The Top Five

So what has been happening while I was coughing and sneezing?

England lost 2-1 to Spain to give us an indication where we stand in the league of nations. Arsenal gave Newcastle a lesson in being clinical then allowed a last minute goal just to ensure that Unai Emery is aware that our defence is a long way from safe. I am sure there must be some highlights somewhere ...

Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2

Xhaka, who has a bad habit of giving away the ball in his own half scores with a very well taken free kick. When Lacazette gets off his shot Mesut Ozil is in the right place to slot the ball into the net for Arsenal's second. We then get through to 90 minutes with the score at 2-0 only for Newcastle to score in injury time. Naive boys are the ones who stop at the ninety minute mark.

The Europa League starts on Thursday against Vorksla Poltava. I often try translation on Google translate and I know that Poltava is the city so what does Vorksla mean. Apparently it means Vortex. We are up against the Vortex from Poltava.

My Championship team is Brentford who have beaten Wigan Athletic and drawn with Ipswich Town since I last blogged.

Brentford 2 Wigan 0

Ipswich 1 Brentford 1

Southend United first took on Cambridge United in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Southend 3 Cambridge 1

Next they took on Peterborough United in the league.

Southend 2 Peterborough 3

Finally Southend travelled all the way across the country to Shrewsbury. I think that travelling was a problem.

Shrewsbury 2 Southend 0

Exeter City have competed three times since I last blogged. Firstly they took on Yeovil in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Yeovil 0 Exeter 0

I think we are missing some of the penalties there. Next came a good win over Notts County.

Exeter 5 Notts County 1

I always enjoy the sight of somebody who is not on being sent off. Finally a trip away to Mansfield.

Mansfield 1 Exeter 2

A great opening goal from Dean Moxey. I identified him as a class above the rest of the team a few years back and he has now played at a higher level but he is back where he began and that shows me how difficult this game can be.

In the National League Eastleigh have competed three times as well. Initially they lost to Maidenhead United.

(VLOG) Maidenhead United 2 Eastleigh 0

The middle match was a home fixture with the visitors being AFC Fylde.

Eastleigh 0 AFC Fylde 0

Finally, to complete the top five leagues Eastleigh from the South Coast travelled all the way to Hartlepool.

Hartlepool 1 Eastleigh 1