Today's Papers / Editor / 21 March 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Betfair's top dog sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales.

• Cruft's champion - Top stories that can dominate the news agenda
• Pedigree chum - Insights that tell you something you don't know
• Dog's dinner - Speculation, guesswork, or ideas that just don't come off.

Top Dog says:

Top Dog was well trained and follows all his master's commands like 'sit' and 'fetch'. Pity you can't say the same for Ashley Cole and the Chelsea players. Their treatment of ref Mike Riley on Wednesday night has thrown the FA's 'respect the ref' agenda into the spotlight and Fabio Capello is promising he'll get England to set the example. We'll believe that until the first dodgy decision or bad tackle in a World Cup qualifier. And just to underline the warped way the FA deal with these things, the only person who'll suffer is Riley who's likely to get demoted for not reaching for his red card.

Crufts:

Daily Star - You're Av-ing a laugh - The press box at White Hart Lane is just behind the benches and right next to the tunnel - a perfect place to see and hear what's going on. That's how sharp-eyed and eared David Woods of the Star heard Didier Drogba moaning to Chelsea coach Steve Clarke about Avram Grant's changes in the last ten minutes of Wednesday's 4-4 draw. The charge against Grant is he gets his tactics wrong in big games and here was another example. Makes it tempting to lay Chelsea at [2.24] against Arsenal on Sunday.

Daily Mirror - Relegation special - Fulham boss Roy Hodgson says the scrap for survival will go to the last day, and the Mirror helps plot what will happen by printing the remaining fixtures of the seven clubs still under threat. Bolton have probably got the toughest run-in and are [1.99] to go down. Newcastle [8] finish with three away games at West Ham, Chelsea and Everton.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Star - Megson: Meite can trot off - More signs of problems at Bolton where Abdoulaye Meite infuriated boss Gary Megson by refusing to play the second half at Manchester United. He's said to have started taking his boots off and claiming to be injured after getting a rollicking from the manager at half time. Bolton are [2.54] favourites to beat Manchester City tomorrow and Top Dog will be laying that.

Daily Mail - Baby's birth meant more than football says Alonso - Ian Ladyman hears Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso refuse to back down on his decision to stay with his girlfriend for the birth of their baby son rather than play in the Champions League away to Inter Milan. Good exclusive interview, and Alonso also says the Reds believe they can win at Old Trafford on Sunday. They are [4.4] to do it.

Daily Express - Scholes blown aside by wind of change - While the rest of the Manchester press pack take the obvious line to follow up United's Wednesday night win by praising Ronaldo, Richard Tanner takes a different and far more interesting tack. He's spotted that Paul Scholes has only three times completed 90 minutes in 11 games since returning from injury, and the 33-year-old admits he's got to get used to it.

Daily Express - We have same invincible style - Kolo Toure believes the current Arsenal side have the same spirit as the Invincibles of four years ago. Betfair punters aren't so sure - they've slipped to [6.4] for the title now

Daily Mirror - Haircut 100 - The Mirror's picture desk scores again. If Becks is in the news he's sure to get another haircut, and there he was in New York yesterday with designer stubble on his chin and head!

Daily Mirror - Robbo's number one for O'Neill - Alan Nixon says Aston Villa want to snap up former England star Paul Robinson if Spurs buy a new goalkeeper this summer. Makes sense

The Sun - Sorry I couldn't control my tackle - Ashley Cole's grovelling apology for that horror lunge at Alan Hutton gives the Sun a chance to twist the knife into Chelsea's left back and give everybody else a smile

The Sun - Awsome and Lawsome - Martin Blackburn sets out the real targets for Cristiano Ronaldo to be a record breaker. United's all time best for a League season is 32, scored by Dennis Viollet in 1959-60. And for goals in all competitions it's the 46 got by Dennis Law in 1963-4.

The Sun and others - No-go Defoe - Red tape around Jermain Defoe's move to Portsmouth, originally registered as a loan, means the in-form goal getter can't play at Tottenham tomorrow. Harry Redknapp's team still look great value at [4.5] the away win.

Dog' s Dinner:

Daily Express - ITV beat Beeb in Europe - As far as Top Dog was aware, ITV announced on air that they'd won rights to show the Champions League. So quite how Harry Harris can then claim the story as 'exclusive' is a bit of a mystery.

Daily Mirror - Le Fast show - Martin Lipton reckons Fabio Capello could pick both Theo Walcott and Gabby Agbonlahor in France to put some pace in England's attack. Top Dog suspects it's just a piece to make a good headline!

Today's Other Headlines:

The Sun - Fabio's ref aid - Becks boost - I didn't mean it says Cole - He's Beck where he belongs - Fearnando - Taylor: I'm embarrassed by Toon plight - Roy reckons Lit can still be a big hit - Djibril Cisse wants to return to England

Daily Express - Show some respect - England boss to clamp down on poor discipline - Referee Riley under fire over Cole let-off - Beck to the future for England - Wheater one for the book - Night football was shamed - Drogba rage about the one that got away - Redknapp in a rage over Defoe

Daily Star - Fab's law: Behave or else - Gold ton balls - Capello is forced to scrap Led - Rocket us to the title Ron - Harry left fuming as 'silly rule' KO's Defoe - Noble's been Hammering it too much - Steele signs up for semis

Daily Mirror - FA crack down on ref-bullying - The shame of Cole - My Best is yet to come says Ronaldo - Defoe in red tape Hart-break

Daily Mail - I'll teach you respect says Capello - Graham Poll on the need for a clampdown - Grant angers Drogba - Hail the new superstars - Becks back in business - Loophole puts Defoe out of Spurs game

Tags: David Beckham, England captain, England football, Fabio Capello, Football Betting, Today's Papers