Mail on Sunday

Alistair Cant Answer His Critics

ALISTAIR DARLING last night faced further ridicule for refusing to answer direct questions in a TV interview. On five occasions, the panicking Chancellor refused to move beyond a prepared statement, robotically parroting the same phrases about credit crunch, oil and food prices and every other country in the world.

80,000 to Flee New Orleans in Hurricane Alert

HUNDREDS of people lined up to flee New Orleans yesterday as a major hurricane headed for the city, nearly three years to the day since it was devastated by the winds and floods of Katrina. They queued with their belongings at a bus and train terminal, ahead of a mandatory evacuation order expected to be issued today.

Mother Is Killed in Mountain Ridgefall

A TREACHEROUS mountain ridge has claimed the life of a woman and badly injured her young daughter and husband. The 38-year-old mother fell 100ft with her husband and six-year- old daughter down the steep north side of Sharp Edge, a difficult route to the summit of Blencathra in the Lake District.

Thousands of Uk Tourists Stranded Bythai Protests

THOUSANDS of British tourists were stranded in Thailand last night as anti-government mobs laid siege to airports. Protesters stormed the runway and terminals at Phuket, the countrys top tourist destination, causing 15,000 passengers to be turned away.

Boy Stabbed to Death at Party

A MURDER investigation has been launched after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death following an argument at a party. Police were called to a house in Ashcombe Road, Old Swan, Liverpool, just after 7am yesterday where they discovered the youth had been stabbed. He died in hospital.

Wendys Not the Peoples Darling ; Black Dog in Holyrood

POOR Wendy Alexander. Just when she thought the worst criticism of her had passed, up steps Chancellor Alistair Darling. During his startlingly frank interview on the dire state of the economy, he paused to take a quick side-swipe at the failed Holyrood Labour leader. Not likeable at all, he pronounced, without elaboration.

Owen for Sale ; Newcastle Striker Can Leave for As Little As [Pounds]2million, Say Board

MICHAEL OWEN is up for sale after contract talks with Newcastle broke down. If the club receive an acceptable offer before the transfer window closes at midnight tomorrow, Owen will be playing for a new team when he returns from international duty with England.

Nolan Will Fight On to Beat Slow Horses Cull ; Turf Talk

THE British Horseracing Authoritys attempts to improve the standard of racing, by strategically weeding out the sports poorest performers, last night met with an angry response from the proud owner of some of Scottish racings best-loved losers. As reported in Sportsmail in June, a series of measures targeting the 800 lowest-rated Flat horses were being drawn up by the BHA. Those plans were finally formalised this week, with an announcement that the bottom rung of races classified or non-hand...

Lee Back-Tracks On Greens After Burning It Up

LEE WESTWOOD, the man who labelled the Gleneagles greens so bad that his kids could have done a better job designing them in a single afternoon, was forced to eat his words yesterday. Westwood, the highest ranked player in the [pounds]1.4 million Johnnie Walker Championship, justified his standing when he took route 66 in the third round.

Recruit Riordan ; Matchwinner Driver Says Frozen-Out Celtic Forward Would Light Up Gorgie with Goals

HEARTS winger Andy Driver grabbed the goal which took Hearts into second place in the SPL table last night then insisted that signing Celtic reject Derek Riordan would be the answer to the clubs goal drought. Driver believes that the controversial former Hibs and Scotland striker, who has also been the subject of interest from the Easter Road club, is the obvious solution to the teams scoring problems.

Farmer Must Stumpup Cash for Riordan or Risk a Winter of Discontent

THERE was not even a faint glimmer of hope for the fuming Hibs fans who trudged out of Easter Road yesterday. A week that saw a Co- operative Insurance Cup exit to Morton ended with another SPL defeat yesterday. There was no positive news on the transfer front, either. Derek Riordan looks unlikely to be returning to his Leith roots before tomorrows transfer window closes as club owner Sir Tom Farmer sticks to his strict financial policy and Hearts circle.

Suttons Comfort with Best Team-Mates Ive Ever Had

MATCH-WINNER John Sutton scored his second goal in as many games, then insisted that his new Motherwell team-mates are the best he has known. The much-travelled striker punished slack marking in the Hibs defence with 11 minutes remaining to secure the Fir Park sides first win of the campaign and leave the hosts with only one victory in 11 games.

Simons Simple Slip Lets Driverspeed In

N E W D O U G L A S PA R K w a s supposed to be a fortress but it was more like a temple of doom for the SPLs new boys yesterday. Accies hadnt lost a league game at home for 15 months and that was their only defeat in their previous 35 fixtures on their own patch. This was a reminder, if it was required, that they are now operating in a different league. Mistakes which may have gone unpunished last season will be gratefully seized upon by opponents.

Doctor Doctor

Misfiring Saints in Seven-Hit Hangover ; Smash N Grab Dons Dispense a Clinical Lesson in Finishing

ST MIRREN wished they had kept a goal or two up their collective sleeves, instead of making midweek mugs of Dumbarton, as yet another SPL blank saw them stay second-bottom of the table. After sending seven past Third Division Dumbarton, Gus MacPhersons side reverted to normal service, once more pulling up short in Premier League action from a display which merited more.

Thats What You Call a Mugging Gus

GUS MacPHERSON insisted that neither he nor Aberdeen should be capable of understanding how the best football his St Mirren team had played did not yield at least a point yesterday. The Saints boss hailed his sides display but was left dejected, with only one point from four matches, as Aberdeen headed north with three points in their swag bag.

Shut-Out Kings Killie End a Six-Year Drought to Go Top

TANNADICE has been an unhappy place for Kilmarnock in recent seasons but yesterday they ended a six-year winless streak in the city of Dundee to move top of the Premier League. Jim Jefferies side had visited the northeast 10 times, with only one win to their credit, but they doubled that tally with an impressive victory.

Beefed-Up Squad Gives Jefferies More Muscle

KILMARNOCK manager Jim Jefferies believes his sides win over Dundee United was down to the fact he can now adopt a horses for courses approach to team selection. The Rugby Park side sit top of the Premier League after goals from Gavin Skelton and Danny Invincibile saw off Craig Leveins men on their home turf.

Bairns at Rock Bottom Thanks to Impish Imrie

DOUGLAS IMRIE piled the agony on to Falkirk manager John Hughes by netting a late strike to make it four straight defeats for the Bairns. Imrie had been on the park for two minutes, after replacing Iain Vgurs, w h e n h e t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f a defensive mix- up to fire high into the top corner of the net.

Live the Dream ; Burley Never Got to Play at Spain 82 but Just Being Part of Aworld Cup Squad Was a Thrill He Willuse to Inspire the Class of 2008

LIKE the rest of his singing companions on the hit record, George Burley was a Scottish footballer in 1982 to have a dream. For many of them, dreams came true because they played for Scotland at a World Cup Finals. This was a thrilling tournament in Spain. There was the David Narey goal against Brazil before the brilliance of Zico, Socrates and Falcao could only be marvelled at, not moaned about, in Seville.