How the Irish fared: It’s a football tradition. Club opts to dispose of player. The player finds new club. The old and the new meet and the player returns to haunt former employers.

Nine was the magic number for Daryl Murphy this weekend as his brace in the 4-1 Championship win over Leeds made it nine goals in nine games for Ipswich’s number nine.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insisted “there is no racism in football” after apparently rejecting calls for the introduction of the Rooney Rule in English football.

Charlton 2 Wolves 1

Trevor Sinclair has confirmed his friendship with Paolo Di Canio while team-mates at West Ham and claims the new Sunderland head coach’s historical claims that he is a fascist should be “taken with a pinch of salt”.

Paolo Di Canio has refused to confirm or deny whether he is a fascist today as the furore over the new Sunderland manager’s political views intensified.

Charlton 1 Ipswich 2

Npower Championship side Charlton have secured the services of highly-rated Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong on loan.

West Ham survived the 56th-minute sending-off of Robert Green — and the handicap of having no substitute goalkeeper — to thrash Blackpool 4-1 at Bloomfield Road and return to the top of the npower Championship.

Fulham 4 Charlton 0

EMBATTLED FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday appeared to stand by his suggestion that racism on the pitch should be settled by a handshake.

Birmingham manager Chris Hughton, one of only two black managers in the English professional game along with Charlton’s Chris Powell, has expressed his concern at the comments on racism by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger kicked off his summer transfer spending today with the £1m capture of promising young defender Carl Jenkinson from Charlton, but was left disappointed as England Under-21 international Phil Jones headed to Manchester United.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has identified where the squad he inherited from Chris Hughton needs to be reinforced.

Leicester owner Milan Mandaric has sacked manager Paulo Sousa less than three months after appointing him as Nigel Pearson’s replacement.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s condemnation of what he sees as “modern slavery” in the game has been met with criticism but the man whose situation prompted his comments believes they are correct.

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.

Sheffield United 1 Watford 0

Watford will be without captain Gavin Mahon for the home match against Reading.

Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd fears broadcasters will boycott his team if they continue to play poorly in front of the cameras.

DANNY WEBBER returned to Watford and scored a vital goal against his former club to hand Sheffield United their second away win of the season.

Watford 0 Sheffield United 1

Chelsea 4 Watford 0

Chris Powell is pushing hard for a return to the Watford starting line-up for the match against his former club Charlton.

Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd is likely to name an unchanged team for the home match against Fulham on Monday.

Watford 0 Aston Villa 0

Watford will be without former England defender Chris Powell as they look for their first win of the season against Aston Villa tomorrow.

MICHAEL CARRICK set his sights on a regular place in the England team after enjoying a successful full league debut for Manchester United.

DAVID MOYES claimed Everton were denied a blatant penalty in their 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Watford 1 West Ham 1

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd is hopeful referees will treat his Premiership newcomers fairly throughout the season and not favour bigger clubs.

CARLTON COLE is determined to prove he can be a top-class striker for West Ham after falling foul of the Roman Abramovich regime at Chelsea.

VETERAN Chris Powell was “flabbergasted” and manager Adrian Boothroyd insisted the penalty that killed their brave fightback against Everton was a “massive mistake,” as Watford suffered a cruel end to their first day back in the top flight.

Everton 2 Watford 1

Charlton boss Iain Dowie completed a £4m double swoop for Djimi Traore and Amdy Faye – and insisted his spending was not yet over.

Charlton striker Darren Bent has revealed a number of the England squad were disappointed he was overlooked for the World Cup.

A new era begins at Charlton today with Iain Dowie expected to be named as the club’s new manager.

Charlton 0 Blackburn 2

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has no fresh injury worries ahead of Monday’s clash with Portsmouth at The Valley.

England striker Darren Bent returns for Charlton’s FA Cup quarter-final replay against Middlesbrough tomorrow after being rested for the goalless draw with Everton.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley took no chances ahead of next week’s FA Cup quarter-final replay, making several changes for the Barclays Premiership clash against Everton at The Valley.

Chris Powell believes tonight’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Middlesbrough could make or break Charlton’s season.

Charlton 2 Middlesbrough 1

Charlton 2 Middlesbrough 1