Mail on Sunday

Did Julie Christie Snub a Damehood?

JULIE CHRISTIE is at the centre of speculation that she has rejected an award in the New Years Honours List. It has been claimed that the star, right, who won the 1965 Best Actress Oscar for her role in Darling, was approached about a damehood.

Odonnell Inspired Victory

CHRIS PORTER last night dedicated his first hat-trick for Motherwell to the memory of Phil ODonnell and claimed the former captain had inspired the Fir Park side to their first victory in eight matches. Porter and his team-mates mentioned ODonnell, who tragically died during the win over Dundee United at Fir Park on this weekend a year ago, during their pre-match huddle before yesterdays game against Inverness Caley.

Memorial to Postie Who Died in Blizzard

HE was a dedicated worker whose unstinting devotion to an isolated rural community cost him his life. But now a postman who died in a blizzard while delivering mail to the farms and hamlets surrounding his Ayrshire home is to be remembered 100 years after his death.

All We Need Is a Miracle ; (1) Owen Can Be the Saviour, Despite Our Injury List, Says Kinnear (2) Kinnear Admits: What Can Ido, Besides Pray?

JOE KINNEAR is praying Michael Owen can produce his very best form for troubled Newcastle today and prove against his first club, Liverpool, that he can still make an impact on the big stage. Newcastles hopes appear to be resting on the shoulders of the England striker as he steps out to face the leaders at St James Park.

Madrid to Come Back Forpennant

Mowbray Confident He Can Repeat Great Escape

TONY MOWBRAY has vowed to repeat the miracle of 2005 and keep West Bromwich in the Premier League despite propping up the table at Christmas. Albion are the only team in Premier League history to have risen from bottom spot at this time of year to survive relegation, hauling themselves to fourth bottom under Bryan Robson on the final day of the 2004-05 season. Mowbray is now targeting eight more wins to keep them out of the bottom three again, despite not having money to spend in the transfer...

League One & Two

DARLINGTON v CHESTERFIELD CHESTERFIELD find out tomorrow if they will receive an FA Cup reprieve over allegations that Droylsden fielded an ineligible player against them in last weeks second-round replay.

Hendon Takes Over at Underhill As Fairclough Steps Down Early ; League One & Two

BOURNEMOUTH V BARNET Today 3.0pm IAN HENDON will become Barnets new manager tomorrow after Paul Fairclough stands down following their League Two match at Bournemouth.

Great Scott ; (1) Strachan Salutes Hero Mcdonald and Wants Celtics Other Strikers to Emulate His Aussie Match-Winner(2) Celtic Strikers Goal Delight As Boss Praises Borucs Role (3) My Winner Was Up There with the Best I Have Scored, Claims Hero Mcdonald

RANGERS 0 CELTIC 1 McDonald (58) CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan last night hailed Old Firm goal hero Scott McDonald as his first-choice forward and challenged his remaining strikers to prove they are worthy of partnering the Australian.

Scott Settles a Massive Score ; a Tale of Two Strikers Goes Leaders Way As Mcdonald Finds Golden Touch to Leave Boyd in the Shadows Again

RANGERS.....0 CELTIC........1

Nakamura Call-Off Forced Strachan to Hand Mizuno an Old Firm Debut

GORDON STRACHAN last night admitted he felt obliged to hand Koki Mizuno an Old Firm debut in order to inject some flair into his side. With Aiden McGeady suspended for a breach of club discipline, Shaun Maloney injured and Shunsuke Nakamura a late call-off with a virus, the Celtic manager entered yesterdays Ibrox encounter bereft of creative options.

Adam Insists Rangers Can Answer Smiths Call Forunbeaten Run ; (1) ...But Ibrox Campwont Concede Their Title Dream Is Over (2) Celtic Hauled Themselves Back Into Contention Last Season and We Can Do the Same

WALTER SMITH had a monumental ask for his players in the aftermath of yesterdays Old Firm defeat. Charlie Adam offered an emphatic answer that Rangers fans had better hope is the correct one as they start 2009 seven points adrift of Celtic in the title race. The Rangers manager stared up at the yawning gap that now exists between his side and the champions, then conceded that an unbeaten run until the end of the season is the only way his players are going to stop Gordon Strachans team from m...

Calderwood Slates Zaliukas Over Gesture

JIMMY CALDERWOOD last night launched a scathing attack on Hearts defender Marius Zaliukas for attempting to get one of his players booked. Instead, the Lithuanian was cautioned by referee Iain Brines, who later red-carded him for elbowing Dons substitute Andrew Considine in the face as the pair jostled for position at a Hearts corner in the second half.

Miller Magic Wins It ; Tempers Reach Melting Point but Aberdeen Underline Their Euro Ambition

ABERDEEN...1 Miller (36) HEARTS......0 TOP scorer Lee Millers wonder goal delivered Aberdeens first win in six attempts over Hearts and kept his side firmly on course for a return to Europe.

Craig Sees Right Signs Despite All the Misses

CRAIG LEVEIN believes it is a sign of progression that his Dundee United players were able to edge out the match with Falkirk after suffering so many disappointments in front of goal. The Tannadice side missed a host of chances throughout the 90 minutes against the Bairns and had to rely on Scott Robertsons first- half effort to win them full points.

United Find the Hardest Way to Win at a Canter

DUNDEE UTD.......1 Robertson (21) FALKIRK............0

Peaks and Troughs ; (1) in a Year of Utter Extremes, When One Door has Opened Another has Slammed Firmly Shut in the Face of Scottish Football During 2008(2) Review of 2008

WITH apologies to all the Charles Dickens fanatics out there, it really was the best of times and the worst of times for Scottish football in 2008. Only in our little world could one major club, 83 days after going the distance of a marathon European season to contest a UEFA Cup Final, be sent crashing by Lithuanian lightweights next time out. Celtic were mixing with Champions League knockout stage foes Barcelona early in the year, then met with a debacle in Denmark against the Superligaens s...

Forest Switch Is News to Me, Says Hero Chris

CHRIS PORTER fired a hat-trick to aid his ailing Motherwell side, then gave the Steelmen a further boost by dismissing reports he is preparing to return to England. The Fir Park striker delighted the home fans with his scoring display against relegation rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle, on an emotional day for all involved at Motherwell.

Porter Carries the Day As Fans Round On Brewster

MOTHERWELL...........3 Porter (8, 39, 78) INVERNESS.............2 Tokely (44), Rooney (90)

Jefferies:That Was the Best Ever

JIM JEFFERIES hailed Kilmarnocks performance at Easter Road as the best in his seven-year reign as manager. He said: I am very proud of the players. Even at half-time, when we had lost the two-goal lead and were down to 10 men, I said we would get chances to win the game if we stuck to our game-plan.