St Mirren head the early Clydesdale Bank Premier League table after a 2-0 victory over Dundee at Dens Park.

Cardiff 0 Stoke 2 (after extra-time)

Celtic 2 St Johnstone 0

Celtic’s fit-again skipper Scott Brown has started for the first time since October in today's SPL clash against St Johnstone at Parkhead.

FT: St Johnstone 0 Celtic 3

St Johnstone 2 Celtic 3

Wigan 2 Preston 1

Struggling Wigan made six changes as they looked to kick-start their season against Championship side Preston in the Carling Cup tonight.

The David Evans-trained Bathwick Bear could bid for further big-race honours in Ireland next month after securing a narrow verdict in the Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy.

Preston 1 Doncaster 1

Preston 0 Chelsea 2

Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti made six changes to his side for this afternoon’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Deepdale.

Peter Crouch made the most of only his third start of the season by claiming a clinical hat-trick to ease Tottenham into the last 16 of the Carling Cup.

Scunthorpe 3 Preston 1

Adam Lockwood snatched a late equaliser to rescue a draw for Doncaster in their Coca-Cola Championship clash against Preston at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Sheffield United 1 Preston 0 (Sheff Utd win 2-1 on aggregate)

Sheffield United 1 Preston 0 (Sheff Utd win 2-1 on aggregate)

Preston 2 QPR 1

Cheltenham 2 Stoke 3

Stoke are waiting for the arrival of work permits for new recruits Abdoulaye Faye and Haminu Dramani ahead of their first home game in the Premier League against Aston Villa tomorrow.

Stoke will make late decisions over the fitness of last season’s 15-goal top scorers Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence before they make their Premier League debut at Bolton tomorrow.

REFEREES are often criticised, but rarely do they have to defend their sleeping habits. After being rounded-on by Stoke boss Tony Pulis, match official Mike Pike found himself doing just that.

Newcastle 4 Stoke 1

Under-pressure Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez named a strong side for the FA Cup replay against Luton at Anfield.

Stoke 0 Newcastle 0

Nicky Forster came off the bench to claim an FA Cup third round replay for Hull as Barclays Premiership Middlesbrough were made to pay for missed chances.

Yorkshire businessman Steve Parkin has revealed he was “within days” of clinching a deal to take over at Elland Road.

Graham Gibbons and Gyles Parkin were prevented from riding today after failing breathalyser tests at Ripon.

Hull: Myhill, Thelwell, Cort, Delaney, Rogers, Green, Andrews, Welsh, Ellison, Fagan, Parkin. Subs: Duke, Duffy, Paynter, Elliott, Wiseman.

Bond Boy turned back the clock to emerge victorious in a thrilling finish to the VC Bet Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh today.

Rocker Ozzy Osbourne has been diagnosed with Parkin Syndrome and will have to take daily medication for the rest of his life to combat the involuntary shudders associated with the condition.

Gyles Parkin was tonight released on bail after becoming the sixth jockey to be arrested as part of the on-going investigation by City Of London Police into alleged race-fixing.

Gyles Parkin was today named as the sixth jockey to be arrested as part of the on-going investigation by City Of London Police into alleged race-fixing.

Sebastien Sainsbury has today been warned he would be making a “big mistake” if he were to offer any of the current Leeds directors a place on the new board.

CONCERNS were raised yesterday over the whereabouts of a Nigerian man who failed to attend the funeral of his murdered wife.

NEW Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has been given a personal apology by director Simon Morris following the farce which almost led to him turning his back on the club.

Kevin Blackwell today became Leeds’ fourth managerial appointment in less than two years.

Steve Parkin’s proposed takeover of Leeds has collapsed – paving the way for the club to finally appoint Kevin Blackwell as manager tomorrow.

Leeds’ woes are continuing as the Elland Road club turned their search for a new manager into a farce and striker Alan Smith closed in on a move to arch-rivals Manchester United.

Rochdale boss Steve Parkin has signed a rolling contract after arriving at Spotland in January and saving the club from relegation.