Monique Gladding admits she had caught the Olympic “bug” by competing in a dream FINA World Cup meeting at the London Aquatics Centre this week.

Gladding revelled in front of a vocal home crowd to reach her first major individual world final at the venue for this summer’s Games.

The 30-year-old is gunning for a first Olympics appearance, and after proving she belongs in world-class company with her 10th place in tonight’s final is desperate to return later in the year.

“That is just something I will always remember and something to be re-lived in the summer,” she said of the support of a 3,000-strong crowd at a venue that is to be expanded to 17,500 for the Olympics.

“I’ll hold on to that feeling, that crowd behind you is the best.

“I’ve got the bug now. I loved it.”

While Gladding reached her breakthrough final, most importantly she earned Britain an extra place for the Olympics and boosted her own hopes of completing a remarkable comeback from the horrific injury she suffered almost a year ago to the day.

The City of Sheffield diver had to be saved from a pool at a Russian meeting when she hit her head on the tower and plummeted unconscious into the water during competition.

“It’s absolutely amazing. If someone had said to me 12 months ago that I would be 10th at a World Cup I would have snapped their hand off,” she said.

“But even then I’m leaving here a little bit disappointed because two of my best two dives were not quite right.

“I suppose that is a great place to be because 10th and a few mistakes in my first World Cup final - I’m going to take the positives from that.”

Gladding is not assured an Olympic tracksuit just yet though, with places to be decided at June’s British Championships in Sheffield.

Four years ago Gladding secured Britain’s place for Beijing only to then fail to seal her own berth. And she will face stiff competition from Tonia Couch, Stacie Powell and Sarah Barrow in arguably British diving’s most competitive discipline.

“In our country which is great for British diving, women’s platform is so strong,” she said.

“There’s a good few girls in there. That’s unfortunate for me, but fortunate for Britain.

“I’m really fighting hard for this.”

Earlier, Jack Laugher served a reminder that Great Britain are not a one-man team after storming into the semi-final of the three-metre springboard.

While all the focus of attention has been on Tom Daley, Laugher’s rapid rise up the international ranks continued in this afternoon’s marathon preliminary round of 59 divers as he finished fifth with a score of 458.05.

That bettered the total he managed when finishing seventh at last July’s World Championships, and after nailing his new reverse three-and-a-half somersault - one of the hardest 3m dives - it proved he has the class to challenge for an Olympic medal this summer.

“That’s my newest dive and it’s the biggest I do in the prelims. To have it go so well in front of a home crowd is an absolutely amazing feeling,” Laugher said.

“It’s quite a hard dive. It is the top-end athletes that do it. It felt so good.

“Hopefully I can continue to do that for the Olympics.”

There was good news for team-mate Chris Mears too as he virtually sealed his place at the Olympics after finishing 14th and earning Britain a second place at the Games.

It was another remarkable comeback story after Mears almost died four years ago when he ruptured his spleen in Australia while suffering with glandular fever.

After collapsing at the team hotel the youngster, now 19, was given a five per cent chance of survival and had to have the spleen removed.

He has slowly worked his way back to a position where he now looks likely to compete in the Olympics in the individual and synchro springboard.

“(This is) brilliant. I’ve come a long way from Australia where I had my accident,” Mears said.

“But now I’m back. It feels great to be here. That’s all in the past. Bring on the future.”

]]> 1.4273170 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:48:42 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/sheffield_united_s_evans_in_line_for_top_honour_1_4271705

SHEFFIELD United’s Ched Evans has been shortlisted for the prestigious npower League One Player of the Year Award at the Football League Awards 2012.

Evans will be up against two other League One players for the Award; Jordan Rhodes of Huddersfield Town and Johnnie Jackson of Charlton Athletic.

Following a £3 million move from Manchester City in 2009, the Welsh international has become an integral player at Bramall Lane. The striker has hit a rich vein of form this season, and his prolific scoring has helped the Blades in their push for promotion back to the Championship.

The shortlist was produced after managers from every League One club were asked to submit their top five players for the Award, excluding players from their own clubs.

This year’s Football League Awards sees a total of 17 awards with the winners being announced at the gala ceremony at The Brewery, London on Sunday 11th March 2012.

To find out more about The Football League Awards, and for a full list of Award categories, please visit www.FLAwards.com

AFTER behaving like a drama queen - by his own admission - and then receiving an OBE from The Queen at Buckingham Palace, it was back to work for Lee Westwood today.

Westwood faced Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts in the first round of the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, keen to show that his finish in Dubai two weeks ago was just a bad day at the office, or, more accurately, a bad day on the greens.

England’s world number two, who will go top of the rankings again if he wins on Sunday and defending champion Luke Donald does not make the quarter-finals, was furious afterwards.

The following morning he went on Twitter to declare his “16-hour sulk” over and said: “Well tossed that one away nicely! Carnage on the greens! Managed not to break or smash anything post round!

“Waved the putter at it 33 times. Not even good enough for the monthly medal with form like that.

“Have now given Billy [caddie Billy Foster] approval to slap me (within reason!) if I don’t run the ball at the hole with pace over the next three weeks!”

Westwood confessed in Arizona to being “a bit of a drama queen” in his reaction and that he was fairly happy with his start to the season.

He finished the Desert Classic a stroke behind Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello after failing to get up and down from just off the last green.

“It felt like the damage had been done before then. I gave myself seven or eight birdie chances and didn’t make any of them.”

Winning all six games this week must seem a long way off teeing off because in 11 previous trips to the 64-man event he has never even made the last 16.

Colsaerts is one of Europe’s biggest-hitters and Dove Mountain can be set up as the longest course played all year, but for the last two winners Ian Poulter and Donald a sharp short game proved more important.

Donald could also be dethroned by Rory McIlroy at the weekend, but for the 22-year-old Northern Irishman to take over at the top for the first time he has to win and Donald has to go out either today or tomorrow.

McIlroy opened against George Coetzee and Donald against former world number one Ernie Els. The two South Africans are playing only because Phil Mickelson opted to go on holiday and Paul Casey is still recovering from injury.

]]> 1.4271556 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:10:36 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/lane_centre_half_learns_from_the_masters_1_4270939

NEILL Collins has already paid tribute to the positive influence Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson has had on his career.

But the Scottish centre-half, who is expected to anchor the visitors’ defence during this weekend’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, has also picked the brains of two accomplished exponents of the defensive arts as he prepares himself for the maelstrom of a Steel City showdown.

With a combined 1,229 senior appearances and nearly half a century of derbies on their respective footballing CVs, there is precious little Chris Morgan and David Weir have not experienced in their careers.

Morgan, who accepted a role on Wilson’s coaching staff when the former Northern Ireland international was appointed in May, has yet to resume playing duties after suffering a serious knee injury 17 months ago.

But Morgan’s new role has ensured he remains a powerful and influential figure behind the scenes, with Collins keen to benefit from his experience.

“Myself and the rest of the centre-halves here are really fortunate because we’ve got two of the best people with us that you could possibly learn from in Chris and David,” he said.

“They’ve been there, seen it and done it so it’s great to have them around because they can pass on so much.

“Both of them know exactly the challenges that you face in this position and they’ve dealt with everything the job can throw up before.

“It’s a real boost having them around the place with us.”

“Chris is hugely respected by everyone here,” Collins added.

“He might not be out there on the pitch at the moment but he’s still a massive part of what we are trying to do.”

Weir, a veteran of 43 Old Firm, Merseyside and Edinburgh derbies, had been training with United since leaving Glasgow Rangers earlier this term.

Wilson actively encouraged him to share his knowledge with players such as Collins as they devise a strategy to combat Wednesday’s aerial threat. Nevertheless, Collins, who has tasted success with the likes of Sunderland and Leeds, has warned against over-playing the ‘experience’ card when attempting to predict the outcome of Sunday’s contest.

“It counts for a lot but it doesn’t count for everything,” he said. “We’ve seen youngsters here come into high-pressure situations and they’ve more than coped.”Weir, who watched United beat Huddersfield Town earlier this month, is unlikely to be present at Hillsborough after accepting a coaching role with his former club Everton last night.He will work primarily with the Premier League outfit’s academy and reserves.“The manager (David Moyes) has always maintained there would be a role here for me when I finally decided to come back,” he said. “I’ll do whatever he requires.“It feels like coming home again.”

]]> 1.4270939 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:02:42 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/jj_s_out_for_two_months_1_4270962

OWLS star Jermaine Johnson has been ruled out for around eight weeks.

The bombshell news coincides with the club landing Reading winger Michail Antonio on loan for the rest of the season.

Wednesday are also working on trying to sign an undisclosed forward. And it was suggested last night that a move for Doncaster Rovers’ Kyle Bennett had been turned down.

Johnson damaged knee ligaments in a tackle at Chesterfield last Saturday, it has been confirmed.

Manager Gary Megson summed up the blow by saying: “JJ has been playing arguably the best football of his career. scoring goals, making them and looking a huge threat. He’s expected to be out for eight weeks, We just have to tough it out”

He welcomed the arrival of Antonio, who first emerged as a loan target in November and played well at Hillsborough while on loan with Colchester.

“I wanted to have Michail on one wing and Ben Marshall on the other,” said Megson. “But it wasn’t possible at that time because Michail’s partner was due to give birth.” The baby was born last month.

“Michail has pace, strength, an eye for goal, and he works hard,” he added. “Our fans will have seen him when we played Colchester - I was surprised when he was taken off in that game.”

If Johnson is sidelined for eight weeks then he could be back for only the last few games of the regular league programme but will be available for the play-offs if the Owls end up in those - though hopes of automatic promotion are still alive.

The move for another forward in addition to the deal for Antonio - being handled by chief executive Paul Aldridge - comes after the club have hit a shortage of goals. Antonio, aged 21, could make a debut in Sunday’s Sheffield derby.

His last game for Reading was on January 28 in a 1-0 win against Bristol City. The loan includes the remaining league games and can be extended for any play-offs.

]]> 1.4270962 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:55:00 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/howard_wants_to_be_lane_no_1_1_4270959

MARK Howard has set his sights on dislodging Steve Simonsen from Sheffield United’s starting 11.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday, the former Arsenal, Aberdeen and Blackpool goalkeeper admitted the prospect of playing in high-profile games such as the Steel City derby was one of the factors which lured him to Bramall Lane.

Howard, who made his first appearance in a United jersey during yesterday’s 6-1 Central League success over Stoke, told The Star: “I’ve come here to try and play football. There’s no point in denying that.

“Simmo is a brilliant keeper and he’s shown why he’s so highly regarded since I’ve been here. But I’ll be working hard to try to get my chance in the team.”

Howard, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Bramall Lane, added: “There’s always a lot of competition amongst us goalies and we don’t have any problems with that.

“Everyone knows what the score is because when you’re in our position there’s only one role in the team. Other players can swap about and change their roles a bit but we can’t. But it doesn’t mean to say that you can’t get along. In fact, you have to because we work pretty much on top of each other week in and week out.

“We’re competing against each other for that starting role but we also really help each other out when we can.”

United, who last night insisted injured midfielder Kevin McDonald will be given until “the final moment” to recover for the meeting with Gary Megson’s side, have placed Lee Williamson and Nick Montgomery on standby should the former Scotland under-21 international’s hamstring fail to heal in time.

“Kevin is undergoing treatment,” a spokesperson said.

]]> 1.4270959 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:50:00 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/kyle_s_double_blast_1_4270958

KYLE Bennett pressed his claims for a place in the Doncaster Rovers’ side to face Peterborough on Saturday with a brace in yesterday afternoon’s 4-1 win over Lincoln City in a practice game behind closed doors at the club’s training ground.

It was suggested last night that Sheffield Wednesday had unsuccessfully tried to sign Bennett on loan.

Fabien Robert, who made his Rovers’ debut coming off the bench in Saturday’s game at Leeds United, also netted as did a trialist.

Striker Chris Brown and midfielder Paul Keegan, neither of whom have played at first-team level under manager Dean Saunders due to injuries, both played a full game and came through without any adverse affect.

Fit-again defender Shelton Martis, an unused substitute at Elland Road, played for around an hour.

Damian Plessis, yet to play at Championship level for Rovers, caught the eye in midfield.

Saunders will have to make a decision within the next few days on whether to try and extend keeper David Button’s loan spell.

The 22-year-old Spurs’ keeper is due to play his last game for Rovers as part of his second spell on loan in Saturday’s game.

Button again impressed for Rovers in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Leeds United.

He was initially brought in as emergency cover at the start of the year when Wolves loanee Carl Ikeme picked up a serious hand injury in training and needed surgery and long-serving Neil Sullivan was also booked in for an operation to try and resolve a serious wear and tear hand injury.

Saunders rates Ikeme highly and would like to bring him back to the club on loan.

But the Premier League club’s recent decision to part company with long-time manager Mick McCarthy could put any moves to bring him back to Doncaster on loan on ice.

It is likely that the new manager, when appointed, will want to assess his playing resources and will be keen to give everybody the chance to stake their claim before deciding who is surplus to requirements at this moment in time and who is available to go out on loan.

Another factor is that Sullivan could soon be back in the frame. The 42 year-old saw his specialist on Monday and following the all-clear he resumed light training with goal-keeping coach Lee Butler yesterday.

But with Rovers facing nine matches next month - two of which are away to the current top two sides and crucial relegation six-pointers against Nottingham Forest and Millwall - Saunders will want his strongest possible squad available. He will have former Aston Villa centre-back Habib Beye available after a three-match ban against the Posh.

Due to postponements, the 34 year-old, who recently signed a new 18-month contract at the club, has not played for over a month., but has trained hard.

Rovers have reduced the adult admission price for the Peterborough game to £15. Juniors 16 and under will be able to see the match for £5.

West Yorkshire Police, who questioned both teams in their respective dressing rooms following an incident in the tunnel after Saturday’s game against Leeds United at Elland Road, are continuing their investigation.

The two clubs have so far declined to comment on the incident, but a police spokesperson said: “There was a small disturbance in the tunnel after the game involving both teams. Officers dealt swiftly with the incident and there were no injuries or arrests. Both teams are working with the police and any necessary action will be taken in due course.”

Rovers’ media manager Steve Uttley confirmed yesterday afternoon that the club were assisting the police. But contrary to reports that the FA were also investigating the incident, he said that the football authorities had not been in touch.

LIFE is just a knockout right now for Kell Brook both in and outside the ring.

The Sheffield welterweight has one of the biggest fights of his career coming up against Matthew Hatton on Saturday March 17, after celebrating the birth of his first child.

Daughter Nevaeh - heaven spelt backwards - was born six days ago, weighing 6lb 8oz.

“My partner [Lindsey] came up with the name and I loved it,” said Brook, unbeaten in 26 bouts. “It was an unbelievable feeling holding the baby for the first time. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

]]> 1.4270954 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:40:00 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/davey_raging_over_matches_1_4270952

DONCASTER Knights will be looking to bounce back from successive Championship defeats in today’s rearranged clash against London Welsh at Old Deer Park (2pm).

It is the first of two games in three days for the Knights, who also visit leaders Bristol on Friday in their last fixture before the play-offs start next weekend.

“I am absolutely raging about the situation,” said Knights’ boss Brett Davey prior to the team leaving for their overnight hotel. We were originally scheduled to play Bristol on Saturday but they approached us about playing the game on the Friday night in October or November last year and we didn’t have a problem with that.

But as it has panned out having to play London Welsh just 48 before is ridiculous. Today’s game was originally going to be played yesterday but London Welsh (who played London Scottish on Sunday) wanted it playing today.

“That is okay as far as they are concerned but everyone seems to have forgotten that we’ve already been inconvenienced in this situation. We had to travel down there earlier this month when, in my opinion, the pitch was never going to be playable.

“Now we’ve got to down there again as well as having to play away at Bristol in what will be our fourth game in ten days. It’s something that needs looking at because having to play in midweek, as we also had to do in the British & Irish Cup pool games, puts too much of a physical strain on the players.

“It’s probably not too bad for those clubs who have dual-registered players, or have links with a Premiership club. But when, like us, you have to operate with a 29-man squad it is an absolute joke.”

Eighth-placed Knights could finish two places higher but need to beat both Welsh and Bristol - who have both beaten them at home - and for other results to go their way.

A FOOTBALL league for young players with cerebral palsy is to be launched in Sheffield.

It is aimed at getting more young people with the condition involved in the game.

The charity CP Sport will run the league, which is aimed at mobile players aged 12 to 16.

Games will be played at Sheffield United Academy’s indoor training centre, Firshill Crescent, Shirecliffe from Sunday.

CP Sport will also run football development sessions on the same days as the league for players aged five to 11.

Youngsters who use walking sticks, canes, crutches and open-fronted walking frames are invited to attend the development sessions.

Andy Millington, a CP Sport volunteer, said: “The main barriers to cerebral palsy football are travel and getting enough players together at once to train at a single location.

“I want every young person who is ambulant and has cerebral palsy to come to this event.”

n For further information, call Dermot Dolan on 07974 655 539 or email him at dermot.dolan@cpsport.org

KELL Brook has vowed to repair the sport’s reputation after the “absolutely terrible” scuffle between Dereck Chisora and David Haye.

The unbeaten welterweight, who takes on Matthew Hatton at Sheffield Arena next month, has branded the brawl in Munich on Saturday night a “disgrace”.

The British pair clashed in the post fight news conference after Chisora was beaten by Vitali Klitschko. Haye and Chisora squared up to each other, with Chisora accusing Haye of “glassing him” before saying at least four times that he would shoot the former WBA heavyweight champion.

Chisora was detained on Sunday but released without charge, while Haye left the country before authorities were able to question him. Chisora offered an unreserved apology for his part in the incident and Haye offered a lengthy explanation of his actions while stopping short of saying sorry.

Brook, nicknamed ‘Special K, told The Star: “I thought it was absolutely disgusting and absolutely terrible for the sport.

“I don’t want the fans or the people to think that all boxers are like that. They disgraced themselves and I would never conduct myself like that.

“Hopefully Matthew and I can boost boxing when we face each other. We are two nice guys. We will do our fighting in the ring. Outside the ropes, we will conduct ourselves in the proper manner.”

Dom Ingle, Brook’s trainer, added: “Kell’s fight can get boxing back on track. What Chisora and Haye did was bad and it is the type of thing you see in wrestling.

“People look up to guys like David and Dereck so for them to behave like that is terrible and it sets a bad example to kids.

“It has not scarred the rest of the sport because ninety nine per cent of boxing is good. If anything, in my opinion, it has blemished their personalities and careers.”

Top promoter Ricky Hatton also condemned the scrap but said it was “rare” incidents occur like that at shows.

Sheffield Steelers 5 Fife Flyers 1

BEATING up the smallest kid in the class brings little satisfaction when you have been well and truly bashed by classmates your own size.

But, in fairness, Steelers can only take on those that are put in front of them and they at least had the satisfaction of a ‘first half’ spanking of bottom club Fife Flyers, last night.

After being taken down by leaders Belfast Giants and third place Nottingham Panthers earlier this month, a re-shaped Sheffield outfit were handed an easier opponent at iceSheffield: the steeply descending Fife Flyers, who have won four matches in regular time out of 42 this term.

It enabled coach Ryan Finnerty to rest import goalie John DeCaro and unleash the full force of all his import skaters.

Steelers, with Geoff Woolhouse a spectator in goal, took only seven minutes to go ahead when Jonathan Phillips scored his second in four games.

At 15:41 the match seemed over as a contest when Neil Clark, thoroughly enjoying a spell back in the side, scored from Jason Hewitt and Mike Ramsay.

It was Ramsay who twisted the knife at the start of the second period.

He combined with his new linemates Hewitt and Clark to make it 3-0 and then set up Clark for his second of the night.

A fifth goal arrived at the half-way point from centreman Jeff Legue, after set up play from his wingers Colt King and Luke Fulghum.

And that was it! The home side eased their foot off the pedal in the second half of the evening.

Bizarrely the final goal came from the Scots, former roller hockey left winger Steve Gunn spoiling stand-in goalie Woolhouse’s shut-out hopes with a goal produced after good work from former Steeler Dan Ceman and d-man Tim Maxwell, at 54;42.

The win puts Ryan Finnerty’s team on 70 points, seven behind Belfast, with four games in hand.

Steelers have more three more Scottish adventures ahead - they play Braehead Clan on Friday, Fife again on Saturday and Edinburgh Capitals at home on Sunday (5pm).

SHARKS reject Justin Dobbins could be returning to Sheffield sooner than expected.

The Star understands that Friday night’s opponents, MK Lions, are in the process of signing the centre in time for the match at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield.

Dobbins, who joined the Sharks during the summer after a year at BBL rivals Worcester Wolves, was released by the club last week to create room for the return of point guard Ryan Patton.

The 6ft 9in American had impressed during the early part of the season, but a combination of a back injury and an illness had left him struggling for full fitness.

With player-coach Atiba Lyons deciding his team needed strengthening in the guard positions, he brought in fans favourite Patton and allowed Dobbins to seek new employment.

The move worked during last Friday’s victory over Guildford Heat with Patton impressing.

However, the Ohioian said he needs more games to be back to his best: “I’ve been working out and training with the guys but there’s no substitute for actually playing.

“The adrenaline starts to flow and gets you through and I made sure I hung in there. It was great to be back playing in front of the Sheffield fans.”

A victory over the Lions would help in Sheffield’s bid to get as high a play-off seeding as possible.

The Sharks are sixth in the BBL table with MK seventh, just two points behind.

EMILIANO Sanchez has returned to the UK to step up preparations for the new season after winning the Argentinian Championship.

The Sheffield favourite, from Buenos Aires, held on to his 11-point lead over defending champion Norbert Magosi in the final round in Bahia Blanca.

He totalled 223 points from 13 rounds and did not win a final, but consistency took him to his third title after a 10-year gap.

Now he is back at his Yorkshire base to prepare for Sheffield’s season, which starts on March 22 against Belle Vue at Owlerton.

Said Sanchez: “It is a big honour for me to win the title for a third time. It was very demanding over 13 rounds but I am very pleased to come out on top. Now I hope I can keep this form going into the new season.”

]]> 1.4270946 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:41:23 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/why_playing_at_a_stadium_like_the_keepmoat_hurts_1_4270945

OFF to Doncaster at the weekend for a South Yorkshire derby game in the Northern Rail Cup at the Keepmoat Stadium. The clubs play in different divisions of the Championship so competitive games don’t come around often – which for me is fine.

Don’t get me wrong I want the Dons to earn promotion this season. But a trip to the Keepmoat hurts – it shows Eagles fans how life could have been.

The Dons play their rugby league in one of the best stadia used by the game. A purpose-built venue for the fans of team sports. It’s part of a complex that includes a second pitch surrounded by a running track. Vitally in the Keepmoat you’re close enough to the action to risk a secondary injury when the tackles go in.

On the way to Doncaster I’ll pass the Eagles ‘home’ for more than 20 years – Don Valley Stadium. Probably the greatest municipal ‘folly’ in this country.

The pitch is fine - it’s had lots of care lavished on it by Rotherham United in their time as a lodger while the New York Stadium is under construction – but before you find the grass you have to traverse the wasteland of a running track.

The track may be the only stretch of tarmac in Sheffield without a pothole but it’s a barrier between the fans and the game.

Back in the Cold War the Russians didn’t need to build the Berlin Wall. They should have just put in a running track - same result … isolation.

Don Valley Stadium is part of the ‘legacy’ of the World Student Games of 1991 – current debt to the people of Sheffield £234million. That’s a lot of cash for a posh swimming pool (Ponds Forge) and a stadium with 20,000 plastic seats most of which are never polished by a bum.

One then local politician said the WSG was Sheffield’s ‘window on the world’ – well someone put frosted glass in it.

The 1990-91 season saw Sheffield Eagles move in and they seem to have been trying to get away ever since.

Sheffield International Venues, who run Don Valley, are keener on the Eagles this season.

In the past the rugby league seemed to rank just slightly above computer fairs and model car racing.

Could it be because SIV’s bit on the side, Mr Miller of Rotherham, is moving out?

It’s a marriage of convenience for both parties with the Eagles hoping to ‘play away’ as often as they can – but the boys at Bramall Lane have offered only three dates so far this season.

The Eagles have eight games planned for DVS and five more ‘venue to be confirmed’ so all concerned had better take the long view - you can’t do anything else with the pitch so far away.

DONCASTER Rovers slumped to their first home defeat in six league games against Blackpool on TUESDAY night as the Seasiders completed a league double with a 3-1 win in the return at the Keepmoat Stadium.

It was a setback for Rovers in more ways than one. For given their poor away record the vast majority of the wins that manager Dean Saunders feels the team need to retain their Championship status are expected to have to come from games played at the Keepmoat Stadium, it is imperative that their home form remains good.

Blackpool played well on the night and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.

Manager Dean Saunders was later than usual coming out to speak to the media post-match - I think it was around 10.20pm - which didn’t give me much time to compile a back page piece before the 10.30pm or so deadline.

Prior to the game I had been told off the record that long-serving Mickey Walker had been rushed to hospital, where he underwent heart surgery after collapsing at the training ground the previous afternoon.

I’ve known Mickey for many years in his various roles as youth team manager, assistant first-team manager, caretaker manager and, in recent years, director of football, and no matter what job he was doing at the time he has always been both personable and approachable. I was relieved to be told that Mickey would be okay, even though he would have to take things easy for a few weeks.

WEDNESDAY: DONCASTER Knights were put to the sword by a lively Nottingham side in their rearranged Championship clash at Meadow Lane, going down 40-14. It was Knights’ first game for three weeks and it showed in a poor first half which saw them come in 23-0 behind.

They hadn’t helped their cause by making unforced handling errors and giving away numerous free-kicks, though team boss Brett Davey did have cause to complain over some of the referee’s decisions.

Knights played much better in the second half and the final score-line looked like being far more respectable until Nottingham took advantage of PJ Gidlow’s yellow card to post two late converted tries.

Adding to Knights’ disappointment was a serious knee injury sustained by second-rower Dan Smith in his first start for the club after a long battle against a career-threatening neck injury.

The Dons got their 2012 campaign off to a winning start with a 48-10 win at Gateshead in their opening Northern Rail Cup Pool B clash. Centre Lee Waterman scored four tries on his competitive debut for the club.

THURSDAY: THE Bentley Ladies’ Thursday Charity Darts League presented their 2011 nominated charity, the Gynaecology Unit at the DRI, with a cheque for £1,300.

Rovers’ hopes of avoiding the drop received a boost as Portsmouth were docked 10 points after going into administration.

FRIDAY: I watched 2011 Super League champions Leeds Rhinos regain Rugby League’s World Club Challenge crown with a 26-12 win, which belies how close the match was, over Australian champions Manly Sea Eagles at Headingley. Although Leeds could have bettered the 21,000 capacity crowd by moving the game to Elland Road, as they have done in the past, the atmosphere generated justified the decision to play at home.

SATURDAY: IT was a red-letter day in Doncaster Knights’ history as their impressive Castle Park complex staged its first ever live televised game.

And thanks to a fair following from Rotherham, and some hard work by the club in promoting the match, the game attracted a bumper 4,000 plus crowd which, to the best of my knowledge, is a ground record.

A lot of people no doubt will have been seeing Knights play for the first time, either live or on television. But unfortunately neither the result, a 15-14 win for the Titans, or the game itself, will have done much to encourage many newcomers to give the Doncaster club another try which is a shame because most games at Castle Park are much more free-flowing and entertaining than this scrappy affair.

I watched half an hour of the match, which kicked off at 12.05pm, on Sky Sports, before recording the rest and setting off for Doncaster Rovers’ Championship derby against Leeds United at Elland Road - a stadium which has seen better days.

Regular readers of this column may remember that I knocked myself out on my last visit to the ground after walking into a low solid concrete support beam during the half-time break.

There are warnings plastered all over the said supports, in what is still a very small media room for a club of United’s stature, not that I would ever make the same mistake twice.

I was amazed at the number of media people in the packed room who remembered the incident.

I didn’t realise, nor it seemed did some other journalists, that Rovers had kicked off with only 10 men. It was only when I saw Pascal Chimbonda (who apparently was told to take off his tights) emerge out of the dressing room that I noticed the visitors were short-handed.

The main talking point after the game, however, was the bust up in the tunnel.

Exact details of what had happened were hard to find as neither team, who were both questioned by the West Yorkshire Police, were prepared to comment. But from snippets of information I was able to pick up by hanging around until nearly 6.30pm, it was clearly a fairly serious incident with a number of punches being thrown.

Boxing legend Chris Eubank was ringside at Rotherham’s Magna Centre to see his son Chris Jnr beat Doncaster middleweight Jason Ball on points in only his second paid contest. Big things are expected of Eubank, who spent three years training in tough American gyms prior to turning professional late last year, but he didn’t embarrass Ball.

SUNDAY: THE Dons left it too late to seriously challenge visiting York City Knights in their second Northern Rail Cup clash at the Keepmoat.

But at least their second half rally earned them a losing bonus point which could yet prove crucial in their bid to finish in the top four if they can win at least one of their two remaining games.

SHEFFIELD’S Jessica Ennis has been confirmed in Great Britain’s 39-strong squad for next month’s Indoor World Championship in Turkey.

The Millhouses-based athlete will defend her pentathlon crown in Istanbul after an excellent start to the season, which saw he set a world-best time last weekend in the 60 metre hurdles.

Sprinter Dwain Chambers is also hoping to defend his world indoor 60m title.

British indoor record holder Holly Bleasdale will compete in the pole vault, while UK indoor long jump record holder Shara Proctor, 4x400m specialist Christine Ohuruogu, 60m hurdler Tiffany Porter and triple jumper Yamile Aldama are also part of the team that will travel to Turkey.

ALASTAIR Cook confirmed he would be staying on for the Twenty20 series after captaining England to a one-day series whitewash over Pakistan.

Kevin Pietersen’s second successive century, a career-best 130 off 153 balls, led England to a four-wicket win in the fourth and final one-day international in Dubai today.

It came after Cook’s first failure of the series but, having registered two centuries and an 80 in the first three matches, he will now stay on as cover for a couple of minor injury worries in the squad.

“I’ve been asked to stay on,” Cook said. “It’s not often you get to hit the ball as well as I have in the last week and a half so it’s important to keep playing. It’s been a really good week and a half for us. We’ve played some excellent cricket. Pakistan had an excellent record. Everyone can be proud of what they’ve done.”

SHEFFIELD FC were held to a 2-2 draw by New Mills at the BT Local Stadium last night after letting slip a two-goal lead. It was a game that Mark Shaw’s men should have won but then could have lost following a controversial ending. Jason Bradley marked his home debut by giving Sheffield a fourth minute lead.

The former Owls youngster swivelled on the edge of the box to strike fine effort into the bottom corner after a cross the right. James Knowles flashed another effort just wide of the post before Club doubled their advantage on 21 minutes when Nathan Modest pounced on a rebound after the visitors’ keeper had pushed away Conor Higginson’s low drive.

New Mills got one back eight minutes from the break when Carlos Meakin steered home a cross from inside the six-yard box.

It stayed that way into the second minute of stoppage time when the visitors snatched the equaliser.

Club failed to deal with a cross into the box and when it was turned back into the middle Deakin was there once more to tuck the ball away through a sea of legs with Sheffield keeper Dan Whatsize unsighted. The game ended in controversy after New Mills thought they had scored the winner.

Whatsize mis-hit his goal-kick. Ben Deegan just outside the box chested the ball down before slamming it back into the net only to find the referee had blown the final whistle a split second earlier.

TERRY Curran believes that Sunday’s derby could be a turning point in the Owls’ season.

He feels that they certainly need to win if hopes of automatic promotion are to be kept alive.

Curran played for both Sheffield clubs but he is a Wednesdayite - he says it was the only reason he dropped out of the old First Division and left Southampton to join the Owls in the third tier.

“The home team should have the advantage,” said the man who starred in Jack Charlton’s promotion-winning 1980 side.

“But United are on a terrific run while Wednesday have lost their last four in the league and cup.

“It’s a good opportunity for Wednesday to get back on track, and if they want to get automatic promotion they have to win.

“It puts them under a bit more pressure, on top of the pressure that goes with a derby.

“So doubtless Gary Megson will be doing everything to make sure he gets the utmost from them.”

Curran believes that different factors have contributed to the Owls’ few setbacks this season: “I think they’ve been unlucky at times. But luck doesn’t get you results.

“And teams are going to raise their game when they play Wednesday, but they have to overcome that.

“At Exeter the other team scored two wonder goals from free kicks. However you prepare for games, there’s nothing you can do to legislate for goals like that.

“Teams such as Charlton and Stevenage have been well organised, and when you’re the home team you have to push forward while the opposition can just try to catch you on the counter attack.

“Wednesday have had chances where they haven’t won games: Chesterfield was a prime example. Wednesday were looking like the team who were going to score, then the other side got a penalty through a rash challenge.

“When you get goalscoring chances you have to take them. All the strikers, not just Gary Madine, have hit a bad patch. That will be disappointing to Gary Megson and he’ll be doing his utmost to try to get them out of it.”

A win for the Owls at Hillsborough on Sunday would put them only two points behind United, though the Blades still have two games in hand.

“This could be a turning point for Wednesday,” says Curran. “This is a game they can’t afford to lose.

“I think they’ll take the game to United but will have to be prepared for the counter-attack.

“I also think United will want to get through the first 20 minutes without conceding a goal and hope the home fans get on their team’s back.

“It’s going to be a tough game. United are playing well and Ched Evans is scoring goals for fun. Danny Wilson has done a tremendous job there.

“It’s down to Wednesday and Gary Megson to get themselves motivated for Sunday.”

Curran, who scored in both games against United in 1979-80, will be attending this Saturday night’s Hillsborough reunion dinner for the team who beat the Blades 4-0.

But he cannot attend the derby. He coaches at Doncaster Rovers’ centre of excellence and has a match on Sunday.

SHEFFIELD United will not ban their players from using social media ahead of Sunday’s Steel City derby.

The decision comes despite several members of Danny Wilson’s squad expressing their irritation at messages posted on Twitter during the aftermath of October’s meeting with Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane.

However, United confirmed last night they have no intention of issuing a diktat preventing staff from using such sites before their visit to Hillsborough.

“We always encourage interaction between the football club and its supporters,” a spokesperson for United’s communications department said. “We view these mediums as a very positive tool. So long as everyone involved uses it in a professional, responsible and respectful manner then we don’t have any problems with it whatsoever.

“With this in mind, nobody is prohibited from getting involved if they so wish.”

United, who enter the game second in the League One table, will move eight points clear of their third-placed rivals should they win this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated contest.

But Wednesday, who came back from two goals down to snatch a draw when these teams met earlier this season, know a home victory would increase the pressure on United when they play the first of their two matches in hand against Scunthorpe next week.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield Town, who slipped to fourth when they were beaten by Wilson’s side eight days ago, make their first outing under new manager Simon Grayson when Exeter City travel to the Galpharm Stadium on Saturday.

Wilson said: “Whatever happens, nothing is over in this division by a long chalk. There is still a large number of games to go and a lot of points to play for so we’ve got to stay concentrated and focused.”

THIS is a ground where Rotherham have ventured with some trepidation in recent years. Not surprising really as no Millers side had won there since 1988 and in the subsequent 10 visits up to last night since then had managed just two draws and suffered eight defeats.

Well, they still struggle to win in this part of Kent but at least they earned themselves a draw, a well deserved one, and in the final half-hour - in which they were well on top - they looked by far the likeliest side to win it including right into stoppage time when, from a corner, Jason Taylor’s header flashed right across goal with no one able to get a touch.

It stretches their unbeaten run to four matches but they will feel they may just have missed an opportunity in this second half.

Missing from the Millers side which drew at Burton were Richard Naylor and Kieron Cadogan.

Naylor came off a few minutes from time on Saturday with what manager Andy Scott said was a rib injury which was affecting his breathing although he had indicated yesterday that the experienced central defender was okay - as were the rest.

Cadogan, the winger on loan from Palace, wasn’t in the squad for the first time since he started four games ago and it meant a recall to the starting line up for top scorer Lewis Grabban.

Gillingham, starting the night with five straight defeats in the league, had home debuts for young defenders Jack Evans and Connor Essam who both got their first starts in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Port Vale.

With the string of defeats behind them, Gillingham started edgily but might have had a second minute boost from defender King’s header from a free-kick but Taylor dived full length to push it away.

The home side have been conceding a few goals lately and the youngster Essam showed true bravery when he threw himself in front of a thunderous volley by Harrad from 15 yards.

Taylor then had a shot blocked from a corner but then Rotherham could have fallen behind on two occasions.

From a long goal kick, it was a Mullins header that sent the lively Kuffour in behind the defence. He looked sure to score but his shot deflected off the challenging Rhys Taylor and bounced agonisingly wide.

Then the Rotherham keeper’s speed off his line paid dividends again.

A long ball from Evans sent Tomlin clear. Taylor came out to block as Tomlin tried to knock it past him and from the loose ball, Weston struck his effort wide from 20 yards.

There was an air of vulnerability about Gillingham’s defence and Rotherham exposed them with a good move.

Revell found Griffiths who slipped a cute ball inside the right back for Wood. He drove it across low but Taylor couldn’t get away a first time shot and then, when he tried to take control, was unable to do so and Jackman scrambled the ball away. Rotherham then should have been in front - and one of their own players appeared to prevent the goal.

Bradley overlapped and produced a fine cross to which Harrison rose superbly and put a header on target. It was on its way in only for Grabban, about two yards out, to help the ball into the net using an arm - the ‘goal’ was ruled out and Grabban was booked.

Gillingham, lifted by going towards the vociferous ‘home’ end in the second half, had a spell of pressure in which Mullins, twice, Griffiths and Raynes, all produced vital bits of defending inside the area.

Rotherham sent on veteran Paul Warne, his first appearance of the season, for Harrad who couldn’t get into the game. Warne scored the Millers goal in a 1-1 game here nine years ago which gave Rotherham one of those draws garnered since 1988 and the veteran certainly made an impact, lively and always on the go and might even have had a goal.

Rotherham emerged from a spell on the backfoot to go on and dominate the final half-hour. The busy Wood drifted a centre to the far post but Grabban’s header travelled across the goal face and Warne was just beaten to it.

When Grabban had space, he had the chance to play the ball in early for Warne. However, he delayed and the opportunity was lost.

As Rotherham’s threat grew and grew, Revell hooked an effort wide and then set up a half-chance for Wood whose volley was blocked by King.

Rotherham sensed they could back up their defensive work by snatching a winner and Wood almost got reward for his endeavours but saw his header deflected over.

GILLINGHAM; Gazzaninga; Evans, King, Essam, Jackman; Whelpdale, Weston (Lee 72), Payne, Tomlin; Kuffour, Kedwell. Subs: Richards, Martin, Montrose, Hawkes.

ROTHERHAM UTD: R Taylor; Bradley, Raynes, Mullins, Griffiths; Grabban, Harrison, J Taylor, Wood; Revell, Harrad (Warne 57). Subs: Warrington, Tonge, Cresswell, Pringle.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northants).

Attendance: 3,248

Bookings: Mullins, Grabban

CRAIG Davies’s sharply-taken tenth goal of the season wasn’t enough for Barnsley as Chris Hughton’s impressive Birmingham kept up their challenge for automatic promotion.

The much-changed Reds gave a pleasing account of themselves against the high-flying Blues and Davies was denied a second goal by the woodwork, but the visitors look the real deal.

Despite Saturday’s Oakwell victory against Portsmouth, Reds boss Keith Hill opted for five changes to his starting line-up for last night’s clash against a Birmingham side who were bang in form and unbeaten in 10 Championship games.

David Perkins was out with a knee injury, while also dropping out of the starting XI were Jim O’Brien, Scott Golbourne, Andy Gray and Stephen Foster.

In came Jay McEveley, Matt Done and Chris Dagnall - all promoted from the bench - while 17-year-old midfielder Paul Digby and recent signing David Cotterill were both handed Barnsley debuts.

It was perhaps no surprise that the promotion-chasing visitors were quickly on the offensive, and they got themselves a fortunate opening goal after just eight minutes.

Chris Burke latched on to Marlon King’s cross and, although his curling shot looked to be heading over the crossbar, Reds skipper Rob Edwards got in the way and diverted the ball past Luke Steele with his head.

The Reds maintained a good tempo and levelled in the 18th minute.

And Cotterill was the architect. Hill will have been delighted to see his new capture turn neatly down the flank before sliding in a lovely low cross for striker Davies to convert easily from eight yards.

Within another nine minutes Birmingham had struck back to retake the lead, this time with a real cracker.

Morgaro Gomis produced a bit of trickery to play in Keith Fahey in, and the Blues midfielder crashed home a great left-foot shot off the post from 25 yards.

Still the Reds continued to probe for a second leveller, and hot-shot Davies came agonisingly close when his curling shot bounced back out off the crossbar with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill clutching at thin air.

Into the second half and the Reds were still striving to impose themselves on their loftier opponents, with Korey Smith trying his luck, unsuccessfully, from long range.

It was Blues left-back David Murphy who threatened next, as his floated free-kick from way out on the right somehow deceived Steele and almost dropped in at the far post.

Similarly at the other end, the Reds almost profited from more fortune as Birmingham’s Jordon Mutch nearly sliced sub O’Brien’s corner-kick into his own net.

It was the impressive Burke who was the creator supreme for Birmingham’s killer third goal with just 12 minutes left.

The Reds’ back four had worked tirelessly all evening, but Burke’s pace created space down the left and he whipped in a cracking cross for sub Nathan Redmond who finished from a tight angle just five minutes after entering the fray.

The atmosphere fell immediately flat inside Oakwell.

Barnsley (4-4-2): Steele 7; Wiseman 6, McNulty 6, Edwards 7, McEveley 6 (Golbourne 73); Cotterill 7 (O’Brien 61, 7), Smith 5 (Tonge 73), Done 7, Digby 6; Dagnall 5, Davies 8. Subs not used: Preece, Gray.

Birmingham (4-5-1): Myhill 7; Spector 6 (Ibanez 89), Davies 7, Caldwell 8, Murphy 6; Burke 8, Mutch 7, Gomis 6 Redmond 73, 7), Elliott 7, Fahey 8; King 5 (Rooney 73). Subs not used: Doyle, Jervis.

Goals: Davies 18 (Barnsley); Edwards og 8, Fahey 27, Redmond 78 (Birmingham).

Referee: Carl Boyeson.

Bookings: Cotterill, McNulty (Barnsley); Spector, Mutch (Birmingham).

Attendance: 9,555.

TONIGHT will give Chesterfield’s management team an inkling as to how Notts County will play when they host the Spireites on Saturday.

County surprisingly sacked Martin Allen after their 3-0 defeat at Hartlepool on Saturday and then appointed ex-Blades man Keith Curle as boss.

Tonight the Magpies take on weekend cup heroes Stevenage in a League One game at Meadow Lane so Chesterfield will have an extra close eye on any style changes the new man implements.

Curle, who had been assisting Neil Warnock at QPR, was last a manager in 2007. He was sacked after just 15 games at Torquay United, nine of them lost.

Prior to that, less than a year at Chester City and two years at Mansfield Town feature on his CV.

Spireites boss John Sheridan will be hoping right back James Hurst (ankle) responds to treatment and David Davis recovers from a bout of flu from which he has been suffering since his excellent performance against the Owls.

Jamie Lowry could be considered for the right-back spot if Hurst does not recover and Jimmy Juan (calf) could be in the running for a return to midfield if Davis is ruled out.

Left-back Gregor Robertson is unlikely to be risked after picking up a hamstring injury on Saturday.

That means Liam Ridehalgh will continue in his favoured left-back slot, with Dean Morgan and ex-Magpie Craig Westcarr battling it out for a starting slot.

Chesterfield won 3-1 at Meadow Lane in the first game of their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy run.

SHEFFIELD United strikers James Beattie and Chris Porter enhanced their claims for prominent roles in the squad which travels to Sheffield Wednesday this weekend during yesterday’s resounding Central League success over Stoke City.

Both men were on target as Chris Morgan’s side dispatched the visitors 6-1 in the re-arranged Central Division fixture at Shirecliffe.

Elliott Whitehouse, oscored twice as a young City squad crumbled alarmingly after the interval.

KEITH Fahey scored his first goal since August as ruthless Birmingham stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games to move up to third in the Championship as Barnsley were brushed aside 3-1 at Oakwell.

In-form Blues showed no signs of fatigue in their 44th game of the season as they followed up their impressive FA Cup draw at Chelsea with a deserved victory against Keith Hill’s side.

Chris Burke set the ball rolling with an early opener which was deflected in off Tykes skipper Rob Edwards and the impressive Fahey was also on target in the first half after Barnsley’s leading scorer Craig Davies’ 10th goal of the season had brought the home side level.

Substitute Nathan Redmond sealed the points for Chris Hughton’s side with a third goal after great work from Fahey and Burke to leave Blues five points behind second-placed Southampton with a game in hand.

It took Blues just six minutes to take the lead, with Marlon King capitalising on a mistake from Jim McNulty on the touchline and cutting the ball back for Burke, whose goal-bound left-foot shot was deflected in off the head of centre-half Edwards.

But the Tykes were level 18 minutes in, when debutant David Cotterill looked to be upended in the penalty area but after referee Carl Boyeson waved play on the winger picked himself up to cut the ball back for Davies, who drilled home with a clinical right-foot finish.

Burke was giving Tykes left-back Jay McEveley a torrid time and the winger fired over the bar before the impressive Fahey swivelled and fired the visitors back in front with a venomous left-foot drive from 20 yards which in off the far post.

Barnsley’s leading scorer Davies was proving to be a handful for the Birmingham defence and the summer signing from Chesterfield had his head in hands 10 minutes before half-time when his measured right-foot strike rattled the crossbar.

Barnsley were struggling to contain Burke and the former Cardiff man foxed McEveley with an exquisite piece of skill but his cross was deflected away from King as the striker prepared to pull the trigger.

Blues midfielder Jordon Mutch had a lucky escape when he sliced a tame corner from the right just wide of his own goal.

But Hughton’s side gave themselves some breathing space with a third goal 13 minutes from time after a brisk break which involved Fahey and Burke, the two best players on the park.

Irish midfielder Fahey was the architect, with a raking long-range pass into the path of Burke and he crossed to the back post where the onrushing Redmond finished emphatically with his left foot just four minutes after coming on as Blues sauntered to a fifth consecutive away win.

Att: 9,558 .

Ref: Boyeson .

Teams:

Reds:Steele McEveley Edwards Wiseman McNulty Done Smith Cotterill Digby Davies Dagnall.

Substitutes Preece Golbourne O’Brien Tonge Gray.

City: Myhill Murphy Caldwell Spector Davies Burke Mutch Gomis Elliott Fahey King

Substitutes: Doyle Pablo Redmond Rooney Jervis.

Read Neil Goulding’s assessment tomorrow in The Star.

ROTHERHAM UNITED chalked up a goalless draw at mid-table Gillingham tonight.

It was a hard earned point after an undistinguished game in Kent but three would have been better for a side lurking outside the play off group.

Shaun Harrad had been in the thick of things at both ends of the field as Rotherham tried to impose themselves on early play.

Millers defender Johnny Mullins picked up a booking on 32 minutes after an unfair challenge on Chris Whelpdale.

Four minutes later he was followed in the book by Lewis Grabban

While The Gills had more shots on goal, it was fair that Rotherham went in the dressing room on equal terms, although the 57 visiting fans would have liked to have seen more quality efforts on Argentine goalie Paulo Gazzanigas.

Rhys Taylor, meanwhile, had made two excellent saves in that first half.

Andy Scott brought on Paul Warne as substitute for Harrad, 11 minutes into the second half.

Both sides were having plenty of corners but the final touch was missing.

Midfielder Sam Wood briefly threatened the home goal as the match wore on.

Rotherham plodded on, but there was no breakthrough from either side.

Att: 3,248 .

TEAMS:

GILLINGHAM; Gazzaninga; Evans, King, Essam, Jackman; Whelpdale, Weston, Payne, Tomlin; Kuffour, Kedwell. Subs: Richards, Martin, Montrose, Hawkes, Lee.

ROTHERHAM UTD: R Taylor; Bradley, Raynes, Mullins, Griffiths; Grabban, Harrison, J Taylor, Wood; Revell, Harrad. Subs: Warrington, Tonge, Cresswell, Pringle, Warne.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northants).

*Don’t miss Les Payne’s analysis in Wednesday’s Star.

PROMOTER Ricky Hatton believes his bumper bill in Sheffield next month will give British boxing a boost.

‘The Hitman’ stages what will be a sell-out night at Ponds Forge on Saturday March 24.

British boxing made headlines for the wrong reasons at the weekend when David Haye and Dereck Chisora brawled at a press conference.

Hatton said: “What happened in Munich wasn’t right, but there are thousands of shows every year and incidents like that are rare.

“Hatton Promotions Sheffield card next month will be fantastic. Fans at the arena and watching on TV will only have good things to say about British boxing afterwards.”

In top of the bill 12 rounder Ecclesfield hero Ryan Rhodes faces Belarussian sensation Sergey Rabchenko for the vacant European light-middleweight crown.

Gary Buckland will make his first British super-featherweight title defence against Paul Truscott.

Undefeated Steel City ticket sellers Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins and Richard Towers will be among the prospects in action.

Hatton added: “Ryan against Sergey is a battle between two of the world’s best light-middleweights and Gary’s fight will be a barnstormer.

“Either fight would be good enough to stand alone on a card. To have both on the same show is a right treat.

“They are going to be breath-taking fights where the action will be non-stop.

“Sheffield is a boxing boom city at the moment and every time we promote there it is sold out.”

SHEFFIELD Wednesday and Reading have confirmed a loan move to Hillsborough for winger Michail Antonio.

The deal will run until the end of the season.

The Owls’ interest in the 21-year-old first emerged in November after he finished a loan spell at Colchester.

He kicked off his career with Reading in 2008 as a trainee and has since had loan spells with Cheltenham, Southampton as well as the U’s.

He scored for the Saints in their JPT final triumph of 2010 against Carlisle and made 39 appearances for the South Coast side in all competitions, claiming seven goals.

After returning to Reading, Antonio featured on 24 occasions for the Championship club last season.

He was loaned to Colchester last August and made 15 appearances, scoring four goals.

Antonio has made a total of 97 senior appearances in his career and could make his debut against Sheffield United on Sunday.

Two players who were emerging as potential major figures in Sunday’s big clash at Hillsborough face a desperate battle to even make the game.

Jermaine Johnson, outstanding for Sheffield Wednesday in recent games, and Kevin McDonald, who has become a huge midfield influence for Sheffield United, are both under treatment for injuries picked up on Saturday.

Neither has been ruled out and will be given every chance to make it, but both appear to be major doubts at this stage for the big promotion showdown.

By coincidence, the two of them went off within a minute of each other in their respective games at the weekend.

McDonald was replaced in the 24th minute of the 2-1 win over Preston when he pulled up with a thigh injury.

Manager Danny Wilson confirmed that he had injured a hamstring and said, rather ominously, “He felt it go straight away and that’s not a good sign.”

“It’s unlikely he’ll be okay for Sunday but we’ll know more and have a better idea later.”

Johnson went off in the 25th minute of Wednesday’s derby at Chesterfield, with the initial diagnosis being an injury to the medial knee ligament.

Boss Gary Megson, like Wilson with McDonald, was reluctant to rule Johnson out at such an early stage and also adopted a policy of wait and see.

“We’ll see how it settles down; it could be just a knock, but we’ll have a proper look and take it from there,” he said.

The flying winger has been a key figure for Wednesday since getting his chance in January. He had started just one league game until he made a goalscoring impact when going on as a substitute in a 2-1 home win over Hartlepool on January 21.

Since then he has scored three more goals, including some outstanding ones, and re-emerged as a key attacking force.

In fact, Megson said he felt that Johnson going off had a lot to do with them failing to penetrate Chesterfield’s defence in the second half, as they had done earlier.

“He certainly gives you that pace and penetration as an individual,” said Megson.

McDonald’s impact and influence on the Blades has been growing in recent times.

He did not earn a regular place in the side until mid-September but has now forged a strong midfield partnership with Michael Doyle. McDonald’s range of passing is integral to the way the side wants to play under Wilson and he has blossomed under the manager’s tutelage.

United have begun talks over a new contract with the midfielder.

Meanwhile, both clubs will be anxiously awaiting the medical bulletins.

]]> 1.4267686 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:55:00 +0000 http://www.thestar.co.uk/lane_boss_eyes_loan_signing_1_4267670

SHEFFIELD United manager Danny Wilson has refused to rule out another foray into the loan market.

Wilson, who signed Brighton striker Will Hoskins on a temporary deal last month, said: “There’s an opportunity and we’ll see who exactly is available but there’s no rush.

“The players who have come in recently have done fantastically.

“It’s a credit to their professionalism that they were ready when called upon because it isn’t always an easy situation to be in.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Blackwell, one of Wilson’s most recent predecessors, has admitted he is ready to return to football after taking time out for “family reasons.”

Former United defender Keith Curle has taken charge of League One rivals Notts County.

DONCASTER Rovers’ attacking midfielder Habib Bamogo will miss Saturday’s home game against Peterborough United.

Bamogo, who was starting his third successive game for Rovers, limped off with a hamstring injury midway through the first half of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Leeds.

“I thought he did well while he was on the pitch,” said Rovers’ boss Dean Saunders. “I don’t think it is too bad. He will be out this weekend but there could be a chance of him playing against Brighton the week after.”

Left-back Tommy Spurr, carried off following a clash of heads in the closing stages of Saturday’s game with concussion, will be assessed today and may not train but he is expected to be fit for the Peterborough game.

Saunders gave his players the day off yesterday to get over their ‘disappointment’ of losing a two-goal lead.

Some were due to train today while others will feature in a behind-closed-doors practice match against Lincoln City at the club’s training ground.

The club, who will be dealing with the incident ‘in house’ said yesterday that they will not be making any statement on the trouble which flared in the tunnel at the end of Saturday’s game at Elland Road.

Saunders felt the incident served to detract from what he felt had been another good performance by his side.

“It was a game that we deserved to win and it is probably the best organised we’ve been as a side since I’ve been here,” he said yesterday.

“We created a lot of chances and in addition to the two goals we also hit the post and the crossbar. There was a bit of luck involved with two of their goals and we are just not getting the rub of the green at the moment.”

Saunders made several changes to the side beaten 3-1 at home by Blackpool in midweek and said that he had been happy with the results.

“We brought Simon Gillett in to stop Robert Snodgrass getting a lot of crosses in and I thought it worked well. I felt that we needed a bit more size and strength in midfield against Leeds so we brought in Giles Barnes.

“He’s got a lot of things that you look for in a footballer; it has just been a case of trying to get him to fit in with our formation at times.

“I also thought Mamadou Bagayoko did well. A lot of players struggle when they first come over here; it takes time.

“But I was pleased with him; he scored two and could have had a third.”

SHEFFIELD’S new boxing hero was back down to earth yesterday.

Two days after winning the WBC international superbantamweight title in a show watched by two million TV viewers, Kid Galahad, aged 21, was back working behind the till of the family newsagents in Worrall.

“I am happy to help out,” beamed the boxer, whose real name is Abdul Barry Awad.

“I am so happy after the win (against Nottingham’s Jason Booth at the Magna Centre, Rotherham). Booth was quite dirty, he tried to hold on to me trip me up and headbutt me several times. I’d never been up against that sort of thing before. But I’d been warned and avoided him. The 12 rounds were a very good learning experience for me.”

MALAYSIAN students from around the UK will be heading to Sheffield this weekend to take part in a major sporting event.

The Malaysian Student Games will be held at Concord Sports Centre in Shiregreen on Saturday, from 8am till 6pm.

It is the 20th anniversary of the event in which young people take part in a variety of sports and competitive challenges.

Activities include table tennis, football, volleyball, badminton and chess.

The event is organised by the Sheffield Malaysian Students Association to promote Britain’s Malaysian residents and their integration into their local communities. It will also feature a grand opening ceremony and a Malaysian food festival serving authentic cuisine.

SHEFFIELD Steelers coach Ryan Finnerty has admitted for the first time that the expensive addition of an extra import can be a draining experience for him and his out-of-sorts Sheffield side.

The club has one more import than is allowed in a match-night squad and Finnerty has had to make big and inevitably unpopular decisions in dropping the likes of Neil Clark, Colt King, Chad Huttel and, before last Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Nottingham Panthers, the newest recruit to the squad, Nick Duff.

Finnerty, whose side line up tonight against Fife Flyers (8pm), said: “Having an extra import can work against you, it’s tough, there’s no question.

“In many ways it is nice to have the option, but there is always the 50-50 question of whether a change will make the fit better or whether you will get it wrong. Do you go with your gut feeling or your heart? You have to have your best line-up out there and, in hindsight, maybe I should have used Duff at Nottingham, with our defence tired after so

many games. But I talk with all our ‘D’ every day and they were ready to go.”

“Finnerty recognises he has to “be creative” in his choice for tonight’s game, as he hopes to bang in the goals against the

league’s worst club. “We’d have lost to an English National League team last Saturday night and I started to call our Power Play our Power Kill - we have to up our game,” said the coach.

“Things have got a bit stale and we may have to shuffle the lines to spark something.” good.”

Meanwhile, Nottingham’s 5-1 defeat of Sheffield, followed by a 9-0 routing of Edinburgh Capitals, sees them tucked just one point behind second-placed Steelers.

The champions, however, have five games in hand, including tonight’s Fife mission.

The Scots are the bottom club and are on a six game losing streak.

Sheffield are back in action again on Friday when they travel to Braehead Clan. The Scots chalked up a 6-4 win at Coventry Blaze on Sunday, leapfrogging the Midlanders to go into fifth spot.

The victory created a new club record of six straight wins.

WHEATLEY Hills dropped a place to third in North East One despite completing a double over Morpeth with a 17-6 home win - Middlesbrough climbing above them after picking up a bonus point win.

Guy Townsley celebrated his return to action after a long lay-off with a hamstring injury by kicking the Doncaster side into an early 3-0 lead.

But, playing down the slope with a the blustery wind at their back, Morpeth shaded a tight first half and led 6-3 at the break thanks to penalties on 15 and 30 minutes.

Wheatley controlled the game in the second half and drew level with a second penalty by Townsley, playing at centre, on 49 minutes.

He landed a third penalty on the hour to edge his side into a 9-3 lead.

Fellow centre Mickey Hayward scored the only try of the game two minutes later.

Hayward showed good foot-work to beat two defenders around 30 metres out and then rounded the full-back to score. Townsley failed to add the conversion but hit the target with a fourth penalty to complete the scoring in what was a ragged performance by Wheatley in their first game in three weeks. Doncaster Phoenix slumped to arguably their worst defeat of the season in Yorkshire League Two, going down to a 32-3 reversal away to bottom club Goole, who had won only one of their previous 18 games.

Thornensians were also on the end of a sizeable 27-5 defeat in their Division Three clash at Baildon.

Rossington Hornets remain rooted to the foot of the Division Five table after crashing to their 16th defeat in as many starts this season when going down 33-0 at home to fourth-placed Garforth.

Second-bottom Adwick were routed 71-0 away at Stocksbridge.

Wheatley Hills second string suffered an 18-14 defeat against Wath seconds in their Yorkshire 2nd XV League (South) One clash.

Centre Jay Wilson and wing Niall Crowcroft shared out the two Wheatley tries, both of which were converted by Crowcroft.

The club’s third/vets team beat Sheffield Medics seconds 21-14 at home in a club match. Andy Wilson winged in for a brace with scrum-half Daz Martin also touching down.

Mark Sanderson converted all three tries.

DONCASTER Knights’ flanker Zack Farivarz, who scored one of the club’s two tries in Saturday’s 15-14 Championship derby defeat against Rotherham Titans, was named the Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards dinner on Saturday night.

The 24 year-old previously played for Irish provincial side Leinster prior to moving to South Yorkshire last summer.

He missed some of the early games due to injury but has been a regular in Brett Davey’s side since returning to full fitness, impressing with his work rate.

Another of the club’s summer signings, Alex Brown, was voted Most Improved Player of the Season.

The 22 year-old former England Under-16 and Under-18 international, joined the club from Championship rivals Bedford Blues.

Centre Fred Burdon, who joined the club late last year from National One side Blaydon, won the Champagne Moment of the season award for his try in the rout of second-placed Bedford Blues at Castle Park.

SHEFFIELD Eagles coach Mark Aston didn’t quite reach for the ‘Sir Alex Ferguson hairdryer’ when his players came in at half-time against Leigh Centurions - but it wasn’t pretty.

“A few people’s pride has been bruised but no physical injuries. At half-time people knew who I was pointing a finger at,” he said.

Not full Manchester United boss standard but it had an impact, with the Eagles battling back in the last 20 minutes to claim a 23-22 win with a field-goal in the final seconds from Dominic Brambani.

The second group game win keeps the Eagles on track to qualify for the knockout stages of the Northern Rail Cup.

“I’m relieved more than happy - we probably haven’t won two games back to back in the Northern Rail for a couple of years,” said Aston. “We stuck in there and beat one of the top teams in the competition.

“Our ball control in the first half was less than 50 per cent and we made nine mistakes in the first three plays - that kills you.

“To be fair, the lads put their bodies on the line and scrambled in defence and how they only went in 18-0 down at half-time was amazing - a lot of other teams would have been dead.”

The squad face some tough training sessions this week ahead of South Yorkshire derby at Doncaster on Sunday. The Dons lost 29-18 to York at the weekend.

“There is still work to do but we’re a little bit better than we have been at this stage in the competition in the past - we went to Leigh last year and got smashed 68-6,” said Aston.

“We showed what we can do. Andrew Henderson always does the job, Liam Higgins was strong, Peter Green was good when he came on and Sam Scott was when he came back off the bench.

“In the backs Nev Morrison looked strong.”

PAUL Cooper insists he hasn’t retired and would be willing to talk to interested clubs this season.

Cooper, still a firm favourite with Tigers fans for his all-action style and bubbly personality, is keen to spread the word that he’s happy to talk. He admits he will have to wait for his chance because the Premier League teams have now finalised their line-ups but that suits him fine.

“I’ve never said I’ve retired but it seems a lot of people have just presumed I have,” said Cooper.

“I’m captain of the Team Great Britain Grass Track team this year so I have to give that my full attention and that has to take priority, but I’m happy to talk to clubs if they hit injuries and need some help. I don’t just want to pack speedway in like that, I still think I have something to offer and one day I would like to have the chance to ride for Sheffield again.

“So I guess it works both ways, I’ve not been called by any team but then again I haven’t gone out of my way to ring around and make myself available. The fact that I’m not starting the season is no bad thing because of the responsibility of my Grass Track racing, but if clubs hit trouble and need some help then I will certainly be willing to talk to them.

“I just love riding my bike and I have always enjoyed my time with Sheffield. I hope it’s not the end of me and Sheffield, they’re a good club and they always look after you which is a big thing in this day and age.”

SHEFFIELD Tigers slipped a place in National Two North when they were defeated 30-23 at Hull Ionians.

Ionians took the initiative with an early try, although Jonny West kicked the visitors into a 9-5 lead with a hat-trick of penalty goals.

Ionians turned round 10-9 ahead, and they doubled their points before Tigers scored again with a try by winger James Broadley, converted by West.

After conceding a penalty, Tigers fought their way back to tie at 23-23 when Pete Swatkins raced over. But they were left to salvage a losing bonus as Ionians sub Sam Bowring, with his first touch of the ball, raced through from halfway.

In North One East, Sheffield notched an 11-6 home win over Old Brodleians yet slipped one place to fifth as rivals Percy Park coasted to a 95-0 victory at Team Northumbria. Sheffield were 6-0 down at half-time, but they hit back in the second half with Donal Collins kicking a penalty and full-back Ewan Reed touching down to make it 8-6. Finally, Collins added a second penalty.

Dinnington, in bottom place, went a step nearer relegation from Yorkshire One when they were defeated 25-8 at Huddersfield YMCA.

After conceding an early try, Dinnington levelled when prop John Marshall crashed over, but Huddersfield were 18-5 ahead before the visitors scored again with a penalty goal from scrum-half Chris Williams. A late converted try by YMCA dashed hopes of a recovery.

Leaders Barnsley strengthened their position in Yorkshire Two with an 18-14 home win over second placed Bradford Salem, although the visitors have a game in hand.

There was no score for the first 20 minutes until Barnsley full-back Andrew Appleyard got over for a try which Patrick Jensen converted, and within five minutes Salem had equalised. Barnsley turned round 12-7 ahead after a second try from winger Scott Hinchcliffe, and fly-half Jensen gained the first points of the second half when he slotted over a drop goal.

But within two minutes Salem were breathing down Barnsley’s neck with a second converted try, and although Jensen added a late penalty it was not enough to stop Salem snatching a losing bonus.

Sheffield Medicals, in second place in Yorkshire Three, scored an 18-0 home win over Leeds rivals Burley.

Stocksbridge had a field day in their Yorkshire Five clash with Adwick le Street at Bolsterstone, running in ten tries in a 71-0 romp.

Full-back Scott Bowskill scored a hat-trick as well as converting nine of the tries and adding a penalty goal.

Centre Ben Senior also touched down three times, and there were two tries from right winger Luke Horton.

DONS’ skipper Craig Robinson is looking forward to trying to clip Sheffield Eagles’ wings in Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup Pool B clash at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The back-row forward suffered a badly gashed ear in the club’s first warm-up game against Hunslet and missed the pre-season friendly against the Eagles the following week.

“I know we ended up losing 40-22 on the day but the scores were level with ten minutes to go and I just think the fact that we only had two subs in the second half caught up with us in the end,” said Robinson.

“Obviously the fact that we ran them so close, and played really well against them, will give us some confidence going into Sunday’s game.

“But we also know that there is more riding on Sunday’s game and it is going to be more competitive.

“It’s a game that we can’t afford to lose if we are to maintain our hopes of making it through to the quarter-finals of the Northern Rail Cup because it is generally accepted that you have to win three of your four pool games.

“Although we managed to pick up a losing bonus point against York last weekend we didn’t play as well as we know that we can and we know that we will have to raise our game if we hope to beat Sheffield, who have won both their games. I thought that York dominated us in the forwards at times, especially in the first half, and we’ve to show that we are better than that, which I think we are. I think we’ve got one of the best packs in Championship One.

“We dropped too much ball in the first half and gave a lot of penalties away and we had to do a lot of defending. I certainly wasn’t happy with our first-half play and neither were the rest of the lads.

“But we showed what we can do by winning the second half 12-4 and that’s the sort of performance we’ve got to produce against Sheffield on Sunday.

“Whenever you are playing a side from a higher division, as is the case with Sheffield, you’ve got to be on the top of your game.”

SHEFFIELD Steeldogs are riding on the wave of eight consecutive wins.

Last weekend, they won 3-2 in overtime at Bracknell Bees.

Coach Andre Payette said: “This was another testing away game which could have gone either way, but this one went our way and it could be an interesting run to the end of the season.

“Good teams find a way to win and we managed to do that. It was good to see a couple of my young players step up, Andrew Hirst had a great game and Craig Elliott provided a spark with his energy.

“The results over the last 17 games (14 wins) have been a fantastic record for us in the league but we have another very tough weekend coming up as we take on leaders, Guildford Flames on Saturday and then our third-place rivals, Slough Jets, at home on Sunday.”

Steeldogs took the lead in the last minute of the first period in Berkshire.

Payette was the scorer, assisted by Janis Ozolins and Lee Haywood.

Matt Foord’s breakaway resulted in a shorthanded equaliser at 33:15.

Steeldogs retook the league through Hirst at 52:16, assisted by Pavel Gomeniuk.

Unfortunately, a bench minor was incurred during a timeout with a minute left on the clock, followed by a penalty shot being awarded 20 seconds from time after Bowns made a great pad save during a scramble round the net but Morgan was penalised for covering the puck.

Shaun Thompson took the penalty shot and scored to take the game into overtime.

Much to Steeldogs’ jubilation, Stuart Brittle scored a last-gasp winner at 64:37, assisted by Ozolins and Morgan.

Steeldogs defenceman Steve Duncombe was awarded Man of the Match.

Simon Peach

Football

IT feels like someone or something is setting things up, as though the football fates are planning a special surprise.

Three games in a week each, three wins for one side, three defeats for the other ahead of the second Sheffield derby of the season.

United, in the space of seven days, have emerged not only as prime contenders for the second automatic promotion spot but are getting to the point where their fans are starting to dream of a title challenge.

Wednesday on the other hand have been going backwards as fast as they can.

Three uninspiring defeats to Exeter, Stevenage and Chesterfield makes it look like Gary Megson’s side are running out of steam at exactly the wrong time.

United marching on.

Wednesday hanging on.

Since their brace of defeats against Charlton and Birmingham, the Blades have beaten Wycombe, Huddersfield and Preston, one a cruise, one a scrap and the other a smash and grab.

Promotion form or what?

Not only that, they have three eminently winnable games to come after Sunday - when they could be 11 points above their fiercest rivals - hosting bogey side Scunthorpe and Oldham and travelling to Walsall.

Wednesday have games against Rochdale, Bury and Bournemouth, but the odds are stacked in United’s favour to be out of sight by mid March if they can win on Sunday.

But that’s the problem. A Blades win would be just too good to be true.

Their run of victories will mean very little on Sunday.

Wednesday, fired by their fans’ ferocity and a determination to get back in the race, will be a fearsome prospect.

A full house with memories of the two-goal comeback at Bramall Lane stamped into the DNA of their season, the Owls will probably play on the break and prosper.

Unless United really are the real thing, Wednesday will thrive.

If United do come through this sternest of tests with even a point they are set fair for that second automatic place, home for tea and medals by early May.

This column predicted the 2-2 in October and is forecasting a 2-1 Owls win on Sunday.

Or is that just tempting fate?

The disturbuing farce in Munich on Saturday night took all the headlines and understandably so when one man smashes another with a camera tripod and the second threatens repeatedly to shoot the other - in a press conference. Not very classy, lads.

Compare that to the dignity, bravery and sportsmanship of one Jason Booth on Saturday night at Magna. Outboxed but still landing the punch of the night, Booth sat on the edge of the canvas post-fight. Gap-toothed and battered, he spoke in warm, respectful tones about his conqueror, Kid Galahad. Booth, who has known the highs of a world title fight and the lows of alcoholism, did himself and his sport great credit when other, bigger earners were doing their worst to drag it through the gutter.

The next time anyone tries to convince you that Scottish football is anything but irrelevant ask them this.

In which other league in world football could the team second in the table be deducted ten points and stay second, six points above third place?

Answer: None. How long before we have Rangers and Celtic in the Premier League or Championship so they can make a decent living?

WOODLANDS Rhinos lost interest in the Doncaster Senior Football League’s Doncaster FA Challenge Cup after going down 3-1 at home to Kinsley Boys in their second round tie. Joe Howey, Tom Clarke and Josh Appleton were on the mark for Kinsley and Daniel Palmer the consolation for Rhinos.

Central Midland League side Yorkshire Main hit four without reply as they disposed of Rossington Main to reach the quarter final. Ryan Evans notched a hat trick for Main and Darren Bird completed the tally.

In the Premier League, Bramley Sunnyside remain in second place after beating third placed Sutton Rovers 3-2.

Tom Salt bagged a brace for the winners with Matthew Brunyee rounding things off for Bramley. Ryan Walker and Darren Smith shared out the Rovers’ consolation goals.

Steve Nutter scored twice as South Elmsall United hit six without reply at Carcroft Village. Ryan Till, Mark McDermott, Andrew Brown and James Shakespeare all chipped in with single strikes for United.

Bawtry Town recorded another win away at South Kirkby Colliery. Jermaine Green netted a pair with Jack Burton, Sam Weston and Peter Walmsley completing the 5-0 score line.

Goals by Lee Winterman, Kevin McEwen and Ryan Davies helped secure the points for Hatfield Main in a 3-1 victory over Edlington Town, for whom Michael Edgecombe netted.

Swinton Station Athletic had a surprise win over Hemsworth Town beating them 4-1 on the back of a Steve Lynam brace and single strikes from Kieran Clark and Nathen Davies.

AFC Sportsman Rovers and Brodsworth Welfare shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Josh Critchley and Ben Pankovics both hit the target for Rovers with Ben Hodgson and Gareth Byron-Wright replying for Welfare.

Second-placed Shafton Villa moved a little closer to Division One leaders Denaby United with a 3-2 win over Scawthorpe & Bentley Rhinos.

Adam Fretwell, Spencer Clarke and Chris Glover were all on target for Villa with Andy Porteous and Dean Daffen replying for Rhinos.

A Brace apiece for Steve Winder and Stuart Gordon saw Ackworth edge home 4-3 against ISG Doncaster.

Askern Athletic recorded only their second victory of the season with a 5-2 win against Bawtry Town Reserves.

Jordon Gill and Robert Rowland both found the net twice and there was a single strike from James Andrews.

Dale Lattimore and Mark Wright shared out the Bawtry consolation goals.

AROUND 120 youngsters from Wisewood, Thorncliffe and Brinsworth Whitehill junior schools will attend Sunday’s Sheffield derby as the region’s FA try to emphasise the importance of respect and good behaviour in a sport tarnished by racism, violence and abuse.

The youngsters will attend a Respect programme on the morning of the clash, which will be run by the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA, and will then be flag-bearers before kick-off.

An FA spokseman said: “The recent problems in the professional game have highlighted the need for the Respect message to be pushed at all levels.”

Locally, officials say the Respect initiative had led to a “positive increase in good behaviour”.

ROTHERHAM’S Ben Swift is still hopeful of a seat on the British team pursuit quartet after a mixed performance in the omnium at the UCI World Cup in London.

Swift is desperate to impress the selectors with the World Championships coming up before his ultimate goal of the London Olympics. But for the 24-year old had to settle for a ride in the omnium, cycling’s multiple race event, at test event, finishing sixth overall.

He said: “This event was a bit up and down for me. The points race was supposed to one of my strongest disciplines and I underperformed.

“The flying lap was also quite a disappointment as I was going faster in training. But I had a great pursuit as I had been doing a lot of training for the team pursuit and I set a personal best.

“Then once I knew I was out of contention for the overall win, I just wanted to win one of the events and the scratch race was the best opportunity. I get better as the races go on.”

Follow press agency Sportsbeat to London Games on Twitter @sportsbeat

NEW Welsh Open champion Ding Junhui is hoping title success in Newport will inspire him to glory at this year’s World Championship.

Sheffield-based Ding clinched his first ranking title for two years when he beat Mark Selby 9-6 at the Newport Centre. And with victory the world No 7 is targeting winning his first world crown at the Crucible in May.

“I have a chance of doing well at the Crucible,” said Ding. “I’m learning all the time.”

IT was hardly the footballing equivalent of the Great Trek or worthy of a John Steinbeck novel but Danny Wilson, the Sheffield United manager, took as much satisfaction from the number of uninvolved players who made their own way to the recent Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town as he did the result.

And, as Bramall Lane enters arguably the most emotive week of its season so far, Wilson hopes a similar show of solidarity will give his team a psychological edge during Sunday’s Steel City showdown at Hillsborough.

The wealth of attacking talent now at United’s disposal guarantees some high-profile omissions when Wilson names his squad for the visit to Sheffield Wednesday.

However, those who fail to make the final cut will still be encouraged to play an active role in ensuring their colleagues are properly prepared for the most combustible fixture on the League One calendar.

Wilson, whose team followed up their success at the Galpharm Stadium by winning last Saturday’s meeting with Preston North End, said: “One of the most pleasing things I’ve seen lately was the number of players who travelled to our previous away game under their own steam.

“They weren’t involved but they turned up to support the rest of the lads and that speaks volumes about what a tight-knit bunch they are.”

One of those players on the periphery of Wilson’s squad who opted to spend his night off at Huddersfield was former Scotland and Glasgow Rangers defender David Weir. The 41-year-old, a veteran of 43 Old Firm, Merseyside and Edinburgh derbies, has been training at Shirecliffe since leaving Ibrox.

Wilson has refused to rule out the possibility of “calling upon David’s services” at some stage between now and the end of the campaign and described Weir as “relaxed” about the fact a permanent contract with United has not yet been forthcoming.

“He’s got no problem with the situa-

tion whatsoever,” said Wilson. “He enjoys being here and we enjoy having him around.

“What

David has achieved means you can’t help but be inspired by him. He’s got so much knowledge and experience to pass on and he’s fitted in really, really well with the rest of the lads.”

The expertise Weir has acquired during two decades in the professional game is likely to be in much demand as United look to extend or, at the very least, maintain the five-point advantage they enjoy over Gary Megson’s side. But the likes of Neill Collins - who six years ago anchored their back four at Hillsborough only hours after completing a loan move to Bramall Lane while still with Sunderland - Nick Montgomery, James Beattie, Richard Cresswell and captain Michael Doyle will also assume influential roles in the dressing room beforehand.

A re-arranged fixture against Scunthorpe follows hot on the heels of their clash with Wednesday, so this weekend’s match is not the only key match looming large on United’s calendar.

“We have to try and be as consistent as possible,” said Wilson. “If you look at the rankings, all the teams around us have stayed exceptionally consistent as well.”

Meanwhile, new dates have also been confirmed for United’s postponed games against Colchester and Chesterfield. Wilson’s men now visit Essex on Tuesday March 13 before entertaining John Sheridan’s JP Trophy finalists on Wednesday March 28. Both games kick off at 7.45pm.

HOWARD Wilkinson has led the tributes to former Sheffield Wednesday chief scout, coach and academy director Clive Baker who died yesterday, aged 77.

The former Owls manager took Baker to Hillsborough in 1984 and his Wednesday career spanned 18 years in a football lifetime that began 60 years ago when he was signed as a teenager by his home-town club, Doncaster Rovers.

“For me, Clive was a great advert for the ‘stereotypical’ English gentleman and, contrary to what people might think about football and the people who inhabit it, he was also a great advert for those people who are the substance and backbone of the sport in this country,” said Howard.

“He was like so many who work away, who love the game - and he succeeded in it. Clive had the total respect of everyone he came across and was a person you were delighted to have working for you.”

Baker initially joined Wednesday as chief scout with coaching responsibilities and he travelled extensively doing player-watching and opposition assessment.

Added Wilkinson: “What people like Clive need are people who are just as considerate and understanding over the requirement to work long and strange hours.

“His wife, Pat, was an absolute brick in that respect and a mirror-image partner.”

Baker headed up the Wednesday Youth Academy as its director until 2001 and coaching was a major part of his footballing life.

Even when full-time work stopped, he continued with

coaching which had included coaching, assessing coaches and taking FA courses. Last year the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA honoured him with an award for

“outstanding achievement within the community and within football”.

Baker, born in Doncaster and latterly living in Rotherham, was signed by Rovers as a youngster but played league football for Halifax Town where he was to get his first coaching job.

He later became first-team coach at Rotherham United under manager Jim McAnearney.

He was also coach at Hartlepool and York City and in 1977 went to Norway to coach there for a year.

He stayed for almost eight years in all and enjoyed promotions with his clubs.

He obtained the UEFA ‘A’ licence in 1997 and also coached in USA, South Africa, Canada and Scandinavia.

SHEFFIELD United have completed the signing of former Arsenal goalkeeper Mark Howard.

As The Star reported last week, Danny Wilson opened talks with the 25-year-old and his representatives following a successful trial period with the League One promotion hopefuls.

Having put pen to paper on a contract lasting two and a half years, Howard could make his first appearance in United’s squad when Wilson’s second-placed side travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.

“The lads are playing really well and pushing for promotion so it promises to be a really exciting run-in,” he said.

“I’m really pleased to be joining a club of United’s size and stature.”

Howard, who is expected to provide cover for United’s established number one, Steve Simonsen, recently became a free agent following a short spell with Blackpool.

He made five appearances for the Championship side, including games against Barnsley, Birmingham City and Middlesbrough, before departing Bloomfield Road.

Howard started his career with Arsenal and was an unused substitute during the 2005 Community Shield before pursuing a career north of the border with Aberdeen, St Mirren and Falkirk.

“I know how well Steve is playing and how highly is he is thought of at this club,” Howard added.

“I’m under no illusions about how hard it will be fighting for a place.”

ROTHERHAM United have already looked into the prospect of keeping Shaun Harrad at the club.

The striker, two weeks into a loan spell from Bury, scored his third goal in three games to secure a 1-1 draw at his former club Burton Albion on Saturday.

Ahead of tonight’s trip to Gillingham, manager Andy Scott said they had had dialogue with Bury and that chairman Tony Stewart knows the Bury chairman reasonably well.

“I’m hopeful we can keep him but it depends on various factors - on Shaun himself, on Richie Barker (Bury manager), on the financial side of it,” said Scott.

He said that they would be looking at a loan extension adding: “If we can extend it and they have a recall on him, then that’s better than him going back.”

“He got a three year contract when he joined Bury last August but, right now, for us, it’s a short-term thing where he is helping us, hopefully to climb the table and get where we want to be.

“He’s enjoying it and we’re enjoying having him.”

Scott declared no fresh injuries for tonight’s trip which means defender Richard Naylor is available. He went off near the end after a blow in the ribs and his breathing was affected. Ryan Cresswell went on for his first appearance since September.

Danny Schofield missed out on Saturday after having a troublesome wisdom tooth removed.

Scott brushed aside Rotherham’s poor record at Gillingham where no Millers side has won since 1988 and, on the 10 visits since, Rotherham have ended up losing eight and securing just two draws.

In fact, Rotherham have played there 25 times in all and won just three times.

“I’m not bothered about a poor record there,” said Scott.” Yes, it’s a tough place to go but I’m confident we’ll lift our game considering how we’re going about things.

“They are having difficulties right now and I feel we can go there and exploit that.”

Gillingham have recently fallen off the pace in the Play-off race due to five successive league defeats, the last of them to a stoppage time penalty at Port Vale on Saturday.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler made five changes for that game including debuts for right back Jack Evans and central defender Connor Essam. He was partnered by Simon King, making his first appearance since April.

“I got the performance I wanted,” said Hessenthaler.

TICKETS for Chesterfield’s Wembley trip for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy go on general sale today after season-ticket-holders and loyalty-card-holders had their pick last week.

Opponents for the March 25 showpiece Swindon Town won their seventh straight League Two match at Hereford last weekend to move into the automatic promotion places.

Chesterfield meanwhile moved up to 22nd spot in League One after their victory over Sheffield Wednesday, their best spot since Bonfire Night. All eyes tonight will be on the Scunthorpe v Walsall game.

The two opponents sit in the two places immediately above John Sheridan’s side and Spireites connections will be hoping for anything other than a home win as that would open up the gap to safety to six points.

Rochdale, 23rd, travel to leaders Charlton with a home win hoped for at the B2net.

Saturday’s opponents, Notts County, dismissed manager Martin Allen after their defeat at Hartlepool.

The Spireites are hoping loan right-back James Hurst will be fit after an ankle problem.

BARNSLEY will be without midfield dynamo David Perkins for tonight’s re-arranged home clash with Birmingham City.

The hard-working Perkins limped off with an ankle injury in Saturday’s welcome 2-0 home win against Portsmouth.

But the good news for Reds boss Keith Hill is that midfielder Stephen Dawson has recovered from an ankle injury and is in contention to make his debut against the Championship high fliers after joining from Leyton Orient.

And new signing David Cotterill is almost certain to start.

“Perks is going to be out for at least three weeks; it’s a big blow for us,” revealed Hill. “But we have to carry these blows and make sure we utilise the players and resources which we’ve got to the best of our ability.

“There’s more than a probablility that David Cotterill will start the game.

“Chris Dagnall will probably start the game as well. I’ve got to make sure I’ve got a freshness on the pitch because I’m asking a lot of the players.

“We are a very small squad, so it’s needs must. If I have to play some of the youth-team players I will. I’m sure they’d give me and the supporters everything they’ve got.

“We’ve won 12 games now with 15 games to go, which is encouraging.”