Hope Is Not Enough

27 Years, that's how long it has been since the national football team of Wales claimed victory over their senior counterparts from England and, in all honesty, they should not be changing that fact when the the two sides meet for the second Anglo-Welsh clash this year.

It took just fourteen minutes in March for England to wrap up victory at the Millennium Stadium, Frank Lampard converting a penalty and Darren Bent slotting home from close range.

The past twelve months have been a torrid time for Welsh football, John Toshack stepped down as manager of the side following a qualifying defeat to Montenegro a year ago, leaving the FAW board with the task of finding and appointing a successor capable of turning the tide of a sinking ship.

Since ending 2007 in a vaguely respectable 57th place on the FIFA rankings there has been an irreversible slide that has seen the Welsh drop, almost stonelike in fashion, down to 117th, below the likes of the Central African Republic, Antigua and the Faroe Islands. In the latest table they remain just two points ahead of Grenada.

Following Toshack's departure Brian Flynn, coach of the under-21 side, was handed the reins in a temporary spell as a test of his calibre, he didn't get the job, the task eventually falling into the lap of Gary Speed, inexperienced at club management, let alone international.

The barren spell was not arrested by fresh blood, the Welsh lost to Ireland in the Carling Nations Cup before one of the biggest games the country had seen for nigh on five years, England were coming to town. We all know how that one finished and Speed would have to wait another two games before claiming his first win, beating a woefully understrength Northern Irish line-up in a scarcely populated Aviva Stadium, Dublin, just 529 people turning up for the game, less than 200 of those were actually supporters of either country.

And then, salvation. Cardiff City Stadium, now one of the national team venues that are used in rotation, played host, not least because of the paltry crowds that turned the Millennium Stadium from a cauldron into a cave. Montenegro, daring to challenge England atop qualifying group G, were the visitors and Wales gave them one hell of a ride. Where the spirit and vigour for such a performance came from we can't be quite sure but wherever it was it couldn't have come soon enough for supporters. Steve Morison opened his international account before captain Aaron Ramsey doubled the advantage, not even a Stevan Jovetic consolation could take the shine off Speed's first competitive win.

A modicum of pride has been restored to Wales, though it should prove to be no more than a cruel build up of hope once the trip to Wembley is done and dusted.

The history doesn't stack up well for Tuesday's Wembley visitors either, just once in five trips to England have Wales come up trumps, that was in 1977, while the last time any venue saw a victory for the Dragons was 1984. History, form and the squads, on paper at least, do not seem to favour Wales, neither do the bookies. England are 1/7 to win, their opponents are way out at 20, does any more really need to be said?

The star of the show, Craig Bellamy, picked up a yellow in Friday's win, thus ruling him out of this one. No rest for the wicked.

"Hopefully we'll nick a result over there." Was the resoundingly uneasy comment to come from Gareth Bale pre-match. Hope springs eternal, it does for Welsh football at least, but to dispose of England, regardless of their form at Wembley, a little more than hope is required. Wales will have to play at their best, England, not so much so.

Will it be the formality that Britain, nay, the entire footballing world expects? I wouldn't want to be seen as writing them off completely, but...

Paul Buckle Untroubled By Slow Start

Despite an inconsistent start to life at Bristol Rovers Paul Buckle is confident that he and his squad can get the results, it just won't happen overnight.

Spirits amongst supporters dropped after a dismal display on Saturday saw the Gas come away with nothing but a 4-1 defeat to title favourites Crawley to show for their troubles, a result that left Buckle disappointed, not only in the performance of his players, but in his own showing.

"Everyone wanted to get off to a cracking start and be top of the league, but it is a long, long season." Commented the former Torquay boss.

"If we were sitting in the play-offs now, you wouldn't catch me jumping around saying we were the finished article and I am certainly not going to stand here now a few games in and be worried.

"We have a long way to go until we get the rebuild right. Saturday was not nice for us, the players know that, and we put a few things right yesterday, and tomorrow night will be another opportunity to get on the front foot and try and win the game.

"On Saturday we played a good side who have been together for a while, and they are the bookies favourites for a reason. The one thing that disappointed us is that we know we can play a lot better. We didn't perform Saturday; me, the staff and the players."

Buckle continued by bemoaning the injuries that have prevented him from sending out a settled side on a regular basis, a factor that lead to Rovers conceding three goals from set pieces at the Broadfield Stadium.

"I have signed some excellent people, we have all come together very quickly, that is not an excuse, but we need a bit of time to understand each other.

"We have had a lot of injuries, we still have good players to come in, it is always an opportunity for other players to come in and do well, but ultimately the sooner we can get an 11 on the pitch on a regular basis, then the understanding will come.

"I am not saying we didn't try on Saturday, we did, we had a go, we were just very loose on set plays. We have been watertight up to then, two clean sheets in the last two league games.

"We got tested to the max at Macclesfield, but on Saturday we came unstuck. Teams don't have to do an awful lot on games these days to get something if you are not switched on in the 18 yard box.

"They had six shots on our goal and scored four goals. We know that we have got to be better in the 18 yard box, and that is something I will instill at the club."

Sunday saw the Rovers squad called in for extra training by their gaffer, though he insists it was not so much a disciplinary action as a chance to evaluate what has passed so far this season.

"It wasn't a punishment, I think that if you have to punish people, you need to get rid of them. It was a case that we needed to have a chat as a group, the players need to know where I am coming from, and what we expect.

"Basically it was to have a look at what we have achieved so far, there was lots of good, and a few bits that weren't so good.

"We are trying to build something at the club, we are trying to get wins, but we are also trying to build a mentality which was not here before we got here."

It was then revealed that two players picked up knocks on Saturday that could prevent them from lining up against Wycombe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday night. There was, however, good news about full back Gary Sawyer who has spent the opening weeks on the sidelines recovering from a hernia operation.

"We are hoping Gary Sawyer will be back today. Joe Anyinsah is a no, and Adam Virgo is struggling with his calf. Chris Zebroski got a whack on Saturday.

"At the moment it seems to be one step forward and two back in terms of getting players back on the training field. But that is life, that happens.

"The place is very healthy, I am delighted with a lot of things. We had a harsh result in the week, the players gave so much and we lost by the odd goal."

Questions then moved to the loan window which opens up again in midweek, Buckle claiming to be caught in two minds as to whether any new faces needed to join his squad.

"It is catch 22. I am speaking to 'Kitey' [physiotherapist Phil Kite] all the time in regards to how long the players are going to be. Right now if you offered me two players, of course I would like two players to come into the squad.

"But, in a week's time I have got players coming back, you have a dilemma there. I would have brought players to the club to play, and it is going to be a period of time for them to settle in and find their feet, so I don't really want to overload.

"We have taken a hit with injuries at the moment, it is not a good time to go to Crawley, but we will take it on the chin. We were not good enough on Saturday, and we will be working very hard to put it right."

Before moving on to his next training session Buckle saved the last word for the fans, over 900 of whom made the journey to Sussex, only to witness defeat.

"The biggest plus again for me was the supporters. I know so many clubs where they would have booed us off, but they didn't do it. They weren't happy, I could see that, we are not happy. But if we stick together we will come out on top."

Rovers Hope For A Change In Luck

It's times like these that have fans split down the middle as to whether the distraction of cup football is a help or a hindrance. Without a ninety minute win in five games Bristol Rovers had their pride damaged by a 4-1 defeat away at Crawley Town on Saturday, the Reds one of the sides they were supposedly competing with for the League 2 title.

The early season tips of promotion have thus far been found wanting as Rovers sit 14th in the division, not languishing in the grand scheme of things but for a set of supporters whose hopes were raised by the high calibre of pre-season performances and the encouraging words that rolled off Paul Buckle's tongue their start has been none to impressive. Out of the last 270 minutes of football played only 45 have been up to the expected standard, though by that time they were already 2-0 down to Leyton Orient.

The entirety of the team are yet to perform in sync this season, when the defence have held firm the forwards have been found wanting and vice-versa. When the Pirates do hit their rhythm and produce that elusive complete performance you feel that they will be hard to handle, what remain are the questions of when such a display will be produced and whether it can be built upon in time for a tilt at promotion, play-off or otherwise.

This will be the fourth week in a row that the Gas have played Saturday-Tuesday games, the postponement of their first round Carling Cup tie can field the blame for that, and while fatigue should not be a major factor at such an early stage of the season it could end up being a key element against a Wycombe side who will come into the game refreshed, having not played for ten days. Saturday's League 1 fixture with Preston was postponed due to the number of Deepdale based players on international duty, giving Gary Waddock's men a break from competition.

Having started their league season unbeaten in three the Chairboys have proceeded to lose their last two on the trot as well as receiving a 4-1 thumping by Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The only side they have managed a victory over this term are bottom of the table Leyton Orient who only claimed their first point last weekend in a basement clash with Chesterfield.

Wanderers have shared their nine goals around, only Joel Grant and Scott Donnelly making it past the lonely one while Rovers can boast only one man who can claim such an accolade, former Wycombe striker Matt Harrold netting three goals.

Harrold is not the only player who has played in the sky and navy blue quarters either, both Scott McGleish and Chris Zebroski have been a part of Wycombe line-ups in seasons gone by. On the other side the Chairboys squad contains no less than two ex-Gasmen, wing back Andy Sandell spent a season at the Memorial Stadium, winning promotion via the League 2 play-offs in the process, while central defender James Tunnicliffe was a member of the Rovers squad that was relegated from the third tier last season.

Since then, and since last years Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie, the two clubs have switched both divisions and seasonal targets, Rovers looking for promotion while Wycombe will attempt to stave off the drop come May. That JPT game, also played at Adams Park, saw the Pirates address a poor run of form with an enthralling 6-3 away win, Jo Kuffour scoring a hat-trick in the process, Scott Rendell snapping up the three Wanderers goals on that occasion.

Kuffour is unlikely to trouble Wycombe in this seasons meeting though, the striker looking to orchestrate a move away from Bristol, closer to his London home, Wanderers one of the clubs linked with the tricky forward on a seasons loan deal.

Left back Gary Sawyer could make his first appearance of the season in Buckinghamshire as he looks to have recovered well from a hernia operation. Joe Anyinsah will be missing, once again with a hamstring injury, while Adam Virgo is a doubt with a calf strain. Defender Cian Bolger is definitely out with an ankle ligament injury while Chris Zebroski could be on the sidelines having taken a big hit against Crawley.

Badminton's Greatest Fighter

In the grand scheme of sporting comebacks, Kim Clijsters returning from motherhood to win the US Open, Lance Armstrong fighting back from cancer to claim the Tour de France title, the Slovakian Open, an international series tournament on the world badminton calender, may not have quite the same ring to it, what it does provide, however, is proof that Petr Koukal has successfully fought back from his life threatening illness.

September 2010, Koukal had just completed the Bitburger Open, returning home to the Czech Republic having swept nearly all before him to reach the semi-finals, including the number 3 seed and world number 16 Rajiv Ouseph on the way. Little over a fortnight later, during a routine check-up with his doctor, came the devastating diagnosis of cancer.

Fast forward three months to December and Koukal was able to reveal to the world that he had been give the all clear after three cycles of chemotherapy, 'It was very hard experience,' admitted the philosophical shuttler, 'but I believe that it will only make me stronger and tougher.'

After just two months training Koukal returned to the court to defend his mantle as Czech national champion. It was never in doubt. The final in Prerov pitted the four time defending champ against Tomas Kopriva with an opportunity to complete a fairytale return to the court, the 25 year old duly obliging to claim his fifth consecutive national title.

Numerous small tournaments later and with a world ranking hovering around the late 60's came the next step in Koukal's recovery, a chance to take to the world stage again for the Sudirman cup in Qingdao, China. Playing in the third tier of the tournament the Czech's ended as runners-up in their group, Koukal winning two of his three matches before his team were forced to pull out, handing the Vietnamese a walkover and 23rd place.

Following all the positivity from his recovery there was still one other major tournament for Koukal to try his hand at before the year was out, the 2011 World Championships in London. Unfortunately for the Czech it didn't go quite to plan as he was on the wrong end of a 21-5 21-8 thrashing, Ukrainian Dmytro Zavadsky his conqueror. It was difficult to hide the disappointment after such a harrowing defeat but when you've come so far in such a short time you can't let go of your self belief, and there was never any doubt that Koukal was going to continue.

Onto Slovakia, then. Without dropping a game the big Czech made it to the final to face left-handed Pole Hubert Paczek, ranked 316 by the BWF. Koukal opened the match with five straight points, his lead extended to seven at the mid-game interval thanks to a flurry of powerful attacking strokes. Paczek pulled back a couple of points but in the end it was academic as his opponent took the first game by a 10 point margin, winning 21-11 on the first of his nine game points.

Though the second game saw a far more purposeful display from the Pole it was Koukal who stormed to a 21-15 victory in the second game, buoyed by the support of the horn-blowing crowd, the Czech fourth seed's all round game proving too strong for Paczek to deal with.

"You know I was so disappointed after a poor performance at the worlds in London that I decided to come here to Slovakia to try and get some wins under my belt." Said the bubbly Koukal after his victory. "But now it’s clear to me that actually London was meant to be and I was supposed to come here and win this tournament and really it’s a great feeling to win again."

To stand in the face of cancer and come out the other end as mentally tough as ever is a testament to the mindset of Koukal who never once showed that his illness was getting the better of him. Where others may have folded it shows that the physical abilities of this extraordinary athlete are not the only attributes that make him a world class sportsman, but the way he dealt with the psychological ramifications of facing his toughest opponent to date.

It is nearly a year after the soul destroying diagnosis for Koukal who has never once thrown in the towel when faced with a life-threatening adversary and now, less than twelve months after waiting for a totally different set of results, the strong willed shuttler is now eagerly anticipating Thursday's release of the latest world ranking tables. The push has begun for Koukal as he looks to force his career back to where it stood before, if he continues in the same vain it won't be long before he achieves his goal in a quite remarkable manner.

Out Of Form Rovers And Reds Look For Boost

It is the game that will have League 2 punters keenly watching their computer screens for minute-by-minute updates, Crawley Town, favourites for the fourth tier title, hosting the team tipped to be their closest rivals, Bristol Rovers. It is not, however, the top of the table clash that many predicted, though the new season is still in it's infancy.

Having taken three wins and a draw from their opening four league fixtures it looked as though newly promoted Crawley were set to live up to the hype, sitting as they did atop the division following a 3-1 victory away at Torquay. Since then the good form has began to slip away as the Red Devils have tasted defeat in their last three, though two of those games were in cup competitions. The loss in the league came away at Cheltenham Town, Kaid Mohamed, Marlon Pack and Jeff Goulding giving the Robins a 3-0 half time lead. Three half time substitutions by Crawley boss Steve Evans could only rescue a consolation goal, the gaffer seething about his sides first half display when interviewed post-match.

Don't get too confident just yet, Rovers fans, all those losses were on the road and when it comes to home league games the Reds are unbeaten in 17, Newport County the last team to overcome the home team at Broadfield Way, and you can almost guarantee them a goal, too. It was the opening game of last season, in a defeat to Grimsby Town, the last time Crawley drew a blank on home turf.

A midweek Carling Cup match against Leyton Orient ended in defeat for Rovers, though not for a lack of effort on their part. 2-0 down after 23 minutes the Gas pulled the game level in second half stoppage time, only for the Londoner's to deliver a sucker punch in the shape of a Stephen Dawson winner just seconds before the final whistle. It was the first defeat away from the Memorial Stadium for Rovers but the spirit shown will be pleasing for fans and club officials alike.

It hasn't all been positive away from home for Rovers, though, only an opening day win at AFC Wimbledon have given the Pirates three points in their two trips, a 0-0 stalemate at Macclesfield the other result. With four games since claiming victory in any game for the Gas it leaves two highly thought of teams in relatively poor form, a win for either giving a potential platform from which they can push on.

Pablo Mills (ankle) and Jamie Day (back) will miss out for the home team while Scott Shearer, Scott Davies, Wes Thomas and Tyrone Barnett could be in line for recalls having been dropped for the JPT loss to Southend.

Wantaway striker Jo Kuffour is highly unlikely to feature in the Rovers squad, the former Swindon man looking for a new club closer to London.

Cian Bolger (ankle), Jo Anyinsah (hamstring) and Matt Harrold look set to miss out as they continue to recover from respective complaints.