SATURDAY: Wanderers grind out a hard-earned but vital victory at the Reebok, defeating Portsmouth 1-0. The win, courtesy of the sixth goal of the season for Kevin Davies, lifts them into the top half of the Premiership.

MONDAY

WANDERERS get the news they had hoped for when Jay-Jay Okocha makes himself available for the Carling Cup first leg semi-final against Aston Villa. The Reebok skipper turns his back on Nigeria's attempts to get him to the African Nations Cup warm-up camp, and says he will fly out to Tunisia on Thursday.

TUESDAY

JAY-JAY Okocha comes under fire from a senior Nigerian government figure for delaying his departure. The country's Sports and Social Development Minister criticises Okocha and Arsenal's Kanu for playing in the Carling Cup before linking-up with the Super Eagles.

WEDNESDAY

WHAT a game and what a result. Wanderers exceed their wildest expectations by opening up a three goal lead after beating Aston Villa 5-2 in the first leg of the Carling Cup at the Reebok. Jay-Jay Okocha steals the show with two dream free-kicks, but strikes by Stelios, Kevin Nolan and Bruno N'Gotty, are all of the highest quality. Villa think they are back in it when they rally from 3-0 down to close in at 3-2, but Wanderers finish in style.

THURSDAY

THE Reebok skipper leaves to join Nigeria confident his Carling Cup fate is in safe hands. He misses the return leg on Tuesday, but is convinced the players he leaves behind have what it takes to complete the job and secure a place in the final at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday February 29.

FRIDAY

STALWART Roy Hartle says Sam Allardyce is Wanderers' best ever manager and that Jay-Jay Okocha is the best player they have had. The legendary full-back of the Fifties and Sixties says Allardyce deserves to be ranked among the managerial greats, for what he has achieved for the club since taking the reins in October 1999.