Football: Berkovic on form

EYAL BERKOVIC was the creative force for Celtic as their new coach, John Barnes, saw his side earn a 2-0 victory over his old club, Newcastle, in a pre-season friendly at Parkhead last night.

Ruud Gullit's men had little answer to Berkovic's promptings from midfield with the pounds 5.7m signing from West Ham the source of both Celtic's goals. Olivier Tebily, who put through his own net against Leeds at the weekend, headed home Berkovic's corner after 49 minutes. Then, just after the hour mark, the Israeli played in Mark Viduka for a second.

In another Anglo-Scottish friendly, Noel Whelan scored the only goal as Coventry beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Whelan's winner came in the 10th minute courtesy of a deflected shot.

Coventry showed more urgency than their hosts and their new signing Mustapha Hadji almost scored late on.

In London, goals from Carl Leaburn and Carl Cort earned Wimbledon a comfortable win over Millwall at the New Den.

Leaburn's header gave the Dons a seventh-minute lead, and Cort made it 2-0 midway through the first half as the Premiership side dominated.