17-10 Odds quoted are from Betfair Things are starting to look up a little for Paul Jewell's side since their freefall around the turn of the year. A gritty 1-0 win over Portsmouth and a point against fellow strugglers Watford has seen them rise six points clear of the relegation zone. Those results sandwiched an extremely unfortunate loss at Arsenal, where some decisions by Phil Dowd had Jewell (right) wondering whether the referee should be allowed to take charge of top-level fixtures. Jewell's side haven't been pretty, depending on lofted balls to Emile Heskey for most of their attacking forays, but the manager's smarts should be just enough to get them out of the relegation battle. All of which makes today's visitors ideal. Newcastle have managed to crawl their way into the top 10, but their away form is still terrible. Fulham's 2-1 win earlier this month should have been far more emphatic while Everton managed to put three past Shay Given at the turn of the year.

An unimpressive performance against the part-timers of Zulte Waregem during the week only adds doubts. For a team with little to play for, it's the least attractive away fixture. Back Wigan to nick a grim encounter.

BACK LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE TO WIN THE BEST PICTURE OSCAR

3-1 Odds quoted are from Betfair Not exactly sport, but a bet's probably the only way to make it to the end of tonight's marathon ceremony. This year's lead acting awards seem to be sewn up, with Helen Mirren close to 1-100 to win for her role as The Queen and Forest Whitaker prohibitive odds to be acknowledged for his portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. Martin Scorsese also looks nailed on for the best director award, which, criminally, he has never won.

But his film The Departed hasn't quite captured the imagination as last year's best film. Rumours abound that the lo-fi comedy Little Miss Sunshine might sneak the big prize.

It was top of many end-of-year lists for 2006, while a recruitment drive by the Academy means there are many younger members voting for the first time this year. This isn't personal preference, while I enjoyed the "lm I'm not sure it even deserves to be nominated, but the same whispers that surrounded Last night I stayed up late playing poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died Steven Wright Where the money was. . .

CRAIG BELLAMY TO SCORE AGAINST BARCELONA AND CELEBRATE WITH A GOLF SWING

100-1 (Paddy Power) Bit of a classic this week, as the bookies got fleeced by Liverpool's most lovable Welshman. Offering the novelty bet that Craig Bellamy (right) would score at Camp Nou and celebrate with a golf swing after allegations of taking a five-iron to John Arne Riise's legs probably seemed like a good idea at the time. But Bellers duly obliged, costing one bookie �50,000. Who would ever have doubted him?