Nigel Clough has taken a leaf out of his father’s book by accepting the vacant manager’s position at Derby County.

Clough has subsequently left his role at Burton Albion, who currently sit top of the Blue Square Premier League, having been manager at the club for ten years.

The Rams face Manchester United in their Carling Cup Semi Final first leg tomorrow. Youth coach David Lowe will be in charge for this one game only as caretaker boss Chris Hutchings has left the club while Clough won’t officially take over until Thursday.

Derby have struggled this season having been relegated from the Premiership last year with a record low points total.

Currently sit 18th in the Championship, just five points above the drop zone, the East Midlands side’s latest league defeat, 1-0 at home to Ipswich Town, saw the departure of Paul Jewell, who had targeted an instant return to the Premiership for the Rams.

Clough is joining the club where his Dad, the famous Brian Clough, made his name.

After getting County promoted from the wilderness of Division Two, he guided them to the Division One championship back in 1972.

He also took Derby to the Semi Final of the European Cup the following season, losing out to Juventus, before he eventually won the competition with local rivals Nottingham Forest, back to back, in 1979 and 80.

Derby chairman Adam Pearson is pleased to have got his man, but insists that the past has nothing to do with the appointment: “We are delighted to have him on board. Nigel is right man for this club at this time, he has created a fine legacy at Burton and wants to do exactly the same at Derby. He sees it very much as a long-term project. There was no sentiment or romance involved in the appointment, you can’t have that in football. He’s tough enough to take the club forward in his own style.”

By Alex Zielski

Blackburn Rovers had enough in their extensive locker to see of the challenge of Blyth Spartans at Croft Park.

Carlos Villanueva got the game’s only goal midway through the second half, curling a perfect free-kick over the home side’s wall to send Rovers into an all Premier League tie with Sunderland.

Just short of three and a half thousand fans packed into the Blue Square North ground to see Blyth Spartans take on a much changed Blackburn side, which was mainly made up of youngsters.

Spartans boss Harry Dunn said:” I’m so proud of the players, this has been a really fantastic experience for us. The supporters were fantastic, we went a goal down and the fans were even better. It was a great night for us.”

By Alex Zielski

The draw for the Fourth Round of the FA Cup has produced some tasty ties, including a few local blockbusters.

Liverpool will host the Merseyside derby in what was the first game to be drawn. The East Midlands also sees Derby County go head to head with rivals Nottingham Forest.

Today’s victors Manchester United face an all Premier League clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur after they comfortably beat ten man Southampton at St Mary’s. Danny Welbeck gave United the lead before Saints’ Matt Paterson was sent off for a lunge on Nemanja Vidic. Nani then doubled lead the from the penalty spot with Darron Gibson completing the win.

Aston Villa, who saw off the challenge of Gillingham at Priestfield with James Milner’s penalty giving the visitors a 2-1 victory, will face either Cheltenham or Doncaster Rovers away.

The two non-league sides definitely through to the Fourth Round have been rewarded with home ties. Kettering Town play hosts to Premier League Fulham while Torquay United were drawn against Coventry City. The draw for the fourth round in full is as follows:

Liverpool v Everton
Manchester United v Tottenham
Hull or Newcastle v Millwall or Crewe
Sunderland v Blyth or Blackburn
Hartlepool v West Ham
Leyton Orient or Sheffield United v Charlton or Norwich
Cardiff v Arsenal
Portsmouth or Bristol City v Histon or Swansea
Chelsea or Southend v Ipswich
Cheltenham or Doncaster v Aston Villa
West Brom or Peterborough v QPR or Burnley
Torquay v Coventry
Kettering v Fulham
Watford v Leicester or Crystal Palace
Derby v Nottingham Forest
Birmingham or Wolves v Middlesbrough

By Alex Zielski

The Third Round of the FA Cup provided its usual dose of unpredictability as Hartlepool United lead the way for the underdogs.

It was the Monkey Hangers who took Premier League Stoke City’s feet away in the early kick-off at Victoria Park. Michael Nelson opened the scoring early in the first half, which was added to by David Foley’s decisive screamer 15 minutes from time to send the League One side through.

Arguably a more surprising result came at Eastlands where Manchester City were humbled by Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest. Nathan Tyson, Robert Earnshaw and Joe Garner struck in the visitors 3-0 win, applying more pressure to City boss Mark Hughes.

Torquay United also pulled off a shock by beating Championship Blackpool, Matt Green grabbing the only goal of the game for the Blue Square Premier team.

League One Southend stunned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Peter Clarke earning the Shrimpers a replay after Salomon Kalou had given the Blues a first half lead.

Middlesbrough had to rely on Alfonso Alves grabbing a double to see off non league Barrow, who grabbed a late consolation through Jason Walker.

Other highlights included the seven goal thriller between Forest Green Rovers and Derby County, with the Championship side having to come from two goals down, Steve Davies netting the decisive penalty to send Derby through with a 4-3 victory. Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion were held by Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough United, Craig Mackail-Smith striking late on to earn a replay at London Road after Jonas Olsson’s opener.

Hoops Held

Celtic failed to capitalise on their Old Firm win last week as they were held by Dundee United at Parkhead.

Georgios Samaras had given Celtic a commanding two goal lead, but United produced a fine comeback, Paul Dixon’s free-kick making it 2-1, before Warren Feeney completed the comeback 13 minutes from time.

St Mirren left Love Street with a whimper, more than a bang, as they were held to a goalless draw by Motherwell.

By Alex Zielski

Tottenham Hotspur have become the first team to qualify for the fourth round of the F.A after they comfortably overcame Wigan at White Hart Lane.

A Roman Pavlyuchenko double was enough to seal the win, his first from the penalty spot after Fraiser Campbell was fouled by Wigan goalkeeper Richard Kingston. Luka Modric got the second with a neat header before Henri Camara made the home side sweat, capitalising on some sloppy Spurs defending. However Pavluchenko made sure that Tottenham remain in three cup competitions, striking well from long range.

Bridge Moving Up North

Manchester City have made their first swoop of January, by agreeing an undisclosed fee with Chelsea for Wayne Bridge.

It is understood that the clubs are now awaiting on Bridge, 28, to agree personal terms before the move is completed. It is thought that the final transfer fee could be in the reigon of ?12million.

The red half of the city has also been busy, with United confirming the capture Serbian duo Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic from Partizan Belgrade.

Tosic is a left winger whilst Ljajic, who is only 17, plays a more central midfield role, and will be loaned back to Belgrade. Although the sum of the transfer’s has yet to be disclosed, reports suggest that it totals around ?16million.

Former Derby County manager Billy Davies has been handed the task of retaining Nottingham Forest’s Championship status.

Davies, 44, who also managed league rivals Preston North End, has signed a three and a half year deal, and his first task is to make sure Forest avoid the drop to League One.

The club currently sit one place above the relegation area, only outside the drop zone on goal difference from Doncaster Rovers, who beat Forest 4-2 on Boxing Day, resulting in Calderwood’s departure.

Davies will not take charge until Monday, meaning caretaker boss John Pemberton will be in charge for Saturday’s F.A cup clash with Manchester City.

By Alex Zielski

St Mirren are preparing to close the gates for the final time on Love Street, the ground they have called home since 1894.

The Scottish Premier League side, who are currently sitting pretty in 8th place, will be hosting their final ever game at the much cherished stadium against Motherwell on Saturday.

Love Street has seen many a great moment in the Saints history, with the record attendance coming against one of the Old Firm in the guise of Celtic, when over 47,000 fans literally packed it to the rafters in 1949.

Although it is an historic moment for the Saints, manager Gus MacPherson is insisting that all sentiment is put on hold until the final whistle as a win could see his side climb to sixth in the table, and put further distance between St Mirren and their visitors Motherwell: “We’ll not use (the last game at Love Street] as an excuse as the only way we will get a result is if we play the way we did against Falkirk away, Kilmarnock away, and our two home games.”

The Saints will move to their new stadium, adaptly named St Mirren Park and having a capacity of 8,000, for their fixture against Kilmarnock on 31st January.

By Alex Zielski

Red cards have a habit of cropping up and changing the course of games.

Most of the time, the game will already have a set course. One fixture however, didn’t even get that chance.

Chippenham Town striker David Pratt has broken the record for the fastest ever sending off, and nearly his opponents leg in the process.

Just three seconds into is side’s Southern Premier Division clash with Bashley, Pratt lunged at Chris Knowles straight from the kick off, and was subsequently given his marching orders.

Bashley boss Steve Riley, whose side went onto win the fixture 2-1, said: “The lad’s gone in with his studs showing and went straight through my player. It was a potential leg-breaker. The ref had no choice.”

Luckily Knowles was able to continue after treatment.

The sending off will now go into the record books having surpassed Giuseppe Lorenzo of Bologna who saw red after only 10 seconds for hitting an opposition player against Parma in 1990.

Do any AFS members have memories of fast sending off’s? If so, please add your comments.

By Alex Zielski

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was arrested this morning after a disturbance at a Southport restaurant in the early hours.

Gerrard, 28, who scored twice in Liverpool’s 5-1 mauling of Newcastle yesterday, was detained after police were called to the Lounge Inn on Bold Street.

It is believed that the Reds midfielder was arrested along with six other men on Lord Street, which is around the corner from the entertainment venue.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We are investigating an assault that took place in the early hours of Monday December 29 on Bold Street in Southport. Six men were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault, on Lord Street.”

Liverpool Football Club have so far declined to comment on the incident.

Jewell Resigns As Rams Boss

Paul Jewell has left his position as Derby County manager following his side’s 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town yesterday.

Suspicion had been growing on Jewell’s future at the club when he failed to attend the post match press conference following the loss.

It was the former Wigan Athletic manager’s 50th game in charge of the Rams, out of which he had only won seven with 30 defeats.

Jewell’s former assistant Chris Hutchings will now take charge of the club for Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Forest Green Rovers.

Jewell had guided Derby to the semi finals of the Carling Cup where they face Manchester United, but the club sit 18th in the Championship and only five points off the relegation area.

County chairman Adam Pearson said: “It was probably one result too far for Paul. He came to see me after the game and said that he felt it just wasn’t working out and didn’t want to club to suffer as a result. He just feels that the club needs a fresh impetus and a new direction.”

Bloods Given The Boot From Cup

Droylsden have been kicked out of the FA Cup after they fielded an illegible player in their Second Round replay against Chesterfield.

Sean Newton, who scored both goals to send Droylsden through to the Third Round to face Ipswich Town, should have been serving a one match ban for a suspension.

The FA have now taken the decision to throw the Blue Square North side out of the competition for their breach of the rules. Droylsden chairman and manager Dave Pace said: “It is ludicrous as we have beaten Chesterfield fair and square on the field. It was a genuine mistake by our secretary. Fine us by all means but don’t kick us out.”

Droylsden now have until tomorrow to appeal against the decision. The replay was the fourth time that the tie was attempted to be resolved, with the first being abandoned due to fog, the second finishing in a draw which resulted in the replay and the third called off due to floodlight failure. The draw at Saltergate also saw Chesterfield allowing their visitors to score a ‘free goal’.

Chesterfield manager Lee Richardson said: “This has been a cup tie with many talking points and it seems that the FA has now had the last word.”

By Alex Zielski

Liverpool ensured that they are going into the new year at the top of the Premiership pile as they destroyed Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Captain Steven Gerrard was influential as the Reds took Newcastle apart, with Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given ensuring the scoreline didn’t resemble that of a cricket match.

Liverpool played without both Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres, but this didn’t stop them getting five with Gerrard grabbing two, which sandwiched Sami Hypia’s header and Ryan Babel’s strike.

The homeside had pulled it back to 2-1 with David Edgar rising to pull one back. However, Xavi Alonso’s 76th minute penalty completed a resounding win that sees Liverpool move three points clear after Chelsea were held by Fulham, 2-2 at Cravern Cottage, Frank Lampard also getting a double.

A mention must go to Peterborough United who won a nine goal thriller at Cheltenham by six goals to three. The win sees Darren Ferguson’s men firmly in the play offs, just six points behind MK Dons in second. Leicester City continue to lead the way, recording their eight successive home win over Hereford United with a 2-1 victory.

By Alex Zielski