Thanks for reading this Clockwatch. Over to the MBM for live coverage of Brighton v West Ham with Rob Smyth!
Arsenal 2-2 Fulham. “This was a messy and chastening afternoon for Mikel Arteta, and a hugely encouraging one for a neat, sparky Fulham team,” reports Barney Ronay.
Everton 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers. “Sean Dyche rubbished the suggestion that no points and no goals from the first two matches of the season constituted a crisis at Everton. He cannot say that now,” writes Andy Hunter.
Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace. “Thomas Frank’s team failed to put the game to bed which allowed Palace to claim a point in west London.”
Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest. “Manchester United continue to lurch and flail through this early phase of the season,” begins Jamie Jackson.
Bournemouth 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur. “On this evidence James Maddison is a £40m bargain,” writes Ben Fisher.
… so Everton are bottom, winless and goalless after three matches. But there is hope, argues Brad Wilson. “This is so frustrating, because people will just see another Everton scoreless game and snicker, but this was sooo much better than last week (almost like two different teams), and the new striker, Chermiti, looked decent. This really wasn’t bad, and I am generally gloomy on EFC. But, ouch. Woulda coulda shoulda.”
Premier League full times and table
Arsenal 2-2 Fulham
Bournemouth 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace
Everton 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | Brighton | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Man City | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 5 | Man Utd | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Brentford | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 | West Ham | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Fulham | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | Nottm Forest | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 15 | Wolverhampton | 3 | -3 | 3 |
| 16 | AFC Bournemouth | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 17 | Sheff Utd | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 18 | Burnley | 1 | -3 | 0 |
| 19 | Luton | 2 | -6 | 0 |
| 20 | Everton | 3 | -6 | 0 |
FULL TIME: Celtic 0-0 St Johnstone. The Scottish champions drop their first points of the season.
FULL TIME: Ipswich 3-4 Leeds. A very late goal for Conor Chaplin isn’t enough to salvage a point for the Tractor Boys. A big win for Leeds after their slow start to the season.
FULL TIME: Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest
United, two down after four minutes, claim all three points. The award of the winning penalty may spark some discussion, but that’s a big result given the way the game started for Erik ten Hag’s men!
FULL TIME: Arsenal 2-2 Fulham
Adama Traore very nearly snatches it for ten-man Fulham at the death. He nearly chips Aaron Ramsdale but the keeper claws away. And that’s it. Mikel Arteta looks extremely downcast.
FULL TIME: Everton 0-1 Wolves
First Fulham, now Wolves: the same old story for Everton, who dominated only to pass up their chances, then concede late and lose.
So much for Middlesbrough’s comeback at the Hawthorns. Jeremy Sarmiento makes it 4-2 to West Bromwich Albion, and Michael Carrick’s hotly tipped team have just one point after the first four matches.
FULL TIME: Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace
The spoils shared in west London.
Brighton welcome West Ham to the Amex this evening. The team news is in, and Rob Smyth has it.
“Jesus wept” – Mary Waltz.
A couple of big goals in the Championship. Marcus Forss pulls one back from the spot for Middlesbrough at West Brom; it’s now 3-2 to the hosts. Meanwhile Leicester look likely to maintain their 100 percent record, Kasey McAteer scoring on 84 minutes at Rotherham; the Foxes are 2-1 up.
Updated
GOAL! Everton 0-1 Wolves (Kalajdzic 87)
Sasa Kalajdzic comes on and almost immediately glances a header past Jordan Pickford! Memories of Everton’s opening-day defeat to Fulham come flooding back.
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Fulham (Palhinha 87)
The ten men are level! Joao Palhinha bundles home at a corner and the Emirates falls silent in shock.
Updated
RED CARD: Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
A second bookable offence and Bassey walks on his debut. He’d already been yellow carded for time-wasting, and so when he dragged down Eddie Nketiah the outcome was inevitable.
GOAL! Ipswich 2-4 Leeds (Sinisterra 75). Luis Sinisterra looks to have settled it once and for all at Portman Road.
Everton have the ball in the net. Abdoulaye Doucoure one-twos his way through the middle with James Garner and slots. But VAR gets involved, and he’s marginally offside. Everton so close to their first goal of the season, but they’ll have to wait.
GOAL! Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest (Fernandes 76 pen)
Contact on Marcus Rashford’s knee in the box. It’s soft, but it’s a penalty, and Bruno Fernandes slots it calmly into the corner. United lead despite that awful start! What moxie they’ve shown today.
Updated
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace (Andersen 76)
Joachim Andersen sticks out a telescopic leg to steer home an opportunistic equaliser.
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (Nketiah 72)
Fabio Vieira won the penalty, now he sets up a goal for Eddie Nketiah. The Gunners complete the turnaround in two minutes!
Updated
GOAL! Southampton 2-1 QPR (Armstrong 64). Adam Armstrong restores Southampton’s lead at St Mary’s.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Fulham (Saka 70 pen)
Kenny Tete upends Fabio Vieira, the referee points to the spot, and after interminable faffing, Bukayo Saka slots from 12 yards!
RED CARD: Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest)
Bruno Fernandes threatens to break clear only to be cynical wrestled by Joe Worrall. Off he goes, and United will fancy their chances of completing the turnaround against ten men.
Updated
Wolves are beginning to get on top at Goodison. James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford faff about, and suddenly Fabio Silva is one on one with the keeper. Fortunately for Everton, he shoots weakly wide. “This Everton match is turning into a repeat of the Fulham opener,” suggests Mary Waltz. “Squander multiple golden opportunities for scoring, a mistake opponent goal. Against the run of play. We deserved better, that is all hot air. Please, I don’t care how, get a ball into the net, Of your nose, backside, or off the opponents pinky. AAARRRGGGHHH.”
It’s still goalless at Goodison Park. But only just. Fabio Silva volleys home, only for the offside flag to save Everton.
Updated
Middlesbrough In All Sorts Of Bother cont. Tommy Smith has been sent off for a second bookable offence. Meanwhile an equaliser for Rotherham against Leicester, Fred Onyedinma putting the Foxes’ 100-percent record in jeopardy.
To the Championship! Norwich have gone 3-0 up at Huddersfield through Jon Rowe, while Brandon Thomas-Asante has put West Brom 3-1 up at the Hawthorns, and Middlesbrough are in all sorts of bother.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Casemiro 52)
Casemiro finishes off an elaborate training-ground free-kick routine, and United are level having been two down after four minutes!
Updated
Manchester United have swapped out Raphael Varane for Victor Lindelof. Taiwo Awoniyi has already started running at the substitute. Meanwhile at the Emirates, Arsenal have sent on Eddie Nketiah for … Leandro Trossard. Most observers would have hooked Kai Havertz instead, but here we are.
GOAL! Ipswich 2-3 Leeds (Broadhead 45+7). Nathan Broadhead takes advantage of some defensive dithering deep into first-half stoppage time, and Ipswich’s dream of maintaining their 100 percent record is not yet in Pipe territory. However, with Norwich 2-0 up at Huddersfield, as things stand there’ll be an East Anglian switcheroo at the top end of the Championship table tonight.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester | 4 | 4 | 12 |
| 2 | Norwich | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | Birmingham | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 4 | Ipswich | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| 5 | Southampton | 4 | 2 | 8 |
Some half-time reading.
Premier League half-times
Arsenal 0-1 Fulham
Brentford 1-0 Crystal Palace
Everton 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester United 1-2 Nottingham Forest
… and here’s the table as it stands. You may say it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans, but tell that to Brentford supporters.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brentford | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | Brighton | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Man City | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 5 | Nottm Forest | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | Fulham | 3 | -1 | 6 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | West Ham | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 11 | Newcastle | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | Aston Villa | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 14 | Man Utd | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 15 | AFC Bournemouth | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 17 | Everton | 3 | -5 | 1 |
| 18 | Sheff Utd | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| 19 | Burnley | 1 | -3 | 0 |
| 20 | Luton | 2 | -6 | 0 |
Arsenal are still trailing at home to Fulham. Martin Odegaard slots but Kai Havertz was offside in the build-up. “Can Arteta send somebody onto the pitch to pump some air into Havertz?” asks Charles Antaki. “He just looks like a great big throbbing vacuum at the moment, contribution around the nil mark. Action, Mikel!”
Peter Littley adds: “Watching Havertz makes me wonder why Arsenal bought a so-called ‘goal scorer’ from a team that couldn’t score goals. All they have now is an expensive, proven non goal threatening, shirt filling wanderer. No different from his Chelsea days.”
At Goodison, Everton have been the better side, but – and this is not breaking news – they’re lacking that cutting edge. Wolves yet to offer much.
GOAL! Southampton 1-1 QPR (Colback 32). Jack Colback quickly equalises for Rangers with a screamer from the edge of the box.
Updated
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 QPR (Edozie 30). Samuel Edozie gives Saints the lead at St Mary’s. Elsewhere in the Championship, West Brom and Middlesbrough are trading blows at the Hawthorns: Cedric Kipre and John Swift put the hosts two up, but Emmanuel Latte Lath has thrown struggling Boro a rope by pulling one back on the half hour.
Updated
Manchester United should be level at Old Trafford. The ball drops towards Casemiro, six yards out. You’d bet the farm on his heading home, but somehow he steers it wide. United have responded well to their godawful start, though.
Updated
A lull. “Interesting to gloss over Cloughie’s thoughts on Revie there,” writes Mark Hooper, poking the nest with a stick.
GOAL! Ipswich 1-3 Leeds (Piroe 19). A dream debut for Joel Piroe. Leeds in control now after their cold start.
Updated
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Crystal Palace (Schade 18)
Kevin Schade curls one into the corner, and the young German winger opens his account for the Bees.
Updated
GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Eriksen 17)
Some great work by Marcus Rashford in the build-up, and Christian Eriksen halves United’s deficit. What a game this is already!
Updated
GOAL! Ipswich 1-2 Leeds (Gnonto 14). Leeds complete the turnaround in short order as Willy Gnonto forces home from close range. Meanwhile, on the subject of Jeremy Boyce’s Clough-Forest-Leeds-Man U venn diagram, here’s Mohammed Nourun Nabi: “Er, Royston Keane??”
GOAL! Ipswich 1-1 Leeds (Rutter 10). Georginio Rutter responds instantly for Leeds. Elsewhere in the Championship, Norwich are 1-0 up at Huddersfield through Josh Sargent, while Kasey McAteer has given Leicester the lead at Rotherham. Meanwhile Phil Grey does my job for me: “Just for the record, Nunes isn’t in the squad today because he’s suspended, not because he’s covered in bubble wrap.”
Arsenal and Manchester United are both responding to those early blows. Both home teams currently on top, in terms of run of play if not scoreline. A fair chance of more goals, one way or another. “As it happens Scott, I am a lifelong NastyLeeds supporter and so nothing would give me greater M62 pleasure than seeing Forest do one on Man U today,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “The Clough-Forest-Leeds-Man U venn diagram is also very interesting, especially with Cloughie’s dislike of the Reds, and the fact that the reds endlessly plundered ‘little’ clubs like Leeds and Forest for their best players, then did naff all with them. Notable exception: Eric Cantona.”
GOAL! Ipswich 1-0 Leeds (Rodon og 7). The leaders are in front in today’s big Championship showdown. Joe Rodon slides one into his own net.
No goals in the other two Premier League games. Come on, lads, pick up your legs. “If the Beto signing happens and Everton can ever get healthy, there is the makings of mid-table mediocrity, which most of us would take,” writes Brad Wilson. “But getting too far buried early might put paid to that. As usual with EFC lately gotta win at home. COYB!”
GOAL! Manchester United 0-2 Nottingham Forest (Boly 4)
A free kick sent into the United mixer. Willy Boly flicks it in, and what on earth is happening in the Premier League this afternoon?! Old Trafford segues from shock to irritation. Plenty for United to be getting on with here.
Updated
GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Nottingham Forest (Awoniyi 2)
A shock early goal at Old Trafford as well! A United corner. Forest hit United on the break. Taiwo Awoniyi runs the length of the park to score!
Updated
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Fulham (Pereira 1)
Andreas Pereira latches onto a poor Bukayo Saka pass and gives the Cottagers a shock early lead!
Updated
Some better Old Trafford vibes. Before today’s match, the living legend that is Sir Alex Ferguson presented title medals to former Manchester United players, or family members of those players, who played for championship-winning teams between 1952 and 1965, but were not eligible at the time. The rules have since been changed, and so these wrongs are being made right. A heartwarming scene.
Trepidation spreads down the M62. “Same Old Trafford, same old Man U,” begins Jeremy Boyce. “Three changes today, but they could make 33 changes today and seemingly be nowhere nearer knowing where they’re going. Ten Hag maybe didn’t realise the enormity of the task, trying to undo years of mis-management on every level, as reflected in the bloated, unbalanced nature of the squad. The £80m bench-warmer says everything. Ten Hag seems like a decent bloke, and is obviously a good manager, but has he succumbed to the Man U manager vortex, like so many before him? Meanwhile, likeable, decent-bloke Steve Cooper and his board seem to have a sense of direction. Could be an interesting afternoon, and another opportunity for the lightning-fast Brennan Johnson to display his talents on the big stage versus Man U’s dodgy defence.”
Updated
Pre-match Evertonian angst (No3 in an ongoing series). “First things first,” begins Mary Waltz. “The state of Everton Football Club is in such dire straights that we need to focus on just scoring a goal before we can discuss points and table position. Baby steps, Baby steps.”
Matt Burtz adds: “The outlook at Goodison is not good right now, but at least Dyche has opted for Branthwaite over Keane. Where will a goal come from? I have no idea. But their xG is better than their results have been, especially against Fulham, so maybe they can turn it around today.”
Oh, and if we’re affording Rangers the opportunity of some As It Stands table fun, then it’s only fair to give Spurs their two hours’ worth as well. Here you go! Enjoy, enjoy.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 | Brighton | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Man City | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Brentford | 2 | 3 | 4 |
FULL TIME: Bournemouth 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs, their players and their fans, are falling for Ange Postecoglou hard. Rob Smyth describes the scenes as the whirlwind romance sweeps along the south coast.
FULL TIME: Ross County 0-2 Rangers. First-half goals from Kemar Roofe and James Tavernier get the job done for Michael Beale’s side in Dingwall. The result puts the Light Blues top of the Scottish Premiership, for a couple of hours at least. Celtic, Motherwell and Kilmarnock all have the chance of leapfrogging them later: Celtic host St Johnstone while Motherwell welcome Killie to Fir Park.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rangers | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | Celtic | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | St Mirren | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Hearts | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest. United make three changes. Christian Eriksen, Anthony Martial and Diogo Dalot replace the injured Luke Shaw and Mason Mount, and the benched Alejandro Garnacho. Forest make two swaps, Ryan Yates and Ola Aina replacing Neco Williams and the absent Orel Mangala. Shiny new signing Gonzalo Montiel, securer of both World Cup and Europa League, is alongside Williams on the bench.
Everton v Wolves. Sean Dyche makes three changes. The hapless Michael Keane is replaced in defence by Jarrad Branthwaite, while Lewis Dobbin deputises for the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Arnaut Danjuma makes his full debut, replacing the hamstrung Alex Iwobi. Gary O’Neil meanwhile makes two changes. Hugo Bueno and Hwang Hee-chan replace Rayan Ait-Nouri, who drops to the bench, and Matheus Nunes, who isn’t in the squad, possibly parcelled up and ready for delivery to Manchester City.
Brentford v Crystal Palace. Brentford, who won 3-0 at Fulham last weekend, are unsurprisingly unchanged. Crystal Palace also name an unchanged side, in the wake of running Arsenal close on Monday night.
Arsenal v Fulham. Jakub Kiwior replaces the suspended Takehiro Tomiyasu for the hosts, while Leandro Trossard starts ahead of Eddie Nketiah. Gabriel Jesus is back from injury and is on the bench. Fulham also make two changes. Tim Ream is suspended so debutant Calvin Bassey deputises. Joao Palhinha takes the place of Harrison Reed.
Premier League teams
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Partey, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Subs: Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Jorginho, Vieira, Raya, Nelson, Zinchenko.
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira, Wilson, Jimenez, Reid.
Subs: Rodak, Adarabioyo, Reed, Cairney, Traore, Rodrigo Muniz, Mbabu, Vinicius, Harris.
Brentford: Flekken, Hickey, Collins, Pinnock, Henry, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade.
Subs: Balcombe, Jorgensen, Onyeka, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Roerslev, Yarmolyuk, Olakigbe, Brierley.
Crystal Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Doucoure, Ayew, Eze, Schlupp, Edouard.
Subs: Tomkins, Mateta, Clyne, Richards, Ahamada, Matthews, Gordon, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi.
Everton: Pickford, Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Young, Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Onana, Dobbin, Danjuma.
Subs: Keane, Virginia, Maupay, Mykolenko, Godfrey, Chermiti, Lonergan, Cannon, Onyango.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno, Pedro Neto, Joao Gomes, Lemina, Hwang, Matheus Cunha, Silva.
Subs: Doherty, Ait Nouri, Traore, Kalajdzic, Jonny, Sarabia, Gomes, Bentley, Hodge.
Manchester United: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.
Subs: Lindelof, Maguire, Sancho, Henderson, Pellistri, McTominay, Fernandez, Garnacho, Gore.
Nottingham Forest: Turner, Boly, Worrall, McKenna, Aurier, Danilo, Yates, Aina, Johnson, Gibbs-White, Awoniyi.
Subs: Montiel, Williams, Kouyate, Wood, Niakhate, Elanga, Freuler, Horvath, Hwang.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Kulusevski 63). Dejan Kulusevski has doubled Tottenham’s lead at Dean Court. Rob Smyth tells it as it is.
There are two big matches already underway. In the Premier League, Spurs are currently leading 1-0 at Bournemouth. Rob Smyth has all the details of that …
… while over the border, Rangers lead their hosts Ross County 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Kemar Roofe and James Tavernier. Just over an hour gone in both games.
Updated
Preamble
Some big matches in the Premier League 3pms today, not least the first relegation six-pointer of the season at Goodison Park. One way or another we’ll be publishing email correspondence from Mary Waltz and Gary Naylor, I’ll be bound. Anyway, those 3pms …
Arsenal v Fulham
Brentford v Crystal Palace
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest
Plus! Scottish champions Celtic host St Johnstone, while there’s a full(ish) card in the Championship, where Ipswich Town and Leicester City aim to make it four wins out of four against the Uniteds of Leeds and Rotherham respectively. Kick-off is at … I’ll not insult your intelligence. But this much can’t be stated enough: it’s on! Team news when we have it.
