Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 2 November 2004

2 November 2004

Ashley Sestanovich has done the decent thing and said sorry for being such a pillock last Saturday. The on-loan Sheffield United forward, who refused to demean himself by sitting on the substitutes' bench for Town's game against Swansea, brings to mind that brilliant joke about the inflatable boy in admitting: "I would like to say that I am sorry for letting anyone down. I'm sorry for letting the club down, the gaffer, team-mates, myself and more importantly the fans." Which is nice, since Mr Russell Slade neglected to mention the fans in his list of deflated parties. The aforementioned gaffer draws a line under the whole unsavoury episode by adding: "That's the end of the matter now." As a Town fan I am satisfied; as the Diary, a bit disappointed, to be honest. We could have had a lot of fun if this had dragged on for a while.

Staying for the moment with that wholly unsatisfactory Swansea match, and the penalty that Town fluffed early in the second half, Michael Reddy has had stitches in his foot in the hope of making the dive that won the spot-kick look even more convincing. The Irishman who cried "Ow!" could now sit out this Saturday's epoch-defining derby clash with Scunthorpe, just to complete the effect.

If, like the Diary, your indifference to the Premiership was briefly suspended at the weekend while you mildly enjoyed seeing the tedious gaggle of cheats that calls itself Manchester United defeated by the excellently supported Portsmouth FC, then here's something to make you choke on your early afternoon cup of tea. So overwhelmed was Pompey boss Harry Redknapp after the game by the rapid recent progress of his side that he blurted: "Three years ago we were playing Grimsby or someone. No disrespect to Grimsby but now we have just beaten Manchester United. It is unreal." Yeah, and losing to "Grimsby or someone" as well. No disrespect, Harry, but you're an insignificant, sweat-stained, shallow, dog-faced retard.