KRIS COMMONS’ goal settled an enthralling FA Cup fourth-round replay between east midlands rivals Nottingham Forest and Derby to ensure a winning return to the City Ground for Nigel Clough.

Derby 1 Nottingham Forest 1

Paul Connolly and Jordan Stewart return from suspension as Derby take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester United tomorrow.

LIFE cannot get much sweeter for Kevin Doyle. The Wexford-born striker has just enjoyed the kind of week he must have wished would never end: a lucrative new contract, tying him to the Royals until 2011, two goals here which brought him his half-century for the Berkshire club three years after joining and the chance to enhance his international credentials in next week’s clash with Poland.

EVEN with precious little other than pride at stake, it would have been out of character for Roy Keane or Arsene Wenger to lose any focus. That said, they could have been excused yesterday if their thoughts occasionally drifted to events elsewhere.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to again give his fringe players a chance to impress in tomorrow’s Carling Cup quarter-final at Blackburn.

EDUARDO Da Silva struck twice to help Arsenal book their place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a routine victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.