Greece may be the European Nations champions but their club sides struggled as the group stage of the UEFA Cup got underway with all three representatives beaten.

Geoff Wragg’s pair Asian Heights and The Whistling Teal are among a field of eight declared for the Stan James St Simon Stakes at today’s 48-hour final stage.

Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin has further boosted his squad for next season with the capture of Waterford United goalkeeper Dan Connor.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has described the performance put in by his nine remaining players at Ibrox as "absolutely fantastic".

Ireland 55 USA 6

Rangers 2 Celtic 0

All eyes will be on the Tolka Park dugouts tonight when Roddy Collins takes charge of Shamrock Rovers against Dublin City, the club he walked out on two weeks ago (7.45pm).

A Chicago man who threatened to go public with videotapes he claimed featured the troubled soul star R Kelly having sex with a professional athlete's wife has been charged with extortion.

Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 1

Celtic 2 Kilmarnock 1

Chelsea 1 Everton 0

A Islamic fundamentalist with alleged terrorist ties was being held in a prison hospital today for the murder of a Dutch filmmaker who criticised the treatment of women under Islam.

Portsmouth’s £2.3m (€3.3m) record signing Diomansy Kamara has been ruled out for six weeks with the severe knee injury he sustained in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United.

South Africa coach Jake White believes referees are giving his Tri-Nations champions a raw deal – because of the Springboks’ notorious reputation.

Fulham face the toughest test of their recent revival when they face Premiership leaders Chelsea in the west London derby tomorrow – but they are ready for a battle.

Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie has predicted Louis Saha will ’get a bucketload’ now the Frenchman has broken his six-month goalscoring duck – and that could be bad news for Newcastle and Arsenal.

Nuclear whistle blower Mordechai Vanunu was arrested by Israeli police this morning for passing on classified documents to unnamed international parties, Israeli media reported.

Gareth Llewellyn hopes to achieve a notable career double against England next Saturday – even if it has been 12 years in the making.

Oldham 0 Bolton 1

An own-goal of horrendous proportions brought an ignominious end to Colchester’s hopes of any giant-killing heroics as Blackburn took full advantage to register a comfortable victory in the FA Cup fourth round today.