just short of a swift

return to the Premier League. They kicked off their campaign a way to

for standing firm. Andy Keogh could not find a way past him. Just as

impressive was the save from Maik Taylor. Kevin Phillips had time to

load his Muskett before firing a fierce effort which the goalkeeper

did well to parry. Tom Ince played a deft one-two With t Ogogo MOTs

before curling into the bottom corner. -- with Gomez before

curling into the bottom corner. Blackpool secured the points with a

goal of brilliance. Thomas Ince proved why he is the player to

watch in the Championship. It was hard to call the game at the

KC Stadium. Both meetings ended up dollars. There was plenty of

goalmouth action to liven up the action. There was an anxious moment

early on. The last ditch tackle that Steve Bruce would have been

proud of in his prime, and he would have liked the look of this.

Aluko's thunderous shot got the better of Kuszczak, if not the bar.

Brighton breathed a sigh of relief and gave a good account of

themselves, unfortunate not to open the scoring five minutes into the

second half. Mackail-Smith rattling the woodwork. Gus Poyet's side's

inability to make possession count proved decisive, Simpson with the

decisive blow just five minutes left. The substitute make the

impact at Bruce was hoping for. It would have been rough on Brighton,

Steve Bruce was first to acknowledge his first win was far

from comfortable. It could have gone either way. The one bit of

gone either way. The one bit of quality has won the game for us.

The one real bit of quality. It was nice. A great ball from Robert

Koren. Well done to the referee, too. If the bookies are to be

too. If the bookies are to be believed, these two were to be

competed at the -- competing at the opposite end before May. Keith Hill

managed a smile, even though his side are tipped to go down. On this

showing, the Yorkshire club looked anything but relegation candidates,

some DUP by the quality of the strike that had them ahead. Craig

Davies found the bottom corner -- summed up by the quality. Bailey

took matters into his own hands, his long range effort kept out.

Tony Mowbray's men run the risks of leaving gaps at the back. Jason

Steele kept Boro in with a shout. It was not long before Davies was

cursing his luck for a second time. Jason Steele again doing

brilliantly to keep the score down. It would have been harsh if Boro

had nicked a point. Justine. Found himself in the right spot but the

Reds held on -- Justine Hoilett I am over the moon to beat one of

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the best teams in the league, to be keep it goalless. Wes Morgan scored

for the first time since October, heading home this swirling corner.

Schmeichel smashed it downfield, game for Leicester. Marty was again

involved in the build up. The Foxes solar's what that rain, enjoying

the glamour of Selhurst Park -- of Gianfranco Zola's what food to rain.

-- Watford reign. John Eustace overstretched himself. It gave Owen

Garvan the chance to get the ball rolling on the car or -- de

Gaulle's front. The spot-kick, as calm as they come -- on the goals

front. Garner was inches from an equaliser. Palace were finding the

corners hard to handle and the same was true of Murray's shot, which

embarrassed Speroni. Martin Taylor made him pay for the mistake. Two

goals in the first quarter of the game, they can be no complaints

about the entertainment, especially from the home fans. Garvan restored

the lead. Balis did the double last season and the winning run looked

set to continue -- Palace did the double. Watford have borrowed half-

a-dozen players from other clubs in Europe and there was about to be a

big impression. Selhurst Park were stunned and Zola could reflect that

it is not how you start, but how you finish. The end was very good.

We can improve. It was a tough game, we got the three points. It would

be like that all the time. They have not exactly had too much

to jump up and down about at Forest in recent years. After the arrival

of new owners and manager, fans headed to the City Ground with

renewed optimism. Sean O'Driscoll could have been leading out Crawley

but he was back in the same dug out when he finished last season, in

place of his old boss, Steve Cotterill. After his brief spell

down south, he was looking to get the new era off to a positive start.

Bristol City's win on this ground in April went a long way to

securing their championship status. They were overrun in the opening

stages. This cross deserved better from Dexter backstop. It turned out

to be a tight affair. The destination of the points were

decided with 20 minutes to go. Guedioura put Forest on course for

the first opening-day win in six years. City are making a habit of

starting poorly. They kicked off with one win in 11 last year, and

one win in 13 the season before. But for the agility of Tom Heaton,

the margin of defeat would have been greater, but Forest up and

game, the boys were saying that one goal would win or lose it. We are

glad we got the one goal. There is lots to be confident about, I

thought we could have won it on another day. We will keep positive

and it towards the first win. get the impression it will be a

tough season for Bristol City. One of the most notable results has to

be the comeback from Watford at Crystal Palace. There is always a

bit of scepticism when clubs have link up with other clubs from

overseas. Udinese and Granada in this case. When you see two players

from both of those clubs who have scored, will the fans feel better

They will feel slightly better. It may be more prudent for the

managers to decide to go somewhere else to get players to fit in what

he is trying to do it. They will feel better but when you have young

players, you feel they may not have the affinity with the club that you

may require. Let me get your way give you on the

championship. This is how the bookmakers see the race to the

I am the Accies for another five or six teams who do I feel have as

good a chance of getting up. I feel it is an open division. I

understand why it goes like this. I can see it will be difficult for

them to find players to compete. I would not say it is a foregone

conclusions. Won two League One and onto the

club which has dominated headlines. Portsmouth and their fight for

survival. Nine teenagers played against Plymouth on Tuesday. 14

were players had been signed before today. Their opponents were

enormous. -- their opponents were enormous.

Portsmouth had been allowed to start the season in a

administration after. The support Name it was a very experienced side

which played a jury also got they fell behind early also almost. That

post was strong. Our rockets atmosphere of a varied as a lead

was again. -- our ready and his There should have been two goals

before the break. The field it'll After the break. More pressure has

Her there were seven new signings on display today. An equaliser 12

There was another chance later on. This was a point proved as well as

hard earned. I suppose in the circumstances,

putting this team together over a period of 48 hours, it has been a

bit of a miracle. We did not have the right to win today but the pit

a great effort in. We were hanging on for about 20 minutes in the

second half. We were not quite up to match fitness. But I felt we

deserved one point. Her staff performed well.

Coventry, their first match for 40 A central defender scored his third

goal of the season already. There should have been a more than just

1964 was the first -- 1964 was the last game at this level for

Coventry. There was something ingenious about this effort which

started and almost finished by the midfielder.

There were enough chances to win three games but let themselves down

After four years after their championship ended, they have

started to make their way back up. Chris Brown was on score a for the

second at Saturday in succession. He should have had another cold. He

had freedom of the penalty box but directed his shot at the wrong side

off the post. How about this as a way to mark your debut for your new

club? He was released by Barnsley last season and is quickly finding

favour with his new club. On any other day, his efforts would have

been the goal of the game. In the second half, he conjured this up.

It was the perfect start from Doncaster. Plenty to improve on

from Walsall. The last side to beat Sheffield

United at home was 22 to a musical and a batch was liberal on the last

day of the season. Again day to There was a lack of composure felt

the manager. The post was struck again. It was almost two goals when

presence of mind was displayed with this shot. His way was are up to a

No club has ever achieved three consecutive at promotions but this

was it a try J. A sign of things to come. Two goals on the opening day

21 goals last season from the veteran and another shot like that

could put him in action. The penalty was driven home for. The

result was put beyond doubt 10 There was still time for me days to

get even worse for Scunthorpe. Frustration got the better off Mark

Duffy. He the second yellow card and the rotten start to the season

his goals and five minutes before the break he got his first for the

club. Crewe tried to hit back. This cross from the edge of the box was

only half-cleared. Clayton's follow-up was blocked. County

doubled their lead 13 minutes into the second half. Alan Judge's cross

deflected, and the Notts County player gobbled up his first goal.

It was an eventful debut for the French striker, he was only on the

pitch for two more minutes. He kicked out at Ashley Westwood and

the Crewe captain make the most of it. The referee deemed bit worthy

of a straight red card. With just over a quarter of an hour to go,

Crewe made their one-man advantage equaliser. Westwood was just off-

target as the 20 game unbeaten run came to an end. Paolo Di Canio's

Swindon like Victoria Park. They had not lost in six visits to

Hartlepool and last year's League Two champions or close to taking

the lead. Steve Howard, back at the club where he began his career, saw

his bullet header struck the frame. Another old boy had the perfect

chance to win the match. However, it wasn't the sort of homecoming

that Tommy Miller wished for. Against a club that gave him his

first start in the game, he could not forget his roots and placed his

penalty over. -- and blazed his An amazing situation at Portsmouth,

11 debuts, two more from the bench. Incredible. He has been a busy boy,

Michael. He might as well have taken this summer off and come back

in the last four days. It is an incredible job and to go out and

perform like that, it is magnificent. The Portsmouth fans

should be very proud. A cynic might say there were told debuts, they

were given a helping hand. -- 12 debuts. Israel McLeod was at

Barnett not so long ago. The keeper will be more than disappointed with

that. They stuck in there, Bournemouth got the equaliser. The

Portsmouth fans could not have expected a performance like that,

with what they have had to contend with. Let's hope they can pull

together and get through this, it is an awful situation. Dean

Saunders needed a good start after relegation from the Championship. A

terrific strike from -- strike from David Cockroft -- David Cotterill.

But Billy Sharp said on Twitter that he did not mean this goal, it

was a diagonal ball that ended up in the net. I knew him as a young

man a Bristol City. He definitely meant it and I'm sure he will do it

again to prove their point! Sheffield Wednesday got off to a

winning start. Favourites for promotion and you can see why, with

the resources available to Danny Wilson. Yes, they have lost a lot

of goals, Evans, Williamson, they have gone. There is a lot of

building -- rebuilding to do. Last year was a big blow. They have

signed a player on loan from Manchester United. When they went

out in midweek on penalties, I thought it was a terrible start to

the season, but they got a result today which will be a big boost.

for the rest of League 1, MK Dons had to dust themselves down after

further heartache in May's play- offs. They entertain Oldham,

take the elusive final step into the Championship? The signs are

positive. Darren Potter got them off the mark against Oldham. They

enjoyed an outstanding performance by Dan Powell, a valuable source of

goals last season, the 21-year-old will target double figures again

this campaign. Just before the hour mark, he found himself in plenty of

space and he knew exactly what to do with it. A cool piece of

finishing on a boiling afternoon in Milton Keynes. It got a bit heated

on the pitch, too. An injury-time scuffle between Robbie Simpson and

Anthony CAI turned into a breathe free for all. There was a red card,

a minor blip on another big -- an otherwise impressive start.

Brentford had to take advantage of a Bury side still coming to terms

with Richie Barker's deflection took -- defection to Crawley.

Brentford expect big things of their 20-year-old midfielder

foreshore, who signed for an undisclosed fee from Everton. A

rare chance for Bury came when Schumacher's free-kick found its

way to mark Cullen, he couldn't break the deadlock. The shakers

thought they should have had a penalty when there was this

challenge in the box. The caretaker boss Peter Shercliff had to make do

with their point in his first game in charge. The heat seemed to take

its toll on both sides in a fruitless first half. The Boro

striker defied the elements with a lung-bursting run from deep. It

included a few tricks before he fired into the side netting. The

Carlisle boss took plenty of positives from his side's

performance, not least when Kadima tree helped Robson beat the offside

trap -- Kadima tree -- Danny Cadamarteri. The shot could only be

win, don't get beat. Today, we found life more difficult to find

the form and quality that we would expect. I think those expectations

have started to build around the place. They have seen us play in

the cup. Albeit against League 2 opposition. We know what we are

capable of and we did not find that fluency. A new look for Graham

Westley's Preston but a familiar scoreline. 12 of the 13 players he

used were making league debuts. This one was almost marked with a

goal. Colchester had Mark Cousins on song. Preston were reduced

mainly two shots from a difference -- distance. The revamped

Lillywhite started to run out of ideas. Colchester didn't create

much. Jonjo tour had their best chance. Preston have drawn 11 times

in 23 league games under Westley, six of them goalless draws.

Sometimes the more things change, fans don't get to see very often.

You probably start to think it is going to be your day when the left-

back, who has managed just one goal blame him for celebrating with the

equaliser, it denied by the Wallace found him with the perfect

cross. The only blot on Rovers' copybook came three minutes from

time when Jimmy Smith was sandwiched by Wallace and Gibson

and the referee pointed to the spot. Michael Symes dispatched the

penalty. And then trying some Olympic handball. He and the

goalkeeper will book, nothing could Tranmere continuing where they left

off last season despite losing their captain, Player of the Year

and top scorer. MK Dons are one of the main contenders. 2-0 win

against Oldham. For them, it is win or bust, in many ways. After the

heartache, they after automatic promotion. They have been through

the play-offs the last few seasons. the play-offs the last few seasons.

They have been majorly disappointed. He has some experience in the squad

now. I think he might go the extra yard this season. Cast your eye on

the contenders for those to go up and to go down from this division.

Do you share the views of the bookies? I do. I would throw my old

club, Bradford. -- Brentford. They have secured land for a new ground

and there is real optimism. I think Oldham will be stronger under Paul

in from clubs like Villa and West Brom, he has kept them on an even

keel. It is going to be tough for them. To League 2, and a bit of

history in South Yorkshire. Having survived administration not once

but twice, Rotherham were forced to play matches in Sheffield. After

four difficult years at the Don Valley, the Millers have finally

They may have shed the Don Valley athletics stadium with a Team GB's

poster girl -- they may have shared. But Rotherham United's time in

exile was not a winner with their supporters, many of whom refused to

travel. I wouldn't travel to watch us play. I would sooner go away

from home. You need a pair of binoculars to see the far side of

the pitch. It is like being on the moon, no atmosphere. For a century,

the spiritual home was in the town centre until a dispute with their

former owner led to them leaving in 2008. Things got so bad, they had

to use their chairman's factory on an industrial estate to house the

club shop and ticket office. Yet somehow, Rotherham still manage to

be named the Football League's community club of the Year last

season. Which maybe explains why, unusually for the modern era,

Rotherham's new ground is also slap bang in the middle of the town and

within sniffing distance of the old �25 million, 12,000 capacity and a

name that pays tribute to previous He invented the stop tap and part

of the stop tap evolution was the fire hydrant. That was made on this

side. In the mid- 1850s, the products were going to New York. We

thought it was so befitting in marketing sense, that this is the

New York part of Rotherham, the New York Stadium as a ring to it.

Little hints of Frank Sinatra and I I like to think that we have built

a Ferrari and a lot of fans and people of Rotherham would agree

with it. A # New York, New York. The ground is perfect, couldn't be

better. Fantastic, never thought I would see it. I am like a kid on

Christmas Eve, I couldn't sleep last night. Can you pass the

microphone from me, to you? Tony Stewart is the greatest guy who has

ever lived at the moment. To bring this to Rotherham, we have been

since we were knee high to a grasshopper. Millmoor, having to go

to Don Valley, coming to this, it has all been worth it. It is like a

mini Wembley. # If we can make it there.

# We will make it anywhere. # It is up to you.

# New York, New York. Suddenly, I can see why you let a

season with Crawley go, this is amazing. It is not just this, it is

the whole football club. From the chairman down, the new training

ground, it is about a new chapter in a management career and a new

chapter at a football club. The chairman has done his bit. We know

what the opposite end is. We will be on the dole. Your mantra

wouldn't be bad for on the pitch. From the committee you. That is

what we keep saying. -- from me, to you. I am giving the team talk!

will be looking out for that, never their droves to see history being

made and they were not disappointed. When Nardiello had his heels

clipped, the tone for the rest of the afternoon was said. Nardiello,

one of 11 new signings, became the first man to get his name in lights

at the club's new home. The dream start was almost in tatters moments

later when the Burton player thought he had broken the snap -

the offside trap. With 11 goals -- 11 minutes gone, Steve Evans' men

were coasting. 0 de Jaidee helped himself to a debut goal to increase

second half dismissal of bowl. His late challenge on noble soon had

the referee reaching for his red card. This cross took a wicked

deflection as he went three up with a quarter of an hour left to play.

The home side were living up to their billing as promotion

favourites. A on this evidence, or rather more take some stopping. --

rather rum will take. -- roar of a rather rum will take. -- roar of a

rather rum will take. -- roar of a rather rum will take. -- roar of a

We will have these crowds all season, it is not a one-off.

could not have dreamt of it. A newt It is exciting times for this lot.

We are back and that is important. They have an ambitious chairman and

manager. How far can they go? Let us not get too carried away,

they have only played one game so far. They have to make sure their

players do not get too far ahead of themselves. Once you get that first

promotion, you can go on. He will be looking to invest wisely and

they will get on well if they do. They must get out of this division

first for if. He there is no denying his passion

for the game. He is one of the most passionate

people I know. I used to sit next to him and he is so passionate and

wants to win but he has done well. He has had some difficult times. We

know his past history. But he has done a great job in the past and he

has a new opportunity which he has taken with a Rotherham. He has

decided that they are a club which will be going places quicker.

It will be interesting. Fleetwood Town are the newest League members.

They are hopeful of a great results have had a more lyrical assignment

do a lot of his players and understood. They gave a game in the

Cup and they were fired up again. The affair all may be a novelty for

Fleetwood but there is plenty of experience around. He has players

from Barnsley, Macclesfield and cadre among us is his team. --

maximum points. It was not going to beat a great. It was destined to

did not go as they hoped. An early strike do not get off to at flying

start. The were two goals before half-time.

This was I a good contender for goal of the season competition.

There was a chance of an instant return to the one. He started and

scored quickly. Jason Walker pulled one back from Iraq. Their free will

be tested over the next nine months. They will have better opponents

than this. He Acid pair saved at last season, Chesterfield are among

his favourites for promotion from basement division this time round.

For a poor deal striker was hoped to take him back up and was not far

away on this occasion. -- Porterfield. Problems continued but

this should have been a better finish. Soon after, tall that

against Brian again. This time, the Wimbledon this season the with many

players released and four new equaliser. It was blocked by a

combination of ground and then the other players and the visitor's

through. This shot was unsuccessful and only met with the woodwork.

amiss. That is Northampton in the fluorescent kit. Rochdale quest for

an uneasy -- Rochdale's quest for an immediate return was looking

promising. Northampton were rocking. This clearance was a whisker away

from but think his side in trouble. The onslaught continued after the

restart, Adebola failing to finish off a flowing move to break the

deadlock. Aidy Boothroyd was keen to point out that his side were a

work in progress and will learn lessons from their trip to

Lancashire. Stopping crosses might be one of them. On another day they

would surely have been punished. That said, Alex Nichols went close

to snatching an unlikely win for the visitors but they will be

Exeter were keen to set a different tone for this season. The Morecambe

goalkeeper was kept on his toes early on. The defensive mistakes

that Dr the last campaign soon reappeared. This ball was swept to

Andrew Fleming. There was no hesitation when the ball broke

kindly for him again. Thanks to the excellent finish, Jim Bentley's men

were on course for another memorable away day. Morecambe were

in full command, while at the other end, any notion of a comeback was

nipped in the bud by the goalkeeper who wash up again. For the first

time ever at the 11th attempt, Morecambe took three points from

Cheltenham's hopes of another promotion push this season. There

was an early chance for last year's play-off finalists, who have

succeeded in keeping most of their team together. Markets has also

made some astute signings. -- Mark Bat goal came away -- on the stroke

of half-time. The points was sealed four minutes after the interval. A

spectacular strike, the midfielder's third in five games.

On this evidence, so by ball looks to be Dagenham's loftiest ambition.

I will hope this is a false start rather than a sign of things to

not won away since January and were not supposed to win against one of

the favourites for promotion, but Carr Sheppard had other ideas. The

loan signing celebrating his first have the same effect. -- failed to

have. When Mark Phillips got on the end of this corner, the goalkeeper

was there again. Her Ryan Hall got his free kick up and over the wall

but it was straight down the middle. The goalkeeper was again equal to

it as Accrington chalked up their first ever win at Southend. A

meeting of two teams expected to make a strong promotion challenge.

Oxford were close last season, against Bristol Rovers showing

promise under Mark McGhee. Celebrations all round, but the

linesman's decision to chalk it off appeared harsh. Oxford decided to

have a go themselves. Forced to cast he has a strong look

footballing pedigree. -- Jake force the Tasci has a strong footballing

coming next. This run was matched with a cool finish to put Oxford on

top at half-time. David Clarkson set about repairing the damage but

he found Rhian Clarke on top of his Park inside the first five minutes.

Brown was too strong in the air for Plymouth. Wharton went closest to

put in Plymouth back on terms. -- home side's fate was sealed.

Plymouth fans did their best to distract the penalty taker but

nothing was going to put him off. A promising start to the season for

enthusiasm is already rubbing off on Gillingham's players. This

flying header was brave and required a breathtaking header --

breathtaking save. Martin Allen has asked for a lean and mean it could

well and it looks like he has got it. The improbable finish gave the

Gills a half-time thing is that they deserved. There was another

chance from the penalty spot. The number 9 has three in two games,

the pep-talk has done the trick. Bradford found it tough going at

priest field but they did pull one back eight minutes later, that was

also from the spot. The penalty was too accurate for Stuart Nelson.

Gillingham was bought a bit of breathing space late on. --

restored a bit. With two minutes to go, Weston showed what his new

manager sees in him. The Gills were good value for the two goal cushion

and might have added to it. Bradley is the young midfielder with an eye

for goal, the post denied him on his Football League debut. The

manager was canny enough to let others take the credit. I thought

the crowd played their part today. When you win 3-1 at home, it was a

gut feeling, I suppose, to step out of the technical area and thank

everybody in this main stand and the Rainham End. To thank you, like

I have thanks the players, for but on this evidence the search for

a new owner has not distracted the players. They went ahead inside the

opening 10 minutes, in some style. The home side had the chance to

double their lead with a penalty. Myrie-Williams did not disappoint,

the perfect way for him to celebrate signing permanently this

summer. 15 minutes from time, Pope was causing Barnett problems again.

Barnet might be fearing a 4th An encouraging start for Port Vale,

particularly after a traumatic last season. Wycombe started off with a

win, they were promoted two seasons ago, Gary what it knows what it

takes. What a cracking strike. great strike. Gave the keeper no

chance. Gary will get them playing great football. He knows how to get

out of the division, I would not back against them. By will the

bookies see Wycombe in the next? Do you agree with the bookies? I can't

argue against any of the top seven. Fleet would could get on a roll,

Oxford were disappointing towards the end of the season. I would put

Torquay in them, I think it might beat third time lucky. That my

outsiders, Aldershot and the Dean Holdsworth. They are moving forward

as a club -- Aldershot under Dean Holdsworth. They could certainly

finish amongst it. They have gone finish amongst it. They have gone

with two clubs with the smallest with two clubs with the smallest

budget in the division to go down. It is always difficult for clubs

like that. I would back John Steele this time. I think it will be

difficult for mark Robson and Barnet. He has so much enthusiasm

and he will squeeze every last drop out of that club. And not to take

it to the final day of the season. Tonight's show is available on the