Eleven asides

Now that is quick: The fastest goal in England yesterday was scored by Shaun Murphy of Sheffield United against Walsall after 58sec.

You're off: Stockport's Martin McIntosh was shown the red card after just three minutes for violent conduct. Despite the dismissal, his team defeated Tranmere 2-1, and are now top of the First Division.

Room for one more? East Stirling's match attracted a crowd of 254. There were 55,187 at Old Trafford.

Take a bow: Referee Uriah Rennie, who was officiating the Sunderland- Arsenal match at the Stadium of Light, was given a standing ovation by the home crowd as he warmed up. Referees being applauded? Well, he did dismiss Alan Shearer, the captain of arch-rivals Newcastle, last week.

Hat-trick solo: Jerry O'Driscoll, the Montrose forward, scored the only treble of the day. Goals came in the seventh, 44th and 82nd minutes of their Scottish Third Division match with Dumbarton.

Pull the other one: "I was always planning to rest Gazza," said Boro manager, Bryan Robson. Nothing to do with Mr "Five Bellies", then?

Generous to a fault: "Our penalty might have been lucky but I can't remember their goal being an absolute belter," said Bradford's manager, Paul Jewell, after their 1-1 home draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

Second coming: Tommy Mooney - the scorer of Watford's only goal in their historic win over Liverpool at Anfield - was shown the door by Graham Taylor when the former England manager was at Aston Villa. Taylor had told his striker that he didn't have a future in the top flight but "could make a career for himself in the lower leagues".

Remember me? Old Nottingham Forest favourite, Pierre van Hooijdonk, is striking again. He scored on his league debut for new club Vitesse Arnhem. The goal gave his team a 1-1 draw with Cambuur Leeuwarden.

Once is unlucky, twice is...

Frank Sinclair conceded an own goal for the second successive Saturday. "I do have sympathy for that happening to him," said Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli, who sold him.

Ruud reawakening: "It's time to get these players out of the team who cannot handle the pressure. I know who they are but nothing can happen until we get new ones." Ebbe Skovdahl, Aberdeen manager.

Alex Hayes