Mail on Sunday

Win Vip Tickets to See Celtic Face Motherwell

WE'RE offering one lucky reader the chance to win three Celtic hospitality tickets to next Saturday's meeting with Motherwell at Parkhead. As the SPL title race continues to heat up, it should be a superb game and you could be there, courtesy of Carling.

Fireworks Are Never Far Away When Celtic Travel to Tynecastle, Says Mcglynn and Laszlo Is Going to Love It

ANYONE seeking respite from the November chill this afternoon could do worse than park themselves near the Tynecastle technical area. Just don't get too close, though, because the heat emanating from the touchline during a Hearts v Celtic match can bring temperatures and tempers close to boiling point.

Wife and Soul of the Party ; Sarah Brown Called Into the Front Line Again As Labour Fears a Disaster in Glenrothes

PRIME Minister's wife Sarah Brown has become Labour's new secret weapon as the party launches its last ditch effort to win the Glenrothes by-election on Thursday. Yesterday, she spent several hours knocking on doors and canvassing in one of the most deprived areas of the Fife constituency, Methil and Buckhaven.

Scott Bouncing Back to His Best ; Mcdonald Is Smiling Again After Putting His Injury Woe Behind Him

SCOTT McDONALD helped launch The Official Biography Of Celtic on Friday convinced that, having been written out of the 2008/09 SPL story for a month, he is back on top form and ready to play a lead role in title tales of Parkhead future. McDonald's season has been, in comparison to his superb scoring streak last term, a disappointment, with only four goals in contrast to the 11 he netted at the same stage 12 months ago. But the gutsy Australian points to a groin injury sustained after just tw...

Now Sir Sean Wades In

JAMES Bond star Sir Sean Connery yesterday sent a message of support to the Scottish National Party's candidate in the Glenrothes by-election. The veteran actor and prominent SNP supporter said he thought Peter Grant would be an 'excellent representative' for voters in the Fife constituency.

Why an Obama Win Is Brown's American Dream

HOME and away, in Glenrothes, Fife, and Washington DC, this could be a good week for Gordon Brown. On Tuesday, the United States is likely to elect its first black president, Barack Obama, and on Thursday, Lindsay Roy could retainthe GlenrothesseatforLabour.

Nhs Workers Set for Strike Ballot in Fight for More Pay

NHS staff are preparing to strike in a dispute over low pay. More than 15,000 workers in Scotland are taking part in a ballot that could lead to community nurses, radiographers and health care scientists walking out before Christmas.

Selkirk's Joy Cut Short As Home Hero Cassidy Suffers a Horror Injury ; Rugby Extra

SELKIRK stunned Premier champions Boroughmuir with a 6-0 success at Philiphaugh but the win was soured by a head injury to David Cassidy. Cassidy thumped over the Borderers' two penalties before being taken to hospital with concussion. He was the victim of a horrific accidental collision when he attempted to latch on to an Andy Hadden kick.

Mclaren Hire Extra Security to Quell the Threat of Pit 'Sabotage'

LEWIS HAMILTON'S McLaren team have stepped up their security to prevent the 23-year-old British driver's bid to become the youngest world champion in Formula One history being sabotaged in Brazil. As tension mounted ahead of Hamilton's showdown with Brazilian Felipe Massa in Sao Paulo this afternoon, a McLaren spokesman confirmed last night: 'We have extra security personnel and we have taken extra security measures.' Three security staff will be stationed in the McLaren pits to guard against...

Peace Talks ; Exclusive: Burley Speaks with Barry and Senior Scots Stars to Make Sure Squad Is United

GEORGE BURLEY has held clear-the-air talks with Barry Ferguson and other senior members of the national squad over their Scotland futures in order to stamp on rumours of deeper dissent within the ranks. The national coach made his move in the wake of Rangers pair Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd, two close friends of Ferguson, quitting his Scotland set-up during the current World Cup campaign.

Boyd Scores Three Out of Five

Fergie: Celts Can't Go Further

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has told Gordon Strachan to forget his dream of taking Celtic into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Speaking ahead of Manchester United's visit to Parkhead on Wednesday, Ferguson insisted the financial might of Europe's top clubs has effectively made the latter stages of the competition a closed shop.

Black Dog

Daves entrance is premium Bond DAVID CAMERONS James Bond complex he had all the novels on his Eton bookshelves and has seen each film three times led to a quantum of hilarity at Conservative HQ. Walking into a recent staff meeting, the Tory leader threw his jacket in a cool arc across the room, where it landed perfectly on a coat stand. Good morning, Mish Moneypenny, he said, as female aides pretended to swoon.

Black Dog in Holyrood

Fitba thug MSP is peoples hero THE fall-out continues from the rammy between the Scottish parliaments football team and a side made up of sports journalists. A crunching tackle from Labour list MSP John Park on BBC sports pundit Chick Young was the main flashpoint in last weekends game, abandoned by the referee after 55 minutes. But Mr Youngs subsequent whingeing, added to his unpopularity among Scottish football fans, has led to them dubbing Mr Park the John Smeato of Holyrood and launching...

Huge Drop in Profits Threatens M&S Divi

PROFITS at Marks & Spencer have plunged by a third, sparking fears in the City that it may be forced to cut its dividend as conditions on the High Street worsen. Half-year profits, due to be released on Tuesday, are expected to be about [pounds]300 million compared with [pounds]452 million last year after sales tumbled as markets declined.

Taking His Time ; Skipper Ferguson Returns to a Five-Star Rout but Vows Not to Rush His Recovery

BARRY FERGUSON admitted he messed up at the end of last season over his ankle problem but, after making a long-awaited comeback yesterday, has no intention of wrecking his rehab on the way back to his best for Rangers. The Ibrox skipper was a second-half substitute in the win over Inverness, playing 35 minutes after his team-mates had already streaked into a 5-0 lead with all goals coming in the first period.

A Half-Hearted Drubbing

RANGERS 5 INVERNESS CT 0 Novo (7), Boyd (14, 19, 28 pen), Miller 45 RANGERS destroyed Inverness with five first-half goals, a Kris Boyd hat-trick and help from the type of dismal defensive work that marks the visitors down for a winter fighting relegation.

O'donovan's Dimissal Like a Red Rag to Levin

FALKIRK 0 DUNDEE UTD 1 THE 55th-minute dismissal of Roy ODonovan was the main talking point of this stalemate. It seemed, even allowing for the pressure on referees to punish aggressive play, a harsh decision by Iain Brines to decide that the strikers challenge on Gerard Aafjes was worthy of a straight red card. The Irishman appeared to have won the ball but he was ordered off and that prompted a lament from United manager Craig Levein as to where the modern game is headed.

Home Rule at Long Last ; Alukos Strike Seals Avictory to Rid the Dons of That Horror Pittodrie Tag

ABERDEEN 1 KILMARNOCK O Aluko (51) RISING star Sone Aluko delivered a superb match-winner which finally rid Aberdeen of the tag as the team with the worst home record in the country.

I Knew I Would Score the Winner Admits Super Sone

SONE ALUKO exacted revenge on Jamie Hamill by scoring the match- winner which ended Aberdeens misery at Pittodrie. The winger, shrewdly acquired for [pounds]75,000 from Birmingham, made that fee look a bargain with the brilliant goal which settled an exciting contest.