THIS might have been the most dramatic game on the most dramatic day of the most dramatic Championship season in living memory, but Nigel Pearson showed no sign of being perturbed.

SEVEN days too late for Chelsea’s liking, John Terry was presented with an opportunity to score and duly obliged.

TRY as he might, Ephie Fitzgerald was simply unable to hide his frustration.

GARETH THOMAS will captain Wales in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with England after Stephen Jones was forced to pull out with a fractured bone in his wrist.

JUANDE RAMOS is bearing the look of a condemned man.

THE Liverpool derby can be daunting prospect for any player let alone a newcomer, but Andrea Dossena is no stranger to needle matches.

Ireland 20 Tonga 22

SO another obstacle overcome with only a modicum of discomfort: yet another goal conceded from a set-piece. Scolari must be very grateful indeed to Lampard as his amazing strike may have distracted the supporters enough to realise that the game itself was yet another insipid display against inferior opposition.

TOMORROW night in Thurles Gerald McCarthy and Ger Loughnane stalk the sidelines once again, while Joe Dooley and Davy Fitzgerald will also cross swords.

CROKE PARK may postpone the introduction of the new disciplinary playing rules at club level until 2010, but preparations for their roll-out at inter-county level are on target.

ITALY’S stuttering World Cup campaign showed no sign of improvement last night as they struggled to an unconvincing Pool C win over brave Portugal at the Parc des Princes.

ON a human level, you had to feel for Steve Staunton on Wednesday night.

CHELSEA are English football’s answer to a cold shower.