Darren on the run

After Sunday's injustice, how sweet was the news that Sewpa Darren Bent has handed in a transfer request? It seems the striker is so desperate to leave the Mackems that he'd prefer to swap the possibility of European football (a very slim possibility on Sunday's evidence) for the prospect of a long, hard slog against relegation with Villa. Shame.

One member of the Great Unwashed with Bent's name emblazoned on his back will have had a particularly glum expression. The Mirror reported that the young rapscallion who bounded onto the Stadium of Shite turf and bundled over the disconsolate Steve Harper following Asamoah Gyan's beyond-spawny equaliser showed up at our training ground yesterday morning full of remorse and intent on apologising personally to Harper.

Of course, we can't really afford to savour developments at the Dark Place just yet - what with the transfer window still wide open for more than a week yet and the Metro claiming Spurs' unwanted attention in our own talismanic striker has crystallised into a firm bid. Alan Pardew continues to reiterate that Rocky's not for sale, but I doubt I'm the only one feeling a little uneasy and wondering whether Jabba might decide to cash in.