Latest news with #openingday
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Comebacks, stunners and 'Super Cooper' - the Irish Premiership returns
The Irish Premiership returned at the weekend with all 12 teams in action across Saturday and Ballymena United, Carrick Rangers, Coleraine, Glentoran and Linfield all began their campaigns with opening day first six games of the season served up the debuts of plenty of new signings, new kits and goals galore with some interesting Sport NI looks at five of the biggest talking points from the weekend's action. Refereeing controversy at Seaview There was an early contender for game of the season at Seaview and few could have envisaged Carrick Rangers fighting back to win 4-3 when they fell 3-0 behind after 32 minutes against Crues, who look to be trying to evolve their playing style under Declan Caddell this year, played some scintillating football in that first half unearthing Kieran Offord from Scotland last season, they seem to have hit the jackpot again in that market again with some of their latest Bryden and Adam Brooks scored on their debuts, Elliot Dunlop was a constant thorn in Carrick's side with his pace and directness, and Finley Thorndike, as he did at Glentoran, showed glimpses of his Baxter's decision to sign a number of former Crusaders players looked to have backfired as their lack of pace in defence was exposed, but they showed ruthlessness when chances presented themselves to stay in the Gibson produced two clinical finishes whilst Jack Scott twice held his nerve from the spot to help them to a remarkable comeback awarding of both those spot kicks was contentious with Crues boss Caddell less than impressed with referee Mark Dillion, who had a tough afternoon in north decision to award the first spot kick when Aidan Steele was taken down by Dunlop proved to be something of a turning point as Scott converted to spark the ire lay firmly with the fact Dillion's assistant had initially signalled for a throw-in to Crusaders and the referee overruled him to award the penalty."Two huge calls from the referee that has given Carrick Rangers three points today," Caddell said post-match and it is hard to argue the referee's decisions did not have a huge bearing on the game. Rocket from Rocks nets Sky Blues three points As well as a game of the season contender on opening day, we also had a goal of the season contender from an unlikely source in Ballymena United's Donal industrious midfielder is not renowned for his goal scoring prowess but his double on Saturday helped the Sky Blues to a 2-0 opening day win over Glenavon at Mourneview nipped in at the back post to tuck home the opener in the first half and then produced a stunning strike for his second, lobbing goalkeeper Jacob Carney from long range to seal all three of taking the plaudits post-match, Rocks admitted to BBC Sport NI the shot was more hit and hope than Wayne Rooney esque!"My legs were getting a bit heavy as it was the first game of the season, but I looked up and caught the keeper off his line, struck it well and it went in off the underside of the crossbar," he said. Dream start for clinical Bangor Bangor marked their return to the top flight with a first Irish Premiership win since December 2008 and they were well worth their 3-1 victory over Cliftonville at Clandeboye Park Lee Feeney said that he had trialled three different formations in the build-up to the game due to injuries and he landed on a winning well-drilled Seasiders did their homework as they frustrated Cliftonville and took their chances when they came, exploiting the Reds' weakness in the Arthurs and former Reds striker Michael Morgan both headed home from good deliveries to hand Bangor a valuable three was a difficult afternoon for Jim Magilton's side, who struck the crossbar three times but failed to really create many clear-cut Ryan Curran's equaliser they had a spell when they looked like they might go on and win the game, but they switched off defensively and were duly games against Coleraine, Larne and Linfield to come this month, Magilton will hope that result will be a huge wake-up call. Super Cooper New team, same old Joel year's Player of the Season Cooper scored the winner on his debut for new-look Coleraine to get his and their season off to a former Linfield man showed his signature composure as he buried a low shot beyond Rohan Ferguson with four minutes left at the Coleraine Showgrounds to edge a tense encounter against was a game that looked to be drifting towards a goalless draw before Cooper sprinkled some magic to earn a crucial win for Ruaidhri was the difference for Linfield on a number of occasions last year as they romped to the title, with many of his 19 goals helping to decide will hope for a similar impact this year as they look to mount a serious title Larne, it was a familiar tale of a tired side after their European exploits on Thursday as they were punished for a lapse in concentration in defence for the goal. Hat-trick hero Offord It's safe to say that Offord has yet to hit the heights at Linfield as he did in his six-month loan spell at 21-year-old striker's characteristically hard-working attitude has not waned at all, but after arriving at the Blues in January, he struggled in front of impact in Linfield's European campaign to date has been minimal too, but his hat-trick in Sunday's 3-0 win against Dungannon Swifts may just be the start of the Scotsman re-discovering his clinical stroked home a penalty for his first goal, showed composure to stick his second through Declan Dunne's legs and persistence to complete his hat-trick a minute later, heading home after his initially effort was Healy has a 19-goal Cooper hole to fill and with no more additions looking likely, Offord scoring regularly may be just the remedy he needs."For me, he is just getting started. He had the bedding in period last season and now he can show what he can do as he did today," Healy's assistant Ross Oliver said after the forget to follow all of our Irish Premiership coverage on our dedicated Irish League Football page
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Robins revels in revitalised forward line
Stoke manager Mark Robins heaped praise on his new signings as they helped his side come from behind to beat Derby 3-1 on the opening Potters only managed 45 goals last term, but found the net three times on Saturday to earn all three points against John Eustace's Rams. "That's two goals from a new player and an assist from a new player, which is fantastic. Three goals at home gives us a really good start after a strong performance," he told BBC Radio Stoke."We were really good throughout, and the only time we made a mistake we went behind out of nothing. But we kept going, continued to play create opportunities."The cross for the second goal was fantastic, and the goal was nothing more than Divine deserved because he ran his socks off today against two experienced centre-backs."We have good players, who are brave on and off the ball and all three goals came from real quality. We worked on that high level and intensity in pre-season as that is what we want to be about and what the fans want to see."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Can Charlton please a packed out Valley in opener?
Charlton Athletic welcome Watford on Saturday at 12:30 BST for their first Championship fixture after five years in the third-tier wilderness of the English Football match will be played in front of the biggest opening day crowd at the Valley for 17 years, bolstered by a sold-out away teams have so far made nine summer signings and a number of them should be on show for this intriguing curtain-raiser to the new Charlton, expect to see keeper Thomas Kaminski and defender Amari'i Bell - both signed from Luton Town - added to boss Nathan Jones's already strong we move up the pitch, the double signing from Blackpool of Sonny Carey and Rob Apter will be hoping to continue their mutual understanding demonstrated at both Bloomfield Road and in pre-season friendlies with the preference up top for Saturday would be an initial partnership of Tanto Olaofe (signed from Stockport County) and Miles Leaburn offering a combination of athleticism and muscle. Mind you, Charlton have plenty of attacking options to call on to change it up if needed with the likes of Tyreece Campbell and new signing Charlie for Watford, they will arrive at the Valley having won their past seven opening day Championship have a new head coach at the helm (surprise, surprise) in Uruguayan Paulo Pezzolano, who is intent on making Watford his fourth promotion come into the match having played two pre-season games fewer then their hosts, perhaps wanting to spend more time bedding down the new coach's philosophy of high intensity and dominance on the ball at the training may be able to exploit a perceived weakness in the Hornets backline with an injury doubt to central defender Mattie Pollock (son of Jamie, ex-Middlesbrough and Manchester City midfielder), perhaps forcing them to draft in ex-Addicks loanee James Abankwah, who struggled in his short time under Michael Appleton at the Valley in the 2023-24 is a different kettle of fish in their midfield. Versatile Hector Kyprianou has joined from Peterborough United, and he knows how to find the back of the net against Charlton after scoring the winner at London Road two years ago. He joins passer-supreme Imran Louza and, once a £30m signing for Tottenham Hotspur, Moussa Sissoko in a fluid 4-3-3 top, Watford have the options of creativity, pace and strength with Rocco Vata, Kwadwo Baah and new 6ft 4in Danish striker Luca Kjerrumgaard respectively. Kjerrumgaard scored 22 goals in 29 games for Odense last season. Tom Ince is another obvious teams will go out with a positive intent to get three points. Jones will be drumming home to the Charlton players to get the basics right and concentrate to the extreme in this new unforgiving Gino Pozzo will only accept promotion from his new coach, so Watford will want to be at the races from the start.I am predicting a share of the spoils: Sullivan provides commentary on Charlton Athletic games for the visually impaired.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
McCowan makes Premiership TOTW
Celtic picked up another opening day victory despite a tough test against Stephen Robinson's St Mirren, and they have one player in my team of the week. Luke McCowan came off the bench to decisive effect. Always looking to make something happen.
BBC News
03-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rangers 'needed' Martin's home truths, says Dowell
Kieran Dowell says Rangers' opening day draw with Motherwell was a "reality check" for the Ibrox club. Russell Martin's side led for most of the game thanks to James Tavernier's header after 14 minutes. But an 87th minute equaliser from Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo confined Martin's side to a draw, making it the third successive season Rangers have failed to win their opening game. Speaking after the game, the new manager criticised his side's performance and mentality. And Dowell thinks the boss was right to do so. "The first season I was here, we got beaten on the first day of the season 1-0 by Kilmarnock and it was in our hands by the end of the season," midfielder Dowell said. "So it's a cliche, but it is a long season and there's plenty of time to catch up."But it's a few home truths [from Martin] I think. Obviously, we had a good start and then didn't put the game to bed. Almost sleep-walked into conceding that equaliser and probably deserved it in the end."I think the manager's been here five, six weeks now and that's what he's noticed."It's not been a successful time for the club and maybe we needed those sort of home truths, maybe some of the lads needed that."It's not for me to say. It's the manager's opinion and he said to us 'look yourself in the mirror'."And it's down to us, as players. We've obviously had a few managers now and it's up to us to prove it, if we want to be at this club going forward."
