McCarthy dismissal is 78th since start of Premiership

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was sacked by Sunderland last month and his assistant Kevin Ball took over until the end of the season.

This change was not well received in some quarters of the media and by most of the fans. Despite the bottom position, McCarthy had done more than his utmost with the limited resources available to try and turn the side's fortunes.

Since Ball took control of first-team affairs, Sunderland did not show any progress. They are still without a home win and firmly on their way back to the Championship next season.

Since the beginning of the Premiership in 1992-93, 78 managers have now been shown the back door.

The heaviest toll was witnessed last term when 12 coaches received the axe. In the first ever campaign and in season 1995-96 only two coaches were dismissed (see statistics).

England beat Uruguay

¤ In a friendly international at Anfield, England beat Uruguay 2-1 (Crouch, J. Cole).

Other results: Northern Ireland-Estonia 1-0 (Sproule), Ireland-Sweden 3-0 (Duff, Keane, Miller), Scotland-Switzerland 1-3 (Miller), Wales-Paraguay 0-0.

¤ Chelsea and Southampton legend Peter Osgood dies from a heart attack at the age of 59.

¤ England will kick off their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign at home to Andorra on September 2 at Old Trafford.

¤ Referees chief Keith Hacket warns clubs that they may face fines of up to £250,000 if players try to intimidate match officials.

¤ England will play Holland in the Amsterdam Arena on November 15 to bring to an end another international year.

¤ Premier side Sunderland sack manager Mick McCarthy and appoint his assistant Kevin Ball on a temporary basis.

¤ In the last 16 of the Champions League, Chelsea bow out to Barcelona (2-3 on aggregate), Liverpool, the holders, lose against Benfica (0-3), Rangers fall to Villarreal (3-3, on the away goals rule), while Arsenal progress to the last eight at the expense of Real Madrid (1-0).

¤ At the Riverside Stadium, M'boro topple Roma 1-0 in the last 16, first leg of the UEFA Cup.

¤ West Ham's Alan Pardew is named Manager of the Month. The player's accolade goes to Kevin Nolan, of Bolton Wanderers.

¤ Rangers announce that Frenchman Paul Le Guen, the former Lyon boss, will replace Alex McLeish as manager at the end of season.

¤ Former Scotland and Celtic winger Jimmy Johnstone dies, aged 61, at his home in Uddington, Lanarkshire.

¤ Middlesbrough progress to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup after losing 1-2 to Roma away, going through on away goals.

¤ FIFA rule that it will be imposing match suspensions, points deductions and disqualifications from competition as possible punishments to curb down on racism.

¤ At Hampden Park, Celtic beat Dunfermline 3-0 to lift the League Cup.

¤ Hearts sack coach Graham Rix.

¤ Liverpool register their biggest away win in FA Cup club history in the quarter-final 7-0 hiding of Birmingham City at St Andrews.

¤ Reading earn promotion to the top flight for the first time following their 1-1 draw at Leicester City last month.

¤ Arsenal defeat Juve 2-0 at home in the first leg of their quarter-final of the Champions League.

¤ At Old Trafford, Manchester United beat West Ham 1-0 in front of a crowd of 69,522, the biggest attendance for a Premiership match ever.

¤ In the quarter-final first leg of the UEFA Cup, Middlesbrough lose 0-2 away in Basle in Switzerland.