Senegal international Khalilou Fadiga has signed for mid-table Coventry City.
Iain Dowie completed his first signing on Friday evening and the star was in the squad that faced Norwich on Saturday.The midfielder, who had been without a club since leaving Premiership high-flyers Bolton, has signed until the end of the season in what as seen as being a coup for the 15th placed side.
The African has a very good footballing pedigree, having played for Italian giants Internazionale as well as Championship league counterparts Paris Saint Germain and Auxerre. He is most famed in this country, however as being a scoring member of the Senegal World Cup side of 2002 who shocked everyone after a phenomenal campaign which saw them reach the Quarter-finals, beating holders France on the way.
Fadiga came on in the dying embers of Saturday's 1-1 away draw with the Canaries which saw the Norwich youth-product Chris Martin score with just ten minutes remaining to rescue a point after Sky Blues went in front through a Jay Tabb tap-in.
MOGGA'S MEN 'FANTASTIC'
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray has described his side as 'fantastic' after seeing them catapult themselves to the top of the table despite only drawing on Saturday against midlands rivals Leicester.
The Baggies won 1-1 at The Walkers stadium, after a Diomansy Kamara opener was cancelled out by a McAuley header just eight minutes after taking the lead. And that saw them take advantage of top-of-the-table rivals Derby who lost late in the day at Sunderland.
The ex-Ipswich hero has masterminded a dramatic turnaround since taking over, moving them from tenth place in December to top spot for the first time this season.
However, the Hawthorns chief moved quickly to quash any premature thoughts of promotion stating that "being top of the table with 11 games to go doesn't matter, it only matters at the end of the season."
The next league game for West Brom is a home tie against Sunderland after an FA Cup replay against Mowbray's former club Middlesborough. No doubt 'Mogga' will be hoping his side can continue their recent form which has seen them lose only once in fifteen outings.
HOLLOWAY'S LIFE IN A FISHBOWL
It will come as no surprise to football fans that football management is a job like no another. Many football managers have been in front of the press to tell of the stresses, strains and frustration of the beautiful game from their perspective.
However, no one has quite described the life of a football manager quite like Plymouth boss Ian Holloway. The man who came up with immortal quotes such as "You can say that strikers are very much like postmen: they have to get in and out as quick as they can before the dog starts to have a go" and "I've got to knock that horrible smell out of my boys [his QPR squad] because they smell of complacency." Has come up with another gem to add to the already famed list.
After being asked about his Plymouth sides upcoming tie against QPR, whom the eccentric chief left on less-than harmonious terms last season he answered with the most unexpected and unusual of analogies; "being a football manager is like being a fish, one minute you are in the tank and that tank is everything. The next minute you are flushed down the toiled and you don't know whats going on."
The legendary Bristolian went on to say; "You keep swimming but, for a while, you don't want to swim and you keep nudging the tank because you want to get back in it, I am now in another tank and you just have to adjust, it's really weird." You said it Ollie.
RESULTS ROUND-UP
None of the top three managed to win this weekend, Derby losing out 2-1 after a late winner from Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller. West Brom of course taking advantage and leapfrogged the Rams after a 1-1 draw with Leicester. Third placed Birmingham lost 2-0 against Hull, veteran Dean Windass bagging an impressive double to compound the Blues poor recent form.
Friday night saw sixth and seventh meet at Ninian Park and it was the home side Cardiff who triumphed, thumping play off rivals Preston 4-1. The game at Layer Road between Colchester United and Burnley played out a goalless draw. A double from Clinton Morrison gave Palace a 2-1 victory at home to strugglers Luton. Holloway's Plymouth drew 1-1 with relegation haunted QPR, while Norwich starlet Chris Martin came on to equalise in their match against Coventry.
Sheffield Wednesday compounded the misery or second bottom Southend, Steve MacLean scoring a last-gap penalty to grab the points in a 3-2 slog, the Shrimpers will breathe a sigh of relief, however, as Leeds failed to capitalise losing 1-0 to Wolves. Stoke and Barnsley meet tonight at the Britannia.