Ipswich assistant manager Martyn Pert was delighted with the performance from a changed team in a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bristol Rovers.
The goals came from Jack Taylor and Sone Aluko to confirm the Tractor Boys’ progress to the second round where they have been drawn against Reading.
The visitors had their chances and Ipswich goalkeeper Cieran Slicker helped to keep a clean sheet for Town when he stuck out a foot to deflect a shot from Jevani Brown.
Pert said: “We changed the whole team and it shows the level that the lads have been working at for the last six weeks that they can work and understand the structure and everything we want and they can go and deliver the performance like that.
“So very pleasing and it was a good night. A lot of the players have been here a while and understand the way we play.”
Asked about goalkeeper Slicker, Pert said: “He is a confident lad, his qualities suit the way we play, he is a good young goalkeeper.”
Bristol Rovers’ first-team coach Andy Mangan said: “There were so many positives, we’ve just got to be better in certain areas on the counter mentality wise.
“When Ipswich have got the ball our shape was difficult to break down and our lads have got to trust the process and be confident in those situations but all in all a positive performance.
“I think we had more chances in the first period of the second half and like I said we just have to better in those moments.”
Nigel Pearson confirmed Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott was speaking to Bournemouth after seeing his side reach the Carabao Cup second round.
The Robins thrashed Oxford 5-1 thanks to Jason Knight’s brace and goals from Harry Cornick, Nahki Wells and Kal Naismith.
Afterwards Pearson was asked to comment on reports that Scott had undergone a medical at Premier League club Bournemouth prior to big-money move.
He said: “The club has given Alex permission for that and I really don’t have anything more to say on it.”
Pressed on whether he had been planning without Scott for the campaign, Pearson added: “No, I have been planning to keep him.
“It’s nothing to do with me, it’s a club decision.
“I’m disappointed because we have a better chance of being successful if we keep our best players.”
On the game, which saw Billy Bodin equalise for Oxford before Knight’s double either side of half-time put City in charge, Pearson said: “I’m delighted for the players.
“One difference from our opening league match on Saturday was that our full-backs were more positive in getting forward.
“The scoreline sounds comprehensive, but Oxford were always in the game and caused us some problems.
“We were able to penetrate down the flanks and got in plenty of crosses, which wasn’t the case on Saturday.
“It’s always nice to blood young players and we were able to send on Ephraim Yeboah at a good time in the game for him. The hard work starts for Ephraim now.”
Oxford manager Liam Manning did not attend the post-match press conference.
Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson praised the structure of his side after Ryan McLean’s late strike saw the League Two team down Coventry and reach round two of the EFL Cup.
Championship Coventry were ahead inside 20 minutes, Matty Godden converting from the spot after Joe Lewis chopped down Haji Wright in the box.
And that had looked enough to claim victory, until two late strikes from the Dons turned the contest on its head, Omar Bugiel with the equaliser before McLean’s winner.
“It’s early days, obviously, but any successful team has that base of solidity and defensive structure and I think we looked like that,” said Jackson.
“Coventry had their moments – they’ve got quality players – but if we want to do anything, you got to have that base.
“We’re trying to build a squad where you’ve got competition for places and you’ve got people that are tough to leave out.
“But, when you’re looking behind you to make changes, you know they’re going to come on and have a positive influence on the game.”
Meanwhile, Sky Blues boss Mark Robins rued silly mistakes as his makeshift side snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
He added: “I don’t think we deserved anything – we could have won if we’d done things right, but we didn’t.
“We didn’t pick the right passes out, we went too long at times and it was just unlike us. Really, they should have been a couple of goals up before the penalty, so we’re a little bit lucky coming in 1-0 up.
“So we speak about that at half time and how we can be better and we end up looking poor in the second half too.
“It’s a new team so I’ve got to be careful what I say; I’m making substitutions for physical reasons rather than tactical reasons at the moment because I’m trying to get everyone fit.”
Michael Beale was left frustrated by his “wasteful” Rangers side in their narrow 2-1 win over 10-man Servette in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round at Ibrox.
Skipper James Tavernier scored a penalty in the sixth minute before striker Cyriel Dessers knocked in a second eight minutes later with his first Gers goal.
Sam Lammers missed a great chance to make it 3-0 and, just before the break, Servette attacker Chris Bedia reduced the deficit from the spot after the VAR intervened to flag up a Dessers handball.
Servette were reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute after David Douline was sent off for picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Todd Cantwell.
But the visitors defended resolutely and will fancy their chances of turning the tie around in Switzerland next Tuesday night.
Beale said: “We started really well and I thought the energy from the team was really good in and out of possession.
“The desire shown by Nico and Todd before the first goal to go chase a couple of lost causes down was fantastic.
“I felt Borna Barisic had a good night and put some great crosses in.
“Playing with the two nine’s gives you that opportunity that we got when Danilo went across the first post and Cyriel scores.
“At that moment we were in a great place. But after that I thought we were wasteful.
“Then comes the VAR decision for the penalty. I thought it was harsh but that’s the ruling.
“The second half, their keeper made a fantastic save from Sam and Cyriel and we had other moments again where we were wasteful on a night when we played well in my opinion for a long period of time.
“What it does is keep our wits about us. We know it will be difficult going to Geneva. It’s going to be a full house and we’ll see a different game like we always do in Europe.
“I’ll never knock a win in European competition because I know they’re so difficult to come by.
“But as a team, we do a lot of good things and create enormous opportunities and we have to be more decisive.
“I’ll give our forwards [a break] at the moment because they’re new coming into the club and it’s early in the season.
“But if we keep creating chances like that then we have to take them if we’re to put teams away.”
Beale believes there is still more to come from his revamped squad.
He said: “We are not using it as an excuse but 13 players left and nine came in.
“Danilo has trained with his team-mates for four days and has had a pre-season which was all over the shop at Feyenoord.
“We are not the sum of our parts right now but I thought we had more forward running and more energy.
“I thought the front three were exciting and they will get better with each game.”
Servette boss Rene Weiler is relishing the return game.
He said: “The result leaves the door open for the second leg next week.
“It was a tough start for us when we went 2-0 down and they played at a high level but we got a bit of luck with the penalty.
“But overall the first half was balanced. We tried to attack but when we got a red card it was tough but it leaves us with the possibility for next week.”
Leicester boss Enzo Maresca was more than satisfied as his side ensured comfortable passage to round two of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 victory over League One Burton.
Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed his chance in the starting line-up with the opening goal after six minutes before assisting Wilfred Ndidi with Leicester’s second in first-half stoppage-time.
“It had the potential to be difficult for us but we started really well with the first goal,” said Maresca.
“Then it got a bit more complicated as they changed and made it harder for us and we had to find solutions.
“In the end we are very happy because we continue improving with the ideas we are trying to get across and that is important. What we are looking for is very clear, even in the previous game.”
Iheanacho replaced Jamie Vardy in the side for the game and impressed his new manager.
“Kelechi was really good scoring and assisting one and then second half he moved inside a bit more but he was one of many players who were really good tonight,” he added.
Burton boss Dino Maamria was frustrated that his side’s game-plan to frustrate their Championship opponents was blown out of the water by conceding so early.
“Our intention in the first half was to block them in and press them to stop their rhythm and we have ended up doing the complete opposite in those first six minutes conceding that goal,” he said.
“We gave them too much respect and that is not us.
“Second half was a much better performance where we were more compact and we had a couple of good chances to get a goal and it is a shame we didn’t get that goal that we deserved.”
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford can take the Premier League by storm and reach the very top, according to his England Under-21 coach Joleon Lescott.
Trafford is in line for a top-flight debut on Friday against old club Manchester City, who allowed him to make the move to Turf Moor last month.
While Trafford is only 20 and has never played higher than Sky Bet League One, he starred for England during the summer to earn them European Under-21 Championship glory with a stunning stoppage-time penalty-kick save to deny Abel Ruiz in the 1-0 win over Spain.
Lescott was part of Lee Carsley’s staff for the tournament and knows the young goalkeeper from his time as loan manager at City.
TNT Sports pundit Lescott said: “James is ready for the Premier League. He is top, he is top with temperament, quality.
“I think everyone sees the quality but his temperament is he loves it, but nothing fazes him. He is not bothered by anything.
“He said it in his interview after the (Spain) game, that he knew he would save a penalty and I genuinely believe him. In no arrogant way at all, I think he is just so comfortable with his quality. He works extremely hard and is so aware of what it will take to have a top career.
“I have no doubt he will reach the very top of the game.
“Potentially he ends up back there (at Man City). But James will go on to have an exceptional career.”
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Asked if Trafford could make his senior debut for England soon if he impresses for Vincent Kompany’s new boys, Lescott added: “Yeah, 100 per cent. Whatever he achieves, touch wood barring any unfortunate injuries, will not surprise me.
“I spoke to Vinny before they acquired him and I told him I’ve not seen a keeper that composed at that age, so yeah he’s very good.”
Former City defender Lescott is equally enthusiastic about how old team-mate Kompany will fare during his maiden campaign in the Premier League.
Kompany and Burnley took the Championship by storm last season, but they are odds-on to return back to the second tier ahead of Friday’s opener.
“Vinny will be prepared and nothing Vinny does will surprise me,” Lescott insisted.
“He will not leave any stone unturned. I don’t think it’ll be easy, but Vincent is a very impressive coach, a very impressive man, and a very fast learner.
“I’m sure he’ll recognise what allows Burnley to stay in the league and try to do that to the best of his capabilities.”
The fixture gods have not been kind to Burnley but while it does not get much tougher than hosting the Premier League champions, Lescott feels Pep Guardiola’s side could struggle early on after the high of clinching the treble with a first Champions League title in June.
Lescott admitted: “I think the fact that people are just assuming they can do that again, the quadruple and treble, I think it slightly underestimates what they’ve achieved and how hard that is.
“That could potentially produce a slower start to the season and (other) teams are raring to go
“I’m sure they’re the team to beat and everybody recognises that, but it can take a toll what they’ve achieved.”
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Championship Cardiff needed a penalty shoot-out to get past League Two Colchester in the Carabao Cup first round.
Bluebirds goalkeeper Jak Alnwick saved Colchester’s first three attempts from 12 yards, thwarting Jayden Fevrier, Junior Tchamadeu and Tom Hopper after a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
It meant successful penalties from Cardiff’s Mahlon Romeo, Sheyi Ojo and Ike Ugbo were enough after their side’s first effort from Rubin Colwill had been saved.
A smart finish by Welsh international Colwill put the home side ahead in the 19th minute.
It was 2-0 10 minutes before the break when Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman spilled a shot by Cardiff winger Ollie Tanner, and Kion Etete pounced to fire home the loose ball.
But lethargic defensive lapses allowed the visitors to haul themselves level before half-time, as two close-range tap-ins in the 40th and 44th minutes by forwards John Akinde and Joe Taylor changed the complexion.
Expectations Cardiff would reassert themselves after the break were misplaced and the League Two side more than contributed to an evenly matched affair.
Colchester substitute Samson Tovide was shown a red card in the 89th minute for a boot to the head of Bluebirds left-back Jamilu Collins but his side held out for the seven minutes of added time.
First-half goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi eased Leicester to a 2-0 victory and into the second round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Burton.
On a relatively trouble-free night for new Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, the Foxes quickly got the game under control with Iheanacho taking just six minutes to breach the Brewers defence with a calmly taken side-foot effort into the corner of the goal, converting skipper Marc Albrighton’s cross.
Leicester dominated possession but Albion provided stubborn resistance and as the half wore on the hosts grew into the game, with debutant Ryan Sweeney seeing a header frantically cleared away from danger.
City then doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time, Ndidi finding the top corner after Iheanacho had raced clear and set him up.
Iheanacho almost grabbed his second two minutes into the second half but was denied by a good save from Jamal Blackman as Leicester looked to put the game firmly beyond the League One side.
Wanya Marcal-Madivadua and Harry Winks also went close to a third for Leicester before the hour mark.
Burton almost set up a potentially nervy ending through substitute Josh Gordon but his effort curled narrowly wide of Jakub Stolarczyk’s post.
Ryan McLean’s injury-time strike completed a remarkable turnaround for AFC Wimbledon as they stunned Championship visitors Coventry 2-1.
Mark Robins’ side enjoyed plenty of the ball in south London and deservedly led through a Matty Godden penalty.
Despite creating a number of excellent opportunities, they were dealt two sucker punches right at the death, Omar Bugiel lashing home an equaliser four minutes from time, before McLean’s calm finish sent Plough Lane into raptures.
They should have been ahead within 90 seconds, however, James Tilley inexplicably side-footing wide from eight yards having been found by the weaving Aron Sasu.
Godden and the busy Tatsuhiro Sakamoto were then denied in quick succession by Nik Tzanev in the Dons goal, before Joe Lewis chopped down Haji Wright – Godden making no mistake.
Godden, Gustavo Hamer and Jake Bidwell continued to work the Wimbledon keeper, though the pick was a brilliant reaction save from less than a yard from Ellis Simms.
And just as it seemed Coventry had got away with their profligacy, Johnnie Jackson’s men turned the tie around.
McLean’s cross was met perfectly by Bugiel, striking home having timed his run into the penalty area superbly, with McLean himself showing coolness of mind to turn in a cross deep into added-on time; a remarkable way in which to score his first goal in professional football.
Katie Archibald “struggled with the pressure” after narrowly missing out on a medal in the women’s omnium to close the track events at the UCI Cycling World Championships.
Archibald came into the worlds on home turf in Glasgow still grieving her late partner Rab Wardell, who died suddenly at home last year, and had spoken of her desire to honour his memory in competition this week.
She did that and more as she helped Britain to women’s team pursuit gold at the weekend, and she then delivered an attacking performance in the points race to round out the omnium but was narrowly denied bronze by Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky as American Jennifer Valente successfully defended her title.
The two-time Olympic champion left nothing in reserve in the deciding points race, but had left herself with too much to do after mistakes in the tempo and elimination races midway through the competition, starting the final event down in eighth and hauling herself up to fourth.
“It’s nice to at least finish on a race where I feel like I’ve given it my all,” the 29-year-old said. “I’ve had this anxiety building since May, really, feeling like you’re going to be trotted out for slaughter. I thought once I got racing that maybe it would be OK.
“But the scratch race didn’t go to plan, the tempo went so far from what I wanted it, then I made a massive mistake in the elimination race – a passive mistake, which is more frustrating.
“I came off so low after the elimination but the pressure was gone then. I was at the bottom of the pack. I’ve struggled with the pressure.”
Having left herself with work to do, Archibald began the points race in determined fashion, launching her first big attack 15 laps into the race and needing only five laps to catch the back of the pack, picking up 20 points to vault into medal contention.
She launched another big move with 31 laps to go but this time dragged Denmark’s Amalie Dideriksen and Kopecky with her, keeping both of them ahead in the standings behind Valente.
Archibald tried another big attack going into the final sprint but Kopecky came around her before the line to take the bronze medal with 133 points to Archibald’s 127.
British Cycling performance director Stephen Park said: “Katie’s shown an incredible resilience. She’s had an incredibly tough year.
“For those of us who have found ourselves in those situations at different times, you know, just getting through the day and getting on with it again tomorrow is tough.
“I’m pleased that she’s felt the team and her team-mates have been able to help her with that feeling of family, love and support.
“But we so admire the resilience that she’s shown to get up every day, get back on the bike, get back into training and be in a position to turn up here, really get out and deliver her best – and to honour her former partner Rab – while recognising the support and love she’s had from across the country.
“This is just one step as she continues to grow, as she continues to grieve – and hopefully she continues towards Paris and LA. She’s a stand-out character, stand-out performer with some great team-mates around her.”
The Premier League may have to scrap its mid-season break due to the overcrowding of the football calendar.
The change could come into effect next season with FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup set to take place in the summer of 2025, as well as a larger-scale World Cup the following year.
The Premier League introduced the break – which this season will take the form of a structured two-week period in January – in 2018 in a bid to ease the workload on players, but chief executive Richard Masters admits it is under discussion as it could become unworkable.
“It is one of the things we are discussing with the FA and EFL. We want the Premier League, the big cup competitions and the EFL to flourish and that requires an adjustment,” he said.
“It is the last season where it’s recognisable under the current international match calendar, where the Premier League starts on a particular weekend and the FA Cup final has its own weekend and you have the Champions League after that and a mid-season player break in the middle.
“A lot will have to change because of the additional European dates. We are also very much aware of the changes to FIFA’s competitions. The World Cup is getting bigger, an additional group stage game is going to be added. Inevitably that’s going to take up more calendar space.
“You obviously have the views of the players’ union and the players being expressed very strongly now.
“From a leagues perspective, the European Leagues and World Leagues Forum are very clear on this, there has to be a forum for domestic competitions to be able to discuss the impact of regional and global decisions on the calendar.
“There’s lots of dialogue with UEFA, very little dialogue with FIFA.”
There were almost double the usual amount of yellow cards shown over the first weekend of the EFL season as the crackdown on time-wasting and player behaviour came into force.
Masters expects the same in the top flight until players and managers get used to the law changes.
“I think these things will level out,” he added. “It’s not the first crackdown that the governing bodies have had, in relation to surrounding referees for example.
“Players and managers need time to adjust and actually the officials need time to adjust.
“But over a period of time, rather than it to sort of dissipate and not have impact, everyone’s behaviour adjusts and things settle down.
“There will be more yellow cards. I don’t know whether a doubling of yellow cards is a good thing or a bad thing. It certainly sends a message that the officials are true to their word.”
Chief executive Richard Masters has confirmed the Premier League is investigating Chelsea regarding “historic” financial issues that the club reported.
It was reported on Tuesday the Blues are the subject of a Premier League investigation for alleged breaches of financial regulations during Roman Abramovich’s time at the club.
Current owners Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital Consortium, who took over last summer after Abramovich was forced to sell following sanctions as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reportedly flagged the potential issue to the Premier League and Football Association themselves.
That now appears to have been confirmed by Masters, who said: “We don’t comment on investigations unless they are out in the public domain. You obviously know who has been charged, that much is clear.
“We have been pretty open about the historic issues with regard to Chelsea because they self-reported to the Premier League and to the FA so it is obvious we are looking into that.”
UEFA announced last month it had been approached “proactively” by the club, who agreed to pay 10million euros (£8.57million) to Europe’s governing body after owning up to “incomplete financial reporting” between 2012 and 2019.
Chelsea said in a statement at the time their new owners became aware of potential impropriety when carrying out a “thorough due diligence process” prior to the purchase.
According to reports, no charges have yet been brought by the Premier League, but, even though the allegations relate to a previous ownership, possible sanctions could include a fine or points deduction if the club are found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Chelsea have been contacted for comment.
Goals from Jack Taylor and Sone Aluko saw Ipswich through to the second round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Bristol Rovers.
The 2-0 scoreline confirmed the Tractor Boys’ dominance but the visitors had their chances and Ipswich goalkeeper Cieran Slicker kept a clean sheet for Town when he stuck out a foot to deflect a shot from Jevani Brown.
Ipswich took the lead in the 12th minute when a cross from Kayden Jackson was met by Taylor who fired the ball past Bristol’s goalkeeper Matthew Cox.
Rovers’ keeper was robbed of the ball by Freddie Ladapo and Taylor chipped towards an empty net but Tristan Crama rushed back to clear off the line.
Slicker was called into action for the first time in the 36th minute when he parried the ball away following a 25-yard effort from former Town midfielder Grant Ward.
Cox then pushed the ball out for a corner following a close-range effort from Ladapo and Slicker came to Ipswich’s rescue when he deflected Brown’s shot away.
Town sealed the win in the 76th minute through second half substitute Aluko, who was picked out in the penalty area by George Hirst.
Rangers left themselves with work to do to see off Servette after a narrow 2-1 win over the Swiss side in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round at Ibrox.
Skipper James Tavernier scored a penalty in the sixth minute before striker Cyriel Dessers knocked in a second eight minutes later for his first Gers goal.
The Light Blues were in command but, just before the break, Servette attacker Chris Bedia reduced the deficit from the spot after the VAR intervened to flag up a Dessers handball.
Servette’s hapless David Douline, who conceded the penalty for a foul on Todd Cantwell, was sent off in the 59th minute for picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on the Light Blues midfielder to leave his side with 10 men for more than half an hour.
However, the resolute visitors prevented further damage and will fancy their chances of turning the tie around in Switzerland next Tuesday night.
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