CALL it romantic. Call it foolhardy. Call it the quixotic whim of a billionaire.

Reading 2 Sunderland 1

IT was a stark warning from one who knows, and Anthony Stokes would do well to take heed.

Everton 7 Sunderland 1

Andrew Cole will have to wait to make his senior debut for Sunderland after being ruled out of tomorrow’s derby trip to Middlesbrough with a calf problem.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is facing a major test of his squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League visit of Reading to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland new boys Kenwyne Jones and Danny Higginbotham could be included in the squad for the first time for tomorrow’s trip to Manchester United.

Sol Campbell admits he will not to become really excited about the prospects of Portsmouth’s new campaign in the Premier League until manager Harry Redknapp signs a top quality striker.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce claims he is the envy of his Coca-Cola Championship rivals after snapping up veteran striker Andy Cole.

A goal in each half from Didier Drogba and substitute Salomon Kalou kept Chelsea’s title dreams alive at Fratton Park.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho recalled England left-back Ashley Cole and gave Dutch winger Arjen Robben a place in the starting line-up against Portsmouth.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp will be forced to reshuffle his back four for the Barclays Premiership match at home to Manchester City, with right-back Glen Johnson the leading candidate to replace injured Linvoy Primus (thigh) at centre-half.

Defender Noe Pamarot stands by to return from a groin injury in place of new signing Djimi Traore (ankle) as Portsmouth seek their third win of the season over struggling Wigan at the JJB Stadium tomorrow.

Harry Redknapp has admitted he was ready to let former England striker Andrew Cole leave Fratton Park for a transfer deadline-day move to Everton just six months after joining Portsmouth.

New signing Djimi Traore is cup-tied as Portsmouth visit Manchester United for their fourth-round FA Cup clash at Old Trafford.

Portsmouth’s latest signing Lauren could make a ready-made replacement for suspended skipper Gary O’Neil on the right of midfield in the Barclays Premiership with Charlton at Fratton Park.

Moritz Volz scored the 15,000th goal in Premiership history when he gave Fulham a shock lead against champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp fears he may be forced into fielding a team without strikers for the Barclays Premiership game against Arsenal on Saturday.

Portsmouth 2 Watford 1

Premiership pacesetters Manchester United and Chelsea both recorded wins today.

HARRY REDKNAPP has warned Portsmouth’s high-flyers they could come crashing down to earth at any time.

Man City 2 West Ham 1

Manchester City director Dennis Tueart has confirmed the club are looking to sign Andrew Cole and that manager Stuart Pearce will be allowed to spend some of the Shaun Wright-Phillips transfer fee.

NEW ZEALAND’s leading newspaper has fuelled the British and Irish Lions’ sense of injustice over the Brian O’Driscoll ‘spearing’ controversy.

Fulham 6 Norwich 0

SOUTH AFRICAN official Jonathan Kaplan - who was in charge of Ireland’s contentious RBS 6 Nations victory over England two months ago - will referee the Lions this summer.

Italy 8 Wales 38

Birmingham 0 Fulham 1

Aston Villa and Fulham both made several changes for their Barclays Premiership match at Villa Park.

Fulham’s season was plunged into further crisis today when the Football Association found Andrew Cole guilty of two charges of bringing the game into disrepute and doubled his suspension from three to six matches.

Andrew Cole and Papa Bouba Diop will begin their three-match suspensions when Fulham face Boston at York Street on Wednesday night, following their dismissals against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Fulham have announced Papa Bouba Diop and Andrew Cole are to be “heavily fined” following their red cards at West Brom.

Fulham 0 Rangers 1

New Zealand 36-12 England

New Zealand 10-06 England H/T

Six Nations result:

Six Nations latest:

Wales suffered a major setback when centre Iestyn Harris was ruled out of today’s RBS 6 Nations clash against England at Twickenham.

France 7 England 24

England lead France today thanks to the trusty boot of Jonny Wilkinson.

Ireland’s quarter-final appointment with France in Melbourne on Sunday will be controlled by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan.

With few expecting Wales to emerge with anything from their final pool game against New Zealand next weekend, this was it – a showdown with Italy for a place in the last eight of the World Cup.

IRELAND will launch a powerful legal defence to prevent Paul O’Connell being thrown out of the World Cup.