European Super Football

 Derby County 2 - 0 Carlisle United Derby County secured promotion to the Championship after a confident and assured final-day win against already-relegated Carlisle United at a jubilant Pride Park Stadium. The Rams required only a draw against the division's bottom side to end their two-year stay in League One. However, Max Bird's powerful and curving shot from outside the box, which found the back of the net after just five minutes, had Derby County supporters singing and celebrating to the tune of 'we are going up'. James Collins then sealed Paul Warne's side's promotion with a composed and close-range finish on the hour mark to complete the victory. This marks 50-year-old Warne's fourth time leading a team to promotion from League One, having previously achieved this feat three times with Rotherham United as they alternated between the second and third tiers of English football. Click here to find more stories from the English Football League The be...

Middlesbrough have released a statement regarding a compensation claim against fellow Championship side Derby County  The statement reads: "MFC is aware of the media speculation regarding its claim against Derby County and has read last night's statement by the EFL. The club wishes to ensure that, to the extent possible given that the arbitration claim is confidential, the full facts are in the public domain, rather than ill-informed speculation." Why are they making a claim now? "MFC became aware that Derby County was cheating under the P&S Rules during 2018/19. MFC first intimated a claim against Derby County in May 2019 immediately following the end of the 2018/19 season. The claim was held in abeyance whilst the EFL Disciplinary Proceedings against Derby County were followed through to a conclusion.  "MFC then sent Derby County a Letter Before Action in the autumn of 2020 and started arbitration proceedings against Derby County in January 2021. Derby...

 Derby County have been docked 12 points by the English Football League, sending them to the bottom of the Championship. (A picture taken from outside their ground in 2012) The club has also confirmed the appointment of administrators. Wayne Rooney’s side had picked up a credible 10 points from eight games but are now six points adrift of second-bottom and rivals Nottingham Forest. The chief executive of the English Football, Trevor Birch, added in a statement: “I appreciate that this is a challenging and concerning period for everyone associated with the club, particularly the staff and supporters, and it is our intention to work proactively with the administrators and all relevant parties with the objective of securing a long-term and viable future for Derby County.” Click here to read more news from the English Football League A truly bleak situation for the club Derby also stands to be deducted a further nine points, and given a suspended three-point deduction, for a separate...

The Joint Administrators of Derby County have released a statement to update fans on the current situation. It starts: This statement provides a summary of progress to supporters and the media in respect of Derby County Football Club. As we have previously reported, we are dealing with a large number of sensitive issues and felt that issuing reactive statements in response to the recent statements issued by various related parties would at best be unhelpful and also may hinder or prejudice discussions we are having with the same parties. Our perceived lack of recent communication has therefore been both tactical and deliberate. The full statement which can be read here includes a section on the claims from two EFL clubs. This section says: "These have been well documented both by us previously and more recently, by others making statements. We do not think it would be helpful, in view of the sensitivity of these matters, to elaborate on the discussions we have been having other...

Derby County 4 - 0 Portsmouth Derby County brought an emphatic end to their poor form as they cruised to victory against lowly Portsmouth in the Championship. Author - Chris C Kane Wilson gave Derby - a side that had won just one of their previous 11 games and none of their past six - the ideal start as he slotted home the opener with a first-time finish after cleverly being picked out in the box by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. Eiran Cashin powered home a header from a corner to double the first-half advantage before Ebou Adams soon made it 3-0 at Pride Park with a close-range effort that was deflected in by Pompey defender Tom McIntyre. Marcus Harness then forced a fourth against his former side, with his dancing run into the box ending with a cutback pass that pinged off Pompey captain Marlon Pack for an own goal. A closer look at what happened The game in the East Midlands was the first between the Rams and Pompey since they came up together from League One last season, with Portsmo...

 Northampton Town 1 - 0 Derby County Derby's dreams of promotion took a hit as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against mid-table Northampton, dealing a significant blow to their aspirations. It was a tough loss for Derby, with Northampton securing their first victory in six games, and notably, their first-ever win against Derby. Sam Hoskins emerged as the hero for Northampton, scoring his 15th goal of the season with a strike in the first half. Initially, Derby seemed to have control of the game, enjoying the lion's share of possession. However, they squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 20th minute when Martyn Waghorn missed a clear chance, side-footing the ball over the bar with the goal gaping. More news from across the English Football League League One news and stories Against the flow of the game, Northampton seized their chance midway through the first half. Louis Appere chased down a long ball and displayed excellent awareness to find Hoskins, w...

Derby County are in the news again News reports indicate that Derby County boss Wayne Rooney turned down the chance to talk with Everton about their managerial vacancy.  He wants to stay and help Derby out of the mess that threatens their entire existence.    (Wayne Rooney also had a spell playing for Derby) Rooney said: "Everton approached my agent and asked me to interview for the job, but I turned them down, It was a difficult decision. I believe I will be a Premier League manager and that I am ready for that 100%." He added: "If that comes with Everton, great. But I have a job at Derby, which is important to me." Derby were docked 21 points, their main signings were free agents and loan deals. He turned down the Everton managerial job because helping Derby avoid relegation is "important" to him. I'd be the happiest human if Wayne Rooney manages to keep Derby up. Legend! ❤ #mufc pic.twitter.com/rq7Ey2a1QY — UtdFaithfuls (@UtdFaithfuls) January ...

Sheffield Wednesday 4 - 2 Derby County Josh Windass scored an extraordinary goal from deep inside his own half as Sheffield Wednesday cruised to a convincing victory over Derby County in the Championship. Author - Chris C Windass picked up the ball in his own defensive third and unleashed a stunning strike from over 60 yards, sailing it perfectly over Derby’s goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström. Barry Bannan, Djeidi Gassama, and Anthony Musaba also got on the scoresheet for the Owls, while Jerry Yates and Ebou Adams managed consolation goals for the Rams. A closer look at what happened as Wednesday move up the table The breakthrough came after lively wing-back Gassama exposed the lack of pace in Derby defender Sonny Bradley, delivering a low cross that left Bannan with a simple finish. Derby initially struggled but began to find their rhythm. Efforts from Kane Wilson and Nat Phillips forced good saves from Wednesday keeper Jack Beadle, while Yates hit the post just before half-time...

QPR 4 - 0 Derby County Derby County endured a humbling return to the Championship relegation zone after a crushing defeat at QPR in John Eustace’s first game back in charge. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Loftus Road A stunning strike from Ilias Chair set the tone before Koki Saito’s second goal of the season gave the hosts full control by half-time. Chair then doubled his tally from close range, and Ronnie Edwards marked his loan spell from Southampton with a debut goal, heading in QPR’s fourth. Jerry Yates thought he had grabbed a late consolation, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside, as Marti Cifuentes’ side emphatically ended a run of two successive defeats. Eustace’s nightmare start  The new managee barely had time to settle back into the dugout following his move from Blackburn Rovers, confirmed just a day earlier, before witnessing his side’s frailties exposed. After a quiet opening spell, Derby fell behind to a spectacular long-range effort from Chair...

Derby County 1 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday A dramatic injury-time goal from Jamal Lowe, following a sensational strike by Barry Bannan, completed a stunning comeback for Sheffield Wednesday as they overcame Derby County at Pride Park. Author - Chris C Derby, urged by manager Paul Warne to start with more urgency, appeared to heed the call when Ebou Adams fired them into the lead after just nine minutes. Adams coolly converted Marcus Harness' fizzing cut-back, setting the tone for a bright first half for the hosts. Returning loanee and top scorer Jerry Yates had two golden chances to extend Derby’s lead after the break. His close-range effort was brilliantly saved by Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper James Beadle, and minutes later, his header rattled the crossbar following a corner. However, Derby’s inability to double their advantage proved costly. On his 35th birthday, Barry Bannan delivered a moment of magic, curling a sublime left-footed strike from the edge of the box into the top ...

Derby County are not going down without a fight.  An immense performance against promotion West Brom left them still well adrift at the bottom of the Championship. There's still plenty of hope within the club.  Their sixth league win of the campaign came thanks to a defensive howler. This gifted substitute Colin Kazim-Richards the only goal of the game. Kazim-Richards could well turn out to be key in their bid for survival in the second tier of English football. That level of experience is always important. After the match, Rooney told the BBC and other media outlets: "I could see something happening between the defender and the goalkeeper. Them getting so close to each other, you hoped it would fall for us. It did and he [Kazim-Richards] put in a nice finish. "The administrators have confirmed they have had bids from other companies and it needs to be done before January. I'm trying to plan for the future of this club and if it keeps dragging on, it's not hel...

This article will explore some of the top talent in the English Football League Are there any players in the Championship, League One or League Two that could be soon signed by a Premier League side? The leagues below the Premier League are arguably the perfect breeding ground for England's top talent.  Alex Scott - Bristol City After an impressive breakthrough season in 2021-22, this is a player hoping for even bigger things he looks to carry on establishing himself among the country’s top talent. He starred for Nigel Pearson’s Bristol City side last season and launched himself onto the international stage by helping England win the Under-19s European Championship.  In the 2021/2022 season, only Callum Doyle (3,109) played more league minutes across the top four tiers in England than Scott (2,762) while aged 18 or younger. Ryan Giles - Middlesbrough The Wolverhampton Wanderers academy graduate is only 22. However,  he’s already played 115 senior career games over thr...

Derby County 0 - 0 Burnley Burnley relinquished top spot in a drab draw against an ever improving but still relegation-threatened Derby County. Author - Josh T Stadium - Pride Park The Clarets, now second in the table on goal difference after Leeds United's victory against Middlesbrough, started well and went close twice through the outstanding Zian Flemming. But the Rams, who move onto 42 points and remain out of the relegation zone, were resolute in defence and grew in confidence as the visitors faded. Jerry Yates nearly broke the deadlock. His shot was brilliantly saved by Burnley keeper James Trafford. Burnley knew they were definitely in a tense battle at this stage.  A tense and disjointed second period saw very little goalmouth action. Matt Clarke almost won it for the Rams in the second of eight minutes of added time, but he could not leap high enough to nod the ball home from two yards. READ MORE: The race to the Premier League and the fight to avoid relegation to Leag...

Birmingham City have announced the appointment of Wayne Rooney as their new manager. The 37-year-old former England captain has joined the Championship club on a three-and-a-half-year deal. He succeeds Blues head coach John Eustace, who was perhaps controversially sacked after 15 months in charge. Read the stories behind a football icon.  The new American owners of Blues, Shelby Companies Limited, have made their first managerial change by appointing the ex-Everton and Manchester United striker. They took over the club in July.  In his new role, Rooney will be supported by his former England team-mate Ashley Cole alongside his old United colleague John O'Shea, the assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland men's national team. Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth will also be part of Rooney's backroom staff after both assisted him at DC United. Click here to read more news from the EFL Wayne Rooney's managerial career will continue with his third job in management, f...

Fulham were unable to find a breakthrough in the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic as they were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom club Derby at Craven Cottage. They were seeking an eighth successive win but they were denied by Wayne Rooney’s side. The home side were left frustrated after being unable to capitalise on a succession of good chances.  Let's have a look at some of the best reaction Wayne Rooney said after the game: “It is a good point, a very difficult game against one of the best teams in the division. After the last week, to get four points against Bournemouth and Fulham, they deserve credit for that.” “I give the players big demands every day and they haven’t let me down one bit, We’ll keep fighting and pushing, you never know – even if there’s a small chance of staying up.” Here's @WayneRooney on 'a good point' at Fulham! 🗣️ #DCFC — Derby County (@dcfcofficial) November 24, 2021 Silva added: “It wasn’t our best performance but we created enough to win...

 Football is the most popular sport across the continent.  This has resulted in thousands (possibly millions) of articles being published each year, all of which combined analyse every inch of the beautiful game.  The disadvantage of this is if you want to read some insightful analysis, it's hard to know where to start. We're here to help. Let's explore some of the best football blogs and articles published in recent months. " Floodlights " ( CC BY 2.0 ) by  It's No Game From Media Referee -  Can Wayne Rooney’s Derby County build a successful future? This interesting article from Media Referee looks at the future of Derby County. After suffering a points deduction, many experts said they were certainties to get relegated and face a grim future. However, this article points out that Derby does have a lot going for them.  Icons: Wayne Rooney Since the article was published, Derby have gone on a great run leading to some changing their predictions....

Eastleigh  1 - 3 Newport County Newport County secured a spot in the FA Cup fourth round and a lucrative tie against Manchester United by defeating Eastleigh 3-1.  Aaron Wildig gave Newport an early lead, skillfully gliding past goalkeeper Joe McDonnell following great play from the County. Paul McCallum equalized for Eastleigh after 48 minutes with a well-placed half-volley, levelling the score against Newport. However, Newport's James Clarke regained the lead with a header on the hour mark, and the victory was sealed by Will Evans, their top scorer. The televised match in the fourth round is expected to bring significant financial rewards, around £400,000, to Newport.  They are set to face Manchester United at Rodney Parade on Sunday 28th January, showcasing their potential for causing upsets, as demonstrated by previous victories against Leicester City , Middlesbrough and a draw with Tottenham Hotspur. Newport class shows While this game was anticipated as a histor...

Let's take a look at another football icon. This time it's Wayne Rooney. Early career Rooney joined the Everton youth team at the age of nine and made his professional debut for the club in 2002 at the age of 16. He spent two seasons at the Merseyside club, before moving to Manchester United. Move to Manchester United He cost the Old Trafford club£25.6 million in the 2004 summer transfer window. He would have a fantastic career at Manchester United. He won 16 trophies and became the only English player, alongside teammate Michael Carrick, to win the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, League Cup, UEFA Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup. Rooney scored 253 goals for United in all competitions to make him their top goalscorer of all time, with 183 Premier League goals being the second-most scored by a player for any single club, behind Sergio Agüero Rooney's 208 Premier League goals make him the Premier League's second-top scorer of all time. He also has...

 It's time to explore the season of each Premier League club. We will start  off  at the bottom with Sheffield United. The 2023–24 season marked the 135th year in Sheffield United’s history and their return to the Premier League after being promoted from the Championship last season. Alongside their league campaign, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. On 24 April, they suffered a 4–2 defeat to Manchester United, setting a new record for the most goals conceded in a 38-game Premier League season, surpassing the previous record held by Derby County in the 2007–08 season. Just three days later, a 5–1 loss away to Newcastle United confirmed their relegation back to the Championship. This result left the Blades with 16 points, trailing 17th-placed Nottingham Forest by 10 points, with only three matches left to play. On 4 May, The Blades matched Swindon Town's record for the most goals conceded in a Premier League season (100 goals) following a 3–1 home ...

 We all love the drama of the playoffs.  They are a series of matches contested by the four football teams that finish below the automatic promotion places in the second, third and fourth tiers of English football. They were first introduced to the EFL in 1987 and have been staged after every season since. Some hate them and others love them. Let's explore some of their greatest matches. <Click here to find more news and stories from the English Football League> Reading 2-4 Swansea: 2011 Championship play-off final. Swansea stormed into a 3-0 lead come the end of the first half. However, a two-goal comeback from Reading after half-time tested the nerve of the Welsh side. A young Scott Sinclair then bagged a hat-trick to ensure Swansea became the first Welsh side to play in the Premier League. This would mark the start of a memorable period for the club. In 2013, they won the EFL Cup.  Nottingham Forest 2-5 Yeovil: 2007 League One play-off semi-final.  One t...