Triple whammy

Three football matches, one day. Brilliant, eh? Here's how I got through my footballing marathon.

The day started with Milton Keynes Dons taking on Carlisle United in a lunchtime kickoff, and this was a fantastic way to start proceedings.

Carlisle took an early lead through Danny Graham, and looked a good bet to get a result. However, this wasnt to be the case.

With the industrious Peter Leven driving the Dons on in midfield, it was only a matter of time before the Dons got themselves back in the game, and it was Leven himself who duly obliged with a strike on the edge of the area. A second followed through Miguel Angel Llera, heading in from the impressive Leven's cross, and it was that man again who made sure of an MK Dons victory, with Stirling clearly tripped in the penalty area, and Leven making no mistake from 12 yards out.

The game itself was a great advert for League One, with both teams competitive, playing attractive and entiprising football, and looking to win the game.

Carlisle look a side desperately low on confidence, and a fifth defeat on the bounce wont be helping their cause. A playoff hangover perhaps? With key players leaving and not being replaced and the lucky breaks just not going their way, it looks like John Ward has a big job on his hands. He's experienced enough to deal with such pressure however, and Carlisle have enough about them to turn it round in my opinion.

At MK Dons, things couldnt be more different. Against all the odds, Roberto Di Matteo has the Dons playing good football and winning matches. They certainly looked impressive yesterday, with the aforementioned Leven pulling the strings in midfield, and young Sam Baldock emerging from nowhere and banging in the goals. The momentum from last season has certainly continued for the Dons, and a playoff push isnt out of the question as things stand, with the Dons currently lying in 5th place. Paul who?

Second game of the day, and it was off to the Fitness First system to see Bournemouth take on Rotherham in League Two, two teams who were docked 17 points at the start of the season following spells in administration.

The drop in standard was unfortunately there to see however, as both teams laboured towards a 0-0 stalemate.

That's the thing with football though, it cant always be entertaining, and sometimes teams have to do what they can to get a result. Rotherham for their part were very well organized and defended well, as you should do away from home. You cant always go out on the attack, and sometimes a bit of perspective is required. Rotherham boss Mark Robins will certainly be happy with a point, a point which sees the Millers march on from their minus points total. It's been quite the rebirth for Rotherham this time around.

Bournemouth on the otherhand havent adapted to life on minus points quite as well as Rotherham, and find themselves on -7 points. Still, 10 points from 10 games is a fairly decent return for the Cherries, and they can feel optimistic about their chances of staying up.

Finally, it was back off to the pub to see England take on the unknown and unheard of Kazakstan. After all the euphoria that followed England's win against Croatia, could things continue in the same vain?

Well, in the first half it was more of the same old England. Labrorous and lacking in ideas in possession, it seemed that old habits really dont die hard. 0-0 at half-time, but no booing, which was good to see.

In the second half there was noticeable improvement, though it took set-pieces and an own goal to put England in a comfortable position. And Kazakstan even scored themselves, with Ashley Cole's error giving them the goal their performance richly deserved. Far too often do Countries pack men behind the ball and play for damage limitation, so it was refreshing to see a team come to Wembley and have a go. Fair play to them.

But 5-1 it ended, and it was job done for England. Though we still dont know if Gerrard and Lampard can play together. Nor do we really care, for that matter.

So there we have it, Three games of football, and my thoughts on all three. Though the entertainment and standard certainly varied, it was clear that you can never have enough football in one day.