David McCourt's Midweek Sports Revelations

OLDHAM Athletic continued a flurry of cup form with a 1–0 victory over Southend United in the FA Cup second round fixture at Boundary Park on Tuesday night.

Chris Taylor sealed the win when he smashed home from 10 yards after a James Wesolowski lay-off to earn a trip to Anfield on 7 January to face Liverpool.

The last time Oldham traveled to Merseyside in the FA Cup third round they pinched a 1–0 win against Everton at Goodison Park.

With The Latics fresh from reaching the northern area final of the Johnston Paint Trophy, bringing them within one win from a game at Wembley, Chairman Simon Corney will no doubt be a happy camper this Christmas.

“You're not going to get players like Roy Keane or Bryan Robson, those players aren't around anymore.”

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince has offered his words of advice to Sir Alex Ferguson in the wake of news that United will be without Darren Fletcher for the foreseeable future due to illness.

The out-of-work manager said: “I feel they need that creativity in midfield. You're not going to get players like Roy Keane or Bryan Robson, those players aren't around anymore.”

However, drawing on all his managerial expertise, Ince did have some insightful suggestions for the trophy hoarding head of the United family.

“Luka Modric or Andres Iniesta, they are the players I would be looking at if I was Sir Alex Ferguson,” said Ince, who clearly still has an eye for spotting talent, despite being out of the game.

United still have four Premier League games to get through before they can consider Paul Ince’s shortlist in the January transfer window, starting with Queens Park Rangers in west London on Sunday.

Manchester City’s stars attempted to lift dampened spirits caused by their first defeat of the season to Chelsea on Monday night, with a big fancy dress Christmas party.

Roberto Mancini’s squad got into costume at London hot spot Anaya, on Kings Road.

Father Sergio Aguero showed he’s been paying attention to children’s cinema with a Harry Potter number, whilst Gareth Barry kept it classic, turning up as Where’s Wally.

Joe Hart stole the show though with an excellent rendition of his Gridiron alter-ego, 'Hartdog.'

Mancini, who went for an Ozzy Osborne outfit, will be hoping the shindig has erased memory of their Monday defeat as they look to bounce back in their next league game against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Manchester’s Sarah Storey will not get the chance to become Britain’s first Paralympic and Olympic champion after being dumped from the women’s cycling pursuit team.

The swimmer turned cyclist has won seven gold medals in the Paralympics and had helped Britain to the women’s team pursuit World Cup gold in Columbia two weeks ago, but has been told that she has not done enough to make the Olympic squad.

Storey will still compete in the 2012 Paralympic games, where she’ll try to defend the two gold medals she won in Beijing.

Stuck for something to do in between Christmas and New Year? The Haris Memorial Junior International Tournament, which will see Domestic and International Junior teams compete across 3 days of intense Basketball action, will take place at Manchester’s Amaechi Basketball Centre between 27 December and 29 December.