The Italian seemed about to take the ball home with him before flouncing away.His ongoing spat with Villa’s goalkeeper, David James, had featured prominently in the pre-match build-up, and added needle in a thrilling opening half, during which Di Canio had the first laugh, though not the last. In the 15th minute, after each side had already created two decent chances, he crossed from the right and Gareth Southgate headed out unconvincingly to Carrick, who drove in a fine first goal of the season off an upright.Di Canio’s volley over the bar when unmarked and played in by Frédéric Kanouté’s headed flick was the best of numerous opportunities at each end that preceded Villa’s equaliser nine minutes before half-time. Ginola had been anonymous up alongside Dion Dublin until he moved to the right-hand flank and drifted inside, setting up Lee Hendrie. The midfielder, who had sent the afternoon on its merry way with a 30-yard drive that was just too high, set his sights lower and pinged the shot past Shaka Hislop via both posts.Two attacking sides had produced better work offensively than in defence, which was more excusable in West Ham’s case given the absence of Igor Stimac and Nigel Winterburn. That forced Steve Potts to make a rare appearance at left-back, which Steve Stone, Villa’s wing-back, might have been expected to take greater advantage of. But in the second half, to the disappointment of any neutrals present if not the managers, both defences tightened up.Di Canio’s frustration, which quickly came to be shared by the home crowd, was apparent as he passed up the only two chances of the half. Given a run at goal by Alpay Ozalan’s uncharacteristic error, he was thwarted by James and then, having apparently left his pursuers behind when chasing Trevor Sinclair’s through pass, allowed them to catch him.

He was no more out of sorts than Ginola, who had to be calmed down by Dublin after collecting a yellow card for a foul on Song.The visiting fans who held up large pound signs before kick-off in their now regular demonstration against the chairman, Doug Ellis, will be pleased to learn that before the final whistle Villa’s manager, John Gregory, was already on his way from the ground to foreign fields to watch a potential transfer target.. Friends in high places was the only way to get anything done in the old Soviet Union. Jerry-Christian Tchouisse is discovering that who you know still counts in modern, capitalist Russia. Friends in high places was the only way to get anything done in the old Soviet Union. Jerry-Christian Tchouisse is discovering that who you know still counts in modern, capitalist Russia.
The Spartak Moscow defender is on the verge of being capped by Russia, even though his background is more Cam-eroon than Kremlin. Thankfully, Tchouisse’s boss is on pretty good terms with the national coach. That is because Oleg Romantsev is coach to both Spartak and Russia, and Tchouisse is very much a favoured son.

The Indomitable Lion and his Spartak team-mates were devoured 3-0 by Lyon in midweek, but Romantsev is convinced that Tchouisse is the answer to Russia’s problem at right-back, so he is backing his player’s application for Russian citizenship.Tchouisse, 25, is a fairytale success of this Champions’ League. He came to Russia three years ago after being duped by an agent to join Neftianik, a miners’ club in the third division, who quickly turfed him out. “My agent dumped me here without a penny,” he recalls, “and I was cold and couldn’t speak a word of Russian.” A meeting with African students ended his loneliness and helped his career, because he was spotted playing for their university and – two clubs later – Romantsev brought him to Spartak.”I would be proud to play for Russia,” declares the defender, whose defection makes you wonder. Perhaps Burgess, Philby and McLean were secretly a half-back line lured to play for Dynamo Moscow – the club of the KGB. No sooner had last week’s Champions’ League Diary hit the streets than Philippe Bergeroo was hitting them too. The erstwhile coach of Paris St- Germain, whose perilous predicament we told of, was sacked on Sunday morning after his team’s 5-1 league mauling at the hands of Sedan the night before, prompting the return of Luis Fernandez to the French capital.The former French star guided PSG to the Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1996 and has spent the last four years in Spain with Athletic Bilbao. He could not work miracles, though, with a side languishing 10th in the French first division despite costing £50m,as PSG went down to Galatasaray in midweek. “This side have a lot of spirit,” Fernandez insisted, “but the players need time to get the message.