WHEN the most noteworthy event being discussed post-match is the rights and wrongs of a drop ball then it is safe to assume that the game in question was anything but a classic.

AS THE Blackburn fans celebrated the prospect of Owen Coyle’s association with their two most bitter rivals getting relegated this season, the Bolton manager was left with no choice but to acknowledge the reality of his new team’s situation.

BURNLEY yesterday insisted no contact has been made by Bolton to speak to boss Owen Coyle about their vacant manager’s post.

SPONSORS are standing by Thierry Henry after his blatant handball dashed Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup.

Bolton have no intention of cashing in on captain Kevin Davies and will robustly reject any bids for the striker.

RAFAEL BENITEZ’S already strained relationship with Sam Allardyce fractured entirely after the Liverpool manager effectively accused his Bolton Wanderers counterpart of building his success on dirty tricks.

MARY CULLEN is ready to challenge for a medal in the senior women’s race at the SPAR European cross-country championships at San Giorgio su Legnana, near Milan, tomorrow but would be happy with a place in the top five or six.

IT’S a disease that won’t go away of its own volition. The ‘authorities’ that speak loudly of their intentions have, so far, failed utterly to address the problem.

Sam Allardyce has slapped a not-for-sale notice on goal-shy striker Nicolas Anelka.

BRITNEY, Tiger, Gandalf and Madonna will soon join the more usual Peters and Janes in Britain’s playgrounds, while Harry Potter may also drop in, according to a new survey of babies’ names.

CHILDISH though it is to snigger over pre-match comments rendered ridiculous by subsequent on-pitch events, no column is complete without a dig at John O’Pie; so this was his warning before Saturday: “I don’t see why Bolton cannot stay the course this season. We are going to have a difficult test there on Saturday.”

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce could be tempted to work abroad later in his career.

David Bentley is in line to make his debut for Blackburn at Bolton tomorrow after impressing Mark Hughes in training.

SAM ALLARDYCE left Goodison Park spitting venom in all directions — but mainly at rookie Premiership referee Howard Webb.

THE infamous gear row which raged throughout two Olympic Games and kept Irish athletes out of the last European Youth Olympics could be resolved over the coming months.