31.   The win over Ipswich hoisted Sunderland three places up the table, and they still have two or three games in hand on the clubs around them.

32.   Owers played his first full game for three months in the derby win over Middlesbrough and then gave boss Malcolm Crosby a welcome cup final headache.

33.   Kevin Ball, who has not played since being carried off injured in the semi-final win over Norwich, is back in contention for a place.

34.   Keegan keeps the team which produced a last-gasp win over Portsmouth last Saturday after five successive League defeats.

35.   The only other side to overcome the elements was Chester-leStreet who had a win over Boldon.

36.   Les Steel had a convincing win over Dierdre Sanders but Roy Bennett made it more difficult, beating Jim Power by a single imp.

37.   BRIAN LARA cracked an unbeaten century to steer the West Indies to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in Bloemfontein yesterday.

38.   In the First Division, Dumbarton eased the threat of relegation thanks to a two-goal win over Cowdenbeath.

39.   But it would be unreasonable to expect the Ibrox players to scale the heights again this afternoon in the aftermath of their ten-man win over Brugge.

40.   QUICKFIRE Tranmere extended their home rule with a comfortable win over Southend last night.