- Southport were 21st in National League North at the start of the calendar year
- Kevin Davies’ side are now just one point away from a play-off berth
- Tiger Woods’ putting needs to be improved if he is to win another green jacket
It’s Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail’s Ian Ladyman reveals what’s been making him feel warm and what’s been leaving him cold this week.
HOT
KEVIN DAVIES
The former Bolton striker chose Southport as his first management job and has them on a roll. The club were 21st in National League North at the start of 2018 but six successive home wins have taken them to within a point of the play-offs. Davies only joined the club in October and has had quite an impact at Haig Avenue.
Kevin Davies, pictured in 2015, has done a miraculous job at Southport as they seek promotion
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC
The Serbian has scored seven goals in five games on loan at Fulham as the London club make a strong dart towards promotion. But those who say Rafa Benitez missed a trick by not using him at Newcastle are wrong. Benitez thinks that Mitrovic is a Championship striker and is being proved exactly right.
Aleksander Mitrovic has scored seven goals in five games on loan at Fulham
RYAN GIGGS
The new Wales manager could have filled his staff with former team-mates but instead has made two very shrewd appointments. Osian Roberts represents all that is progressive about the Football Association of Wales while Tony Strudwick is a brilliant conditioning coach, too hastily sidelined at Manchester United. Giggs has also appointed a member of Louis van Gaal’s failed United regime, assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg. That in itself takes courage.
Ryan Giggs has made some shrewd backroom staff appointments to his tenure as Wales boss
NOT
TIGER TALK
Great to see Tiger Woods back, even if his efforts in Florida overshadowed the brilliance of the winner, Paul Casey. But before you throw your money at a Woods triumph at the Masters, keep in mind how moderate his putting was last Sunday. Anything under 12 feet was always his great strength and without that he hasn’t a prayer of winning at Augusta.
Tiger Woods needs to improve his putting from under 12 feet if he wants to win the Masters
SPONSOR SNITCHES
No sooner had Jamie Carragher finished with his apologies than it was the turn of Eddie Jones. But while Carragher was turned in by a member of the public, Jones had his collar felt by someone at a private sponsors event. The next time a prominent sporting personality says no to a speaking engagement we will know who to blame.
Eddie Jones labelled Ireland ‘scummy’ and Wales a ‘little s**t place’ while giving a talk in 2017
SPANISH POLICE
Uefa have moved quickly to charge Besiktas for allowing a cat on the pitch against Bayern Munich but of greater concern should be another example of heavy handedness outside the Nou Camp. Time and again English football fans are treated poorly on Spanish soil yet nothing changes. On the pitch, Spain remains a great place for football. Off it, not so much.
