Darren Ferguson will be breathing a sigh of relief tonight as his Preston side recorded their first victory in seven games with a solitary Iain Hume goal.

Unfortunately Middlesbrough’s victory over high flying Cardiff means that the Lilywhite’s remain grounded at the foot of the table, but they are now within two points of safety as Scunthorpe fall into the drop zone due to the postponement of their game against Nottingham Forest.

The story however will remain to be how long Roy Keane can survive as manager of Ipswich Town as the Tractor Boys extended their run of league defeats to six.

Whilst playing away against any team in the Championship is a difficult task, this was an opportunity for Ipswich to play a side that is also out of form and you can imagine that the fans and chairman would have been looking at a draw as the minimum acceptable result at Deepdale today.

It is unclear where this leaves Roy Keane with Marcus Evans put in a difficult situation, as it is unclear with confidence so low where a turn in fortunes is going to come from.

The former Manchester United midfielder has been at the club for over eighteen months and the team is of his design so excuses are in short supply.

Good chairman are always hesitant about changing manager part of the way through a season (Mike Ashley take note) but with Ipswich now just three points away from the relegation zone we may be at the point where the Irishman’s luck has run out.

However I think that Keane should be given until the New Year to improve results as to change manager going into the busy Christmas period would only destabilise the club further, however another defeat or too and I think I will be writing about his demise.

A fantastic victory for Preston, but the storm clouds continue to gather at Portman Road.

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Last night Ipswich Town defeated Premiership side West Bromwich Albion by a solitary Grant Leadbitter goal, to secure a place in the last four of the Carling Cup. 

The only team in the Championship remaining in the competition, this is a welcome boost for an Ipswisch side that is struggling for form and still reeling from a rout in the East Anglian derby last Sunday. 

Any jubilation or overzealous ambition was soon tapered though as it became clear that luck is not something in abundance at Portman Park at present, with the Tractor Boys drawing Arsenal in the semi-finals. 

Keane himself conceded that this was the “toughest draw we could have had” with West Ham and Birmingham avoiding the only member of the Premier League top six left in the competition. 

Earlier in the week Roy Keane was facing a tough examination of his ability to take the club forward, yet this result will lift the pressure albeit temporarily if Ipswich’s losing league run continues. 

The Carling Cup could be the key to the Irishman avoiding a P45, if Ipswich avoid a relegation dogfight, a surprise victory in the semi-final would most likely eclipse most of the negative feeling around the club’s league form this season. 

This would in turn be likely to buy Keane another season to improve the league fortunes of the Suffolk club. 

In a strange twist, going one step further, winning the competition outright would be likely to turn Keane from lame duck to hero within just a few months. 

The Carling Cup would represent the club’s first silverware since the days of Bobby Robson in the early eighties and give the Tractor Boys a Europa league spot making this year’s league form seem irrelevant providing the team stay in the Championship. 

These are all long shots but you have to be in it to win it and with the possible exception of their East Anglian rivals I am sure the entire football league will be willing Ipswich to upset the odds and go all the way, for the underdog story rather than an innate desire to save the career of a controversial Irishman.

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How much time will Jim Magilton be given at QPR?

Of the 24 teams that kicked off the Championship just under a year ago, eleven now have new managers. In the majority of cases, the manager was removed due to perceived failings. Being a Championship manager is like being a duck at a shooting gallery. It’s a question of ‘when’, not ‘if’, no matter how dumb the man holding the gun might be.

It’s a truism, but it all comes down to expectations. Two teams can be promoted automatically, another four can reach the play-offs. Yet by my reckoning seven clubs will expect to finish first or second and nine others will believe they can make the play-offs.

With kick-off still a few weeks away, two-thirds of the managers in this league are now giving optimistic interviews about challenging for the top six. Disappointment for most of them is therefore inevitable. And disappointment leads to jobless managers.

Here’s my top five managers most at risk as teams start their pre-season preparations:

1. Jim Magilton, QPR: The Rangers owners can dress it up any way they like, but the turnover of managers (or head coaches) at the club since Flavio Briatore arrived has been startling even by the bizarre standards football sets itself. QPR have now turned to Jim Magilton, deemed not good enough for Ipswich only a few weeks before his appointment at Loftus Road.

A spat with the Chairman or a poor start to the season could easily see Magilton disappear from his post within a matter of months.  He has to be the favourite to go first.

2. Malky Mackay, Watford: Another new manager who could potentially be at risk early in the season. Watford seem destined to lose talisman Tommy Smith to Sheffield United, and even though the surprisingly high £1.8m fee will be welcome, his departure will be a real blow.

Watford are now a far cry from Boothroyd’s big, dangerous side of a a few years back and if they start badly the club may decide to cut their losses and, against recent practice, opt for a more experienced hand.

3. Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough: If Southgate had been in charge of any other established Premier League club and turned in the results he did last season, he would be out of a job.  Famously, he belittled Sven Goran Eriksson after England’s 2-1 World Cup defeat to Brazil in 2002, claiming that the team needed Winston Churchill at half time, not Iain Duncan Smith.

I wonder if he recalled those words when his team lost 3-0 to rock bottom West Brom, 4-1 to Bolton or 5-0 at home to Chelsea. The management game, he must now realise, is more than spouting a bit of loud rhetoric at half time.

Steve Gibson always backs his managers but if Boro fall towards mid-table (or worse, as Sunderland did a couple of years back), Gibson may have no other option than to advise Southgate to go back to the pizza commercials.

4. Roberto di Matteo, West Brom: This was truly an appointment out of the left-field. It was as if the West Brom board were so flush from receiving £2m from Celtic for a manager that had just relegated their club, that, like a gambler who believes he’s on a roll, they decided to bet high on a pair of deuces. I mean, the Albion job is a big job these days.

Di Matteo did well at MK Dons, but in truth he was managing a team already built by Paul Ince and one that had a significant financial advantage over most clubs in League One.

It’s a brave decision, but West Brom fans are used to yo-yoing. They’ve had their spin down and now they will be expecting the corresponding spin up. Di Matteo is under significant pressure.

5. Chris Coleman, Coventry: As with the Premier League, there will always be one surprise who’ll go early. I’ll plump for Coleman. He has had time to consolidate at Cov and the board will be expecting something much greater than last season’s finish of 17th.

Only four teams won less home games than Coventry last season and Cookie must somehow find a way to turn that cavernous stadium into an intimidating place to visit.

Now it’s over to you. Who do you think will be first to go? Maybe Shearer won’t be able to take the heat? Or perhaps Gary Johnson will be poached by the Premier League. Let us know below.

The thrid round of the FA Cup draw is out and here is who the teams of the CCC will face. The ties will be played the weekend of January 3, 2009. If the tie is tied then a replay will be played.

Portsmouth v Bristol City – Ashton Gate

Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham – Hillbrough

Preston NE v Liverpool – Deepdale

Birmingham City v Wolves – St. Andrew’s Stadium

West Ham United v Barnsley – Upton Park

Manchester City v Nottingham Forest – Eastlands

Cardiff City v Reading – Ninan Park

Ipswich Town v Chesterfield/Droylesden – Portman Road

Charlton v Norwich – The Valley

Torquay v Blackpool – Plainmoor

Leyton Orient v Sheffield United – Brisbane Road

Southampton v Manchester United – St. Mary’s Stadium

Histon v Swansea City – Bridge Road

Forest Green Rovers v Derby County – The New Lawn

QPR v Burnley – Turf Moor

Leicester City v Crystal Palace – Walkers Stadium

Morcambe/Cheltenham v Doncaster

Arsenal v Plymouth – Emirates Stadium

Watford v Scunthorpe – Vicarage Road

Coventry City v Kidderminster – Richo Arena

The transfer window may be closed but Championship Teams are still active in the loan market. Deals that are struck between clubs about transfers won’t go through until Janruary 1st, 2009. Here is the latest activity in the loan market:

Andy Todd: From Derby County to Northampton Town

Keith Gillespie: From Sheffield United to Charlton Athletic

Chris Weale: From Bristol City to Hereford United

Luke Varney: From Charlton to Derby County (will be made permanate in Jan for 1M)

Graham Stack: From Plymouth to Blackpool

Bartosz Slusarski: From West Brom to Sheffield Wed

Kurt Robinson: From Ipswich Town to Northampton Town

Kyel Reid: From West Ham to Blackpool

Steve Jones: From Burnley to Bradford City

Shane Higgs: From Cheltenham Town to Wolves

Joshua Gowing: From Bristol City to Hereford United

Mitchell Hanson: From Derby County to Notts County

Liam Dickenson: From Derby County to Blackpool

Mark Davies: From Wolves to Leicester

Jamie Cureton: From Norwich to Barnsley

Deon Burton: From Sheffield Wed to Charlton

Steve Brooker: From Bristol City to Doncaster

Liam Bridcutt: From Chelsea to Watford

Chris Birchall: From Coventry City to Carlisle United

Ashely Barnes: From Plymouth to Gainsbrough Trinity

Here are the scores for the Championship teams that were still alive in the Third Round of the Carling Cup.

Arsenal 6 ( Bendter 31′, 42, Vela 44′, 50′, 87′, Wilshere 57′) Sheffield United 0

Burnley 1 ( Rodriguez 88′) Fulham 0

Rotherham 3 ( Fenton 20′, Harrison 56′, Broughton 69′) Southampton 1 ( John 61′)

Swansea 1 ( Gomez 57′) Cardiff City 0

Stoke 2 ( Pericard 9′, Sidibie 50′) Reading 2 ( Henry 45′, 75′) Stoke win 4-3 on penalties

Watford 1 ( Mullins 70′ (og) ) West Ham 0

Aston Villa 0 QPR 1 ( Stewart 58′)

Ipswich 1 ( Walters 61′) Wigan 4 ( Cattermole 52′, Kapo 64′, Sharner 70′, Camara 90′)

Manchester City and Brighton Hove and Albion played thier 2nd Round tie today after it had been postponed due to Manchester City’s involvement with the UEFA Cup. The winner will face Derby County.

Brighton 2 ( Murry 89′, Anyinsah 95′) Manchester City 2 ( Gelson 64′, Ireland 108′) Brighton win  5-4 on penalities

Brighton will face Derby at Withdean Stadium, the date has yet to be determined.

The draw for the third round of the Carling Cup has been made and here are the draws for the Championship Clubs still alive. The matches will be played the week of 22 September.

Arsenal v Sheffield United

Brighton Hove& Albion/Man City v Derby County

Burnley v Fulham

Rotherham United v Southampton

Swansea City v Cardiff City – This is a tasty all Welsh tie!

Ipswich Town v Wigan

Stoke City v Reading

Watford v West Ham

Aston Villa v QPR

The Second Round of the Carling Cup is finished and the 16 CCC teams that made it to the Second Round, 10 made
thier way to the third round which will be drawn live on Sky Sports Saturday August 30th and played the week of the 21st of September. I will have the Third Round draw on Monday for the advancing CCC clubs.

Ipswich 2 (Counago 28′,Lisbie 56′) Colchester 1 (Gillespie 87′)

Coventry City 2 (Morrison 45′,Dann 90′) Newcastle 3 (Dann(og)21′, Milner 38′, Owen 97′)

Cardiff City 2 (McCormack (pen)45′, Whittingham 58′) MK Dons 1 (O’Hanlon 75′)

Swansea City 2 (Pintado 63′,Gomez (pen) 105′) Hull City 1 (Windass 11′) AET

Rotherham 0 Wolves 0
Rotherham win on penalty kicks 4-3

Leeds United 4 (Douglas 11′, Beckford 32′, Becchio 52′, Showunmi 76′) Crystal Palace o

Crewe 2 (Elding 24′, Moore 76′) Bristol City 1 (Wilson 79′)

QPR 4 (Stewart 48′, Ledesema 56′,63′,85′) Carlisle United 0

Reading 5(N. Hunt 11′, S. Hunt 15′, Pearce 54′, Karacan 55′, Henry 76′) Luton Town 1 (Charles 80′)

Preston 0 Derby County 1 (Green 40′) Wooo Hooo

Watford 2 (Francis 37′, O’Toole 116′) Darlington 1 ( Blundell) AET

Southampton 2 (Holmes 17′, Lallana 56′) Birmingham 0

Burnley 3 (McCann 12′, Paterson 63′, 79′) Oldham Athletic 0

Huddersfield Town 1 (Flynn 34′) Sheffield United 2 (Henderson 82′, Naughton 83′)

Nottingham Forest 1 (Earnshaw 60′) Sunderland 2 (Bardsley 86′, Healy 93′) AET

Here are the match-ups for the CCC clubs that have advanced to the Second Round of the Carling Cup. Ties will be played on August 26th and 27th at 7:45 GMT unless otherwise changed.

August 26th 

Burnely v Oldham Athletic (League One)

Cardiff City v MK Dons (League One)

Coventry City v Newcastle United (EPL)

Crewe(League One) v Bristol City

Ipswich Town v Colchester United(League One)

Leeds United(League One) v Crystal Palace

Preston NE v Derby County

QPR v Carlisle United (League One)

Reading v Luton Town (League Two)

Rotherham United (League Two) v Wolves

Southampton v Birmingham

Swansea City v Hull City (EPL)

Watford v Darlington (League Two)

August 27th

Huddersfield Town (League One) v Sheffield Untied

Nottingham Forest v Sunderland (EPL)

On Saturday the CCC season officially started as 24 teams battle to win promotion to the English Premier League and the riches that would come with that promotion. For the three promoted teams, Swansea City, Nottingham Forest and Doncaster, they are looking to establish themselves and avoid an immediate return to League One while Reading, Birmingham and Derby County look to bounce straight back to the EPL. One thing that is known about the CCC, there is no sure thing in this division and anything can happen. Here the results from the first weekend of action.

Birmingham City 1 (Kevin Phillips 90′) Sheffield United 0

Blackpool 0 Bristol City 1(Steve Brooker 90′)

Cardiff City 2(Steven Thompson 41,Roger Johnson 90′) Southampton 1 (David McGoldrick 45′)

Charlton 2 (Mark Hudson 3′, Andy Gray 85′) Swansea City 0

Coventry City 2 (Elliot Ward,pen 48′, Leon McKenzie 86′) Norwich City 0

Crystal Palace 0 Watford 0

Derby County 0 Doncaster 1 (Lewis Guy 59′)

Ipswich 1 (Kevin Lisbie 2′) Preston NE 2(Paul McKenna 21, Simon Whaley 34)

Plymouth 2 (Rory Fallon 7′, Marcel Siep 55′) Wolves 2 (Michael Knightly 19′, Sam Vokes 78′)

QPR 2(Fritz Hall 29,31′) Barnsley 1 (Iain Hume 5′)

Sheffield Wednesday 4(Marcus Tudgay 1′,65′, Apko Sodje 4’17′) Burnely 1 (Martin Paterson 6′)

Nottingham Forest 0 Reading 0

The Carling Cup is next up for the CCC teams on Tuesday and Wednesday then back to CCC action on Saturday.