United and Chelsea win big, but otherwise poor from top flight clubs
Last updated: 26th July 2008


Both Manchester United and Chelsea were big winners on their pre-season tours to foreign shores, but otherwise it was a bleak Saturday for a number of Premier League clubs.

Sir Alex Ferguson's United side claimed the Vodacom Challenge Trophy thanks to a 4-0 thumping of Kaiser Chiefs, while Chelsea hit seven against Chengdu Blades without reply.

Premier League new boys Hull were abject at Crewe as they were thumped 4-0, while Newcastle fell to a 1-0 loss at Doncaster.

Manchester City never really hit their stride in going down 1-0 at Hamburg, with West Brom faring no better as their winless pre-season run continued with a last-gasp defeat at Ipswich.

Cameron Jerome and Martin Taylor scored as Championship promotion contenders Birmingham continued their fine pre-season form with a 2-0 win over League Two Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium.

Freddy Eastwood scored twice on his debut following his transfer from Wolves as Coventry claimed a 3-1 win at Cambridge.

Danny Fox was also on target for the Sky Blues with Ben Farrell hitting a consolation penalty for the hosts.

Scott Dobie scored twice as Carlisle played out a 2-2 draw with Preston. Dobie put the League One side ahead, Preston went 2-1 up through Neil Mellor and Simon Whaley before Dobie intervened for a second time.

Chris Dickson scored the only goal as Charlton won 1-0 at Brighton. Brentford and Watford played out a 1-1 draw with Tommy Smith opening the scoring for the Hornets before Charlie MacDonald equalised.

Leon Clarke scored twice as Sheffield Wednesday maintained their good pre-season form with a 2-0 win at Bury.

Burnley eased to a 3-0 win at League Two Accrington Stanley with goals from Joey Gudjonsson, a fine solo effort by Albania international Besart Berisha and Robbie Blake.

Theo Lewis scored a late equaliser for Cheltenham against Southampton after Bradley Wright-Phillips had given the Saints a first-half lead.

Darius Henderson scored one goal and made another on his debut for Sheffield United as the Blades won 2-0 at Scunthorpe. The former Watford striker provided the cross for Danny Webber to score the opener before firing in late on.

Relegated Reading claimed a 1-0 win over Swedish side Lerkils IF thanks to a goal by Shane Long.

Derby, relegated from the Premier League with a record points low last season, were indebted to goalkeeper Roy Carroll after his last-minute penalty save saw the Rams claim a 3-2 win at Mansfield.

Alan O'Hare put the hosts ahead before Rob Hulse levelled on his debut following his move from Sheffield United. Mark Stallard put Mansfield ahead again but two goals from Tito Villa and Paul Green edged the Championship side in front. Ryan Goward had the chance to level for the Stags from the spot but Carroll saved with his legs.

A Ryan Rhodes goal six minutes from time earned Rotherham a 1-0 win over Barnsley at Don Valley Stadium.

John Stewart boosted his bid to rescue his Falkirk career by volleying home as the Bairns saw off Coca-Cola Championship visitors QPR 2-0.

The striker, who spent last season on loan to St Johnstone and Queen of the South, converted Neil McCann's corner a minute after Damion Stewart had turned a Gerard Aafjes cross into his own net.

Lionel Messi claimed a hat-trick and stole the show as Dundee United became the second Scottish side this week to be handed a footballing lesson by Barcelona.

Craig Levein's men took the lead through Prince Buaben before Thierry Henry restored parity for the Catalan giants. Messi then transformed the game when he was introduced as a second-half substitute and netted three goals, with out-of-favour Samuel Eto'o also adding his name to the scoresheet.

Motherwell secured their first pre-season victory in resounding fashion with a first-half demolition of Stuart McCall's Bradford. The home win was never in doubt from the first minute when David Clarkson converted Keith Lasley's cross at the near post.

Chris Porter converted a penalty and Darren Smith raced down the left before firing the third in the 31st minute. Smith then set up Bob Malcolm to stroke home from 10 yards five minutes before the break.

Rangers suffered a serious blow in the final warm-up for their UEFA Champions League campaign when Carlos Cuellar pulled up during their comeback victory at Raith Rovers.

The Spanish defender was playing his first pre-season game after being troubled by a calf injury, but he lasted just 29 minutes.

Rangers then fell behind to a Kevin Smith goal but substitutes Nacho Novo and Daniel Cousin spared their blushes in the final quarter.