A late Anthony Stokes strike gave profligate Celtic victory over Ross County in their Scottish Premiership opener at Parkhead.

Celtic 1 Elfsborg 0

Neil Lennon admits his bid to prevent Mo Bangura lining up against Celtic for Elfsborg in tonight’s Champions League third qualifier at Parkhead (kick-off 7.45pm) has almost certainly been in vain.

Joe Ledley is keen to see Celtic recruit a striker for their assault on the Champions League and the defence of their Scottish crown.

Celtic have put the Green Brigade on a final warning after UEFA opened an investigation into the “setting off of fireworks” at Tuesday night’s home Champions League second qualifier against Cliftonville.

It is being reported that Celtic will step up their pursuit of Kevin Doyle following Gary Hooper's transfer to QPR.

Celtic 2 Cliftonville 0 (Celtic win 5-0 on Agg)

Celtic 2 Cliftonville 0 (Agg: 5-0)

Celtic will face Swedish side Elfsborg or Daugava Daugavpils of Latvia in the third qualifying round of the Champions League should they progress in the competition.

Swedish coach Erik Hamren has warned that Ireland will set out to be party poopers in Stockholm when the countries meet in a World Cup qualifier on Friday week.

Neil Lennon has revealed money made from the sale of Ki Sung-yueng to Swansea will be used to pay off some of Celtic’s debt.

Last season’s beaten finalists Athletic Bilbao were made to work hard by Croatian side Slaven Belupo before edging through 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa League third qualifying round.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised the “desire and commitment” of his side following their 1-0 Europa League third qualifying round first leg win over Gomel last night.

ASTON VILLA caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald hailed the impact of his young guns on a night when they kept their Europa League hopes alive.

HARRY REDKNAPP was yesterday taking nothing for granted after Tottenham were handed the easiest possible route to the Champions League proper.

St Patrick’s Athletic have today been handed a tough draw in the fourth round of the Europa League qualifiers.

St Patrick’s Athletic boss John McDonnell has urged his players to “make a name for themselves” as they prepare to take on Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first-round clash

Mark Quigley has been named the eircom League player of the month for August.

St Patrick's Athletic travel to Dalymount Park tonight to take on league leaders Bohemians, (kick-off 7.45pm).

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC manager Johnny McDonnell has expressed his delight at drawing Hertha Berlin in the first round proper of the UEFA Cup.

Everton will have the chance to add to Belgian club Standard Liege’s Merseyside misery after being drawn with them in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

St Patrick’s Athletic will face Hertha Berlin in the UEFA Cup First Round following this afternoon’s draw in Monaco.

In what has been another week of bad news for the domestic game, St Patrick’s Athletic last night displayed the merits of full-time professional football to progress to the first round proper of the UEFA Cup with a sensational, heart-stopping and, it must be said, thoroughly deserved victory over Elfsborg at a packed and ecstatic Richmond Park.

St. Patrick's Athletic 2 IF Elfsborg 1 (4-3 on aggregate)

IF Elfsborg 2 St Patrick's Athletic 2

St Patrick's Athletic have been drawn against Swedish side IF Elfsborg in the second qualifying round for this year's UEFA Cup.

Manchester City and Aston Villa were handed seemingly straightforward draws in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round today.

Josep Guardiola has refused to be drawn on speculation linking Barcelona with Barclays Premier League stars Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Bohemians 2 FK Riga 1 (2-2 on aggregate. Riga win on away goal rule)

Scotland’s clubs will receive an extra place in the UEFA Cup in 2009/10, it has been revealed.

Fiorentina romped to their first UEFA Cup triumph of the Group C campaign with a crushing 6-1 success at home to Elfsborg to go top of the table.

Tottenham and Bolton will be among the second seeds in today’s draw for the group stage of the UEFA Cup but Everton are in the group of third seeds.

DAVID Bentley expects Blackburn to overturn their 2-0 deficit against Greece‘s Larissa at Ewood Park. “It was totally unacceptable with the way we performed over there,” he said. “But it is about how you react, how you respond. It is only the first half, it is 2-0 with 90 minutes to go, I don’t see 2-0 as a big deficit for us to overcome.

Derry City are out of this year's Champions League after losing the second leg of their qualifier against FC Pyunik yesterday evening.

ARSENAL new boy Eduardo da Silva impressed in last night’s friendly at Red Bull Salzburg but could not prevent the Gunners falling to a narrow defeat.

SWEDEN midfielder Anders Svensson believes there is still much room for improvement in the squad as the clock ticks down towards their opening World Cup encounter against Trinidad & Tobago next week.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has confirmed he will pick the strongest squad available ahead of the March 1 clash with the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Dublin.

Norwich have confirmed striker Mathias Svensson is in talks with Elfsborg after they received an approach from the Swedish club.

Portsmouth are ready to test the strength of relegated Southampton’s resolve to keep striker Peter Crouch.

Southampton’s Sweden midfielder Anders Svensson looks set to return to his old club Elfsborg at the end of the season.

Irish league side Glentoran will face Elfsborg of Sweden in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.

Sweden 1