Howard Wilkinson has been giving his Sunderland players DVDs of their opponents to study before matches recently, but they failed to heed the lessons of Birmingham's win at Anfield earlier in the season. Back then Clinton Morrison struck in the final minute to earn Birmingham a point and on Saturday was at it again, clinching his fourth of the season in the 89th minute at the Stadium of Light to earn Birmingham the three points.
Perhaps only Robbie Keane had a more satisfying weekend than Morrison, scoring against his old club Leeds Utd at White Hart Lane yesterday and picking up the man of the match award. He had a happier time than Alan Kelly, who made his first Premiership start of the season in the Blackburn goal only to concede three times on the way to defeat by Charlton.
Rory Delap put in a fine display against Patrick Vieira and Edu in the centre of Southampton's midfield to help them to a famous win on Saturday against Arsenal, while Steven Reid continued his excellent comeback after injury in the First Division, scoring for the second week running to earn Millwall a 1-0 win at Stoke. "He was brilliant again and makes a big difference to the side," gushed Millwall manager Mark McGhee.
Bournemouth's Gareth O'Connor pleased manager Sean O'Driscoll with the 71st- minute penalty winner at Southend in the Third Division, although Peter Murphy's goal couldn't prevent Carlisle United losing at home to Bury.
Sunderland's Irish under-21 international defender Clifford Byrne has joined Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan deal and he made his debut in Saturday's 2-0 win over Swansea.
No Valley of tears
Followers of Popstars on UTV will be aware that one of the favourites to make the girl band is 17-year-old Nadine Coyle from Derry. Nadine wept with nerves on last weekend's programme, but afterwards she was able to reach for the comforting arms of boyfriend Neil McCafferty, a Derry-born midfielder with Charlton Athletic.
Eighteen-year-old McCafferty has yet to play for Charlton's first team, but he seems well on the way to enjoying the talent and celebrity of a popstar girlfriend. "Possessing impeccable control and a fearsome tackle, Neil is also revered for his ability to quickly see the most creative pass, and he very rarely makes the wrong decision," says the Charlton website. Quite.
Quotes of the week
"When he's 28 or 29 and at his peak, a new set of curtains will open for him and the game will become easier for him." - Glenn Hoddle sees a future on stage for Robbie Keane.
"Sven says what he says and I say what I say, but I never comment on what he says so I would like him not to comment on what I say." - Gerard Houllier voices his displeasure about what Sven-Goran Eriksson says about what he says about Steven Gerrard.
"For Nigerian football, I believe I'm that round peg for its round hole."
- John Fashanu, campaigning to become head of the Nigerian Football Association.
"I would never wear nail polish, or make-up, or have a facial." - Freddie Ljungberg draws the line.
"Playing for Wales is more fun than playing for Manchester United at the moment - but then, that is not hard." - Ryan Giggs gives an insight into how bad things have become at Old Trafford.
"Is it fun? Absolutely. If it wasn't fun the players would leave. They wouldn't want to live in a place where it wasn't fun." - Alex Ferguson climbs down from the bouncy castle at Manchester United's training ground, hands his candy floss to Mickael Silvestre, and tells reporters through his Tomy microphone that Giggs was way off the mark.
What a cop out
Indications that innocent people are still fingered by over-zealous British police came during a game at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park this week. When Craig Dudley put non-league Burton Albion into a shock 2-1 lead against the second division team in the first round of the FA Cup, his jubilation saw him leap the perimeter fence and jump into the crowd.
So elated was his substituted team-mate Aaron Webster that he hopped off the bench and ran to join in the celebrations, only for an officer to mistake him for a lout and march him away. Police were unconvinced by the fact that he was wearing a Burton Albion jersey, shorts, football socks, shin-guards and a pair of football boots. Neither were they hoodwinked into believing that old yarn about him scoring a first-half penalty.
"They let him go as soon as they realised their mistake and they have apologised to the club so Aaron is happy," said Burton chairman Ben Robinson. As for Oldham, a late equaliser got them out of jail too.
More quotes of the week
"I can't say for sure because I left my crystal ball in my room, but I think his heart is still in it." - Even without the aid of his travel-size mystic's globe, John O'Shea predicts an Ireland comeback for Roy Keane.
"She does know about football but we spoke about security." - David Beckham's interrupts the Queen's interpretation of the offside rule to discuss more serious matters.
"If I had to, I could go back to East London and work on the trains, as a postman or whatever." - After careful consideration, Sol Campbell opts to play football for £80,000 a week instead.
"I should be the number one striker for Ireland, not number five." - According to Ireland's caretaker manager Don Givens, his telephone conversation with David Connolly revealed the striker to be delusional.
Heads you lose
If reports in yesterday's Sunday People are anything to go by, tragedy is about to befall the bonces of David Beckham supporters. The hairdos conjured up by Beckham's Essex-based stylist have been copied by thousands of male fans world-wide, so it was with open-mouthed horror that we read about his current plans. "I now want to have a Seaman," Beckham allegedly told "pals" at Manchester United, referring to the Arsenal goalkeeper's pony-tail rather than some of his recent embarrassing performances. Prepare for the imminent return of the fashion faux pas.
Keeping up with Jones
It looks like the success of Vinnie Jones as a Hollywood actor has encouraged Tottenham's Teddy Sheringham to follow suit. Sheringham has apparently impressed film executives with his appearances in several TV adverts. "Teddy wants to carry on playing, so he is keeping his options open, but acting could be one of them," said his agent Barry Nevill. If he can replicate the theatrical stunts of his former Spurs striking partner Jurgen Klinsmann he will be a truly formidable talent.
A hero's return
We wonder how Luis Figo would have been treated if he had been the ten millionth visitor to Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium? That honour this week went to Stella Hughes, a 64-year-old former dinner lady from Stockport, who has been given the prize of a trip anywhere in the world to see Barcelona play.
Stella doesn't like football as it happens, but she was at the centre of a media scrum and was presented with a huge bouquet of flowers to mark the occasion. Figo of course went one better during the Barca-Real Madrid stalemate at the Nou Camp on Saturday night. Just for turning up to play at his former club, the Portuguese star was thrown coins, plastic bottles, sandwiches, fruit, and even a bottle of whisky. How sweet.
