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Brentford Xabi Alonso steps into the Chelsea dugout for the very first time tonight as the Blues travel to Craven Cottage for a west London derby with Fulham. It's a fascinating subplot with two ex-Real Madrid men in the opposing dugouts — Alonso facing off against Alvaro Arbeloa in what is a genuinely intriguing managerial matchup to open the Premier League season.
Shifting across the Irish Sea, Linfield chairman Roy McGivern has thrown his full support behind manager David Healy after Healy went public about the personal and vile abuse directed at him, his players, and his coaching staff. The backlash followed a three-nil opening day defeat to Ballymena United, and McGivern made clear Healy was absolutely right to speak out. Fan frustration is one thing — this crossed a line.
And in track and field, double Olympic eight hundred metres champion Keely Hodgkinson has pulled out of Thursday's Diamond League meeting in Zurich, citing her body not being quite ready to compete. It's a cautious call, but a significant one — she had been due to face Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who denied her gold at the European Championships in Birmingham just weeks ago.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
