Norwich City have appointed Dean Smith as their new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
He replaces Daniel Farke, who was sacked by the Canaries after the recent 2-1 win at Brentford, their only victory of the season so far.
Smith was dismissed by Aston Villa on the same weekend, but the 50-year-old was not out of work for long as he has now been tasked with getting the Carrow Road club off the bottom of the Premier League table.
Smith's first game in charge will be at home to Southampton on November 20, the same opponents he faced in his last game at Villa, a 1-0 defeat at St Mary's. It will be the eighth time a manager has faced the same opposition back-to-back in the Premier League with two different clubs.
While at Villa Park, Smith achieved promotion from the Championship in his first season, reached the EFL Cup final and kept the club in the Premier League on the last day in 2019-20, before finishing 11th in the top flight last term.
However, the former Walsall and Brentford boss has lost almost half of the 87 games he has managed in the Premier League (43), with 28 wins and 16 draws.
Excluding play-off matches, Smith's record in the Championship has seen him win 69 of his 166 games as manager (D45 L52).
Macaulay Langstaff’s landmark goal helps Notts County beat Swindon
Macaulay Langstaff scored his 50th Notts County goal as the Magpies dispatched fellow promotion-chasers Swindon Town 3-1 at Meadow Lane.
Further goals courtesy of David McGoldrick and Dan Crowley completed a dominant first-half display, with Swindon substitute Tyrese Shade pulling one back early in the second half.
Luke Williams’ side took the lead when Jodi Jones slipped in McGoldrick to calmly loft over the on-rushing Murphy Mahoney.
A rampant first half was rewarded as Langstaff netted from the spot after Aaron Nemane was fouled inside the area, before McGoldrick fired a delicious ball to the back post for Crowley to finish.
But a rejuvenated Swindon side pulled one back four minutes into the second half thanks to substitute Shade as he towered over Nemane to power home Remeao Hutton’s cross.
Frazer Blake-Tracy missed a glorious chance moments later inside the area before Dan Kemp’s effort was brilliantly blocked by Kyle Cameron as the Magpies moved three points clear at the top of League Two.
Burnley secure first Premier League win with last-gasp victory at Luton
Jacob Bruun Larsen’s dramatic winner snatched Burnley their first Premier League win of the season – a 2-1 victory at Luton.
The Dane’s goal-of-the-season contender came after Lyle Foster’s opener had been cancelled out by Hatters striker Elijah Adebayo.
Rob Edwards’ side were left to rue missed chances once again as they failed to build on Saturday’s 2-1 win at Everton.
Carlton Morris set the tone in the opening seconds when he closed down goalkeeper James Trafford’s clearance and minutes later his strike from inside the box went narrowly wide as the hosts looked for an early opener.
Burnley were second-best for the first 20 minutes, but Vincent Kompany’s men rode the storm and began to enjoy some success.
Clarets forward Zeki Amdouni tested Thomas Kaminski with a header from a corner that forced an acrobatic save from the Belgian to keep the score level.
This came shortly before Josh Brownhill had fired a warning shot from distance which narrowly avoided Kaminski’s top corner.
The chance of the half came in the 33rd minute. Alfie Doughty found wing-back partner Issa Kabore and he sent over a cross in search of Morris but the ball fell kindly for Chiedozie Ogbene, whose diving header was inches away from nestling inside Trafford’s post.
However, it was Burnley who struck first in time added on in the first half.
Sander Berge did well to find Foster and he beat Tom Lockyer in a foot race to tuck his effort away.
The Hatters almost equalised when Doughty’s inch-perfect corner found the head of Morris and his glancing header went inches wide.
Substitute Adebayo found the head of Jacob Brown who was denied by Josh Cullen on the line as the tide began to turn with 25 minutes to go.
After Morris was denied a penalty, his header missed the target once again as it started to feel like it was not going to be the Hatters’ night.
But it was Adebayo who grabbed Luton the goal they deserved after 84 minutes.
Reece Burke got on the end of a deep cross and provided the knockdown to the striker, who sorted his feet out and tapped home to level.
But their joy was short-lived as Burnley scored a second a minute later to stun Kenilworth Road into silence.
Bruun Larsen cut inside and produced an outstanding curled effort which found the top corner in front of the away fans.
Luton searched for a second equaliser during seven added minutes but it was not to be and Burnley held on for the win to move up to 18th in the table.
Southend celebrate takeover news with win over Oxford City
Southend rounded off a positive day at the club with a well-deserved 2-0 victory against Oxford City.
Hours before the National League clash, the Shrimpers announced a takeover deal with a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees had been agreed a day before the club is due in High Court to face a winding-up petition.
On the pitch, the players ensured the fans celebrated the news with three points thanks to first-half goals from Harry Cardwell and Jack Wood.
Cardwell scored his 10th league goal of the season in the 31st minute when he converted Gus Scott-Morriss’ far-post cross.
Wood grabbed his first goal for the club seven minutes later when he knocked in the rebound to his initial effort, which was saved by Oxford City goalkeeper Chris Haigh.
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