[caption id="attachment_67144" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Ireland's Shane Long was on target again for WBA."]
A week before the international against Andorra Shane Long was the only Irish player to score in the English Premier league at the weekend. The Tipperary-born striker was on target for West Bromwich Albion as the Baggies went 2-0 up away to Sunderland after only five minutes. But the home side, captained by Ireland's John O'Shea, fought back to get a 2-2 draw and take some of the pressure of manager Steve Bruce.
Thanks to their rich owners from Abu Dhabi, Manchester City look like they will be able to compete with their famous neighbors United this season. On Saturday City won 4-0 away to Blackburn, but United who beat Norwich 2-0 at Old Trafford, are still top of the table with a goal difference of + 19 compared to City's + 18. City were in the news midweek when their Argentinean striker Carlos Tevez refused to come as a sub with his side losing 2-0 against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. City have suspended Tevez for two weeks and it looks like he will be offloaded as soon as possible. But there was embarrassment for City manager Roberto Mancini when it was revealed at the weekend that his own son Filippo "did a Tevez" and refused to come on as a sub in a reserve game for City against Liverpool in August. However, Filippo was a non-contract unpaid player with the club, while Tevez is reported to be on £240,000 a week. Elsewhere Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish returned to Goodsion Park for his first Merseyside derby in 20 years and The Reds came away with a 2-0 that lifted them into fifth place in the table.
At home Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers continue to battle it out for leadership of the League of Ireland premier division title. Sligo gave their goal difference a boost with a 7-1 win over Galway on Saturday night, while Rovers, who have a game less played, drew level on 64 points with a 4-0 win over Drogheda on Sunday afternoon. Three days earlier The Hoops had taken the lead against Spurs in the Europa League at White Hart Lane but eventually lost 3-1.
