21/01/2017 Football Focus

If you're still feeling a little down after Blue Monday,

The next hour should hopefully lift your spirits.

Here's what is coming up between now and one.

Azpilicueta on whether China is a threat to Roman's empire.

Specman it is a new market. They are targeting players task transfers.

They could have a centurion at Stoke, but will the Potters'

I have had so many people say to me, if you get the 100, you have to do

it. The pressure is taking its toll! I actually play the Luke -- the

ukelele. You don't! Baggies' boss Tony Pulis and Adrian

Chiles talk all things Albion. And the name is Rose,

Bonnyrigg Rose, and Sean Connery's former club have a view

to a giant-kill against And for your eyes only in the studio

we have agents Lescott, We were expecting Joleon Lescott, he

is either in a hollowed out volcano, or signing for Sunderland! We will

have team news shortly from Anfield. We cast a golden eye over

the Premier League fixtures. We will be on her Majesty's secret

service live at the Palace with their chairman Steve Parrish,

and at the Hawthorns as well, where Sunderland will seek

a quantum of solace. Then tea-time - will Manchester

City's Sky Blues fall to Spurs? Tomorrow never dies and sees

champions Leicester at Southampton. Arsenal take on Burnley, and an away

trip to the leaders could scare Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta

played more minutes than any other Chelsea player in 2016,

and Senor Dependable has been You have been here for five years.

What is your favourite thing about living in the capital? The whole

lifestyle here. I am happy in the club, happy in the area. I have been

here for a long time, and my family is happy, and I give them a lot of

credit, because to play well, you need to be happy. You were given the

nickname Dave when you first arrived, who gave that to you and

why? It was at an audience in the fans, one question was, if they

could call me Dave. But I didn't imagine that that nickname would

stay until now! What is Antonio Conte like? Since the first day, his

first time in England, with the language, he tried to show us what

he wanted. We trained hard, he was really passionate with his team, he

always believed in us, so that is something he shows in every training

session, every game. And since his arrival, you have gone from playing

back four to back three, what has that transition be like? At the

beginning it was a bit strange, because most of us, we never played

in that system. He might have decided to change the formation

because he saw that we needed that, and as soon as we changed formation,

the results until now have been amazing. We have worked really hard

and improved under that system, and it is something that we have to keep

doing. COMMENTATOR: Knocked up towards

Diego Costa, that is far too simple a golfer Chelsea to score!

There were a lot of rumours about Diego Costa. How much are you

looking forward to having him back in the squad? It is good to have him

back. When he was suspended, we were able to win that game, but we need

from everybody, the strength of the squad is really important because

you want to play with the same players the whole season. The

football world in general seems to be changing, the window is still

open, and leagues like China and the US would target players at the end

of their career, now they seem to be going for younger players who are at

their peak. It is a new market that is coming out, they are targeting

players, and it is up to the players to make their choices. I think

everyone has different situations, so it is new opportunities for the

players, new countries, so it is up to us to make the changes. You are

one of the few players who has played every single minute this

season, so you are clearly valued as a player and you are vital to the

team. How does that make you feel? It makes me feel really happy and

proud, because I want to help the team, and how is it to play every

minute of the competition, that is something that I value a lot, and I

want to keep doing that, be a part of the team, and I will be really

happy if we can get a trophy at the end. As you can see from the

statistics, he is Mr Pegg dependable. -- Mr dependable.

Everybody was calling him Dave when you were in his team, we all know

his name now. What this he bring to the side? He is always positive, a

great professional, he works incredibly hard always on and off

the pitch, he never complains about anything. When I was first there, he

was in and out of the side, he just waited his turn, never went knocking

on the door of the manager, at training every day he was 100%

involved, giving everything all the time, and he is a manager's dream,

he really is, and he has so much versatility, he can play in any

position across the back, and he could probably play a bit further

forward if you needed him to. He played as left-back when Mourinho

came back to the Bridge, and he was exceptional. Doing his job and more.

Even though Filipe Luis arrived. Yes, for 16 million, and he couldn't

get into the side. And that was the winning team in the year who won the

league, so to keep Filipe Luis out and bringing what he brought to the

side, and now also bringing about calmness, but also that leadership

to the team. What have you made of your old team this season? I want to

ask you about the guy at the other end, and the way that Antonio Conte

has dealt with the Costa situation. What does he bring, and how

important is it that they get back the Costa that we have seen? First

of all, Antonio Conte, magnificent. In the line of Mourinho, Ancelotti

and all not, magnificent. In the beginning of the season, it was

difficult, he changed it towards his way, gave them the opportunity to

play in the four, changed it to a three where he is very comfortable.

You can see it in his body language that he is more comfortable with

that system. The Costa affect, you could see in their body language,

they were fighting a little bit, on and off. Conte has persuaded him in

a way, no, it is my way, and Costa started playing better. I think

Costa is very important for Chelsea, and the odd game you won't miss him,

but when you played ten games in a row, you will miss him. So Chelsea

can't afford to let Costa go at this time of the season. And I think, how

come Conte has done that is credit to him. If Chelsea lose Costa, you

could argue that all would want to keep their chief striker fit, he is

one of their few chances of staying up. Yes, his contribution to Hull

was exceptional, this season he has been hampered a lot through injury,

I think he is on three or four goals now, and it will be a big part for

them to stay in the league, but the other key is keeping their good

players, Snodgrass is someone who has been linked away from the club,

Livermore has gone, and their problem is keeping hold of these

players. Highlights of Chelsea against Hull

and some of these other games are on Match Of The Day to 2. That's

tomorrow. Liverpool are seven points behind

the leaders and still juggling On Wednesday it was

destination Devon. Plymouth Argyle welcome Liverpool to

the theatre of greens. And it is Lucas who gets the goal. Can they

respond? That is a good save. Getting away from Lucas, great

chance at! Excellent defending. Daniel Sturridge, that was a good

save. And a chance, and it hits the outside of the Liverpool post. It

has given Liverpool a penalty. Saved by McCormick! Liverpool have

survived a bit of a scare. So, the Reds progress

rather than the Pilgrims. It's Swansea at Anfield

today for Klopp's men, The first thing to tell you as far

as Liverpool are concerned is that Philippe Coutinho start a Premier

League game for the first time since November the 26th of last year after

65 minutes in that cup win at Plymouth in the week. Jurgen Klopp's

other change from Manchester United is the return to fitness of

Nathaniel Clyne. Joel Matip who last year was cleared by Fiva to be back

involved is among the substitutes. For Swansea, their boss Paul Clement

was busy this week in the transfer market. He gives a debut to Martin

Olsson and a second debut to Tom Carroll, who has now signed from

Spurs. Luciana Narsingh misses out through injury, but Leroy Fer does

start. This sees the best attacking the Premier League face the worst

defence at Anfield, where Liverpool are unbeaten in 25 games.

That is quite a record. This is the Liverpool line-up. They have so many

attacking options, but in their last four games, they have scored two

goals, so it was eight games before that. So they are missing Sadio

Mane. It is a big factor for them to get Coutinho back. I don't think

there is panic in Liverpool, because they have only scored two goals in

four games. That happens in a season, you know? It is never going

to go all the time very smoothly. But I think they were very happy to

get Coutinho back, I think he is a very important factor in the

Liverpool squad. Talking about the important factors, you will see the

news about Steven Gerrard joining the Academy. Is this the future

Liverpool manager being groomed through the system? I think so, yes.

He has indicated very much that he wants to become a manager one day,

and I think Liverpool are a club that are renowned for keeping their

old boys in and around the club, use CX players watching, supporting, and

Steven Gerrard is one of the greats of Liverpool Football Club, and it

is great for the club to have him still there. And if Liverpool are

good going that way, we know from the statistics of this season that

Swansea have a few issues when a team are coming at them. 49 goals

conceded in 21 games for Swansea. Only Barnsley have conceded more at

this stage of a season. Paul Clement has a huge job on his hands just to

solidify the defence. Clement has got a big job, but unfortunately,

what Swansea has done wrong this year is letting Williams go, and not

replacing him. With that experience. He was the captain, he was the one

who would put people in the right place... He could have made a big

difference? I think he would have helped it, big-time. 49 goals is a

lot of goals. He was the leader, the captain, and that is what they are

lacking. Clement said it, and the previous manager said the same thing

about Swansea. So I think it is going to be a very tall order. I

can't see Swansea getting a result there. Olsen is a good player, Tom

Carroll has had limited experience in the Premier League. If I was a

Swansea City fan, I would be concerned. Because you think they

are preparing to go down? Possibly, yes. I disagree. If you look at

Swansea, there is a certain kind of player that they go for. There is an

identity at Swansea. Those are Swansea kind of players. Yes, I

agree with you that they need a certain different kind of player now

to get them out of the position that they are, but because of that

identity, they look for the Tom Carroll, the Olsen. But they haven't

played that way for quite some time. After Laudrup left, I think that was

the way, and they haven't played that way for quite some time. They

have tried to, but they haven't. That is why they are in the position

that they are. The last two years, they have not produced those kind of

performances of those two managers, but the identity is still the same.

They still are trying to produce that kind of football.

Did you always have chat like this in the dressing room? Yes, we had

quite a few. Putting the world to rights.

Peter Crouch scored 22 of his 99 Premier League goals with Liverpool.

The Stoke striker could reach his century against

Yes, I am six foot seven, no, I do not play basketball. I am so pleased

we are having this chat. And there it is! Crouch is in the middle!

Dramatic, brilliant. Peter Crouch's 99th Premier League goal. 99 Premier

League goals, and your first goal for Stoke was against Manchester

United? Yes, I would love to take it for my 100th goal, that would be

great. And Manchester United would be a good yardstick? Yes, ever since

we played at the club we always seem to get scalps at home. What was your

best Premier League goal? Oh, I can remember some amazing feeling. I

think the goal is scored for Tottenham to get us into the

Champions League against Manchester City was an amazing feeling. Because

of the significance? The significance, not because of the

goal, it was a scrappy goal, but what a feeling to score that goal

after. I think my hat-trick against Arsenal was up there. There was a

scissor kick against Bolton for Liverpool, and the goal for Stoke

against Manchester City was probably the best goal that I scored. Crouch

crying for the spectacular. Oh, what a goal! Nine out of ten times they

do not go anywhere near the goal, so to hit the top corner was the best

goal I have scored. Perseverance has been the hallmark of your career.

Yes, I have always felt that I was the second choice and I have had to

force myself to be first choice. There always seems to be someone

ready to replace me when the time comes and when that does happen it

is frustrating. But you have got to work just as hard to get back in

there. It is similar to my Stoke career at the moment. It has been

hired not playing and watching the games and knowing you can have an

impact. There were times when I looked at where my career was going

and I was thinking, what is happening? I am not playing, where

do I go next? Now I have been given this opportunity to play I am loving

it even more so than before that period because now I know how much

it means to me to play. You are 36 later on this month and you could be

under this deal still be playing in the Premier League at 38. Of course,

I spoke to the manager about it. I train every single day, I have not

had too many injuries, I do not do anything differently to anyone who

is 20 or 25. I still feel like I can play for a long time. Our manager

played until I was 40, until he was 40, and he said I can do the same.

Are you aware of how popular you are? You got a fantastic reception

from the Liverpool fans when you came of before Christmas. What does

that mean to you? It was quite emotional. I am in the city a lot

and I know how people feel about my time at the club and it was a

successful time at the club. It is very nice to get a reaction like

that. When you get your 100th Premier League goal, will you

resurrect the robot? I have had so many people say to me if you get the

100th, you have got to do it and the pressure is taking its toll. You

perform it with your usual balletic grace! Yes, that was half the reason

people enjoyed it, because I was not that good at it! We talk about a

fully paid-up member in the 100 club, Jimmy you got 127. Peter

Crouch is one short of reaching the century. He is still playing. You

retired at 36. How hard does it become when you reach that age? He

is still clearly loving it. Well, yes, I was still loving it. It is

different. It is harder, a lot harder. For me is specially it was

because I needed the explosiveness. But for Peter it is a little bit

different. He can work on the crosses, he holds. . He brings a lot

more to the game, a lot more different things to the game than I

needed. I needed my pace. He holds the ball up. The ball bounced off

you! You did score the odd header. The odd header. He has been

brilliant over the years and I think he can play a few more years. He

wanted to sign him up on a longer contract because he could not face

the fact of Peter Crouch playing for another team, the manager. What

about sado Berahino? He is not much of it. He was sent away to get fit

and he has come back and he is not fit. His head is all over the place.

It must have been tough for the club and the player. Hopefully he will

put it all behind him and he will get fit and he will add that pace

and quality to Stoke. I am happy for him that he has put the West Brom

factor behind him and he can concentrate on Stoke. He is a hell

of a player, a hell of a striker. I think there is a lot more to come

from him. He scores goals and we do not have that many of those at the

moment. Mark Hughes will be hoping you are right. Let me give you an

insight on to what these two have been like this morning. Mike, you

think anyone in the top six can still win it. Jimmy is not

convinced. Why do you think they can still win the title? Jose Mourinho

would not be drawn on it. No, you know what he is like. He will not

try to draw any more attention or pressure to Manchester United. They

have so much pressure on them anyway because everyone expects them to be

there or thereabouts each season. The start of the season has not been

great, but since then they have gone on a great run. Last week they

should have won the game against Liverpool. They have quality in the

squad, Jose Mourinho is the manager and 17 games to go and they are

still in the race. I still think they have a chance of winning it. He

is dismissing you once again. I love Jose Mourinho, do not get me wrong.

I think he is magnificent what he has done in the game also I think

this is one step a little bit too far. 12 points from Chelsea, that

means four games. 17 games to go. Leicester won the league last season

and nobody expected that to happen. No, we did not, but they were

winning. You now have to win four more games and Chelsea and I do not

see Chelsea losing a lot of games. How they play, they do not give a

lot of goals away. They are very happy to work from zero. They are

based on that. Look, everything is possible. But very unlikely. I'm not

sure if you agree or disagree. You can keep tabs on that

and the rest of the three o'clock matches on Final Score with Jason,

Sue Smith and Jason Gary's back from his winter

break on MOTD tonight. Alan Shearer and Ruud Gullit can

admire the tan first hand! And there's sure to be sunshine

at the Australian Open - highlights of Jo Konta's match

with Caroline Wozniacki Manchester City against Tottenham is

sure to feature prominently tonight. The two sides had contrasting

fortunes last weekend. Harry Kane, 1-0! Everton, one,

Manchester United two. What a start to the second half for Everton. It

is a mess of Manchester City boss Mark own making. Harry Kane in the

middle! He beats Claudio Bravo and Everton have a 3-goal lead. A

hat-trick. Extravagantly done. We can be the real contender for the

Premier League. 4-0, Everton. City fans, look away now. Expectations

were excessive, now it is a reality. There is a man who has got more

problems than people thought he would at this stage of the season.

Let's start with the goalkeeper. He said he was fairly criticise.

Claudio Bravo, the statistics are backing things up. His ability to

save shots, it is not what you expect at a team like Manchester

City. He has got big shoes to fill in. He replaced Joe Hart. He has

struggled to adapt to the Premier League. I see a different goalkeeper

to the first one who arrived. Yes, he made the mistake, but he was much

more confident. He demanded the ball. I see a player who is a lot

deeper. He is not playing as much at the back and he has gone within his

shell. The game against Everton, every time they shot on goal they

were hitting the back of the net and he has struggled for form. He has

conceded 14 in his last 22 shots on target. Sergio Aguero, I think Pep

Guardiola is meeting with him in an Italian restaurant in Manchester

because he has not scored against any of the sides in the top six so

far this season. When we started and Pep Guardiola came to Manchester

City, did you expect him at this stage of the season to be in the

position he is in with quite so many concerns? No, I thought it would be

a lot easier, but on the other hand the Premiership is full of

surprises. It is totally different football than in Spain or in

Germany. A lot of people need to settle. I think that's pep wants to

bring his own philosophy through and it is taking a little bit longer

than he thought it would. Or it is not as easy as he thought it would

be. I still think that he is magnificent. And he will get it

right? I think yes. Given the tools, yes. The only thing is, it is not a

simple and as easy as the outside world thinks. Because he has won a

lot and he is coming here with such a great CV, we are expecting

straightaway something magnificent. They were dismantled last week by

Everton. And Spurs, if he is struggling to get his philosophy and

nine, Maurizio Pellegrino assaulted his team out. Do they have a chance

this weekend? Yes, they will do the same thing that they did against

Chelsea. They will put them under pressure all over the park.

Everybody knows Manchester City want to play. Pep Guardiola is adamant.

They will always play the same way and Mauricio Pochettino will have

the Spurs team lined up and put them under pressure. John Stones has

continued to make errors under pressure all over the park. That is

happening because teams are not giving them the respect that maybe

when he was in charge of buying or Barcelona that other teams gave. He

was to control the game bible possession, that is what he wants.

He needs the ball to control the whole game. But the tempo of the

game in England is so much higher and the pressing is so much more.

You can tackle more. The referee does not help you as much as they do

on the continent. The second balls, there

Learning on the job, I think it is safe to say.

We'll turn our attention to the wrong end of the table.

George Friend has been an integral part of Middlesbrough's line up

First things first. Is it your Banjo or mandolin? I actually play the

ukelele, you know. You don't? You are one of the only people outside

my house that know that. Do you play it for the boys? No. It is funny

where football takes you, or the way up here, and an unusual background,

chicken and arable farming stock? Yes, earlier days in football, my

dad used to send me off with eggs to give to the manager and the

different players, and it has changed slightly now! I love where I

come from. My family worked hard to enable me to play football, because

there are not a lot of opportunities in North Devon, but there are some

good coaches and clubs like Exeter where I started. Is it quite

satisfying, having worked your way up and really earned it the hard

way? I think so, but I don't think you should take it away from someone

who has had a different route and gone through the card to me, because

that is equally as hard, but certainly my journey has been

different, and they wouldn't have changed it. I love playing for

Exeter, playing in the lower leagues. I would prefer to play in

the Premier League, but I do appreciate every day going to a

fantastic training ground like medals per, and when we go against

those teams and you hear the music, watching Match Of The Day, it is

special. You were part of that Wolves team that were on the naughty

step in 2009 when Mick McCarthy put a weakened team at at Old Trafford.

It was still a strong team, quite a few internationals in it, but it was

a changed 11. It was my Premier League debut at Old Trafford, I

probably could have scored, but I have said that quite a few times in

my career. I was playing against Paul Scholes, and I used to pretend

to be him in the garden! So that only play against him was

incredible. What is your half term report on the first five or six

months? I think we have a lot to build on, which is good, and we are

in a good position, so going back to the school term, we have done that,

now we have our final exams, this is the crunch time, the bit that

matters, and if we pass the exams, we stay up. Was it a conscious

decision from Aitor Karanka in the summer to be hard to get past? Yes,

since he walked in his philosophy was to be hard to beat. It isn't the

most glamorous, but if it is point on the board, we are not too

bothered. And sports journalism, you have done a degree course? Yes,

through the PFA, we will see where it takes me. I recommend any players

to do that, I'm a big advocate for the PFA, I am on the management

committee, and you should use what it offers because it is such a great

thing, so many opportunities for players. Qualified sports

journalist. What question would you ask yourself? That is deep! That is

more of a philosophy degree! It can be on anything. Where am I going to

be in ten years, probably, something like that. Where are you going to be

in ten years? I don't know, in coaching may be, or maybe sat where

you are with another player here! We will see. I like the sound of that.

Lovely to see you. There is always a job for you,

George! He celebrates the fact that it is an glamorous, but they have

this good defensive record, he talks about the concentration required to

stay there. At the other end, 17 goals from 21 games, they brought in

Patrick Bamford and Rudy Gestede, does the system allowed them to do

it at the other end as well, or is it overly defensive? Identity system

is overly defensive, it does allow them to get more chances and to have

more going forward. I think that they don't have a lot of people who

normally score a lot of goals. Their line-up against West Ham last week

-- Watford last week. If they can get more people who will score more

goals into the Premiership, who get more goals from midfield, I think

you will see them climbing up, because they can keep it. And what

is your half term report? At the start of the season, you really

thought Middlesbrough would struggle. I did, purely because of

the players they brought in, lacking that Premier League spirits, but

although it is an glamorous at times, they have grown with results,

they have won couple of games here and there, and they have given me

confidence. The additions of Gestede and Bamford, he hasn't played for a

while and he needs to get back to playing games and scoring goals,

there is a huge emphasis on Negredo holding the ball up and try to

score, he hasn't always leaves, but they have more bodies on the ground.

It hasn't always been glamorous, but let's not forget they need to stay

in the Premier League. That is the main thing, and at the moment, they

are doing things right, they are getting their wins. Yes, they need

to score more goals, but they don't want to give away goals, so yes, if

they can get Bamford firing up with the striker that is already there,

happy days. The Bamford, that could catch on, like the Donald! Not

Boro are at home to West Ham this afternoon.

Not even an Andy Carroll stunner could steal all the headlines

Martin Fisher is there for us. What is the latest on Payet? Apparently

he has been kicked out of the WhatsApp group, is that true? That

is one of the stories that has been doing the rounds this week, it

appears Dimitri Payet at is making enemies wherever he turns, the way

he is in training, the way he has handled the last few weeks, the

supporters have lost their love of him as well. Last season, they had

their own little song for him, it was one that had its own lyrics,

they have changed it now change those lyrics, but they are not the

sort of lyrics that I would repeat at this time of the day on national

television! Suffice to say Dimitri Payet at has played his last ever

game for West Ham United. Whether or not he leaves during the January

window or West Ham make him stew and sat him in the summer remains to be

seen, but they will sort out a deal in West Ham's interest, and he will

move on. West Ham have signed a play themselves, Joseph on join the club

last night freight million pounds. ?8 million for a 33-year-old sounds

like a lot of money, but the transfer market we have a moment,

prices are high, and Jose Fon, I know you like your quiz questions,

but which player in the Premier League one championships with his

country, and when his club side won the Champions League trophy? The

answer of course is... ? Jose Fonte? It is, well done! Sorry,

the delay didn't help very much. Still to come:

A big night for the non-leaguers as the FA Cup did the trick.

We go for a nosey around the Rosey Posey as Bonnyrigg prepare

And Hollywood star and Celtic fan James McAvoy takes

We'll turn our attention to West Brom, currently 8th

Tony Pulis celebrates his 25th anniversary as a manager this year,

and the boss has been talking to seasoned Baggie.

We've got a couple of pictures of you. If somebody when you were this

age gives you a new car and the money, how would you have ended up

as a different player, a different manager, a different person?

I go back to when I was 16, jumping on a train in Newport. I was one of

eight people living in a small terraced house down at the docks,

and I wanted never to go back home. I wanted to make this my life, and I

promised I would do everything I possibly could to stay in this sport

that I have loved ever since I can remember. I had been in courage to

from a very young age to learn by trade, coaching and listening to

people are playing. The systems you learned, have they stood you in good

stead for what you play now? We had a wonderful set up in England, and I

think it was better than anywhere in the world, we used to have a week at

Lilleshall, a week full of training, learning from Bobby Robson, Dave

Sexton, I haven't moved too far away from the basics that I learned at

that time. And the basics being what? Setting your team up properly,

making sure you play to the strings that you have got and getting the

best you can out of them. Is it important to be liked by the

players? You can't be a manager and be liked all the time, at least half

the squad would hate you, I would assume, because you are not egging

them. The most important thing is to try to be straight with them, and if

you try to be clever, eventually it will spin around and they will catch

you out, it is difficult because you know it will hurt their feelings,

but you have to do it, that is your job. So my thoughts have always been

to be as straight to them as you possibly can, whether they like it

or not, and one day, if they walk away, they will say, I didn't like

him, but he was a straight fella. Being marked down as that offending

by road, ten behind the ball, you don't need possession, you get fed

up with that? That is one thing I don't give a dam about. I had a

plan, a short-term plan, and that was to shake the dressing room up

and get rid of quite a few players, which we have managed to do, and

bring in a little more quality as we have gone along, but over the next

year, two years, we need to have good windows and sign players. The

aim is to bring in real top-quality players like Evans, good players

like Fletcher, people of that ilk, and then hopefully over the next

year or two, the younger players, they will learn of those, and then

eventually take those players' places. So if we can bring that

through and have a decent team for the next two or three years, we

won't be looking outside to bring others in. We can then promote

within and bring those kids, who are local lads, in through the team and

have a real good team, and a good structure and respect of age,

because that is important. So it is possible to be adventurous and

defend corners effectively? Is that really possible? Yes!

Tony Pulis has never had a team finish in the top half of the

Premier League. Could this be the season? The are doing really well.

Rewind the clock back to not so long ago, and the fans were going crazy

over the way that West Brom were playing, and the performances were

nowhere near as good as what they have been doing now, and so he has

really turned things around. He has unbelievable amounts of experience

and has done wonders at the club, and this season is probably his best

opportunity to finish in the top half. And Jake Livermore has come in

over a couple of million pounds, as well.

So Albion looking upwards, but it's a very different story

for their opponents today, Sunderland, who are currently 19th.

They also suffered an FA Cup exit on Tuesday, Sam Vokes header just

before half-time setting Burnley on their way.

And in-form Andre Gray sealed a place in the 4th

Round for Sean Dyche's men, shoving Billy Jones off the ball.

Steve Wilson is at the Hawthorns for us today. Can you fill us in on the

whereabouts of Joleon Lescott, we thought he was going to be with us,

he was training are having a medical with Sunderland, what is happening?

I gather he is in Sunderland doing some work with David Moyes ABBA

Sunderland training ground over the last week or so. -- doing some work

at the Sunderland training ground. The squad is desperate for a lift,

he can bring some international experience. Sunderland are in dire

straits, there is a mood and negativity about the place, losing

in the FA Cup is a long way from being the biggest problem. If you

think back 12 months ago, Sunderland effectively save themselves from

relegation when they signed carne, Khazri and Kirchhoff, and David

Moyes is making the point that they need something similar in this

January window, but there is no sign whatsoever of this happening, and

that must be immensely frustrating for the Sunderland manager. And for

the fans as well, thank you, Steve. More from Steve on Final Score and

Match Of The Day later. So Sunderland knocked out

of the FA Cup on Tuesday. But the night's most memorable

moments came elsewhere as Lincoln and Sutton kept the non-league

flag flying high. the teams emerged in front of this

main stand which is absolutely chock-a-block. Out comes the

goalkeeper to make a save. A clear, unmarked header. He touches on to

it. What colour is the card going to be? It has come back to Rory Deakin

who twists and turns and shoots and scores spectacularly. My word, this

is football at its glorious. And it is a goal for Saturn! And the

National League side can send out invitations. Throbbing with

anticipation of what is to come. A big chance! A brilliant save. He

gets a shot away. Good effort from the full-back. He plays it through.

Arnold to win the cup tie! In the dying seconds, they have done it.

What a night for a National League side.

The fourth round begins on Friday night as Derby take on Leicester.

And amongst the Rams' number is a man addicted to fancy footwear.

James Henry's looping effort gave them the lead just before half-time.

Then Christian Benteke with a solid header into the back of the net. Sam

Allardyce's first win as the boss. It sends Palace through. They will

probably want to replicate that success in the league today and

Jonathan Pearce is at Everton Park with a guess. A good win in the cup,

but 27 points over the year and it is relegation form. How deeply

concerned are you? Worried, obviously. It would be stupid if you

were not. If things go against us, we could be in the bottom three. It

is surprisingly have not been there yet. We have got to turn it around.

A good result midweek, so hopefully we can spring of that. Sam is famous

for his bounce factor. We have not had that in the league. Why has that

happened under him so far? We played very well against Watford when he

arrived. We probably would have won it if we had got the penalty. Then

Arsenal and Swansea was a poor performance across the season. We

have not put in many poor performances, but that was one of

them. The players are adapting, new coaches, new voice, you coaches, new

plans, and sometimes it takes time. At the end all that matters is where

you are in May and hopefully we will be in a good position then. How

difficult was the decision to make the change? I know you are close to

Alan Pardew, he was one of your heroes. Was it all your decision or

was it partly made by the American owners? Obviously I discuss things

with Josh and David, but they know I am the person on the ground. It was

a really tough decision. Anyone who says it is all the manager's fault,

of course it is not. We all have a plan and we all try to execute the

plan and we came up short. Maybe we try to change things too quickly. We

wanted to make our position better and the position suggests we have

not. I do not just blame Alan. We all have to take responsibility for

that. In the end he is the person at the training ground and sometimes

you need a jolt and a different voice and a change and that is what

we needed to do. I hope he will understand, I know he does, and he

will come back. He is a very good manager. When we were in this

position in 2015, he arrived and we got to a cup final. We have all got

to take responsibility for things not working, but now is not the time

to look too deeply. You have spent a lot of money on players in the last

couple of years. Is there money between now and the end of January

to further increase? Is that what the fans want to get you out of

trouble? Definitely, but we will not be stupid about it. It is an

expensive window and we expect that. In some instances you cannot get the

players. I was talking to an owner who said, you have done the right

thing, but we have got our own problems and we are not going to

sell at the moment. We are pleased we have got one in, and we are

hopeful we will get a couple more, but it is not easy. Are you

confident? Of staying in the league? Definitely, we have got a good

squad. But that is not enough. Having a great squad on paper, the

boys have got to change that into results and everyone knows that.

This will not be easy, but we are confident. We are not complacent,

but we are confident. We are doing the right things to fix it, but we

will be OK in the end. We are off now because it is perishing at

Selhurst Park. I am going in for a hot cup of coffee.

It is not very warm here. It's the 4th round of

the Scottish Cup this weekend and the most romantic tie sees

junior side Bonnyrigg Rose, who once had a rather

famous actor as a player, Eilidh Barbour couldn't resist

a bit of Bond bingo. Welcome to Bonnyrigg, where, once

upon a time, Sean Connery no less pulled on the red and white of the

Rose. But more than 60 years on from when

the would-be Bond played his part here, the club have licence to

thrill again. Their 1-0 victory over Dumbarton in the first round was the

first time in Scottish Cup history junior league team had beaten aside

from Scotland's second tier. Then exhibition, cup holders Hibs in

fourth round. 114 years! A game that has been moved from here to

Tynecastle, the home of hearts. 12,500 tickets and it is a sell-out.

??FORCED WHITE #, Goldfinger, he is the man with the Midas touch. It is

so real to be honest. We have to pinch ourselves sometimes. It has

been a great journey and hopefully it will continue after Saturday. To

see all the people coming to buy tickets on the sale day, we took 11

hours to sell out those allocated, but to see the fans queueing in the

changing room area and outside the ground, you can imagine what it will

be like on the day. It will be a family day, it will be fantastic for

the town. It will be great, bring it on, yes. Get back! The game has been

moved to Tynecastle, it is someone you know quite well. I was there for

a few years, but it is not about parts, it is all about Bonnyrigg and

the players and we have worked so hard in the last couple of years to

keep the club going. I was a Hibs fan and when we got drawn, I could

not believe it, we were going to be playing the cup-holders. I was there

on the 21st of May watching my team lift the cup for the first time and

I got stick from all the other players and I have had stick from

all the hearts players over the last couple of years and it will be good

to get my own back. The fact we are playing Hibs as well, I have been

buzzing about it, to be honest. Sean Connery played in the early 50s and

he played five games, he played Broxburn, a league game or a cup

game, I do not know, but he scored a cracker of a goal. He used to come

to the changing room and he used to get dressed in his civilian clothes

and everybody would envy the corduroy jacket. It was something

from Harrods and the players really loved him and he was a smart looking

gentleman and the players used to get jealous of him, but obviously he

went on to better things, James Bond. Hibs are strong and whatever

they put out on Saturday it will be a massive challenge for us. I hope

the players show what they are capable of. If they do that, they

will have a chance. If Hibs have an off day and we get a bit of luck on

the day, anything can happen. Good luck to Bonnyrigg this afternoon. He

was in Scotland can see hearts' tie tomorrow. Chapecoense take on the

Brazilian champions this weekend, so all the best to them as well. QPR

against Fulham is goalless. We have the former manager of QPR with us.

Are you desperate to get back into football? Desperate, not, but

looking for the right opportunity. Obviously it was not nice to be

relieved of my duties at QPR. I thought it was very premature

because a lot of things had to be changed and being six points off the

play-offs, the last game that we played against Nottingham Forest we

played with ten men and did really well to get a draw. So,

disappointing. But moving on and waiting for the right opportunity.

QPR have just scored whilst you have been talking. Well done, I need to

talk more often. And that opportunity, are you looking at

Championship level or would you go back to Burton? Burton is in the

Championship. You know what I mean. I want a good project, something

where the club really wants me and then I can do my job. The league

doesn't matter. Obviously we want to win things and play for promotion

and all those kind of things. I am ambitious. I want an ambitious club.

The goalkeeping coach? I asked him already and he said he is not

looking to go back into football as a coach. You seem to disagree about

everything, but you clearly get on. There is mutual respect. We see

things a bit different, but he is a top man.

Remember, next week's Focus comes live from Lincoln.

We'll finish with another famous Scottish actor,

Celtic fan James McAvoy, who's currently starring

He plays a character with 24 different personalities.

Don't worry. I'll talk to him. I grew up supporting Celtic football

club. Henrik Larsson was huge for me. We could have sold him for

millions at any point and he was loyal to Celtic and wanted the

Celtic experience. I was a bit iffy about Brendan Rodgers when he came

in. But he has taken pretty much the same squad we had last year and he

made us play much more like a Rolls-Royce. It is a must win game

for West Ham. Must win game. 2-0 to West Ham. That is a big one. I am

looking for a thriller. 3-3. I think it is going to be 3-0.