IT wasn’t just the warm spring sunshine that brought a sweat to the brows of Stoke players on Saturday. An agonisingly tight promotion race is enough to make even the coolest characters feel hot under the collar, but Rory Delap has no reason to fear a late collapse in the Potteries.

JAY-JAY Okocha fears expectation levels have been pushed unrealistically high at Hull after feeling it necessary to issue a mild rebuke to the club’s supporters.

Colchester have given permission for assistant manager Mick Harford to speak to QPR about joining John Gregory’s coaching staff at Loftus Road.