Van Nistelrooy to score first and Man Utd to win 6-0 is only 135/1

Sales are sales, providing they all paid and swiped their way in then they are counted.

I've put £2 on So if you are in the ground and see someone to the left of the Rovers fans jumping up and down, it'll be me.

1-0 win for Rovers with Bellamy getting the goal is 155/1 with Rovers Bet

I wasn't guessing though, I've got the attendance figures close at hand, there were 4975 tickets sold in the Darwen End stand.

Huddersfield brought just under 5000 fans of which 2500 tickets were sold on the night!

I attended the game, and guess what? I thought it was a thoroughly entertaining game at Ewood Park Nice to see oposition try to take the game to us, unlike Fulham, Spurs and Newcastle. Rev, I agree with you about Friedel, his hesitancy lead to a couple of nervy moments that will probably be classed as errors by Zura, but if Brad had come out and cleared when expected to, there'd have been no incidents.

but the most famous of them all was me! I refused to sign any autographs for the legions of fans waiting for me outside the JW Stand!

As the discussion about schools has come up once again, i'll direct people to the following link

Always one to like a good rumour, but the landlord of the Fernhurst (Michael - the one with the Geordie accent!), spoke to the Police and was told that NUFC have sold just 2500 and that they've gone on open sale. A couple of years ago they were bringing 7000 to Ewood, now it looks like it'll be 3000. 21000 for Sunday.

That reminds me of something about that day, Kevin (we are on first name terms ) needed to visit the gents, but was concerned that he'd have to go out of the press room and onto a concourse full of dingles. So I made sure the coast was clear for him before he paid a visit

As far as I know there were phone calls made.

yes

Why is Ponting persisting with Warne now, give the poor lad a break!

Come on Michael, declare and give England 30 overs to try to bowl them out

TMS are talking about Warne returning in 2009!

The temptation to co-ordinate another visit to Australia with some more test matches is certainly there. I do wish the Premier League would introduce a winter break!

If the Aussies are batting, they'll keep going until last orders. Was it Karachi when Thorpe won the test for England in the dark whilst the Pakistani fielders were running around chasing non-existant balls? Could be a repeat

You certainly can, come back to the dark side!

Says the Englishman

But Philip, is it going to be a one day chase or a 20twenty chase?

No commentator appeared to pick this up yesterday, but Freddie clearly said to Rudi Koertzen (sp?) yesterday "Can I get a spotlight on the bailes, I can't see them"

This is the latest a test series has been played in England, I can't see them playing until 6pm to be honest, unless it brightens up considerably this afternoon. Saying that, on that Monday at OT it was very grey in the morning and a scorcher in the afternoon, but that was August and not autumn!

They've taken the light again. I heard the following on radio 5 this morning. Compere at a comedy club: Anyone in the crowd from overseas? Lady stands up: Yes I'm from Sydney Compere: Is it too dark for you love, do you want me to get the lights turned on?

right now, I'd say the first to make the step-up would be Keith Treacy, based solely on the fact that he's already played for Mark Hughes this pre-season. It would be cruel to compare Keith to Duff, the only similarities are that they are left footed, Irish and play left-midfield, but they are different types of players. Keith beats players for pace, Duff beats them with trickery. Michael Keir (I assume) might compare Joe Garner to Shearer, but I'd compare him to Alan Smith, he's more of that type of player. Nolan is a cool composed central defender and Hodge is an all action midfielder. Whilst its great that I can now cover the Academy side in great detail and have a good relationship with Gary Bowyer, I don't want to build up fans hopes about a player too soon as it could quite easily lead to disappointment if they are released without ever getting close to a first team appearance. The Academy staff work with these players week-in week-out, I only see them once in a while. Even so, I have to say Jamie Clarke was outstanding this afternoon, great pace, great technique and close control. The Sunderland defenders couldn't live with him.