Kelly Cates touches on regular Gary Lineker complaint in Match of the Day debut

Kelly Cates made reference to Match of the Day great Gary Lineker and an issue he regularly had to contend with during her debut on the BBC's Premier League highlights show. She became the final member of the trio of replacement hosts to take charge of the show's coverage this season.

Match of the Day's running order had developed into something of a running joke, with supporters from different clubs frequently moaning about seldom appearing at the top of the line-up. This even evolved into genuine suspicion from certain fans, who claimed there was deliberate prejudice against their team. Lineker, whose BBC tenure concluded at the close of last season, transformed this into his own joke and concluded his final appearance by apologising for "your team always being last."

Lineker has previously explained exactly how the choice is made regarding which matches take priority on the programme. Following Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan presenting Match of the Day's two editions on the opening weekend, Cates assumed her role on Saturday's show. However, The Mirror reported she wasn't remotely resentful about being held back while her colleagues had their opportunities.

"Six games on tonight's Match of the Day, featuring two of last season's top three and all of the promoted sides," she said in her inaugural introduction. "A new face in the studio as well, hello, and I've already been told about the significance of the running order... presumably that's why I'm third."

The 49-year-old daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish may have finished last but was certainly not least when it came to quality. Sky Sports regular Cates garnered widespread praise on social media for her MOTD debut as the programme featured Arsenal's 5-0 demolition of Leeds, Chelsea's 5-1 rout of West Ham and Tottenham's shock 2-0 away victory against Manchester City.

Match of the Day's running order has perpetually sparked debate amongst viewers, with supporters invariably frustrated when their team doesn't secure top billing. Take Nottingham Forest fans, for instance, who were left aggrieved when their triumph over Liverpool early last season wasn't granted the opening slot, prompting Lineker to clarify why Aston Villa's 3-2 fightback against Everton took precedence.

"If you're picking the game of the day, that probably just edged Forest, which we thought would definitely lead but that went second," said Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast. "If Forest were to beat Liverpool and they were in a title race, and it was the last couple months of the season, that would definitely have gone first."

Regarding Cates, she has recognised the considerable legacy she's inheriting alongside Chapman and Logan, though she's not attempting to become the next Lineker.

"I don't want to be Gary," Cates recently told the The Guardian. "I think there's a temptation to try and be someone else, and I think that you get a job because of yourself.

"If then you try to be someone else, it can all just get a bit confused. I don't need another thing to think about. I don't need to be sitting there thinking, 'What would Gary do?'"