Republic of Ireland striker Leon Best came off the bench to rescue a late point for Blackburn and denied Derby a winning start to the new Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Derby 5 Watford 1

Liverpool will have Javier Mascherano back in their squad for tomorrow’s opening Champions League group E clash with Hungarian champions Debrecen at Anfield.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez believes being involved in the Champions League will help the development of the club’s youngsters.

John Oxx this morning said he was “delighted” with the drying conditions at York and the forecast of similarly clement weather in the run-up to Tuesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes.

Conditions at York continue to dry out ahead of the Ebor Festival – with officials not ruling out the possibility of watering ahead of the big kick-off on Tuesday.

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

NEWMARKET will play host to the International Stakes on Saturday after the British Horseracing Authority worked frantically to re-schedule nine of the races lost from York’s abandoned totesport Ebor meeting.

York enjoyed a dry night as the battle to save the Ebor meeting continues.

York have been forced to abandon the second day of the prestigious Ebor meeting as conditions at the track have not improved.

York clerk of the course William Derby reports conditions to be heavy ahead of their four-day Ebor meeting this week.

STEVE COPPELL confirmed he is considering his future after Reading’s relegation to the Championship was confirmed last night, with the manager’s resignation expected to be confirmed early this week.

IT is a measure of a footballer’s calibre that his age becomes an irrelevance. Gael Clichy may still look no older than his meagre 22 years, but in a tumultuous season for Arsenal, he has performed with the unruffled expertise of a veteran.

HAVE Everton run out of steam as the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot enters the finishing straight?

SIX MONTHS and 25 games without a Premier League win, Derby County have lost most things this season, but not it seems their sense of humour.

ROY KEANE’S temptation to succumb to the roaring passion, which has so often been the catalyst for volcanic eruptions, must be stronger than ever.

IF Robbie Keane’s ambitions are realised, and Tottenham do end the season with two new cups in White Hart Lane’s dusty trophy cabinet, it is clear the club’s physios will be as crucial as their coaches.

HOW appropriate that a member of the consortium set to buy Derby County is reported to be a member of the Walt Disney clan. With Mickey Mouse displays such as this, the new board will surely feel right at home.

BEJANI vindicated Harry Redknapp’s decision to reject the overtures of Newcastle as his hat-trick emphatically ended Portsmouth’s six-match goal drought at Fratton Park.

PAUL JEWELL must be the only Premier League manager that views a fortuitous draw against a struggling Championship side as a step in the right direction.

Derby boss Paul Jewell has confirmed he is interested in bringing Blackburn’s Robbie Savage to Pride Park.

BOLTON got off to a winning start in 2008 in what could be Nicolas Anelka’s last match for the club.

PAUL JEWELL admits his hopes of revitalising Derby rest on whether chairman Adam Pearson can convince an American consortium to invest in the club.

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

OPTIMISTS are in precious short supply in Derby, but Billy Davies found comfort from an unexpected source after his team’s latest capitulation.

Derby 0 West Ham 5

DAVID MOYES hailed €18million striker Ayegbeni Yakubu as his razor-sharp display sent Derby spinning to another defeat.

Derby 2 Portsmouth 2

Thursday’s meeting at York must pass a 12pm precautionary inspection on Wednesday.

Saturday’s popular 48th John Smith’s Cup fixture at York will go ahead as planned after the track passed a precautionary inspection at 7.45am.

Dylan Thomas prevailed from the valiant Ouija Board under an inspired ride by Kieren Fallon in the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Connections of Ouija Board are hoping Frankie Dettori will be available to ride the mare in Saturday’s Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

MARCUS TREGONING has warned followers of his Vodafone Derby winner Sir Percy to hold their bets on the colt for the Irish equivalent on July 2.

Interim manager Terry Westley has confirmed Derby are interested in signing striker Dwight Yorke from Australian side Sydney FC.

Lord Derby has nominated a possible campaign in Dubai as a target for Ouija Board should the world-beating filly be kept in training next year.

DERBY dreams came to life at York yesterday as Motivator maintained his unbeaten record with a stylish and forthright success in the totesport Dante Stakes.

SIX PERFECTIONS will have to overcome a wide draw for the second year running after being handed stall 11 in the post position ceremony for the Breeders’ Cup Mile yesterday.

Ouija Board put up a hugely impressive performance to claim the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom this afternoon.

York officials are looking forward to bright and sunny weather for the three-day Ebor Festival on the Knavesmire.

DerWIMBLEDON’S sequence of seven matches unbeaten ended last night as Derby came from behind to win and move up to twelfth in Nationwide Division One.

FA Barclaycard Premiership latest

FA Barclaycard Premiership latest