Greece may be the European Nations champions but their club sides struggled as the group stage of the UEFA Cup got underway with all three representatives beaten.

Geoff Wragg’s pair Asian Heights and The Whistling Teal are among a field of eight declared for the Stan James St Simon Stakes at today’s 48-hour final stage.

Azerbaijan 0 Northern Ireland 0

England 2 Wales 0

Scotland 0 Norway 1

Arsenal managed to find a breakthrough against a resilient Charlton as Arsene Wenger’s side aim to continue setting the pace in the Barclays Premiership.

West Bromwich Albion 0 Norwich 0

Blackburn 0 Middlesbrough 4

Dublin official John Feighery has been handed the whistle for next weekend’s FAI Carlsberg Cup Final, it was announced today.

Olympiacos 1 Liverpool 0

Nottingham Forest 2 West Ham 1

Moldova 1 Scotland 1

The European Commission “whistle-blower” who plagued Neil Kinnock for more than two years was sacked today for disloyalty and breach of trust.

Leo Cullen has been voted Leinster’s Player of the Month for September in a close run online poll.

Crystal Palace 2 Fulham 0

Arsene Wenger has admitted Manchester United deserve their place in the Carling Cup semi-finals – but he does not think much of the tactics used to win it.

Tottenham 3 Liverpool 4 on penalties (1-1 after extra time)

Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0

Watford 3 Portsmouth 0

Rotherham 1 Leeds 0