Cork City 3 Derry City 0: This was another huge statement of intent by Cork City as they made it a straight eight of victories in the league by convincingly seeing off Derry City at a delighted Turner’s Cross.

Birmingham manager Gianfranco Zola enjoyed a badly-needed win as his team secured a 2-1 success against local rivals Wolves at Molineux.

Danny Drinkwater is confident the same core of players who inspired Leicester’s Premier League title triumph last season can turn around the Foxes’ miserable form and save them from relegation.

IN July 1898, novelist Emile Zola crossed the channel from Paris to London, at the height of the controversy surrounding the Dreyfus case. 

So where does this leave Chelsea? Top of the table, certainly, having shown the invaluable ability to win despite being outplayed for large swathes of a game.

The Football Association of Wales has rejected an approach from Hull to speak to national team manager Chris Coleman.

EMILE ZOLA is perhaps not as widely read today in English as he was in the past, less familiar to us now as readers than his friend and contemporary Gustave Flaubert.

As I watched John Terry hold that Premier League trophy aloft it struck me how lucky we have been as fans in the last 10 years — not in terms of success — that goes without saying, but more in terms of the players that we have had the privilege of calling our own.

Gianfranco Zola believes Eden Hazard has the ideal conditions to attain even greater heights at Chelsea.

Relegation-threatened Cagliari have sacked coach Gianfranco Zola after less than three months in charge following a miserable run of results.

Liam Mackey sat down with one of football's real hard men, Neil Ruddock, who spoke about Keane, Cantona and what became of his cream suit.

A convicted hitman allegedly hired to kill the wife of honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani said he was told to stage a hijacking-gone-wrong in which the British husband escaped unharmed.

Grumpy gorilla set for bachelor pad

Reality television is renowned for supplying bursts of fame but Mullingar native Connor Smith has bucked the trend by holding his own for Championship club Watford and the Ireland U21s.

Aberdeen 0 Celtic 2

Former Wolves defender Steven Mouyokolo made his Celtic debut in the Scottish Premiership clash with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0 (AET)

There is no chance of Watford ditching their commitment to attacking football if they get promoted to the Barclays Premier League, according to their longest serving player Lloyd Doyley.

Leicester 1 Watford 0

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has revealed that club owner Roman Abramovich is a “big fan” of Watford boss Gianfranco Zola.

ROGER Morlidge may reach an impressive 6’ 2” in his stockinged feet, but with his moon-shaped face and podgy body he doesn’t stand out in a crowd.

Manchester City 3 Watford 0

Gianfranco Zola insists Mario Balotelli can be a “fantastic” player – if his talent can be successfully mastered.

Man City 3 Watford 0

Rafael Benitez vowed to play a strong side in Chelsea’s Club World Cup semi-final against Mexican side Monterrey this morning (10.30am), despite admitting his players were still suffering with jet lag.

Gianfranco Zola believes his experiences at Watford will aid him in his quest to land the Chelsea job at some point in the future.

Derby 5 Watford 1

Pulling up in front of the Fota Island Hotel, Gianfranco Zola hops off a golf buggy, offers a warm handshake and, with it, that familiar beaming smile.

Gianfranco Zola is excited by what is to come from his new-look Watford side after their dramatic opening win against Crystal Palace in the npower Championship yesterday.

One former Chelsea legend met another in the Turner’s Cross boardroom last night as Bobby Tambling exchanged warm greetings with Gianfranco Zola.

Gianfranco Zola believes the criticism of Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni after last month’s European Championship was “unfair” and that it was an “achievement” in itself for Ireland even to qualify for the tournament.

Gianfranco Zola has been appointed as manager of Watford, the club have announced.

Gianfranco Zola has expressed his interest in becoming Chelsea manager, but concedes it is unlikely.

Gianfranco Zola has expressed his interest in becoming Chelsea manager, but concedes it is unlikely.

Former Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola has warned his “fragile” former team they are running out of time to turn around their stuttering season.

A breakdancing gorilla has wowed crowds at a zoo in Calgary, Canada.

Birmingham have lined up six possible candidates to replace Alex McLeish as manager with former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton the current bookmakers favourite.

Birmingham have identified six targets as they step up their bid to replace Alex McLeish as manager.

Gianfranco Zola has claimed Harry Redknapp would be a success if appointed Chelsea manager.

AND who said that Chelsea didn’t win anything this season? Our board have once again collected the ‘Classless Cronies of the Year award’ — even with stiff opposition from Sullivan, Gold and Brady.

Roman Abramovich was today urged not to sack Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea manager, despite the club being on the brink of their worst season since the Russian’s takeover.

FRUSTRATED at the end of as disappointing first half, Chelsea supporters were provided with relief when they were invited to welcome the player voted the club’s best ever onto the Stamford Bridge pitch at the interval.