That was until 10 to five on Saturday afternoon when the normally poker-faced boss was pictured with fists clenched and a smile brighter than the London Road floodlights.

And the reason for this was simple – it was the magic of the FA Cup. Posh knocked out opponents from a higher league. Fergie was delighted and so were the fans.

Third round day is one of the great dates in the sporting calendar. This year, for the first time in my life, I had no partisan interest in the ties. My team, Leeds United, had joined the competition in the first round for the first time in their history. And they didn't make it to the second, having succumbed to the mighty Hereford.

That was upsetting, but I got over it. Football has only reduced me to tears once.

My Gazza moment came when Chelsea beat us in the 1970 cup final. They'd got a jammy draw in the first game and changed tactics for the replay which simply meant committing grievous bodily harm every time the wonderful Eddie Gray, who had tormented the Londoners at Wembley, got the ball.

Two years later, I was at Wembley when Allan "Sniffer'' Clarke won the centenary cup final when we beat the Arsenal 1-0.

To this day, the FA Cup still has a huge hold on me. Cup fever is caught by millions of other fans and, thankfully, there are still a few in the game, like Darren, who share the passion.

Contrast this with the comments of Reading striker Dave Kitson, who proclaimed he didn't give "two ****s'' for the cup. His reasoning being that Premiership survival was more important than cup glory.

I hate to think what Valentine's Day is like for Mrs Kitson, because her hubby obviously doesn't have a romantic bone in his body.

A journeyman footballer, Kitson is unlikely to play for his country or win the league, so what will he be able to tell his grandkids about when his career his over?A top 10 finish in the league here, a Carling Cup run there. I suppose he can just count his cash.

Yet with a favourable draw, a bit of luck and some good performances, he and his Reading team-mates have a chance to get to Wembley.

If they do, I'm sure he'll give two ****s then. He should have more respect for the fans and the game that have rewarded him so well.

It's cone-head

It's almost expected that drunken students will nick traffic cones and use them as comedy hats, but what on earth was this bloke thinking of? Spotted strolling through the city by an ET snapper, perhaps he wants to be a traffic warden... when he grows up.

What a load of bollards

The events in Long Causeway on Saturday afternoon were truly shocking.