Dean Shiels scores in a vital win for Championship struggles Doncaster

Behind the scenes with Jonny Evans

(BBC)

New song – pity about the fake commentary at the end!

Disappointed after a draw away to Poland! Suppose it’s possibly a good sign! But tonight could have been so much more.

NI, finally free of George McCartney thanks (and I mean thanks!) to an injury that will also keep him out of Wednesday, pretty much dominated the first half. Great composed finish by Lafferty. Header off the line by left back Evans – don’t think George would have got that! Also what I think is our strongest midfield – again injury meant Nigel didn’t have to decide whether to play Brunt or not.

Then in the second half it all went wrong. Laffs off injured. Paterson comes on and misses two great chances. The first was unforgivable, Evans had ran half the pitch with the ball and was still steaming forward, Healy was there too, and the Burnley striker opted to shoot from outside the box with his left foot. Then, moments later he was clean through, looked certain to score but didn’t even hit the target. Might not get a Burnley shirt after all!

We’re still very much in the mix, especially given the other result tonight, but a win would have left us in a great position to possibly even win the group. But let’s not be greedy I suppose!

The 34 year old has signed a one-year contract with the Irish League champions after a short spell at Bradford following his release from Sheffield United.

Photo Russell Pritchard/Presseye.com

BBC: Gillespie maintains NI ambitions

Meanwhile, Royston has left Derby by mutual consent, despite having 2 years left on his contract, and is expected to sign for Danish side Odense

Carroll waves goodbye to British shores (either that or he’s going for a cross)

And finally, I’ve now added all the archives for the site back to the start (March 2004), missing a few posts around Dec 07-Jan 08. I declared in Feb 08 that I’d have the archives up in a  week or so, but better late than never! AWS: No Jonny-come-lately!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8198438.stm

Also, Joel Taggart has recently started a blog. It’s promises to be both about domestic and international football. He’s linked here so thought I’d reciprocate! Looking forward to his first post about the Stute!

Captain Stephen Craigan will act as caretaker until an appointment is made. The Northern Ireland defender will be in charge when the players report for pre-season training on Monday. And the 32-year-old told BBC Scotland: “We hope to have a new manager by the end of the week. “But they needed someone to organise training, so I have spoken with the physio. It might all change in a couple of days if someone is appointed.”

Craigan, who has started taking his coaching qualifications, said he never considered applying for the vacancy himself.

“I am in no position to go in as manager of the football club,” he said. “I am still a player and learning the game – and I still feel I can play another two or three years.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/8111043.stm

Runs from the half-way line and unleashes an unstoppable shot from 25 yards for his 19th of the season to help put Burnley in the Championship Play-Off Final:

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2515417/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8042878.stm

Not to mention goalline clearance and MOTM performance

They’re looking to get him for about £15M.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/milan-target-evans-and-vidic-in-pound35m-deal-1640468.html