Fern Mc Costigan

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Fulham completes the Championship trifecta for the 2020-21 season

After their relegation, a season ago, the Cottagers are back in Premiership. With a downright performance from Joe Bryan delivering today with a brace, he was responsible to punching the return ticket of Fulham to the ranks of England’s top tier.

For defender Joe Bryan not aware of what he was to deliver today, with his two goals both I extra time one in the 106’ minute and later in the 127’, in spite of a comeback goal from Brentford captain Henrik Daalsgard.

Despite the Bees sudden comeback and ruining the Cottagers clean sheet in the end fell short of tying the game after the game official blew his whistle for the end of this match.

Still I give credit to manager Scott Parker coming a an interim after the club decided to sack the likes of then manager Claudio Rianieri and the club went down to Championship League but not for long as a season later Fulham is back.

As manager Parker not aware of what he was going to bring to these parts of London Town, delivering his first trophy to the halls of this historied team that has written past glories in EPL.

Fulham joins the likes of Leeds United return to EPL after 16 years of absence along with West Brom finishing second and obtaining tis automatic pass into Premiership, leaving the two London sides against the likes of two Welsh giants in the playoffs.

However, for Brentford beating Swansea, for Fulham eliminating Cardiff City, the Cottagers were ready to receive a dangerous Bees and these playing as the home side in today’s match in Wembley Stadium.

In the end the push of Fulham and its starting eleven were not a match for the spirited and determination the Whites put on today at what many saw a London Derby in EFL Championship playoff final to decide the last spot.

Congratulations are in place for manager Scott Parker who became the club manager and the way he delivered, now the big challenge for a continuance in the top tier as this will become another major test.

Congratulations to the Cottagers and welcome back to Premiership!

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Fulhman FC 2020

Monday, August 3, 2020

The League of Ireland returns with the Hoops making a statement

The return of the greatest league in the world is back with an impact, as the defending champions The Town could not manage a win but a share of spoils with the Pats at Oriel Park. Contrary in Dublin Town at the colossus of Tallaght Stadium, the Hoops are making their case with a win over the Harps.

Back in Brandywell the local Candystripes succumbed to the push of Sligo Rovers, in Tolka Park the visiting Blues won by the minimum difference of one goal over the Shels and on Saturday matches Cork City could not keep with the visiting Gypsies.

With a goal fest at Tallaght Stadium the Shamrock Rovers delivered a valuable win over the Finn Harps, as Friday night matches are back in the LOI and this game became the highlight of return of the league into action.

The Hoops with an early goal by Jack Byrne in the 6’, followed by Dylan Watts 16’ and Aaron McEneff 37’ but two minutes later the Harps with Karl O’ Sullivan 39’, in the end the Harps were rally fell short.

Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Finn Harps

Back in Tolka Park the visiting Waterford Blues came and got a valuable win alongside three golden points against Shelbourne with one single goal that put the likes of manager Ian Morris in a state of uneasiness.

However, for John Sheridan the new Blues manager, he was a bit happy for the result and looking forward to close strong in the season with a European spot, the goal came in the 15’ by Blues John Martin.

Shelbourne 0-1 Waterford

In Oriel Park the defending champions De Town shared the spoils against the visiting Saint Patrick’s Athletic, with Pat Hoban opening the score in the 23’ two minutes Robbie Benson 26’ tied the match.

This result became a good one for Stephen O’ Donnell side by seeing how the former Lilywhite Robbie Benson equalizer became a spoiler for the Town, looking to add points.

Dundalk 1-1 Saint Patrick Athletic

Another surprise on Friday night LOI match ups was the upset of the Sligo Rovers over Derry City at Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium were Liam Buckley side is starting to gain its game.

With goals from Kyle Callen- McFadden 19’ and Ronan Coughlan 51’ were enough for Buckley side to earn an important away win over the City and for manager Declan Devine going back to the drawing board.

Derry City 0-2 Sligo Rovers

In Turner’s Cross Stadium at Cork City, the local Rebel Army is looking a bit worrisome after their loss against the Dublin side Bohemians and making it difficult for Leesiders manager Neale Fenn.

A heavy defeat with the elements of a relegation is what the meaning for the Rebel Army looking forward to recover its old glories, the lone goal came from an early Andre Wright goal in the 4’.

Cork City 0-1 Bohemians

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Pierre Emerick- Aubameyang brace delivers Arsenal its 14th FA trophy

Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

Wembley Stadium

What a season for rookie manager Mikael Arteta winning his first trophy at the helm of the Gunners. For the first-year man at the helm of Arsenal taking over interim Freddie Ljunberg after the Unai Emery era ended abruptly.

Anyway, for Mikael Arteta being under the wing of Pep Guardiola as his assistant in Etihad, somehow the man absorbs a great deal of one of the most successful managers in Europe if not the world.

With the London giants dispatching in semifinals the likes of a resurgent Manchester United by Chelsea and Arsenal doing the same with Manchester City, somehow the Londoners delivered a blow to both Manchester sides.

Going back to this edition of the London Derby a very contested one whenever these two sides play one another, we can state that both Blues and Gunners had a duel of rookie managers going for their first trophy.

However, both sides came loaded with a lot of momentum after taking care of both Manchester sides, somehow it was for Arsenal who carry a lot of enthusiasm despite the Blues taking the lead early from Christian Pulisic goal in the 5’.

As for Frank Lampard not taking advantage later in the game for the Gunners feeble defensive backfield, somehow tells me of the man inexperience but promising future in the helm of the Pensioners.

The man knows the team and promising young stars he carries in the lineup, and how bright for Chelsea’s future is looking ahead in future competitions and tournaments to come, but today was not their day.

Ended up being a day for the Gunners carrying the excitement and drive of what is the destiny of a once great team, looking forward to one day return to its lost glories and become once again that sleeping giant into a full awaken one.

Give credit to a man that with justice sentenced the match in the second half with a brace in Pierre Emerick- Aubameyang sentencing the game in the 28’ and later in the 67’ and giving the London Town giant its 14^th trophy of its history.