Aussie pair still on track for Premier League

Aussie pair Nick Carle (Bristol City) and Richard Garcia (Hull City) remains well and truly in contention for promotion to the Premier League after significant victories in The Championship on Saturday.

Aussie pair Nick Carle (Bristol City) and Richard Garcia (Hull City) remains well and truly in contention for promotion to the Premier League after significant victories in The Championship on Saturday.

Carle came on as a half time substitute, as Bristol City won 2-1 with a late goal against Norwich. Bristol went back to the top of the Championship standings after Stoke City were held to a 1-1 draw. The top two are automatically promoted to the Premier League next season.

Garcia meanwhile continues to play a key role in Hull City-s successful charge towards the top of the standings, as they brushed aside fellow promotion hopefuls Watford 3-0 in Hull. Garcia-s charging surge forward in the opening seconds of the match, resulted in a free kick, the result being the opening goal after just 47 seconds of the match. Hull stays in third spot just a point behind Stoke and two behind Bristol.

Down at the other end of the table, there was good news for Leicester City trio Paul Henderson, Patrick Kisnorbo and James Wesolowski all started in their 1-0 win over Scunthorpe. The win lifted City out of the relegation zone by two points. The news wasn-t better for Chris Coyne, who opened the scoring after 14 minutes, as bottom-placed Colchester United lost 4-3 away at promotion chasers West Brom. Colchester is now 13 points away from relegation cut-off and almost certainly headed down to League One next season. There was also no joy for David Carney, who was replaced in the 58th minute, as Sheffield United lost 3-1 away at Preston.

In the Premier League, it was a mixed weekend for our boys, with Mark Viduka the only Aussie to taste victory, as they whitewashed Tottenham 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Mark Schwarzer played a full game, as Middlesbrough lost 1-0 away at Chelsea; Josip Skoko got a rare start for Wigan Athletic as they went down 2-0 at Portsmouth; Lucas Neill played a full game for West Ham, as they also lost, conceding at late goal at Sunderland to lose 2-1, while Mile Sterjovski played a full game, as Derby County drew 2-2 at home against Fulham Athletic.

In Scotland, it was the Old Firm derby, with Scott McDonald coming off the bench after 79 minutes, as Celtic title hopes took a major dent, losing 1-0. Rangers have moved six points clear with a game in hand. Danny Invincibile played a full game, as Kilmarnock drew 0-0 away at Falkirk.

In Holland, Luke Wilkshire played a full game, as FC Twente won 1-0 at FC Utrecht, while Brett Holman played a full game, as NEC Nijmegen drew 0-0 with Jason Culina-s PSV Eindhoven; Culina only coming in the dying minutes of the match.

In the Serie A, Vince Grella backed up from his efforts in China, with a full game in Torino-s crucial 2-1 at Catania; Mark Bresciano came on in the 71st minute, as Palermo lost 1-0 at Napoli, while Zeljko Kalac played a full game, as AC Milan lost 2-1 at home against Atalanta.

Meanwhile Josh Kennedy made his return from injury, starting in a 0-0 draw at home to Schalke 04. Michael Beauchamp was included in Nurnberg-s squad, as they held Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw. Matt Spiranovic was on the bench for Nurnberg.