England are in a very healthy position to claim a place in the finals of the European Championship next year. Following their win at Wembley against Wales, Fabio Capello’s men need only a draw at second-placed Montenegro to clinch their place.
The present classification reads: England (5-2-0) 17; Montenegro (3-2-1) 11; Switzerland (2-2-2) 8; Bulgaria (1-2-4) 5; Wales (1-0-5) 3.
Other news for September:
• In Euro Championship qualifiers, England beat Bulgaria away 3-0 (Cahill, Rooney 2).
• Alex Ferguson named manager of the month for August and Edin Dzeko wins the award for players.
• At Barnsley, in an Under-21 friendly, England beat Israel 4-1 (Waghorn, Sordell, Delfouneso pen, Lansbury).
• Ashley Young’s goal at Wembley against Wales sent England to the brink of qualification for the Euro Championship finals.
• Celtic are re-admitted in the Europa League after Sion make use of ineligible players.
• Sunderland record signing striker Asamoah Gyan left the club after he felt unsettled in the north-east. He has been loaned out to United Arab Emirates outfit Al Ain.
• After their 1-0 win at Dundee United, Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers maintain their flawless away record of winning four consecutive matches without conceding a goal.
• Crystal Palace shock Premier League side Wigan with a 2-1 defeat at the DW Stadium in the second round of the League Cup.
• In the Champions League group phase matches only, Chelsea claim all points with a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge.
Other results: Borussia Dortmund-Arsenal 1-1, Manchester City-Napoli 1-1, Benfica-Manchester United 1-1.
• Manchester United’s 37-year-old Ryan Giggs scores in the 1-1 draw at Benfica, breaking his own Cham-pions League record as the oldest scorer in the competition. The Welshman has now overtaken Raul’s feat to become the only player to score in 16 seasons of the tournament.
• In the Europa League group phase matches, Stoke hold Dinamo Kiev to a draw away 1-1.
• In the 3-1 win against Chelsea at Old Trafford, Manchester United claim their fifth consecutive home win that meant new records for best opening and top winning run under the reign of Alex Ferguson.
• After their defeat at Blackburn Rovers (3-4) Arsenal only manage four points in five matches − their worst season opening for 58 years.
• Jose Mourinho decides to award his Ballon d’Or trophy to the Bobby Robson charity fund.
• The 3-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium for Swansea over West Brom is the Welsh side’s first win in top flight in 28 years.
• In the third round of the Scottish League Cup, Premier League sides Aberdeen and Hearts are beaten by East Fife and Ayr, respectively.
• In the Champions League group phase matches, Arsenal beat Olym-piakos 2-1 at home.
• Man. City suspend Carlos Tevez. The club started an investigation into whether he refused to come on as a substitute in the Champions League tie with Bayern Munich.
Leading scorers
Premier League
9 − Rooney (Man. United)
8 − Aguero (Man. City)
6 − Dzeko (Man. City)
The Championship
8 − Lambert (Southampton), McCormack (Leeds)
7 − Wood (Birmingham)
6 − Graham (Watford)
Scottish Premier
8 − Naismith (Rangers)
7 − O’Connor (Hibernian)
6 − Daly (Dundee United)
Average attendances
1. Manchester United - 75,467
2. Arsenal - 59,968
3. Manchester City - 46,868
4. Newcastle - 45,271
5. Liverpool - 44,888
6. Chelsea - 41,552
7. Sunderland - 38,915
8. Tottenham Hotspur - 36,140
9. Everton - 33,107
10. Aston Villa - 32,448
11. Stoke City - 27,532
12. Norwich City - 26,215
13. Fulham - 25,102
14. Wolves - 24,040
15. West Brom - 24,035
16. Bolton Wanderers - 23,813
17. Blackburn Rovers - 22,486
18. Swansea City - 19,769
19. Wigan Athletic - 17,822
20. QPR - 16,038