Alex Neil admitted Viktor Gyokeres’ equaliser in Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Coventry proved the difference between playing in the Championship and life in League One.Sunderland looked to be heading for an opening-weekend victory when Jack Clarke headed home Lynden Gooch’s cross to open the scoring in the 12th minute at the Stadium of Light.The Black Cats soaked up Coventry pres...Full Story »

Viktor Gyokeres grabbed a Coventry equaliser six mintues from time as Sunderland were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw on their return to the Championship after a four-year absence.The Black Cats looked to be heading for an opening-weekend victory after Jack Clarke’s 12th-minute header opened the scoring at the Stadium of Light.But, after Coventry spent most of the second half camped in the...Full Story »

Barcelona are reportedly prepared to put extra pressure on Frenkie de Jong in order to ensure he moves to Manchester United, according to reports. The Netherlands international doesn't want to leave the Nou Camp for Old Trafford. However, that won't stop his current employers from upping the ante when it comes to getting him out the door. Barcelona signed De Jong from Ajax back in the summer tr...Full Story »

Chris Wilder has reiterated his desire to add more new faces to his Middlesbrough squad after watching West Brom come from behind to claim a point at the Riverside.The Boro boss was “delighted” with the majority of his team’s display but left frustrated by the Baggies scoring an equaliser five minutes after half-time through John Swift.Isaiah Jones had put Middlesbrough in fron...Full Story »

Derby interim manager Liam Rosenior believes the international pedigree of Conor Hourihane can drive his team forward this season.The Republic of Ireland midfielder scored a superb goal in front of a 31,000 crowd to give Derby a 1-0 victory over a spirited Oxford.The visitors certainly impressed and will look back on a first half in which they more than matched Derby but could not take their cha...Full Story »

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes felt his team more than merited their opening-day 1-1 draw against Dundee United.More than 8,000 crammed into Rugby Park to see Ash Taylor’s late equaliser cancel out Dylan Levitt’s opening goal for the visitors, who had Ian Harkes sent off midway through the second half.This was Kilmarnock’s first game back in the Premiership after winning promoti...Full Story »

Steve Evans hailed the quality shown by Stevenage in their 2-1 win at Tranmere in Sky Bet League Two.Jordan Roberts smashed home from close range with six minutes to go to seal victory for the visitors at Prenton Park.Stevenage had been pegged back just after half-time when Kane Hemmings cancelled out Jake Reeves’ opener.It was a deserved victory after the Hertfordshire club bossed the fir...Full Story »

AFC Wimbledon claimed their first league victory since December as life in League Two under new manager Johnnie Jackson began with a confident 2-0 win over Gillingham.After a tight opening 15 minutes, Ethan Chislett met Lee Brown’s partially cleared corner to spectacularly fire past Gills’ on-loan Crawley goalkeeper Glenn Morris from the edge of the box.Morris kept his side in the ga...Full Story »

Conor Hourihane’s superb strike gave Derby a 1-0 win over Oxford in their first game in Sky Bet League One for 36 years.Oxford had chances in front of a 31,000 crowd before Hourihane’s quality finish gave Derby victory in the club’s first competitive match since exiting administration at the start of the month.Matty Taylor fired wide under pressure from Curtis Davies in the 19t...Full Story »

Giovanni van Bronckhorst watched his Rangers side recover from the loss of an “easy goal” against Livingston to win 2-1 in their hard-fought cinch Premiership opener at the Tony Macaroni Arena.Striker Joel Nouble put the home side ahead in the fifth minute when he broke past Gers defender John Souttar to lob keeper Jon McLaughlin and he went on to cause the visitors trouble all after...Full Story »

Vincent Kompany’s reign as Burnley boss got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory at Huddersfield in the opening match of the new Sky Bet Championship season.On-loan Chelsea winger Ian Maatsen marked his Clarets debut with the only goal of the game as Burnley secured three points on their return to the second tier following six seasons of top-flight football.Huddersfield were a pale sh...Full Story »

Celtic will be without Carl Starfelt for their cinch Premiership opener at home to Aberdeen as the Swedish defender is short of match fitness despite returning to training on Friday following his recent hamstring injury.Japanese midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi is the champions’ only other absentee as he faces a few weeks out with a leg gash.Summer signings Benjamin Siegrist, Alexandro Bernabei,...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers will be without defender Nick Anderton and captain Paul Coutts when they kick off their League One campaign against fellow promoted side Forest Green.Anderton revealed on Thursday that he has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, that is affecting his femur and he will undergo an operation in the coming weeks to remove that part of the bone.Experienced midf...Full Story »

Jordan Turnbull will be given a late fitness test ahead of Tranmere’s Sky Bet League Two opener at home to Stevenage.The 27-year-old defender moved to Prenton Park from Salford earlier this week but may have to wait to make his Rovers debut.Tom Davies, Kieron Morris and Charlie Jolley are definite absentees, the trio having all picked up knocks during pre-season.Micky Mellon’s side f...Full Story »

New signing Ellis Simms could feature for Sunderland in their opening game against Coventry.The forward signed on a season-long loan from Everton and could line up for the Black Cats as they return to Sky Bet Championship football after four years in League One.Carl Winchester is also available after featuring in the final pre-season game against Hartlepool, having missed the Black Cats’ f...Full Story »

Graham Alexander believes Motherwell’s Europa Conference League exit at the hands of Irish side Sligo Rovers on a 3-0 aggregate could be a reality check.The Steelmen trailed 1-0 from the first leg of the second-qualifying round at Fir Park and soon found themselves behind in The Showgrounds when Sligo defender Shane Blaney curled in a long-distance free-kick in the fourth minute.Well&rsquo...Full Story »

Huddersfield will check on Matty Pearson as they kick off the Championship campaign against Burnley.Pearson has a knock picked up in pre-season and will be assessed by boss Danny Schofield, who is taking charge of the Terriers for the first time.It has been a summer of change at the West Yorkshire club following their play-off final defeat to Nottingham Forest, with the likes of Will Boyle, Davi...Full Story »

A much-changed Derby side will step into third-tier action for the first time in 36 years in Saturday’s League One home clash with Oxford.Caretaker boss Liam Rosenior could almost field an entire starting XI of new recruits.The Rams have brought in 11 free-transfer signings in a hectic summer entirely underpinned by a protracted takeover that was only completed earlier this month.Midfielde...Full Story »

Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign defender Jules Kounde from Sevilla for a base fee of €50 million ($50m/£42m) plus add-ons, GOAL can confirm. He is expected to sign a four-year contract that will run until 2026. Kounde had been pursued by Chelsea since at least last summer, but he preferred a move to Camp Nou. Xavi specifically requested Barcelona approach Kounde to rei...Full Story »

A host of top European clubs are eyeing up a future transfer move for Palmeiras and Brazil wonderkid Endrick, according to Fabrizio Romano. Writing in his latest exclusive column for CaughtOffside, Romano provided some insight into the scale of the interest in Endrick, who is regarded as one of the biggest prospects in the world for his age group. The Brazilian only recently turned 16, but has...Full Story »