Right, enough from me, thanks a lot for your company over the afternoon’s action. Thanks for the emails, tweets and more. Do join Rob Smyth for fun and games Part Two:
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A killer West Brom stat:
1.5% of the goals Tony Pulis teams have scored in the PL came vs West Ham today (in his 277th game)
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) September 17, 2016
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Pep Guardiola’s been speaking. There’s high praise indeed for Kevin De Bruyne too. “He understands the game, he’s physically strong but he knows everything and he sees everything,” says Guardiola. “In front of goal: he makes assists, scores goals and we are so, so lucky we have Kevin with us.”
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Pep Guardiola’s got this managing malarkey down to a tee, hasn’t he? Manchester City’s 4-0 rout over Bournemouth was their fifth win on the bounce in the Premier League. As a result, they’re sitting pretty at the top of the table, and will stay there until next weekend at least. Jack Wilshere’s first start in Bournemouth colours meanwhile was pretty low-key. Here’s Jamie Jackson’s match report:
Elsewhere, a huge, mammoth win for Tony Pulis and West Brom against West Ham you feel. Although, in truth, his job security has probably not been enhanced one bit. Slaven Bilic’s side rallied but it was all a little too late. There were good wins for Leicester City and Arsenal, over promoted clubs Burnley and Hull City respectively.
Other headlines? Huddersfield stay on top spot in the Championship after a home win over QPR, while defeats for Newcastle and Barnsley allowed Norwich City, who were victorious at Nottingham Forest, to run into second.
Over in La Liga, Fernando Torres scored a penalty to make it 5-0 to Atlético Madrid against Sporting. It’s full-time now and Gijon have been put out of their misery.
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Scottish Premiership full-time results
Kilmarnock 2-2 Partrick Thistle
Motherwell 4-2 Hamilton
Rangers 0-0 Ross County
St Johnstone 1-0 Hearts
League One full-time results
Charlton 1-2 AFC Wimbledon
Chesterfield 3-1 Northampton
MK Dons 0-0 Oxford United
Port Vale 2-1 Gillingham
Rochdale 2-1 Fleetwood Town
Sheffield United 1-0 Peterborough
Shrewsbury 0-1 Scunthorpe
Southend 3-1 Millwall
Walsall 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Championship full-time results
Cardiff 0-2 Leeds United
Huddersfield 2-1 QPR
Blackburn 4-2 Rotherham
Brentford 5-0 Preston
Bristol City 1-1 Derby County
Burton 0-1 Brighton
Barnsley 1-2 Reading
Ipswich 0-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 0-2 Wolves
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Norwich
Wigan 0-0 Fulham
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Bristol City have a late equaliser at home to Derby County! It’s the second-half substitute and club captain Aaron Wilbraham, in the 94th minute, of all times ! Nigel Pearson’s post-match interview will be ... interesting.
GOAL: #BristolCity 1-1 Derby County, Wilbraham 90. #BRCvDER pic.twitter.com/1ydbSxf98J
— Bristol City FC (@bcfctweets) September 17, 2016
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Full-time: Leicester City 3-0 Burnley
Islam Slimani’s first goals for Leicester sent the Foxes on their way before a late own goal by Ben Mee sealed the three points.
Big news in League One: Northampton Town are 3-1 down at Chesterfield and are about to end their 31-match unbeaten run in the league.
Full-time: Hull City 1-4 Arsenal
Mike Phelan’s revolution is over, sort of. Four goals for Wenger’s team, despite seeing a penalty saved.
GOAL! Hull City 1-4 Arsenal (Xhaka)
Why’s Arsenal’s £35m midfielder not starting matches? No, I’m not sure either but this goal’s a cracker by all accounts.
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Full-time: Manchester City 4-0 Bournemouth
Another sumptuous outing then for Pep Guardiola’s team. For Bournemouth, the pain is over. For Nolito, it was already over.
Euro roundup: Borussia Dortmund 6-0 Darmstadt FT. Hamburg 0-4 RB Leipzig FT. Bayern Munich 3-1 Ingolstadt FT. And they’re still playing at Atlético Madrid against Sporting, where they lead 4-0, with Fernando Torres adding their fourth.
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A couple more biggies in the Championship: Brighton lead at Burton through Tomer Hemed’s penalty, with just two minutes left on the clock. And, at Griffin Park, Brentford have added their fourth and fifth goals at home to Preston North End. A Scott Hogan hat-trick there. But Simon Grayson’s teams are so hard to break down? So organised? So resolute?
Falcao has just scored for Monaco against Rennes! Hold the back page ...
Adam Armstrong goal alert! After this against Preston, it’s his second goal for the club against Reading this afternoon. Barnsley still trail 2-1. Elsewhere, AFC Wimbledon lead at Charlton, through Tyrone Barnett.
GOAL! Hull City 1-3 Arsenal (Sánchez)
It’s Sánchez’s second of the afternoon, the striker is teed up after Theo Walcott’s initial effort was blocked by Elden Jakupovic. Meanwhile, Nolito’s been sent off for Manchester City against Bournemouth after some handbags with Adam Smith. Paul Merson’s got no sympathy for him either.
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“In pushing Huddersfield to the top, is David Wagner the new Bill Shankly?” emails Ian. “Or is he much more important than that?” Well, what we do know is that they’re 2-1 up at home to QPR, after Idrissa Sylla’s goal a moment ago. It’s going to be an interesting final few minutes at the John Smith’s Stadium. Is it even still called that?
“Whatever is going on at the Hawthorns?!” emails Gopal. Anyone?
GOAL! Hull City 1-2 Arsenal (Snodgrass)
Just days after that sweet strike at Burnley, he’s at it again. He just cannot stop scoring. That’s his seventh goal of the season, this one from the penalty spot.
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GOAL! Leicester City 3-0 Burnley (Mee OG)
It’s 3-0 and more pizza for Claudio Ranieri.
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The UFO has been cleared at Valley Parade, where panic over the flying drone has been lifted. Bristol Rovers are behind though, with James Meredith scoring for Bradford City. A magnificent series of events in League One. In League Two, Yeovil lead Leyton Orient.
The Drone #bcafc #brfc pic.twitter.com/KBjlGvMWBo
— Bantams Banter (@bantamsbanter) September 17, 2016
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In League Two, Blackpool are back level with Carlisle at Bloomfield Road. It’s 2-2 there now, after Armand Gnanduillet’s equaliser. In the Championship, Brentford have doubled their lead over Preston, thanks to Harlee Dean’s 74th minute goal.
Jordan Ayew’s had a chance for Aston Villa at Ipswich, where it’s still 0-0 in the Championship. Blackburn, Wolves and Reading are heading towards victories against Rotherham, Newcastle and Barnsley respectively. That was a mouthful.
“If Tony Pulis keeps this up he will be backed in the morning!” emails Peter. I like it, I like it. It’s still 4-2 at the moment up at the Hawthorns, where it’s been raining goals for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Manchester City continue to outclass Bournemouth, who it seems have just not had a look in.
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It sounds as though West Ham are slowly turning it on, while West Brom continue to give the ball away on the cheap.
Elsewhere, now this is odd ... at Bradford City a drone flying over the stadium has led to the referee, Andy Haines, bringing both sets of players off of the field of play while the drone circles overhead. It’s 0-0 there at the moment. Modern football, eh?
Game suspended at Bradford due to a drone flying over the ground?!! Health & Safety gone mad!!! pic.twitter.com/FnDBSQ8g2G
— James Stables (@JamesStables7) September 17, 2016
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It was only a matter of time. “Pulis out,” emails JR, but I think they’re joking, thank God. “I also went to Upton Park when we came back to win from 3-0 down after Defoe got sent off,” emails Tom. “They’re going to win 5-4 aren’t they?”
GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 Bournemouth (Gündogan)
There’s more brilliance from Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan has smashed home a fourth of Pep Guardiola’s World XI. Game over, if it wasn’t already.
Elsewhere, a big couple of goals in the Championship: Newcastle United are two goals down at home to Wolves and league leaders Huddersfield have doubled their lead over QPR.
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GOAL! West Brom 4-2 West Ham United (Lanzini)
Slaven Bilic’s side have got another goal back in the Midlands, after Dimitri Payet was fouled. Game on?
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Penalty at the Hawthorns, it’s West Ham who have a penalty! Meanwhile, Gopal Ramalingam has a word of warning. “I would like to remind those who think Man City are scary good that the new Neymar (Gab Jesus) is arriving in January with Marlos Moreno and others joining us next season as well! Incredible stuff!”
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Further to that Jordon Ibe query below, here’s Mike from London in Canada. In Canada! “If there is to be a parliamentary inquiry into something footballish, it should be how West Brom is up by 4 over West Ham,” he says. Prima facie evidence of match fixing or what?”
GOAL! West Brom 4-1 West Ham United (Antonio)
Michail Antonio, again. A header, again. It’s his fifth goal of the season.
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Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund are turning on the style against Darmstadt:
GIVE US MOR! #bvbd98 6-0 (88') pic.twitter.com/i6hWMSSBY7
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) September 17, 2016
We’ve already had this next bit but let’s do it again anyway. “Just to point out, the Leicester goal was Islam converting from Christian,” emails Michael. Meanwhile, wait for it, the Nicklas Bendtner is coming on for Nottingham Forest at home to Norwich City. This football malarkey’s great isn’t it.
GOAL! Hull City 0-2 Arsenal (Walcott)
Theo Walcott’s doubled Arsenal’s lead and that’s probably that, unless Robert Snodgrass is about.
GOAL! West Brom 4-0 West Ham United (Chadli)
Sir Tony Pulis? All of the pre-match negative natter has worked a treat. Some West Ham fans are already leaving the Hawthorns ...
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Manchester City have made a defensive change. It was a few minutes ago now, but I missed it:
51. CITY SUB | #cityvafcb #mcfc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 17, 2016
⬅️ @Notamendi30
➡️ John Stones pic.twitter.com/8kfcvmH67h
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A feisty email from Ian. “There should be a parliamentary inquiry into why no one is capable of preventing Jordon Ibe’s career from taking a permanent nosedive,” he says. “Talent is wasted on the talented.” Well thank you, Ian.
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Aston Villa: one win in their last 20 league matches? Crikey. Meanwhile, Norwich City are back in it at the City Ground, where Jonny Howson’s found an equaliser against Nottingham Forest.
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More goal news in La Liga. “Atleti 3, Sporting de Gijón 0,” kindly emails Gloria. “Griezmann. All their goals from outside.”
GOAL! Leicester City 2-0 Burnley (Slimani)
It’s Slimani’s second, and it’s going to be tough for Burnley to get anything from this now you would feel.
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GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Bournemouth (Sterling)
It’s gone from bad to worse for Eddie Howe’s Cherries. But it’s ruddy good for Raheem Sterling, who spent the entire summer being slated. Sterling’s not so bad after all, then!
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Half-time changes: Bournemouth have brought on Callum Wilson in place of Jordon Ibe.
“Ben, I’ve been to the Hawthorns and I think you’ve lost it,” emails Tom. “Can you tell me the real score please?” It might be worth somebody double checking*. After all, some pre-match stats:
- West Brom have won one of their last 13 Premier League matches, scoring just six goals in the process
- Since Tony Pulis took charge in January last year, West Brom have failed to score in 21 Premier League matches
It is indeed West Brom 3-0 West Ham*.
Plenty of goals around, particularly at West Brom, where Tony Pulis will surely be enjoying this one. He must be laughing. Maybe he’ll finally sit down in his post-match press conference? Yes, possibly not. It’s been a good half for Arsenal at Hull it seems, but it could have been better, with Alexis seeing his penalty saved.
Manchester City are cruising to winning the Premier League their fifth Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth, and Leicester City may just have their season up-and-running. Islam Slimani’s scored after good work from Christian Fuchs to give them a slender lead over Burnley, who by all accounts, have impressed. More on that goal here:
@benfisherj Just to point out. The Leicester goal was Islam converting from Christian
— Graham Randall (@76placidcasual) September 17, 2016
To the Championship, where Derby County have scored a goal, their second of the season and Woah, Chancel Mbemba, ensures Newcastle are behind at the break.
Some half-time thoughts from you, the wonderful readers:
“Arsenal going along OK, drama with penalty, thrills and spills on the pitch etcetera,” emails Charles. “The greatest beneficiary must be Theo Walcott, hoping it’ll help mask his latest display of ineptitude and poor decision-making. Is he is trying to get back into the England team?”
“Man City haven’t kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since April against Stoke,” emails Phil. “Do you think Pep will be treating the team to pizza tonight if Bournemouth don’t score?”
“I’ve never seen anything like what Masuaku did earlier,” emails JR. “Not only did he commit a handball under no pressure on a ball crossed to the far post but the reason the ball was crossed in the first place was because Masuaku handled the ball to give the Baggies a free kick. Thanks, dude. Holy crow! 3-0!! What on earth is happening? West Brom look like Barcelona and West Ham look like West Brom.”
I do like that last bit.
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Premier League half-time scores
Leicester City 1-0 Burnley
Manchester City 2-0 Bournemouth
West Brom 3-0 West Ham
Hull City 0-1 Arsenal
“Classic Bristol City 1-0 down,” emails Steve, with Derby scoring only their second league goal of the season through Ikechi Anya at Ashton Gate.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Burnley (Slimani)
He’s got it, the Algerian striker, Leicester’s record-signing, has got his first Premier League goal. Elsewhere, Christian Pulisic, the 17-year-old midfielder has grabbed Borussia Dortmund’s third goal against Darmstadt this afternoon. It’s 3-0 there. Pulisic is going to have some future.
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GOAL! West Brom 3-0 West Ham United (McClean)
Tony Pulis, IN?
Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez has had a penalty saved at Hull City. Jake Livermore’s been sent off for Hull, for deliberate handball, but the Chile striker Sánchez could not find a way past Eldin Jakupović in the Hull goal, who has kept his place despite David Marshall’s arrival from Cardiff City.
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GOAL! West Brom 2-0 West Ham (Rondón)
What are the West Brom supporters supposed to sing about Tony Pulis now? Salomón Rondón’s doubled his side’s lead, on the striker’s birthday. Slaven Bilic will be seething, after more iffy defending.
Elsewhere, Reading are down to 10 men at Barnsley, where they lead 2-0. Nottingham Forest lead Norwich City through Vellios and Brentford are in front at home to Preston.
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West Ham have had a half-decent chance through Michail Antonio, but Ben Foster’s made himself big at the Hawthorns. Joshua King’s had a sniff at goal too at Manchester City, after seizing on some hesitant goalkeeping from Pep Guardiola’s Claudio Bravo.
“Great to see Jack Wilshere bringing his goal-creating quality to the team,” tweets Alix. “City, that is.” Very smug, but perhaps rightly so with Manchester City seemingly in cruise control at home to Bournemouth. For the record, last season, City won this fixture 5-1.
Newcastle United are behind at home to Wolves, with Iceland’s Jon Dadi Bodvarsson helping the ball into the box, where Chancel Mbemba nods home an own goal. He’s got a great chant, though, so all is OK. Goals galore in the Championship, where the Marvin Emnes has put Blackburn in front at home to Rotherham, and Reading have doubled their lead at in-form Barnsley.
Gloria’s emailed to get in touch and say: “Ahead 2-0. Griezmann and Gameiro.” Presumably Atlético Madrid are two goals to the good against Sporting in La Liga. Yep, it looks that way.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Bournemouth (Iheanacho)
It’s going as planned for Pep Guardiola’s side, with Kelechi Iheanacho sweeping home another goal. Bournemouth with it all to do. Some are labelling it a sensational goal from City, which would sound about right with the way they’re playing at the moment.
Elsewhere, Blackburn have found an equaliser against Rotherham at Ewood Park, with Craig Conway blasting home from distance. In League One, Southampton loanee Jason McCarthy has his first goal of the season for Walsall, who are down to 10 men against Bolton.
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GOAL! Hull City 0-1 Arsenal (Sánchez)
That’ll do nicely for Mr Wenger. There was confusion over who poked the ball home in the end, with Alex Iwobi probably miffed. But Alexis Sánchez has been credited with the goal.
Meanwhile, Championship leaders Huddersfield Town lead QPR through Chelsea loanee Kasey Palmer, one of 38 away from Stamford Bridge this season. Down in League Two, James Coppinger’s got another goal for Doncaster Rovers, this time on his 501st appearance in a Donny shirt.
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GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Bournemouth (De Bruyne)
Kevin De Bruyne rolls home a free-kick. He’s mugged off the Bournemouth wall, driving the ball underneath their jumping feet and past Artur Boruc. De Bruyne’s made quite the impression this season, although that’s only his second goal of the season.
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“Did Arthur Masuaku win a competition to have a go at being a Premier League footballer?” asks Gary Naylor via Twitter. His handball at West Brom, leading to Nacer Chadli’s first goal for the hosts, will probably not do a lot to suggest otherwise.
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Charlton lead AFC Wimbledon in a derby of sorts, while Reading have taken the lead at Barnsley in the Championship, through Garath McCleary who has bagged his third goal of the season – a penalty at Oakwell. Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers are behind again, at home to Rotherham United.
GOAL! West Brom 1-0 West Ham (Chadli)
West Brom score! West Brom score a penalty! Mark Clattenburg’s got no choice but to point to the spot, after Arthur Masuaku’s early clanger. That’s only West Brom’s seventh goal in 14 matches.
Elsewhere, Southend are in front at home to Millwall and Colchester lead Barnet.
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Meanwhile, at the World of Smile Stadium ... Notts County are one-up courtesy of Jonathan Forte, who somehow stayed at Southampton for three years, and by all accounts, did rather well out of it too. Anyway, he’s scored.
Leicester City have made a promising start at home to Burnley, with Marc Albrighton seemingly carrying on where he left off in midweek. After opening the scoring in Brugge, he’s had a shot at goal after unselfish play from the striker, and record signing, Islam Slimani.
And just like that, we’re off! The 3pm kick-offs are underway. Kevin De Bruyne’s already had a shot at goal at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City host Bournemouth. Trevor Watkins, the ex-Bournemouth chairman, is feeling optimistic it seems:
#afcb 14-1 to beat #mcfc? Really? 6-1 draw? Most lopsided odds for a PL game? Settling in to watch game live #NBC
— Trevor Watkins (@PMsportlaw) September 17, 2016
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Full-time result: Exeter City 0-2 Plymouth Argyle
Green Army! It’s not quite Newcastle away t’day but, Geddon on you Janner! Argyle will top League Two regardless of what else happens in the lowly fourth-tier this afternoon. Goals from Graham Carey and Arnold Garita have done the business for Derek Adams’s side in the Devon derby.
WWWWWWW.
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Only1Argyle) September 17, 2016
Sorry, the W seems to be stuck on my keyboard... #pafc #EXEARG
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To the big question, then. “With the temperature only 16° celsius and light rain in Munich, do you think a bigger crowd will be at the 75,000 capacity Allianz Arena or at Octoberfest which commences today in Munich?” emails Raymond. Anybody? Anyway, that’s two ruddy great venues, that’s for sure. What colour is the Allianz lighting up today, more to the point?
It’s still 1-1 at the moment.
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Slaven Bilic’s been talking at West Brom today, and after defeat by Watford last weekend, when the Hornets captain Troy Deeney riled his players, saying they felt mugged off by Dimitri Payet’s Rabonas and the like at half time.
“We were disappointed the way we played, the way we dropped a two-nil lead,” says Bilic. “We have meetings all the time but this one was a bit longer. We are expecting a reaction today but of course it’s going to be a tough game. I’m expecting a good reaction from the players, to show more teamwork when we do not have the ball.”
Tony Pulis, the West Brom manager, has equally had his say. “As a manager you have good times and you have bad times,” he trills. What will this afternoon turn out to be?
LewanGOALski, as they put it. Bayern are back on level terms:
TOOOOORRRRRRRR!!!! LewanGOALski!!! #FCBFCI 1-1
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) September 17, 2016
Golazo in the Bundesliga, as Ingolstadt take the lead against Bayern Munich:
🚨GOAL ALERT🚨 @Schanzer_EN grab the 1-0 lead over @FCBayernEN! #FCBFCI pic.twitter.com/BiUh9AnLNJ
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) September 17, 2016
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Eddie Howe’s been chatting away about Jack Wilshere’s first start in Bournemouth colours. “We decided, tactically, that we wanted Jack in the team,” he says. “It’ll be interesting to see how the team moulds to fit him in.” Callum Wilson, who scored that marvellous goal against West Brom, is dropped to the bench.
In Suffolk, there’s no Rudy Gestede or Ross McCormack for Aston Villa at Ipswich Town. But that’s nothing compared to Arsenal’s mismatch lineup though is it? Olivier Giroud is out with a toe injury, Xhaka and Elneny remain on the bench but Theo Walcott and Alexis Sánchez do start. “Coquelin next to Cazorla, Sanchez up front. The Wenger is not for turning, obvs,” tweets William.
“Granit Xhaka is on the bench again, as is Lucas Perez, again,” emails Allan. “I’m 51 years old, but bloody Wenger has a knack of creating in me the petulant impatience of a toddler.” Meanwhile, what do we think/or know about Alex Iwobi?
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Full-time result: Cardiff City 0-2 Leeds United
A Chris Wood penalty and Pablo Hernández ensure a win for Garry Monk’s side in Wales.
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In Manchester, Jack Wilshere has hopped off of the substitutes bench and into Bournemouth’s starting lineup, at the expense of Callum Wilson. Pep Guardiola’s creating headline news before the match has begun too, with Aleksandar Kolarov preferred to John Stones at centre-back. Elsewhere, Kasper Schmeichel is missing for Leicester City after picking up a knock in training on Friday. Islam Slimani starts with Jamie Vardy up front. Over at Hull City, Arsène Wenger has handed Alex Iwobi a start, presumably on the left flank, with Lucas Perez, Granit Xhaka and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench.
Meanwhile, Ryman League club Leatherhead have appointed reality TV’s Jimmy Bullard as their new manager. “The club are delighted to announce the appointment of Jimmy Bullard at first team manager with immediate effect,” reads a statement posted just a matter of minutes ago.
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Team news news!
Manchester City v Bournemouth
Bravo; Sagna, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Sterling, De Bruyne, Nolito; Iheanacho
Subs: Kompany, Zabaleta, Caballero, Jesus Navas, Sane, Stones, Garcia
Boruc; A Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Arter, Surman; Ibe, Wilshere, Stanislas; King
Subs: C Wilson, Aké, Federici, Gradel, Gosling, Afobe, B Smith
Hull City v Arsenal
Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Livermore, Davies, Robertson; Meyler, Huddlestone, Clucas; Diomande, Hernandez, Snodgrass.
Subs: Maguire, Maloney, Mbokani, Keane, Henriksen, Marshall, Mason
Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez
Subs: Gibbs, Lucas Perez, Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Holding, Xhaka, Elneny
Leicester City v Burnley
Zieler; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Amartey, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Slimani, Vardy
Subs: Hernandez, Musa, King, Hamer, Okazaki, Gray, Ulloa
Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd, Hendrick, Marney, Defour, Arfield; Gray
Subs: Flanagan, Vokes, Kightly, Bamford, Robinson, Gudmundsson, Tarkowski
West Brom v West Ham United
Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Galloway; Yacob, Fletcher; McClean, Chadli, Phillips; Rondon
Subs: Nyom, Olsson, Morrison, Gardner, Myhill, Berahino, Robson-Kanu
Adrian; Antonio, Collins, Ogbonna, Masuaku; Kouyate, Nordtveit, Noble; Payet, Zaza, Lanzini
Subs: Randolph, Feghouli, Obiang, Tore, Fletcher, Calleri, Oxford
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Preamble
Good afternoon! Well, fear not if you thought you missed all the big ones: Cardiff at home to Leeds, the Devon derby and MSN – I cannot believe people actually call them that – wreaking havoc in La Liga. There is indeed a wonderful palette of Premier League action on offer this afternoon: there’s Arsenal at Hull, Bournemouth at Manchester City and, wait for it, West Ham at West Brom, where Tony Pulis’s popularity is slowly melting away.
In the Championship, Newcastle host Wolves and league leaders Huddersfield take on QPR. Barnsley play Reading at Oakwell while Bristol City host Derby, who have scored one goal in seven matches despite having Matej Vydra, James Wilson, Nick Blackman and the Darren Bent – and more – for that very purpose. In League One, Bolton travel to Walsall, providing they can navigate the chockablock M6, and Charlton play Wimbledon. In League Two, Portsmouth take on Accrington, Blackpool play Carlisle and Leyton Orient host Yeovil Town. North of the border, there’ll be no Joey Barton for Rangers who tackle Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.
In Europe, well in Bavaria to be precise, it’ll be worth keeping an eye on Bayern Munich, who host Ingolstadt in the Bundesliga, where RB Leipzig are back by popular demand at Hamburg this afternoon. In La Liga, Atlético Madrid take on Sporting. As for Serie A, there’s no Joe Hart news until tomorrow, sadly, when Torino play Empoli.
There’s loads more fun and games on the way, including team news from around the grounds.
Ben will be here shortly. In the meantime, why not have a read of Louise Taylor’s cracking interview with Robert Snodgrass right here?
