Falkirk’s young 19 year old midfielder Scott Arfield has won the Clydesdale Bank Premier League Young Player of the Month award for September. Arfield, who turns 20 on November 1, is contracted to Falkirk for the next five years, having signed a new contract with the Bairns in February. He made his club debut in August 2007.
This is not the first team Arfield has won the award. He won it for the month of December last year too.
A stunning second half free kick from Marcos Senna gave Villareal a crucial 1-0 win over Scottish giants Celtic in a Group E Champions League encounter on Tuesday night at El Madrigal. In the other Group E fixture, Manchester United beat Aalborg 3-0, with Dimitar Berbatov grabbing a brace.
Gordon Strachan swapped his 4-4-2 for a 4-2-3-1, with Greek striker Samaras playing alone upfront, and Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady on the wings. The Hoops played well in the first half, and had a glorious chance to go ahead just before the break, but Villareal goalkeeper Diego Lopez denied Samaras after a moment of madness from Submarines defender Godin.
Ilco Naumoski scored the only goal of the game as George Burley’s Scottish side slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Macedonia in Skopje.
Goce Sedloski’s 5th minute freekick was tipped onto the post by Craig Gordon, but the rebound fell perfectly for Naumoski, and the SV Mattersburg striker duly did the rest.
The game was Burley’s first competitive game in charge of the national team, and he went with a 4-4-2, playing Miller and McFadden upfront. Scotland were missing several first team regulars- regular skipper Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton prominent among them.
In the 57th minute, the Scots had Craig Gordon to thank as he adjusted well to save a spectacular Shumulikoski effort. James McFadden had his penalty appeal waved away by the referee in the second half as Scotland tried to bring the game back on level terms, but they were unsuccessful as the hosts held on.
Scotland starting XI formation against Macedonia
——————————-Craig Gordon——————————————–
Alexander————-Caldwell——————McManus(c)——————-Naysmith
Brown—————-Hartley——————Fletcher———————Robson
J.McFadden——————-K.Miller