MK Dons host AFC Wimbledon, managerless Huddersfield at Chesterfield

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/11/595677header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/11/595677header.jpg" /></a>MK Dons hosts AFC Wimbledon in an emotionally charged League Cup round one clash on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> League Two AFC Wimbledon were formed when their League One opponents relocated from London to Milton Keynes in 2002.<br /> <br /> It will be the second meeting between the two sides, with MK Dons coming out on top in a December 2012 FA Cup clash.<br /> <br /> MK Dons started the season in emphatic fashion with a 4-2 comeback win at home to Gillingham on Saturday, while AFC Wimbledon shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Shrewsbury Town<br /> <br /> Huddersfield Town begin life without Mark Robins with a trip to Chesterfield.<br /> <br /> Robins parted company with Town after their 4-0 opening day defeat to Bournemouth - who travel to face League Two Exeter City - and Chesterfield will hold hopes of claiming a Championship scalp, having begun life back in League One with a 2-1 win over last season's beaten play-off finalists Leyton Orient.<br /> <br /> Orient's Wembley conquerors from last May Rotherham United host League Two play-off final winners Fleetwood Town, while the 2013 finalists in the competition, Bradford City, are in another trans-Pennine clash as they make the trip to the Lancashire coast to face Morecambe.<br /> <br /> There are all-Lancashire clashes between Bolton Wanderers and Bury and Rochdale and Preston North End, while York and Doncaster Rovers will contest Yorkshire bragging rights.<br /> <br /> Leeds United will be dearly hoping to avoid any slip ups against Accrington Stanley after Dave Hockaday's unlikely reign as manager got off to a lacklustre start with a 2-0 loss at Millwall, who also entertain League Two opposition in the form of Wycombe Wanderers.<br /> <br /> Cambridge United and Luton Town sealed their returns to the Football League last term and look to build on opening day wins with ties against Birmingham City and Swindon Town respectively.<br /> <br /> Shrewsbury Town will have designs on a Championship scalp when crisis club Blackpool travel to Greenhous Meadow, while the latter's 2-0 weekend conquerors Nottingham Forest head to Merseyside to take on Tranmere Rovers.<br /> <br /> Forest’s local rivals Derby County get the 2014-15 competition under way at Carlisle United on Monday night, while the two other teams that fell short in the Championship play-offs last season - Brighton and Wigan Athletic - face Cheltenham Town and Burton Albion respectively.<br /> <br /> Ipswich Town and Watford are on the road at Crawley Town and Stevenage following impressive weekend showings in the second tier, with Middlesbrough and Cardiff City also travelling Oldham Athletic and Coventry City.<br /> <br /> The remaining Championship sides in the draw are Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Reading and the quartet will enjoy home advantage against Scunthorpe United, Notts County, Colchester United and Newport County respectively.<br /> <br /> Elsewhere, Barnsley host Crewe Alexandra, Bristol City face Oxford United, Dagenham and Redbridge welcome Brentford, Plymouth Argyle entertain Leyton Orient, Hartlepool United travel to Port Vale, Portsmouth tackle Peterborough United, Wolves host Northampton Town, Gillingham head to Yeovil Town and Sheffield United play Mansfield Town.

AFC Champions League FA Cup football MK Dons news news sports MK Dons host AFC Wimbledon, managerless Huddersfield at Chesterfield

MK Dons hosts AFC Wimbledon in an emotionally charged League Cup round one clash on Tuesday. League Two AFC Wimbledon were formed when their League One opponents relocated from London to Milton Keynes in 2002. It will be the second meeting between th…

Read more »

Ramsey aims to emulate Lampard and Gerrard

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592773header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592773header.jpg" /></a>Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wants to match the goal-scoring exploits of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard over the next few years.<br /> <br /> Ramsey struck 16 times in all competitions for the London club last season, easily his best haul since his move from Cardiff City in 2008.<br /> <br /> The last of those goals was also arguably Arsenal's most important in nine years, as Ramsey burst into the box in extra-time in the FA Cup Final to score the winner against Hull City and ensure Arsenal secured their first major trophy since 2005.<br /> <br /> Just like Lampard in the 2009 FA Cup Final and Gerrard in the 2005 UEFA Champions League decider, Ramsey produced the goods when it mattered most and the Welshman wants to become Arsenal's answer to the famous English midfield duo for years to come.<br /> <br /> "I see myself as that midfielder who can score goals for Arsenal and I think that's important," Ramsey told The Telegraph on Thursday.<br /> <br /> "It's proven over the years to be important for successful sides to have goal-scoring midfielders and, hopefully, I'll do the same this season.<br /> <br /> "The likes of Gerrard and Lampard have done it for many years on a consistent basis and that will be my aim now to do that.<br /> <br /> "I've always felt I'd be a goal-scoring midfielder. Before my serious injury, I had broken into the team and scored a few goals. I've always believed in my ability to do that and I've always been in goal-scoring situations.<br /> <br /> "But I haven't been as composed as I was last season. I just felt like I had a lot more time in front of goal, whereas in the past I rushed a few decisions and shots that I made."<br /> <br /> Arsenal will return to Wembley on Sunday for the Community Shield against Manchester City and the Wales international is determined to start the new season on a high note.<br /> <br /> "Our season starts on Sunday and we'll be going out to win the game," he said.<br /> <br /> "It will be a good marker because we let ourselves down last year against the bigger teams. If we improve on that this season, we'll have a great chance [to win the Premier League] and we'll be right there at the end."

Arsenal Champions League FA Cup Frank Lampard news news sports Premier League Ramsey Steven Gerrard UEFA Ramsey aims to emulate Lampard and Gerrard

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wants to match the goal-scoring exploits of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard over the next few years. Ramsey struck 16 times in all competitions for the London club last season, easily his best haul since his move from…

Read more »

Bruce not ruling out more signings

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592653header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592653header.jpg" /></a>Hull City boss Steve Bruce is not ruling out making even more additions to his squad before the transfer window closes.<br /> <br /> After leading the club to a maiden FA Cup final last term, Bruce has strengthened significantly with over £20million worth of investment in his first-team squad.<br /> <br /> Jake Livermore's permanent arrival from Tottenham after a successful loan has been supplemented by the signing of attacking pair Tom Ince and Robert Snodgrass as well as promising defenders Harry Maguire and Andrew Robertson.<br /> <br /> And speaking after Hull secured a UEFA Europa League play-off berth with a 2-1 win over Trencin on Thursday, Bruce confirmed he will go after further signatures if suitable targets become available.<br /> <br /> "I always knock the door, I think every manager is never ever finished," he explained.<br /> <br /> "The day I say no is the day I may as well pack it in. We always look to improve.<br /> <br /> "I had five [on Thursday] not stripped, the two we've brought in - Maguire and Robertson - [Nikica] Jelavic, [Maynor] Figueroa, [George] Boyd.<br /> <br /> "We've got healthy competition all round but always if there’s a bit of quality then I'll try."<br /> <br /> One area Bruce is reportedly keen to strengthen is his attack with Matt Fryatt leaving for Nottingham Forest after slipping behind Shane Long and Jelavic in the pecking order.<br /> <br /> Yannick Sagbo is Bruce's only remaining out-and-out frontman other than his first-choice pairing.<br /> <br /> While keeping tight-lipped on his potential striker search, Bruce praised Long's efforts against Trencin despite the Irishman finding himself repeatedly thwarted by Slovakian goalkeeper Milos Volesak.<br /> <br /> The Hull boss added: "Strikers keep getting there, two or three of the chances he [Long] got there himself with his blistering pace to be fair to him and he made them himself.<br /> <br /> "He'll be disappointed that he hasn't scored knowing him but like any striker they've got to keep getting there, next week let's hope it's his turn and he sticks a couple in."

FA Cup football news news sports UEFA Bruce not ruling out more signings

Hull City boss Steve Bruce is not ruling out making even more additions to his squad before the transfer window closes. After leading the club to a maiden FA Cup final last term, Bruce has strengthened significantly with over £20million worth of inve…

Read more »