A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Rangers open seven-point lead
RANGERS 2 KILMARNOCK 0: Rangers stretched their lead at the summit of the Premier League to seven points with a hard-fought victory over Kilmarnock.
Second-half goals within two minutes from Nikica Jelavic and Gregg Wylde – his first at Ibrox – secured the win.
The Scottish champions will now be hoping to open up a 10-point advantage over Celtic with victory over Hibernian on Saturday before their rivals are next in SPL action.
Rangers were forced to head into the game without Steven Naismith, who was handed a retrospective two-match ban for violent conduct during Saturday’s win over Dunfermline.
Rangers opened the scoring on 64 minues when Jelavic met a free-kick from Steven Davis and sidefooted home.
Gary Harkins hit the crossbar for Kilmarnock but Rangers doubled their lead with 66 minutes gone when Wylde played a one-two with Edu before rifling into the back of the gaping net from six yards.
Gutierrez extends Newcastle stay
Argentina international Jonas Gutierrez has signed a new contract which will keep him at Newcastle until 2015.
The 28-year-old former Real Mallorca midfielder had two years of his existing deal still to run, but a new four-year agreement will secure his future on Tyneside after a summer of speculation that he could join the exodus of big-name players.
Gutierrez said: “I have said many times that I love playing for Newcastle. I love the city.”
Hectic 26 days kicks off for Rovers
TOMORROW’S Europa League game at White Hart Lane will kick off a hectic spell for Shamrock Rovers, who must play seven games in 26 days as a result of the rescheduling of their remaining league and European games, writes Emmet Malone.
Rovers’ games against Derry City, Bohemians and UCD were re-fixed yesterday as a result of clashes with the League Cup, FAI Cup and Europa league games respectively although the one against title rivals Derry, which had originally been scheduled to be played last Friday, is the only to actually have been moved into the period in question.
Sligo Rovers’ game at home to Dundalk has been brought forward to October 4th as a result of Paul Cook’s side’s involvement in the FAI Cup semi-finals while UCD will now host St Patrick’s Athletic the previous night because of the latter club’s continued interest in the cup.
Cunningham called up for U21s
GREG Cunningham has been called up by Noel King for the Irish under-21s’ forthcoming European Championship qualifier in Eschen, writes Emmet Malone.
The Galway-born Manchester City defender, who missed much of last season due to a broken leg sustained while on loan with Leicester City, has previously been capped at senior level by Giovanni Trapatoni but now looks set to make his debut at this level next month.
Also in the initial 16-man squad are Chelsea midfielder Conor Clifford and Manchester United’s Robbie Brady, who played a key part in last month’s win over Hungary. Seán Scannell returns from injury.
SQUAD: I McLoughlin (MK Dons), Aaron McCarey (Wolves), Shane Duffy (Everton), Gavin Gunning (Dundee United), R Kiernan (Wigan), N Canavan (Scunthorpe United), Greg Cunningham (Manchester City), M Connolly (Bolton Wanderers), R Towell (Celtic), A White (Leeds United), ABarton (Preston North End), C Clifford (Chelsea), J Hendrick (Derby County), R Brady (Manchester United), S Scannell (Crystal Palace), J Collins (Shrewsbury Town).
Clarke attributes average Liverpool start to changes
LIVERPOOL first-team coach Steve Clarke believes the club’s “average start” to the season is partly due to the changes taking place within the squad.
Liverpool have 10 points from six matches having already lost at Stoke and Tottenham.
At a similar stage last season their tally was just six and discontent was growing against manager Roy Hodgson, whose reign lasted just six months when he was finally sacked in January.
As part of the overhaul, financed by owners Fenway Sports Group and undertaken by Kenny Dalglish on his return to take charge of the club, seven players were signed in the summer with numerous others heading in the opposite direction.
“Without getting too carried away or too disappointed it’s probably just an average start,” said Clarke.
“You’re probably looking at about a seven out of 10. Some pleasing performances and some not so pleasing, but you’d expect that from a group of players where you’ve made so many changes and you’re trying to bed a few things down.”
One of the key factors in picking up three wins has been the form of four-goal striker Luis Suarez, with seven of Liverpool’s 10 points coming in matches when he has scored.
But the return of midfielder Steven Gerrard, who added to his 15-minute League Cup appearance last Wednesday in appearing as a substitute in Saturday’s Premier League victory over Wolves is also a boost for the club
