Ben Burgess and Blackpool were celebrating promotion to the top flight after Brett Ormerod scored the winner to earn a 3-2 victory over Cardiff in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final.

Middlesbrough top scorer Adam Johnson could return for tonight’s visit of Blackpool as Gordon Strachan’s side attempts to mount an automatic promotion challenge.

Police are set to continue their inquiries into an allegation that Blackpool striker Jason Euell was racially abused during the Carling Cup defeat by Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND midfielder Steven Reid made a return to action last night — playing 75 minutes of Blackburn Rovers’ 1-0 away Carling Cup Third victory over Nottingham Forest before being replaced by Irish team-mate Keith Andrews.

Burnley’s brilliant Barclays Premier League start counted for nothing against Barnsley tonight as Hugo Colace’s late winner left Owen Coyle’s men on the wrong end of an upset.

Stoke 4 Blackpool 3

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes his players need to start knitting together sooner rather than later if they are to regain a winning mentality.

NEW Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is enduring a baptism of fire in his first few weeks in the job.

Birmingham remain at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Tony Pulis steered his Stoke side to a 0-0 draw against Leicester which secured the Potters promotion to the Barclays Premier League and relegated the Foxes to Coca-Cola League One.

REFEREES are often criticised, but rarely do they have to defend their sleeping habits. After being rounded-on by Stoke boss Tony Pulis, match official Mike Pike found himself doing just that.

West Brom missed the opportunity to move to the summit of the Coca-Cola Championship table after being held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

English football’s financial reality could lead to a money-free transfer deadline day today.

ARSENAL striker Graham Barrett and Sunderland midfielder Thomas Butler will join the Republic of Ireland senior squad after playing for the Under-21’s tonight.

Arsenal striker Graham Barrett and Sunderland midfielder Thomas Butler will join Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland squad after playing for the Under-21s tomorrow night.

Manager Don Givens has retained his two eircom League players, Jason McGuinness (Bohemians) and Shelbourne's Wesley Houlihan in his squad of eighteen for the Republic of Ireland's second game in the 2004 European Under-21 Championships against Switzerland at Buckley Park, Kilkenny, on Tuesday, October 8 (kick-off 7.30 pm).

Don Givens criticised his under-21 players for a “below--par” performance after they slumped to a disappointing defeat in their opening European Championship qualifier here this afternoon.

Finland 0

MANCHESTER UNITED’S John O’Shea will captain the Irish U-21 team against Finland in Helsinki on Tuesday, August 20, the eve of the senior international match.

Republic of Ireland striker Ben Burgess, 20, has moved to Second Division Stockport County for £400,000 (€624,989).

Stoke 2 Brentford 0

Stoke have gone two up through an own goal against Brentford in their Division two play-off final at the Millenium Stadium.

Ireland U21 3 Denmark U21 2

U21 International friendly result

Ireland’s under-21 manager Don Givens has named six uncapped players in his 18-man squad to face Cyprus next month.