Goals and suchlike

– Healy scored 1 and set up 1 for Leeds as they beat Coventry 2-1 yesterday.

– Nottingham Forest are appealing against Sammy Clingan’s straight red card after 20 minutes of their 5-0 defeat to Oldham on New Years’ Day for an accidental collision.
– Chris Brunt scored his 8th goal of the season in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Barnsley on Saturday :-P

– Young left back Jeff Hughes has scored the winner in Lincoln’s last 2 games: 2-1 over Boston and 1-0 against Wycombe.

Lincoln skipper Northern Irishman Paul Morgan made his 200th league appearance for the club yesterday afternoon.

– After Collins, John telling us how Ivan Sproule would struggle to get back into the Hibs team after his 4-game suspension, Ivan started their 0-0 draw with Aberdeen at Easter Road today, his first possible game back. He seems to still be in a rich vein of form according to the BBC:
“Sproule was clearly relishing his return to the action and was deployed on either flank and was the inspiration of most positive Hibs attacks.”
He was replaced by Dean Shiels, also just back from a (1-game) suspension.

“It doesn’t get any better than playing for your country” – Jeff Hughes

Jeff Hughes’ attitude to playing for his country explains why he’s on the up and a certain other left sided defender is rotting at Sunderland. While the NI media was surprised at the inclusion of someone who they now assume is a left midfielder (seeing Lawrie played him there), AWS wasn’t surprised and neither was the player himself. The kid is loving it:
“I was secretly thinking before the team was announced that I was in with a shout because I knew there are only two left players in the squad – myself and Tony Capaldi. When I was told I was going to start it was a truly great feeling. I was so nervous and excited; there were butterflies in my stomach. I always get nervous before I go out to play for my club Lincoln but I’ve never felt anything like that before. In fact I think I’ve been nervous since the day I was told by David Currie I was going to the States.
“It doesn’t get any better than playing for your country. I have a lot of family who support Northern Ireland and I know they will be so proud. This is the ultimate dream for any young player born and raised in Northern Ireland. And to actually achieve that dream so early in my career is extra special.”
“All I wanted to do was work my way into the match so I could contribute to the team. I knew they were going to be a tough side because just look at their high FIFA ranking. But I was quite pleased with my own performance. The whole team gave a good account of themselves on a very tricky artificial surface and I felt we really deserved to come away with a draw. The pitch wasn’t great for playing on, we’re all looking forward to hopefully playing on grass again in Chicago.”
On Lincoln losing the play-off final:
“I had mixed emotions once we were knocked out of the Play-offs because I realised if we’d qualified for the final then it would have taken place while this tour was on and I wouldn’t have been able to come here. Obviously I wanted Lincoln to get through but then I’d have missed out on playing for my country which would have been very hard to take. I want to play in the highest League possible, however I will be patient, time is on my side as I’ll only turn 21 next week and I’ve still got so much to learn. At the start of the year I’d set myself the goal of making sure I kept my place in the Under-21s. To finish the season making my debut for the senior team is unbelievable. Now I have to change my goal to try and make sure I earn as many senior international caps as possible during my career.”
Incidentally, Lincoln club captain Paul Morgan was on standby for the squad.

Hughes signs new 2 year deal

Lincoln City left back Jeff Hughes has signed a new deal that will keep him at Sincil Bank till the summer of 2008. Imps’ boss Keith Alexander:

“We’ve agreed a new deal with Jeff to keep him at the Club for another couple of years and we’re delighted with that,” said Imps’ boss Keith Alexander.
“Jeff is a left-sided player who are few and far between and when Paul Mayo gets back to full fitness, it means we’ll be quite strong down that side.
“He’s away on international duty again next week, as is Gareth McAuley, and that’s good recognition for both players and for the Club. Fortunately, it doesn’t affect us playing-wise as we haven’t any games whilst they’re away.”
The 20 year old is set to win his 3rd U21 cap away to Wales on Tuesday.

Hughes scores first goal for Lincoln

Ex-Larne defender Jeff Hughes capped a memorable week by scoring his first goal for League Two Lincoln City in their 2-0 win over Torquay. 20 year old Hughes won his first 2 caps for the U21s last week against Israel and scored with 89 minutes played of his 12th game for the Red Imps. He also had a header hacked off the line.
After the match, boss Keith Alexander hailed Hughes’ all-round performance:
“He was man of the match for me by some distance. He had an excellent game, not just defensively, but when going forward too. He keeps getting better and better with every game he is playing and I am delighted with his progress. He will be some player if he keeps this up.”