Robert Green rescued West Ham as he saved Jermain Defoe’s stoppage time penalty to preserve a 1-1 draw against Tottenham on Sunday.

Green had looked like being the villain when his mistake gifted Michael Dawson an equaliser for Spurs after Carlton Cole put West Ham in front.

But he made amends with his third penalty save of the season to deny West Ham old-boy Defoe and delight the Upton Park fans who routinely taunt their former hero.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan believes his side’s 3-0 win at home to Aberdeen has set them up perfectly for their crucial Champions League game on Wednesday.

The victory on Saturday meant the Parkhead club maintained their three-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

And despite injury worries over Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc and Scottish international midfielder Paul Hartley, Strachan is confident ahead of a must win match at home to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek.

Tim Cahill confirmed his return to full fitness by joining Ayegbeni Yakubu in scoring a brace for a rampant Everton in their 7-1 hammering of Sunderland here Saturday.

Only days after Roy Keane belittled the efforts of the England players are they limped unceremoniously out of the Euro 2008, the Sunderland manager was left doing some serious navel-gazing of his own.

Three-nil up by the 43rd minute, thanks to goals from Yakubu, Cahill and Steven Pienaar, a 45th minute consolation goal by Dwight Yorke gave Sunderland some hope, albeit slim, of a second-half revival.

McClaren was sacked on Thursday in the aftermath of England’s failed attempt to qualify for Euro 2008 and Allardyce was quickly installed as one of the leading contenders for the job.

But Allardyce, 53, has already missed out on the position once after the then-Bolton boss was interviewed as a potential replacement for Sven Goran Eriksson last year before losing out to McClaren.

He has made it clear he will not be entering the race this time.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington admits he is unsure of his future after his side’s heroic effort to reach Euro 2008 ended in failure.

Worthington was only appointed until the end of the qualifying campaign and is yet to agree a new deal with the Northern Irish Football Association.

With the 2010 World Cup qualifying draw taking place in Durban on Sunday, Worthington knows a quick resolution to the situtation is important, but he hinted he will only stay if all his requirements are met.

Thailand’s election battle spilled onto the football pitch Wednesday as the Democrat Party unveiled plans for Premier League club Everton to coach young Thai players.

The announcement came just days after Manchester City, owned by the Democrats’ archrival, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, signed three Thai players and announced similar plans to open academies across the soccer-mad kingdom which goes to the polls on December 23.

Bangkok governor and deputy Democrat leader Apirak Kosayodhin last week signed an agreement with Everton for its players and coaches to help with training at the Bangkok Football Academy, a municipal official said.

England manager Steve McClaren has dropped David Beckham for the decisive Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia at Wembley, according to various press reports on Wednesday.

McClaren, whose time in the England hot seat could come to an end depending on the result of their final group E clash, appears set to gamble further by giving goalkeeper Scott Carson his full international debut in place of Paul Robinson.

Beckham has been lacking incisive fitness in recent months following his long recovery from injury, and it was generally felt in the England camp that the LA Galaxy midfielder would struggle to last 90 minutes.