Sunderland wrapped up the English League First Division title in style last night as their Premiership promotion party went into in full swing at after beating Barnsley 3-1 at Oakwell.
There was to be no gate-crashing act from Barnsley, who just 23 months ago celebrated clinching their own top-flight status for the first time in the club's history.
For yo-yo Sunderland, it was the second time in four seasons they had deservedly earned the Division One crown - and they remain on a record-breaking course in the process.
Peter Reid's side needed just a point to guarantee themselves the silverware, but after picking up all three, are now just two short of becoming the first Division One team to top 100 points.
This was also a case of sweet revenge as Barnsley are the only side this season to have beaten Sunderland in the league at the Stadium of Light.
Their 3-2 victory in mid-November bore witness to a unique `hat-trick' that day as former Barnsley striker Ashley Ward scored once, missed a penalty and was sent-off in the space of five minutes.
There was no such drama on this occasion, just three perfectly placed finishes, and 2,500 all-singing, all-dancing Sunderland supporters.
At the end of the match the players came out to join in celebrations with their fans as We Are The Champions was blasted out over the PA system.
Celtic boss Jozef Venglos has welcomed the possibility that Kenny Dalglish may be about to return to Parkhead.
New chief executive Allan MacDonald said yesterday that he saw Dalglish as the perfect man to take on the new role of technical director.
Even though Dalglish's most recent link with the club has been as the front-man of a takeover group which also includes Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr, MacDonald is eager to utilise the services of a man idolised at the club.
It is a view also shared by Venglos, who will stand down from the manager's post at the end of next season, but is expected to be a central figure in finding a replacement.
Meanwhile Celtic's goalkeeper, Jonathan Gould, could be back in action before the end of the season but the Hoops must do without the Scottish international for today's Premier League clash with Motherwell.
Gould dislocated his shoulder in the 4-2 win at Hearts on Wednesday night and it was initially feared he would not only miss Celtic's title run-in but also Scotland's Euro 2000 doubleheader against the Faroe Islands and Czech Republic.
However, the former Bradford goalkeeper is back in training and coach Jozef Venglos says: "It doesn't look quite as bad as we first feared."
Republic of Ireland under-21 boss Ian Evans has lost four of his key players for the friendly international against Sweden at Birr, Co Offaly, on Tuesday, April 27th.
Barnsley's Sean McClare is out injured and Evans has agreed not to call up Brentford trio Danny Boxall, Martin Rollands, and Tony Folan.
Middlesbrough's Michael Cummins and Brighton's Paul Armstrong have been called into the 18-man squad.
