To quote a famous former manager, in the last two games it's been "more better in the second half."  It wasn't quite as good as it could have been however as once again a refereeing decision favours Rangers.  So just to clarify, in 4 games this season when the scores have been level we've had a goal chopped off  and when 1 goal down Rangers have had a second opposition goal chopped off.  So with fair refereeing we'd be 1 point clear of Rangers.  But yeah, I know I'm just paranoid.

Apart from the murky Calumn Murray inspired world of Scottish football (he of the chopped off 2^nd Motherwell goal also sent off Nade when Rangers were struggling against Hearts), this week's Paddy Power's Bulletin pays special attention to the FA Cup 5th Round and the forthcoming Winter Olympics.  Specials include the number of non Premier League teams to reach the last eight and the highest placed team to be knocked out. To mark Valentines Weekend there is also betting on how many red cards will be shown in the Cup this weekend and which team will be the quickest to be handed a red card by the ref.

Speaking of Valentines, there may not be a whole lotta love shared down on the South coast when Southampton meet struggling rivals Portsmouth. You can go to PaddyPower.com to bet on the number of red cards in the match and the first player to be sent off.  Beyond the FA Cup there is betting on Manchester United's own goals. With ten own goals in their favour only Wayne Rooney has scored more goals for United this season. Will ‘OG' outscore the rest of Fergie's goalshy squad this season? And how many more will United's opponents score on their behalf this season?

The Champions League also returns this week with the start of the knockout stages. As well as odds to qualify Paddy Power has betting on David Beckham's first competitive matches against former club Man Utd.

SPL

Predictions

PADDY POWER WEEKEND SPECIALS

Commentary Cliché Shock Result - just four punters were celebrating an outsider coming home in Paddy Power's John Terry Commentary Cliché result last week when the Sky Sports commentators said "Mr Chelsea" first for a 100/1 result.

English Premier League

5/6        Chelsea

5/4        Man Utd

9/1        Arsenal

80/1      Man City

Old Trafford - The Theatre of Own Goals. With ten own goals in their favour only Wayne Rooney has scored more goals for United this season. Will ‘OG' outscore the rest of Fergie's goalshy squad this season?

How many own goals will be scored for United this season?

8/15      10-11

6/4        12-13

14/1      14-15

33/1      16 or more

Beckham v Man Utd Tie Betting

4/1        Beckham to score in first leg

8/1        Betting to score in second leg

40/1      Beckham to score in both legs

100/1    Beckham to score from inside his own half

9/1        Beckham to score direct from a free kick

16/1      Beckham to be sent off

250/1    Beckham to kick a football boot at Fergie

Earlier I said we'd look at the Winter Olympics and with the opening ceremony on Saturday and the competing Nations are preparing to send their finest athletes to slide their way to Olympic glory. Paddy Power has Germany as the 7/5 favourite just ahead of hosts Canada at 5/2 to be the overall medal table winner when the games conclude on the 28th February.

The hosts Canada, following two relatively unsuccessful games previously held in the country, have left no stone unturned in their team's preparations for the Vancouver 2010 games and are keen to give the nation sporting success. The team has been ruthless in the build up to the point of restricting competitors training time at Olympic venues to make sure their athletes have every possible home advantage.

Team GB are also in the hunt for medals and are sending one of their strongest squads to a winter games. Hopes ride on the Curling Team again with Paddy Power quoting the men's team at 4/1 and women's team at 13/1 to pick up gold. Shelley Rudman, silver medalist in 2006, is also a strong prospect for gold in the Skeleton Bob at 7/1 and reigning World Champions, Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke, in the two-women bobsleigh are 10/1.

Sponsored by Paddy Power Kwame Nkrumah- Acheampong, aka the Snow Leopard, is the first Ghanaian to qualify for the Olympic Games, the lack of snow in his home country and the fact he first skied six years ago makes him 500/1 for gold.

Roberto Coladangelo spokesman for Paddy Power said; "We try not to be biased but surely the only person to watch at the games is our very own Snow Leopard. We love an underdog so have paid for his coach, physio and manager to join him and Vancouver and give him everything he needs to compete against the best in the world. Ghana for gold??!!"

Overall Medal Table Winner

7/5 Germany

5/2 Canada

17/4 USA

5/1 Russia

8/1 Austria

8/1 Norway

14/1 Sweden

20/1 Switzerland

25/1 Italy

50/1 Bar

GB Total Gold Medals

8/15 None

7/4 One

10/1 Two

12/1 Three or more

Canada Total Gold Medals

30/1 None

25/1 One

20/1 Two

13/1 Three

8/1 Four

11/2 Five

4/1 Six

7/2 Seven

9/2 Eight

11/2 Nine

6/1 Ten

8/1 Eleven

3/1 Twelve or more

GB Gold Medal Hopefuls

4/1 GB Men's Curling

7/1 S Rudman Women's Skeleton

10/1 GB Two Women bobsleigh

13/1 GB Womens Curling

14/1 K Bromley Skeleton Bob

25/1 J Eley, speed skating

50/1 Z Gillings Women's Snowboarding Cross

75/1 Kerr and Kerr, Mixed Ice Dance

80/1 C Alcott Women's Super G

100/1 C Alcott Women's Giant Slalom

Ghana Medal Hopefuls

500/1 Kwame Nkrumah- Acheampong

Mens Ice Hockey

11/10 Canada

9/4 Russia

9/2 Sweden

6/1 USA

14/1 Finland

16/1 Czech Rep

40/1 Bar

Men's Downhill

3/1 Cuche

7/2 Walchhofer

6/1 Janka

7/1 Osborne-Paradis

15/2 Svindal

9/1 Miller

14/1 Bar

Wednesday was a sobering moment for me as I realised my football career is over.  When we made the substitutions I realised that the COMBINED age of our two centre halves was below mine - two players together younger than me!  Still it could be worse, I could be this old AND support Rangers!

Hopefully the team can continue to gel and score some goals and then - can you imagine old man Weir chasing Keane about the park?