Ben Waine – Plymouth Argyle (English League One)

Promotion to the Champo is the overwhelming priority at this stage so even though a berth in the semis of the lower league cup, the EFL Trophy, was on the line away to Bristol Rovers they still had to be careful about it. Coach Steven Schumacher picked a team to win... but he also used the opportunity to offer some further integration to a few of his new signings. Thus Ben Waine started his first Pilgrims game, while fellow January additions Callum Wright and Jay Matete also had the same honour. They also chucked one of the youngsters on the wing as well (Jack Endacott – who has barely played in the league but has been a regular sighting in these EFL Trophy matches) to ensure a fresh looking line-up.

One important thing to know about Ben Waine: the lad is clinical. Across his A-League career he scored 17 goals from only 75 total shots, adding up to a goals-to-shot ratio of 23%. Which in turn rises up to 49% conversion from his shots on target – in other words he scored from pretty much every second shot on target that he mustered. Consistently one of the best conversion rates in the A-League across the last three seasons.

So it’s probably no shocker that this happened...

It’s what he does. First goal for the new club coming in his first start and just his second appearance overall. Really nice header. Get that thing all the way in there.

Thing is, he probably should have scored a hat-trick. Waine had two other big chances after his goal. The first when he grazed a low cross wide from about 8-9 yards out in the middle of the area. The second running onto a long ball over the top, holding off his closest marker to break free but then firing over the top. Uncharacteristic from the fella... however in between those two misses his teammate Ryan Hardie buried a second for Argyle who then did a professional job playing with the lead in that second half.

Waine was replaced with about a minute remaining, a little worse for wear after an exhausting evening’s work. But the key point was that Plymouth closed things out for a 2-0 victory. They’re into the semis of the Papa Johns Trophy where they’ll face Cheltenham in late February.

Say, and look who got voted man of the match by the Plymouth fans...

You can call that a positive introduction. The Waine Train pulling into the station to the sounds of cheers.

The fella was back on the bench for the League One match on the weekend, as expected, with Plymouth taking on third-placed Ipswich Town away from home. Thing about that was, with 63 minutes gone the Pilgrims found themselves trailing 1-0. Wes Burns had just scored for Ipswich blasting a rocket of a shot into the top near corner in a game where both teams had already struck the crossbar from positions where it looked easier to score than to miss the target.

The atmosphere was huge between two promotion-challenging sides. The football itself was more frantic than either team was used to. It was a wild contest... and Plymouth needed to find a bit more energy in order to match their opposition. So in the 66th minute of action, on came Benjamin Waine to replace Hardie up front.

Waine definitely helped with the energy, seeking to run and run and run, stretching the Ipswich defence and keeping them on their toes in possession. But to be honest they still weren’t creating much... at least not until the third minute of stoppage time when Bali Mumba (on loan from Norwich, archrivals of Ipswich Town) curled a wonder finish into the top corner to salvage a point for his team. Magic timing. Huge moment. The 1-1 draw does mean that Sheffield Wednesday can go level with Argyle at the top if they win their game in hand... but one point is a lot better than zero points. In their last two league games Plymouth have managed to get draws away from home against the third and fourth placed teams and it’s that kind of behaviour which keeps those third and fourth placed teams from being able to hunt them down.

There was no goal involvement for Ben Waine in the Ipswich match, although he definitely furthered his case for cracking that starting team already. But there was a goal celebration involvement for the dude. First man to hunt down Mumba at the corner flag, loving life at his new club already. Plus the Waine Train idea seems to be catching on...

Up Next: Sunday at 4am against Cheltenham (NZT)

CJ Bott - Leicester City (English Super League)

A quick recap on matters pertaining to the Leicester City women’s team: Having only narrowly avoided relegation last season, they’re staring down the barrel of it this time around after failing to take a single point from their opening nine games. There were heartbreakers such as the 88th minute winner that West Ham scored against them or when they were leading Reading 1-0 with a minute to go and ended up losing 2-1. There have also been some unabated hidings with 4-0 defeats to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man City as well as an 8-0 pasting by Chelsea. They’re on to a new manager in Willie Kirk. They have just signed Aussie striker Remy Siemsen from Sydney FC to bolster their attack with further signings likely before the end of the month... it’s gonna take a massive effort to avoid dropping back into the Championship next season though.

That massive effort began with a rescheduled Conti Cup clash (after all LCFC’s December postponements as the weather packed in across England – hence they resume their campaign with four games in 11 days) against second-tier Sunderland. Either a preview of what they’ll be up against next term or a welcome chance to build some confidence and momentum ahead of a heroic second half of the Super League. The Foxes lined up with four at the back and CJ Bott was named to start on the right edge. Not as attacking as her role has been in other games this term but good to see her backed in her strongest position.

Bott played 67 minutes before she was replaced. 67 minutes in which Leicester were good but not great, looking like a team that didn’t really know how they were going to score their goals. Even when they did score they still didn’t know. The Foxes took the lead deep into first half stoppage time as Missy Goodwin ran onto a cross at the edge of the box and her touch sorta just looped off her shin and into the net. At least they held solid at the back, Bott and fellow fullback Jemma Purfield staying flat as they prevented Sunderland from getting up to much, keeping that 1-0 lead relatively safe.

Then as soon as Bott went off, they went nuts. Four goals in the last twenty minutes as Sam Tierney (70’), Ava Baker (77’), and Molly Pike (82’ & 90+1’) all came to the party. Ended up being a healthy 5-0 win as the Foxes got exactly what they wanted to maintain a small hope of making the Conti Cup knockouts. Just gotta beat Man City next week to have any chance. Easily done, right?

Following that, Leicester also completed the signing of a new goalkeeper: Janina Leitzig, a 23yo German on loan from Bayern Munich. Siemsen wasn’t ready for the weekend’s WSL resumption but Leitzig was with the new keeper being one of three changes made to the starting team after the Sunderland victory, none of them affecting the back four. That meant CJ at RB once again, this time logging the full ninety as Leicester City met Brighton & Hove.

Brighton have also been busy in the transfer market, new manager Jens Scheuer raiding the continent for help – including from CJ Bott’s former Vålerenga teammate Dejana Stefanovic. There was room for three of their four January signings (so far) in the eleven with the other coming off the bench, however there was no room for Rebekah Stott who was an unused substitute. She’s basically a new signing too having been injured all season to this point.

Whatever’s been wrong with Leicester up until this point seems to have been solved because they were almost unrecognisable in this game. Within two minutes of kickoff CJ Bott was bursting up the right edge from fullback, overlapping and winning a corner as her cross was charged down. A few minutes later she couldn’t quite latch onto a through ball from Aileen Whelan with the intention to get forward very clear already. The next time she found herself in the attacking third she did get a cross in... and when the Foxes couldn’t force a shot on the end of it she won the ball back and drilled over another ball. Final delivery did leave some question marks but other than that it was determined and positive work from CJB who was heavily involved from the outset.

LCFC already look miles better under Willie Kirk’s coaching. They played with purpose, they played with intent. They certainly played with bundles of energy. And just before half-time they got their reward with a wonderful opening goal. Bott had tried another cross which was blocked but she recovered the ball (yet again) and recycled it infield. A few slick passes later and Whelan was poking home her finish against the club she joined from in the offseason. Then two minutes into the second half Sam Tierney was able to slip in a second after a free kick had been nodded back across goal. Strikes in the 44th and 47th minutes. Here come the Foxes.

Bott was giving Veatriki Sarri fits on their edge, constantly taking the ball away and usually then turning past her to pass out of trouble. Sarri would be subbed off early in the 57th minute. By then the course was already set and Leicester added to their lead when sub Monique Robinson followed up a blocked shot with a thumping first time finish just inside the area. Brighton’s best moments came after they were already 3-0 down with Leicester’s new goalie finally forced into a couple tough saves. Had to earn her clean sheet in the end. Bott played the closing stages at right midfield after Erin Simon was brought on. 3-0 was the way it finished.

First off, Bott was superb. Passing accuracy was pretty low thanks to some of those crosses and a few pushes up the line but all of that was proactive footy so no worries. Otherwise there were defensive blocks, there were dribbles into space, there were all sorts of possession-winning actions... outstanding work in both halves of the pitch.

Secondly... where has this been all season from Leicester?! They hadn’t taken a point from nine games, now all of a sudden they win 3-0. They’d scored just twice in those nine games, now here were three goals in one foul swoop. They managed to avoid relegation despite losing nine on the trot to start last term although that was largely because Birmingham were equally as bad. There’s no dud team this season so it’s going to take something bordering on miraculous to haul their way to safety this time but if they play like they did here then they may just do it.

No Rebekah Stott in this game. Unused sub as they were forced to look towards attacking options in search of a way back into the match. Stott and Bott did share a word in the post-game handshakes (Bott also taking some time to chat with Stefanovic who’d gone off injured in the first half). Pretty sure Brighton could use some experienced defensive nous having now conceded 3+ goals in five straight WSL fixtures.

Up Next: Leicester vs Man City in the final Conti Cup group game on Thursday at 8am; also they’re away to Spurs at 3am on Monday in the WSL (NZT)

Anna Leat – Aston Villa (English Super League)

Leicester City weren’t the only ones making mid-season moves. Aston Villa were right onto it when the January transfer window opened signing Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth to bulk up their midfield. Nobbs joining from Arsenal, Staniforth from Manchester United. Both surprising transfers though both also easily explained by the need for regular minutes with places in the England World Cup squad at stake. And the Villans can offer that to them whilst significantly upgrading their engine-room in the process.

Both Nobbs and Staniforth started at the first opportunity as the WSL returned with a Saturday afternoon fixture between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. They both started... and so did Anna Leat. Back in there from the open as Hannah Hampton watched from the bench.

The fresh midfield immediately looked fantastic. Dream stuff from the transfer department. Villa were moving the ball with pace and purpose through the middle, controlling possession, and only a dogged Spurs defence was keeping them from finding the end product. Anna Leat hardly had to touch the ball for the first half hour other than a few backpasses which she confidently distributed between to her centre backs. That is, until Spurs’ first genuine attack of the day which ended with Beth England (also a new signing – reportedly for a record domestic fee) squeezing in a tidy finish from six yards out from an overlapping cross. Leat got a foot to the ball but from that distance there wasn’t much she could do. Completely against the run of play.

Good thing for Villa was that they didn’t panic. Instead they picked up where they’d left off, treating that goal as an anomaly, and within ten minutes they were leading. First Kenza Dali buried a sharp finish into the bottom corner from outside the area. Some wonderful work from Jordan Nobbs in the build-up, also some wonderful work from Kirsty Hanson who soon afterwards supplied some more in setting up Rachel Daly for another. That Dali and Daly combo providing the goals for Aston Villa, same old. Goals in the 34th and 38th minute had flipped this thing back around.

The second half was short on chances and that’s the way Villa wanted it. There were a couple spare opportunities to extend their lead that they couldn’t convert. Spurs also produced a bit more though Leat was undaunted by long shots for simple saves. She might have been beaten near the end as Beth England broke into the area... but England’s shot went over the top and the home side all breathed a sigh of relief as they went on to take a 2-1 victory. Nice way to start the new year. Heaps of touches for Leat, who was a flawless 43/43 with passes under 30 yards. Spent a fair amount of time outside her penalty box sweeping with her team in possession. Good assured areas.

Up Next: Away to Manchester City at 12.30am on Sunday (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

Last week Ryan Thomas made his comeback after 461 days out injured. This week he started not once but twice, how about that? Not wasting any time getting the bloke back into the mix.

Game tahi was a midweek meeting with Feyenoord in the KNVB Cup. Thommo’s most famous day as a footballer was when he scored a double for PEC Zwolle in an upset cup final triumph over Ajax back in 2014, pretty much making himself a legend for life at the club. This tie would require and equally amazing upset, probably greater as Zwolle are now in the second tier whereas Feyenoord are currently leading the top division ahead of Ajax and PSV.

Yet dreams of an upset were definitely fluttering through the away section when Haris Medunjanin smacked an utter stonker into the top corner in just the third minute of the match. Unreal strike. PEC Zwolle with the unexpected early lead, lessgo.

Ryan Thomas was picked as a second striker playing off of Gervane Kastaneer in a 5-3-2 formation that was selected in full awareness that copious quantities of defending were going to be necessary. Made sense, Thommo did play in the front line a bit for PSV when needed and he could be trusted to drop deep and help out with the midfield. That he did... although Feyenoord are the top team in the land for good reason and after that stunning early goal it was pretty much batten down the hatches territory from then onwards. Thomas only made 18 touches in the first half, working hard but hardly able to get on the ball and when he did he was usually isolated or squeezed out wide.

So it was that Mats Wieffer eventually buried a 29th minute equaliser – following a goalkeeping mistake as Mike Hauptmeijer spilled the corner kick. Stink way to allow the breakthrough but to be fair to Hauptmeijer he was otherwise brilliant throughout as Feyenoord continued to throw everything at their second-tier opponents. Danilo scored again five minutes later to give them the lead. Thomas was replaced at half-time, a deliberate minutes restriction in respect to his comeback. Danilo added his second in the 56th minute. It finished as a 3-1 win to Feyenoord. Started well... but the talent gap eventually told.

No time to rest, PEC Zwolle had another game three days later and it was a potentially decisive game in their season against their biggest title rivals in the Eerste Divisie: Heracles, who were three points clear having played an extra game as this one kicked off. This time Zwolle tweaked their formation slightly with Thomas again in the starting eleven but instead deeper in one of the two number ten spots (in practice he spent a lot of his time much deeper than that, seeking to facilitate things from midfield).

And you know what? It was pure gold in that first half. Didn’t matter that they were away, Zwolle were ruthless on course to a 3-0 lead. Samir Lagsir curled in a beauty in the eighth minute to give them the lead and while this wasn’t actually a one-sided clash at all, with Heracles missing a couple big chances to get on the board themselves, Zwolle broke it open in the 34th with a second goal. Thomas van den Belt via a deflection after a set piece scramble in the penalty area. Soon afterwards Lennart Thy converted a squared touch from a free kick so mark it 3-0 to PEC at the break. Well in control of this bad boy and the best part was seeing Ryan Thomas whipping clever passes around the park.

Thommo was having good fun, hurling himself in front of a shot early in the second half as PEC ensured there was no way back for Heracles. However his fun ended abruptly after 55 minutes when he jumped into a challenge and fell awkwardly with his elbow getting twisted as he landed. Looked painful... and he’d have to be replaced and taken away in an ambulance for treatment. Seriously, can this guy not find any luck with injuries?

The relieving news is that, as his coach said afterwards, it was a suspected dislocated elbow but nothing to do with his knee. Despite ending up in a cast, this shouldn’t be something to keep him out long term. The killer aspect is that he was only supposed to play sixty minutes so he’d have been subbed off anyway if he’d lasted five more minutes. Still, he seems to be in good spirits...

Hopefully that means he’ll be good to go next week, right? Anyway Zwolle held on for the 3-0 win that now puts them first on goal difference with a game in hand. A wonderful result despite another Ryan Thomas dalliance with injury.

Up Next: PEC Zwolle vs VVV on Saturday at 8am (NZT)

Marco Rojas – Colo-Colo (Chilean Primera División)

One of the many bonuses of playing for the best team in the country is extra trophies. Marco Rojas scored the goal that clinched the (inevitable) title for Colo-Colo late last season and that being the case they got to begin their 2023 season with one of them sneaky little Super Cup games. Colo-Colo, as defending Primera División champs, against Deportivo Magallanes, as defending Copa Chile champs – a brilliant effort from that lot given that they won the cup as a second tier club, although they went on to be promoted in first place. That was your 2023 Supercopa de Chile. And starting on the right wing was Marco ‘Kiwi’ Rojas.

Rojas had himself a chance about a dozen minutes in as he ghosted into the area for a chipped pass over the top only his glanced touch went slightly past the post. Still drew the ol’ “Kiiiwiiii...” shout from the commentator though. Chilean footy being Chilean footy, there was also a weird instance where a big balloon flew onto the pitch with players working around it, while Colo-Colo’s manager went into the book for protesting the lack of a card for a foul on Rojas.

Then Colo-Colo took the lead. 22 minutes gone. It had been coming. A fullback overlap from the right edge with the cutback reaching Rojas whose shot was blocked but it still looped up towards the far post where Marcos Bolados bundled it over from close range.

Having said that, it didn’t last. Colo-Colo may have been bossing proceedings but a cheeky Magallanes attack led to a bit of fizz from Manuel Vicuña bursting past his man on the wing and the cross was headed in by Felipe Flores to tie things back up again after 26 minutes. Oh well, back at it then. Colo-Colo resumed their attacking efforts with Rojas slipping through a couple slick passes but they still hit the sheds tied at 1-1, bit disappointing given the flow of play. First game of the season though. Gotta push through it.

Unfortunately they subbed Rojas off at the break which ruined the fun – the Supercopa is basically a glorified friendly so might as well spread the minutes out. Of course the term ‘friendly’ is a relative one as Magallanes later had a coach red carded for arguing when a crunching tackle by one of his lads was punished (it absolutely deserved to be lol). Near the end Leonardo Gil, CC’s main midfielder, got himself a second yellow too.

Yet all the way the score remained 1-1. Colo-Colo still dominating things yet Magallanes had the best couple of chances. They were rare but when they got in on the break they looked dangerous and it took some scrambling defence to deny them more than once. That took us to a penalty shootout – same method by which Magallanes won the Chilean Cup last year – and straight off the bat CC’s Esteban Pavez blasted his attempt over the crossbar. Magallanes took the lead in response but after trading a couple successful ones CC’s goalie Brayan Cortés ripped off a save on the third one and it was back even at 2-2. Each team converted their fourth spotties. However Maximiliano Falcón was denied by a low save and Tomás Aránguiz stepped up, with green lasers shining in his face, to slide in off the post and give Magallanes the Supercopa via a 4-3 penalty shootout triumph.

Shoulda left Rojas on. So it goes, it’s early days in a season which soon enough will also include some Copa Libertadores action (group stage, which CC have automatically qualified for, starts in April). But first their defence of the Primera División gets underway.

Up Next: League season begins next Monday at 10.30am away against Copiapó (NZT)

Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)

The writing was already on the wall that Chris Wood would struggle to play a part in Newcastle United’s League Cup quarter-final against Leicester City. Eddie Howe had used a rotated team against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup a few days earlier, trying to protect his top dudes for this one, though that FA Cup game also saw Alexander Isak make his return from injury. Chris Wood came on and helped set up the first goal... but he missed a huge chance late on as the Magpies were dropped 2-1 by the League One underdogs to exit at the third round.

Callum Wilson was left out of the matchday squad for that one to keep him fresh for the next. Wilson therefore returned to the starting line-up against Leicester while Alexander Isak was the man summoned to replace him with about twelve minutes remaining. That left Chris Wood on the outside looking in. It was just the second match all season in which he’s been an unused sub for Newcastle – and it happened at the first occasion in which all three of the Newcastle strikers have been fit and available for a game.

Wilson started the season as the main man number nine, with Wood tending to sub in late for him. Then Wilson got injured and Wood had a couple games to himself... before they signed Isak at the end of the transfer window. Isak started a few with Wood as his deputy... until Isak himself got injured and missed a few months. But by then Wilson was nearing a return and Wood resumed backup duties for the original starter. Now, finally, Wilson and Isak are both available at the same time and that could prove to be quite a pain in the arse for The Woodsman... at least until one of them inevitably gets injured again.

They won the Leicester City game. So that was nice. Played very well throughout, especially in the midfield (another match in which Bruno Guimaraes was brilliant), although it took them until the hour mark to finally put one in the net as Dan Burn linked beautifully with Joelinton on an angled run into the box before sliding home his shot. Joelinton himself polished off a sharp one later via a super threaded pass from Miguel Almiron. No need for Chris ‘The Closer’ Wood to guide them to the finish line on this evening. 2-0 to Newcastle who thus advance to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup where they’ll face Southampton (who knocked out Man City).

After that the Magpies went on and beat Fulham 1-0 in the Premier League. Callum Wilson started. Alexander Isak came off the bench and scored a late winner. Chris Wood... actually, you know what, we did still get a glimpse of The Woodsman here. 95th minute introduction as Newcastle went for the ol’ time wasting substitution at the very end.

This wasn’t Newcastle at their best by any means. They seemed short on creativity for whatever reason, although Sean Longstaff did have an early effort deflected over while Callum Wilson headed one straight at the keeper before another shot was pushed over the top by the keeper and a third was comfortably saved despite a superb turn to get into shooting territory. But overall not enough pizazz as Fulham held them scoreless through the first half (with Bruno Guimaraes limping off with a hurt ankle and not returning for the second stanza).

Fulham then really threw the cat amongst the pigeons when they won a penalty with twenty to go. Newcastle had already hit the post through a Fabian Schar free kick then Wilson glanced a header wide as they continued to push for a goal to reflect their dominance. What they weren’t banking on was Andreas Pereira being dragged down by Dan Burn and the VAR overturning things after the shouts were initially declined. Boos from the home crowd... then cheers as Aleksandar Mitrovic put the ball in the back of the net from the spot only for it to be disallowed as he’d actually struck it into his standing foot meaning an illegal double hit. Indirect free kick to Newcastle instead (this after Nick Pope had been booked for time wasting before the take).

Then Alexander Isak nodded into an open goal in the 89th minute after Callum Wilson had been able to push a deep cross back into the middle at the second opportunity. They got there in the end.

Just a sneaky 1-0 win over Fulham to keep Newcastle in third place, only one point behind Manchester City and nine points behind leaders Arsenal. Both teams have a game in hand but perhaps more important is that the Magpies now have a five point buffer between themselves and Spurs in fifth... we’re at the halfway point of the season and Chris Wood’s club is in the Champions League positions. He may have only played about two minutes and touched the ball maybe once in this game but hey if you’re gonna be a third-stringer then it may as well be for a team on the fringes of the title race.

Up Next: Away to Crystal Palace on Sunday at 6.30am (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Glasgow City (Scottish Premier League)

Yeah nah nothing to worry about here as Glasgow City strolled to an 8-1 win away at Dundee United. Meikayla Moore started in central defence and she was there hovering in case of a rebound as Erin Greening nudged at the back stick from a corner inside the opening minute of the match. Hayley Lauder then whipped one in from deep in the box about four minutes later and it wasn’t going to get much better for the home side from there.

Actually it did... because Danni McGinley soon whizzed in a quality finish after Glasgow City had been caught playing the ball out from the back. Make that 2-1 after 15 minutes. However Emily Whelan broke the high line about two mins later to score 1v1 at the second attempt and the two-goal margin was restored. It wasn’t until the 64th minute that GC scored again but when they did the floodgates opened. Five goals in the final 26 minutes of this match. Greening went on to get a hat-trick while Lisa Forrest got a brace and Lauren Davidson also bagged one. Nothing for Moore in all that although she did look a threat going forward for set pieces and it was her excellent long ball up the right edge that sparked the move for the seventh goal.

The 8-1 win keeps Glasgow City handily out in front on the ladder, having only dropped points in one game (the 1-1 draw with Rangers). They have played one game more than both Celtic and Rangers but as it stands they’re six points clear, extending their lead slightly over this round. By the way, Celtic won 8-0 over Glasgow Women with Liv Chance missing that one due to her Footy Ferns release.

Up Next: GC vs Hamilton Accies on Monday at 2am (NZT)

Katie Rood - Heart of Midlothian (Scottish Premier League)

And the reason that Glasgow City extended their lead at the top was that Rangers became the first team of the challenging trio to drop points against a team other than each other...

Katie Rood was back in the starting team having featured off the bench in a rotated cup team last game. Roodie was deployed on the left wing as Hearts went away from their usual back three to match formations with their opponents... who went with Jemma Fife in goal instead of Vic Esson (could have released Esson for Ferns duty in that case but okay). Not that it was the goalkeeping position where they came up short. Fife saved everything she needed to as Hearts created more than would’ve been expected. It’s just that there was simply no way through a determined Hearts defensive line.

There should’ve been late first half when Kirsty Howat got the ball unmarked six yards out but a trailing leg save and a header off the line combined to see that one to safety. Rangers stepped up the intensity in the second spell yet Hearts sat deeper and continued to contain them. All the way to the finish line. Rood lasted 70 minutes of tough mahi. A fantastic point against the defending champs as Hearts assert themselves as the best of the rest in 2022-23.

The top four teams in Scotland all have a kiwi in their ranks. The pattern is obvious.

Up Next: Aberdeen vs Hearts at 4am on Monday (NZT)

Alex Greive - St Mirren (Scottish Premiership)

Greive started again in a rematch against Hearts. Three changes were made to the back five, including the enforced one after Ryan Taylor’s red card, but the midfield and front two were unaltered as AG made consecutive league starts for the first time this season – his pace and workrate preferred up front against an opponent likely to dominate possession, therefore requiring counter attacks and high pressin’.

Didn’t really work though. Without the early goal they scored in the 1-1 draw last time, St Mirren struggled to execute the same game plan. Instead a thumper of a goal from Barrie McKay gave Hearts the lead on 29’ and it was a lead they never relinquished. Greive lasted until the 67th minute before he was replaced. Only made 15 touches as the Buddies failed to really get him involved, a lot of his running going to waste. When he did get the ball there were a couple sharp passes helping create things but it was all few and far between. Ah well, six-game unbeaten streak comes to an end. Annoyingly if he was sick of all the Australians he came up against with Hearts, well they’re playing Celtic next.

Up Next: 8.45am on Thursday, Celtic vs St Mirren; then 4am on Sunday, St Mirren vs Dundee (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League Two)

A 0-0 draw with Bradford City is nothing special but the clean sheet did keep up an excellent recent trend for Tzanev, as 7 of those 10 cleanies have come in his last 10 matches (the other three happened inside the first five games of the season so needless to say there was a stretch of bang average results in between those two spells). This one included a teammate heading a shot off the line. It included a super diving two-hander right at the death. It also included Bradford playing the last half hour with ten men after Jamie Walker picked up a second yellow but the Dons still being unable to find the breakthrough. Nonetheless, a 0-0 draw keeps the points tally ticking over.

Up Next: Away to Newport County on Sunday at 4am (NZT)

Tommy Smith – Colchester United (English League Two)

A month ago this team was in deep relegation trouble... now all of a sudden they’re the only team in League Two with a three-game winning streak. The latest was a 2-1 victory away to Rochdale. Junior Tchamedeu gave Colchester the lead on 26’ but that was cancelled out by Devante Rodney ten minutes later. Tommy Smith’s return has coincided with a lovely turnaround in The U’s form and he again did his bit for them here... first with another assured defensive effort but then also by being sacrificed with ten minutes to go in order to get another attacker on. The plan worked a treat. Cole Skuse bagged an 87th minute winner and Colchester are moving on up the table.

Not gonna get into what happened to Max Crocombe’s Grimsby Town though. Will just say that they had a man sent off in the first half and ended up losing 5-0 away to Swindon Town. Best to leave it at that.

Up Next: Colchester are home to Gillingham at 4am on Sunday (NZT)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

Up Next: Getting there, slowly but surely...

Marko Stamenic – FC København (Danish Superliga)

Marko Stamenic to Bold.dk: “Okay, has there been? It's not something that I'm into. My agent is responsible for all that. So he's the one you'll have to deal with. I'm very grateful for that interest though. A few years ago I played in a small club in New Zealand, so things can change very quickly. So I'm happy that now I've got a number of opportunities and can see what can happen in the summer or even now here.”

Seriously, as assured as the bloke is on the pitch he’s even more so off it. Just look at the expert way he knocked back talk of transfer speculation there. That’s the prowess of a ten-year professional is that what is. Stamenic also mentions in that brief chat that his desire to experience footy in many countries is part of why he rejected a new FCK deal, that his dream club would be Arsenal as that’s who he grew up supporting, and that his “big ambitions” include playing Champions League every year if possible.

Since Stamenic is into the last six months of his deal, he’s free to negotiate his next contract with any club outside the country he currently plays in. And he’s not staying in Denmark so there’s no worry there. Of course that’s supposing that he doesn’t get sold in the short term rather than waiting until the start of next season.

Meanwhile Stammers was included in the Copenhagen squad as they lost their first proper winter break friendly 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen. FCK used 22 different players with Stamenic brought on for the last half hour in place of Denis Vavro in central defence. There are some highlights here if you’re interested in practice games.

Up Next: More winter break funk... unless a transfer happens?

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