Jennings is known for his eccentric drills to keep players on their toes

Jennings is known for his eccentric drills to keep players on their toes. He hit a ball towards Smith who was scrambling after it when a ball meant for another player rebounded and hit the captain on the temple. Smith, who had a large bump on his head, was discombobulated for a few minutes but was later said to be talking as much sense as ever, and defied medical advice by taking the field after tea.For he and Vaughan, of course, until Centurion Park a week tomorrow the fateful trip will not quite be done. Then, one of them will be able further to quote Walt: “The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won.”* Mark Butcher yesterday conceded that he has lost his England No 3 spot to Robert Key, but said he still intends to return for the Ashes. The 32-year-old left-hander, who was replaced by Key when a wrist problem ruled him out of the rest of the tour of South Africa, said: “Of course, I know it’s probably the case that Robert Key has probably taken over the No 3 batting spot for England.

He is in there; he has scored runs in the current match; he has possession of the place. But I can tell you I am absolutely nowhere near chucking it all in I believe I’m a Test class player, a Test class batsman.”. Stephen Bucknor and Aleem Dar are unlikely to feature on Michael Vaughan’s Christmas card list this year after the comments he made about the pair cost him the small matter of £5,500. At the time England were in a strong position and Vaughan wanted play to continue.However, 48 hours later, and in similar light, he appeared very keen for England’s batsmen to leave the Wanderers field when Messrs Bucknor and Dar offered Marcus Trescothick and Geraint Jones the opportunity of returning to the dressing room. Vaughan’s rattled team were on 197 for 5 and despite there being 15 overs to be bowled, the batsmen left the arena like a flash.With a lead of 189, and Trescothick unbeaten on 101, this is the type of position from which England usually surged to victory in 2004 But times have changed. Shearer’s Bar, the biggest pub in Newcastle, located at St James’ Park and with a capacity of 1,200, spent its first Saturday in business celebrating the 400th career goal of the man it honours.
So what if Alan Shearer’s legs had gone after an hour? That was understandable after two months absent, injured, from what may be his final season. In any case, the 34-year-old’s penalty had set Newcastle on course for their win, while his mere presence – harrying, pushy and vocal, if not quick – had arguably tipped the balance.That is not to say Newcastle were not dominant They were, absolutely so in the opening 40 minutes.

Substitutes not used: Waterreus (gk), Jordan.Crystal Palace (4-5-1): Kiraly; Sorondo, Hall, Powell, Boyce; Routledge (Shipperley, 78), Leigertwood, Watson (Andrews, h-t), Soares, Lakis (Borrowdale, 61); Johnson. “He is one of the top five players in the world at what he does and he is getting better.”Outside City’s stadium at Eastlands stands the huge, imposing metal structure, B of the Bang, an exploding star of a sculpture created to commemorate the Commonwealth Games and designed to emphasise the moment when a sprinter’s body cracks into action. Somewhere lurks the knowledge that some day they will require a greater stage elsewhere. “Selling our soul” was how the City manager referred to it.”I just know if I were managing one of the top clubs in the world and I saw videos of what this lad can do on a football pitch, I would be saying that this is the guy we should target,” Keegan reflected. “Form is temporary, class is permanent” runs the phrase designed to comfort sportsmen and supporters the world over. However, Manchester City are likely to find that the class of Shaun Wright-Phillips is very temporary indeed. Andy Johnson’s lunge on Steed Malbranque saw the Frenchman replaced and Johnson, in turn, was the victim of a similarly poor attempt to win the ball, leading to the Welshman’s departure with twisted knee ligaments.Yet the tone was more chase than cheat and the home side ran West Brom down to the very last, leading to their winner.

Substitutes not used: Kuszczak (gk), Koumas, Horsfield, Kanu.Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).Booked: Fulham Boa Morte, Bocanegra, Clark; West Bromwich Greening.Man of the match: Van der Sar.Attendance: 16,180.. Substitutes not used: Crossley (gk), Legwinski, Rosenior.West Bromwich (4-4-2): Hoult; Albrechtsen, Purse, Clement, Robinson; Gera, Johnson (Scimeca, 70), Wallwork, Greening; Campbell, Earnshaw. In injury time, Mark Pembridge swung his corner to the penalty spot and from there Diop, running in unmarked, headed cleanly past Hoult.Goals: Diop (90) 1-0.Fulham (4-3-3): Van der Sar; Volz, Knight, Reh-man, Bocanegra; Malbranque (Clark, 22), Diop, Pembridge; John (McBride, 80), Radzinski,Boa Morte. His next attempt showed why Van der Sar is coveted by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United.Zat Knight was the Fulham culprit with 21 minutes gone.