Birmingham City won their fourth successive West Midlands derby against West Bromwich Albion as they came from behind to beat the Baggies in controversial circumstances.
After Albion went in front with an early 20-yard opener from John Swift, the game turned on a hotly-disputed 23rd-minute Blues penalty.
Albion defender Cedric Kipre was adjudged to have brought down Koji Miyoshi when the Japanese frontman appeared to slip – and Juninho Bacuna scored the resulting spot kick.
Former Wolves defender Dion Sanderson headed a second on 38 minutes to complete the first-half turnaround.
Substitute Gary Gardner then curled in a superb third from a free-kick to seal the points on 87 minutes, only five minutes after coming on.
Blues’ second home win in four nights, after Tuesday’s 4-1 thrashing of Huddersfield Town, sent John Eustace’s side climbing above Albion to fifth in the Championship table.
And Albion’s first defeat in six games came at the further cost of six-goal top scorer Swift with a calf injury after the break.
Goals change games
Prior to their midweek victory, Eustace’s Blues had gone six matches without a win – and it looked like another defeat might be on the cards when Swift stunned St Andrew’s just five minutes into the contest.
The in-form midfielder produced almost surgical accuracy to guide home a cunningly low and well-struck shot from 20 yards with his right instep, which just curled inside Blues keeper John Ruddy’s left upright.
But Blues were level when Kipre closed down Miyoshi with a challenge inside the area, got up off the floor to appeal for a goal-kick as the ball had spun off the Blues player last – and was astonished to find referee James Linnington had pointed to the penalty spot.
The Albion protests were long and heated but Bacuna sent Alex Palmer the wrong way from the spot – and there was worse to follow for the aggrieved Baggies camp.
Seven minutes before half-time, Blues were ahead when Cody Drameh swung over a nicely weighted free-kick from out on the right and Sanderson rose like a salmon to send a powerful header looping in over the back-pedalling Palmer.
Darnell Furlong should have levelled from close range early in the second half but fired it inches wide – and an Albion equaliser looked on the cards as they began to dominate again.
But Birmingham settled it three minutes from the end of normal time.
Home substitute Scott Hogan was fetched down on the edge of the box by the hapless Kipre and Gardner curled a wonderful right-foot free-kick just out of Palmer’s clutches into the top left corner.
Who’s next?
Both sides now have a 15-day gap before their next game because of the latest international break.
Blues return to action with a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday, 21 October, when Albion are at home to Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham City boss John Eustace told BBC Radio WM:
“From where I was, I thought the ball had gone out for a corner so I was delighted when the referee made his decision.
“The penalty changed it. It gave us some spark and life. But fighting and scrapping to get something from a game like this is what this club is all about.
“And Gary Gardner’s goal capped it for us. He’s worked his socks off to get back to this point and showed us what he is all about, it was a fantastic free-kick.
“Playing West Bromwich Albion at home in an atmosphere like this and winning makes it a special night for us, but the Championship is relentless. It’s important nobody gets carried away by the highs or the lows.”
Rangers manager Philippe Clement says unpopular substitutions like the withdrawal of Connor Barron in the 1-0 home win against Hearts is down to managing players’ work load. (Sun), external
Supporters “don’t know all the facts,” insists Clement. (Mail), external
Clement believes Sunday’s match winner Cyriel Dessers is taking steps to be more clinical in front of goal. (Herald – subscription), external
Hearts boss Neil Critchley believes there should have been more added time at Ibrox. (Herald – subscription), external
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says his side are ready for an “ultramarathon” of games after the international break. (Mail), external
Ante Palaversa had no doubt Aberdeen would bounce back from their League Cup humbling by Celtic, as the Dons got back to winning ways against Dundee in the Scottish Premership. (Record), external
Nicky Cadden is bothered by the notion that he is not deeply affected by Hibernian’s recent woes. (Record), external
Cadden says the Hibs players “care probably as much as everyone else”. (Edinburgh Evening News – subscription)
Former Aberdeen, Manchester United and Scotland manager Sir Alex Ferguson has bought a flat in Glasgow’s west end to be near his brother. (Sun), external
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that injuries to England duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice “don’t look good” after they were taken off injured during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Rice, who was playing with a broken toe, was withdrawn in the 71st minute before Saka was taken off after receiving treatment on a leg injury 10 minutes later.
“It doesn’t look good, because for two players of that importance to tell you they cannot continue in the game, it’s not good news.” said Arteta.
Arsenal have had to deal with a number of injuries to key players this season and Saka also missed two games after picking up an injury playing for England in the last international break.
Both Saka and Rice are in interim head coach Lee Carsley’s England squad for next week’s Nations League games. England play away in Greece on Thursday, 14 November before hosting the Republic of Ireland three days later at Wembley.
But Arteta is unsure if the pair will be able to join up with the national side.
“I don’t know whether to expect them to be fit because if not they don’t come off,” he said.
“What I’m praying for is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped, that they are available and that they are fit, because it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks.”
Martin Odegaard started his first match for two months for Arsenal and played the whole match. Arteta said he will speak to his captain about a potential international call-up for Norway.
Arsenal go into the international break nine points off the top of the Premier League table and are without a win in five matches in all competitions.
A combination of the number of players leaving for international duty this week, and some of those not called up being given time off, means that it will be largely those who are injured that Amorim first gets to see when he reports for duty at United’s Carrington training complex.
It means the fact United need a couple of days to secure his work visa is not too much of an inconvenience.
It also allows the club to tie up all the loose ends around Amorim’s coaching team, with interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy stating after the Leicester game he expects to hear either on Sunday or Monday whether he and the remainder of Ten Hag’s team who stayed on following the Dutchman’s dismissal last month are to stay.
When he gets round to assessing this latest performance, aside from Fernandes’ efforts, Amorim will see a largely solid defensive display, which secured a first Premier League clean sheet for over a month, a decent first-half from Amad Diallo, and a goalscoring second-half from Alejandro Garnacho, even if the Argentine was too fed up at being criticised for his recent displays to celebrate.
Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro were decent in central midfield without being spectacular against a Leicester side their manager Steve Cooper admitted had not been good enough in both boxes.
And United won. Depending on how you choose to assess the Premier League table, Amorim arrives with United either 13th, way below expectations, or only four points off a Champions League place, for which fifth might be good enough.
BBC Sport asked Van Nistelrooy after the match whether the current United squad could excel in Amorim’s new style.
His answer didn’t entirely fill anyone with confidence.
“That is a very good question,” he said. “When I started at the beginning of this four game period I decided to continue by 85% playing what the players are used and just put in little tweaks by changing players or resting players to try get the confidence back. We were looking for results and we got four.
“But the wing backs and inside forwards, it is a lot to analyse. I can’t comment on that.”
Presumably if Van Nistelrooy were entirely confident about the flexibility of players he has been working with since the start of the season, a straightforward ‘yes’ would have come into his head.
And the secondary – but very important – point is the chance for Amorim to do any meaningful work on the training ground will be virtually non-existent.
If United progress in the EFL Cup, he might have one spare midweek in his first three months in charge. Amorim is acutely aware of this which is why he is playing down the expectations that rose so dramatically in the wake of Sporting’s defeat of Manchester City last week.
Amorim will need to find a trio of defenders that fit his back three brief, knowing his quickest option, Leny Yoro, is among those coming back from injury. Presumably Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui will fill the wing back slots, with Ugarte, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen the midfield berths, at least until Kobbie Mainoo is available again.
But Fernandes is the crucial element.
Portugal’s second Nations League game doesn’t take place until Monday, 18 November, even further limiting the new head coach’s time with the Fernandes before the Premier League trip to Ipswich on 24 November.
Van Nistelrooy has stabilised the situation at Old Trafford. But if United are to move on under Amorim, he needs to find the best way of getting the most out of Fernandes as the captain moves back into form.
The goals are flowing again for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, but could the Magpies soon face a fight to keep him at St James’ Park?
The 25-year-old Sweden forward scored for the fourth time in four games to help his side fight back to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on Sunday, and his all-round display impressed former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, who was watching for BBC MOTD2.
“When you talk about the mould for the ultimate build of a perfect striker, Isak has got all of those elements,” Walcott told BBC Sport.
“I am not saying he is perfect yet, but he has got all the attributes he needs to become perfect.
“Whether that will happen at Newcastle, I don’t know. But they need to tie him down pretty quickly otherwise they are going to lose him.
“Isak is the sort of player Arsenal genuinely need, but you would say everyone needs a player like him in their team right now, even Liverpool, and it is not just Premier League teams who will be trying to get hold of him either.
“Look at Real Madrid’s line-up at this moment in time. They go for these Galacticos and buy these incredible talents, but they sometimes put them in positions where they can’t quite do it.
“I would say that if you put Isak in that Real team then he moulds them together in a different way, where you might think they now look like a very well-balanced team.
“That’s the level he’s at, and I can absolutely understand why all the very top teams would want him.
“As well as his all-round forward play, he scores goals as well – all kinds of different goals. As I said on MOTD2, his finish against Forest when the ball dropped for him in the box was pure class, after the brilliant header he put away against Arsenal last week.
“There is more to come from him as well. Newcastle are a good team, but put him in a better team and he would get better too.”
Before Ruben Amorim takes over as Manchester United manager, Match of the Day 2’s Theo Walcott explains why some of their attacking players will need to adapt their game under the new boss.
A bizarre throw in from Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber, and a goal of the season contender from Brentford’s Yoane Wissa feature in this week’s ‘2 Good, 2 Bad’ from Match of the Day 2.
Manchester City want Martin Zubimendi, Paris St-Germain are an option for Erling Haaland, Manchester United are targeting Christopher Nkunku and Jarrad Branthwaite is being tracked by Real Madrid.
Manchester City are prepared to pay the 60m euros (£50m) release clause for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 25, as they continue their search for a replacement for fellow Spaniard Rodri in January. (Mirror), external
Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, 26, is another candidate for City but the Uruguay international has a release clause of 1bn euros (£830m). (Fichajes – in Spanish, external)
Paris St-Germain is a “plan B” for Manchester City forward Erling Haaland, 24, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also interested in the Norwegian, who is out of contract in 2027. (Football365), external
Manchester United are eyeing a surprise move for Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, 26, as the Frenchman is unhappy with his playing time under Enzo Maresca. (L’Equipe via Express), external
The Red Devils have also joined Barcelona in the race for Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany defender Jonathan Tah, 28. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Tottenham’s Argentina centre-back Cristian Romero, 26, and Everton’s England defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 22, have been identified by Real Madrid as potential reinforcements. (Caught Offside), external
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, 31, is in high demand as the Japan international continues to struggle for game time at Anfield, with AC Milan,Fulham, Wolves and Ipswich all interested. (Caught Offside), external
Tottenham are keen on a move for Argentine midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, 19, but will have to compete with Leicester, where he is currently on loan from Brighton. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Santos director Marcio Calves says a return for Neymar, 32, to his former club would be “every fan’s dream” and while no “official negotiations” have taken place with current side Al-Hilal, he was “60%” sure the Brazil forward would complete a move when his contract ends in June. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external
Roberto Mancini is the bookmakers’ favourite to be appointed Roma manager but former bosses Daniele de Rossi and Claudio Ranieri remain in the frame, while Frank Lampard has also be linked with the vacant post. (La Gazzatta Dello Sport – in Italian), external