Daily Post

Football: Ugly Challenges Mar Game at Southport ; Non-League

Southport. 1 Redditch Utd 1

Little has Talked the Talk ... Now It's Time to Results ; the Last Word It's the Final Say On the Weekend Action

I T was an afternoon when the brightest thing on show was the scoreboard. And unfortunately that's not good enough for Wrexham fans at the moment. Not when you're starting to be cut adrift at the bottom of League Two.

Oh Lordy ... It's the Team of the Week

Brad Friedel: Kept out Toon strikers and then it was Rover and out. Neil Eardley: Doing a fine job for Oldham down the right-hand side.

Good Week for ... ; Inoffthe Post

1) Boxing: Is your sport a bit down? Simply bring back a few greats for a Masters-style match. So get ready for Tyson-Holy field IX. What could possibly go wrong?

Bad Week for ... ; Inoffthe Post

1) Peter Passant: You know a club are in trouble when a fan flies in from the other side of the world - and stages a stay-away protest. Passant emigrated 30 years ago and sees a game a year, but he has decided to miss Mansfield's game against Grimsby to register his ire with owner Keith Haslam. 2) Matthew Hayden: Called Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed" then followed that up by challenging one of his Indian team- mates to a fight. Now we all know the only way to overcome a bully is t...

Quotes of the Week

"The only decisions I'm making at the moment are whether I have tea, coffee, toast or cornflakes in the morning. Big Sam needs a job methinks.

Caption Comp

City Sports Facilities to Lure Olympic Athletes ; Liverpool Wins Place in 2012 Training Guide

LIVERPOOL is set to host some of the world's top athletes ahead of the London 2012 Olympics. The Wavertree Sports Park, which includes the city's new aquatic centre, will be unveiled today as part of the 2012 Games Training Camp Directory. And the Park Road Sports Centre in Toxteth, where World Champion gymnast Beth Tweedle practises, will also be included.

Former Top Police Officer Backs Murder Appeal

A FORMER assistant chief constable of Merseyside last night called for the release of a Wirral man convicted of one of the region's most infamous murders. Alison Halford was an ACC with Merseyside Police between 1983 and 1992, and it was in the last year of that service that Eddie Gilfoyle was found guilty of the murder of his eight-and-a-half months pregnant wife Paula.

Fanning Set to Be Master

JOE FANNING has made a splendid return from injury and can find the winner's enclosure at Lingfield. The experienced rider takes the reins aboard the Mark Johnston- trained Silent Master in the Bet Multiples - Betdaq Maiden Stakes, and looks certain to go close.

National Hope Cloudy Can Improve Again - Mccain

DESPITE recording a third straight win and having the bookmakers running for cover, Donald McCain jnr is confident there is more to come from his John Smith's Grand National favourite Cloudy Lane. The last time a McCain had such a warm ante-post favourite for the Aintree showpiece was when father Ginger and the great Red Rum were recording their three victories in the 1970s.

Europe in Good Shape for Champion

HENRY DE BROMHEAD reported favourite Sizing Europe to be on course for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival a week tomorrow. The six-year-old worked on Sunday morning and will have one more serious practice before the twomile feature contest.

Cycling: Gibb's Sprint Finish Earns Place in Aintree Records

TONY GIBB, of the Plowman Craven RT team, has equalled the record set by Kirkby CC's Doug Dailey in winning the Eddie Soens Memorial Cycle Race four times. After completing the 30 laps (49 miles) of the famous Club Circuit at Aintree Racecourse in 1 hour 51 minutes 47 seconds, Londoner Gibb said: "I'm delighted to have won it for the fourth time.

Women's Football: Conquering Heroines Still Showing Final Form

EVERTON Ladies continued their good week with a 4-0 victory at Cardiff City. After their amazing Premier League Cup final victory over Arsenal on Thursday, they travelled to the Welsh capital to tackle a team who look set for relegation this season.

Football: Victory Is Just What the Doctor Ordered ; Moyes Hails Stars Who Defied Illness to Provide Euro Tonic

Everton 3 Portsmouth 1

Football: Fate Is in Our Own Hands, Says Benitez

Bolton 1 Liverpool 3

Actions Speak Loud

Football: Talking On the Pitch Delivers Right Noises of Liverpool's Intent ; Barclays Premier League

Bolton Wdrs 1 Liverpool 3

Football: Benitez Focused On Next Match ; Barclays Premier League

RAFAEL BENITEZ has reaffirmed his commitment to Anfield and insisted he is focussed on winning matches and not his future plans. The Liverpool manager was delighted by his side's 3-1 victory at Bolton, but refused to be drawn into the latest speculation over the future ownership of the club, with Tom Hicks reported to be ready to buy out co-owner George Gillett.

Football: Keane Not Happy at Referees ; Barclays Premier League

Derby 0 Sunderland 0