ENGLAND midfielder Frank Lampard insists John Terry thrives on the kind of abuse dished out by Stoke fans during Chelsea’s 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

ARSENE WENGER’S determination to banish all negative thoughts ahead of tonight’s crunch Champions League clash with Porto at Emirates Stadium has extended to a refusal to practise penalties or wallow in the absence of talisman, Cesc Fabregas.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy.

ALEX FERGUSON has furiously rejected a newspaper report claiming he is supporting the Red Knights’ bid to take over Manchester United.

PAUL SCHOLES breathed a sigh of relief after finally notching his 100th Premier League goal – now he can look ahead to far more important honours.

HOW TO shatter a dream.

CHELSEA’S affinity with the FA Cup shows no sign of ending as they prepare for their ninth semi-final in 17 years and it’s fair to say Stamford Bridge’s love affair with John Terry – if you’ll pardon the pun – looks likely to last just as long after a trademark performance from the centre-half against Stoke City.

THE REASON for Theo Walcott’s retarded progress at Arsenal has been a question that has remained stubbornly elusive during his four years at the club.

THE creaking main stand and homely setting of Craven Cottage always creates the feeling of a time-warp but Saturday’s FA Cup tie was a throwback to an era that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes will soon be lost to the game.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND midfielder Steven Reid has joined Championship title hopefuls West Brom from Blackburn on a month’s loan.

BRIAN LAWS is confident he will win over Burnley’s fans after he was unveiled as Owen Coyle’s successor at Turf Moor yesterday.

CAPTAIN John Terry has urged Chelsea to take advantage of recent slip-ups by their title rivals and restore their once healthy lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

BOBBY CHARLTON yesterday led the tributes at the funeral of fellow “Busby Babe” and Manchester United legend Albert Scanlon.

SOL CAMPBELL appears ready to complete an astonishing turnaround and rejoin Arsenal, three-and-a-half years after leaving the club in controversial circumstances.

ALEX FERGUSON will not face any disciplinary action over his remarks criticising referee Mark Clattenburg for sending off Darren Fletcher, the FA have confirmed.

RICHARD DUNNE believes Carling Cup success for Aston Villa will mean manager Martin O’Neill being able to attract star players.

WOLVES manager Mick McCarthy has hinted a new striker is amongst his top priorities during the January transfer window as he continues to be linked with Leeds hotshot Jermaine Beckford.

MANCHESTER UNITED’s anti-Glazer faction have claimed the controversial owners have landed the club with a £260million (€288m) interest bill since they took control in 2005.

PATRICK VIEIRA has wasted little time in antagonising the red half of Manchester following his move to Manchester City after claiming champions United are ‘on the wane’ and can be caught by their local rivals.

IRISH sporting organisations are cautiously optimistic regarding their fixtures for the next week as the cold snap begins to ease.