With the weekend spotlight on international football two of the Seville Bhoys were working away at the gritty end of the game steering their sides to away victories.
Paul Lambert and Chris Sutton helped Norwich and Lincoln to wins away from home at Carlisle and Macclesfield to keep up their impressive starts after taking over at their new clubs with the season underway.
Lambert will be expected to take Norwich back to the Championship after effectively ending the management career of Norwich legend Bryan Gunn with a 7-1 win on the opening day of the season at Carrow Road.
After a difficult start at Norwich Lambert has steered the club to three consecutive victories with yesterday’s 1-0 win at Carlisle coming thanks to a first half goal from Wes Hoolahan who played under Lambert at Livingston.
Next Monday Lambert faces his biggest test of the season when he takes Norwich to face Leeds United.
Down a division Chris Sutton made it two wins out of two with a 1-0 win at Macclesfield which seems to have ruffled quite a few feathers in the home dug out.
Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander had previously managed Lincoln and had three former Lincoln players in his side and didn’t mess about describing the penalty that defeated his side.
“It was a diabolical decision,” Alexander said. “What was worse was that the free-kick given against Lee Bell on the halfway line that led to the goal was a nonsense.”
Some straight talking there!
Sutton typically was keeping things low key saying: “I’m obviously happy with two wins but we’ve got to keep a lid on things. We are still a long way from where we want to be.
“But that said, since I’ve been here the boys have given me absolutely everything they’ve got.”
Elsewhere Celtic connections were thin on the ground due to the international break.
Simon Ferry and Ben Hutchison were in the Swindon Town side that managed to draw 1-1 at home to Millwall, that’s the sixth time in their last seven fixtures that Swindon have drawn 1-1. Scott Cuthbert scored the Swindon goal.
Cillian Sheridan played the full match for the Ireland u-21 side that drew 1-1 with Georgia on Friday night with Plymouth team-mate Alan Judge scorng the Irish goal. The Irish side also included Wigan’s James McCarthy whilst Chris Hughton’s son, Cian of Lincoln, made his international debut as a late substitute.