It may have barely been audible over the Britannia Stadium PA system but "Pottermouth's battle cry" says it all about Stoke's push for the Premier League and can also serve as a useful guide to the feature writers who are likely to descend on the Potteries over the next couple of weeks.

When you are rooted to the bottom of the league table, with eight defeats in your last nine games and just five wins all season, survival becomes a relative concept. A deserved win over local rivals Ipswich thanks to two Scott Vernon goals meant that Colchester rejoiced in a victory which staves off the inevitable relegation by one week at least.

Dear Virginia, I seem to have got into a rut. I bought a flat 10 years ago, got a great job, and thought the world was my oyster. Then I got involved with a man who dropped me, and left my job for another one. There I met another bloke, but got fed up with him, so I'm back on my own – and have accepted a job at the place where I worked 10 years ago! I feel trapped in a cycle like a mouse in a wheel. What can I do? Yours sincerely, Aisling

When this fixture was postponed in January due to a waterlogged pitch Colchester may have envisaged celebrating a final floodlit match at Layer Road on a balmy spring evening. Instead the landmark fixture took place in near freezing temperatures, and the Essex club saw what little hope they have of avoiding relegation all but disappear into the night.

Former England striker Teddy Sheringham announced yesterday that he will retire at the end of the season. Sheringham, who will turn 42 next month, is currently at the Championship side Colchester United, where he will finally end his 26-year career.

The former champion Polly Gundry, who is making a determined effort to regain her title, rides at two meetings today. After partnering Rockwithacaveman (11.30) in the opening hunt members at Bishops Court, in Devon, she will then dash across country to Didmarton in Gloucestershire.

Although Colchester are third from bottom in the Championship, they have now lost only once in seven games in 2008 and their manager, Geraint Williams, believes they do not have to fear anyone.

Richard Barber should again be the man to follow at Larkhill today where Oracle Des Mottes (1.15) can repeat his recent course success in the ladies' open. The nine-year-old missed last season but looked in superb condition for his comeback three weeks ago and had only to be shaken up on the run-in by Rachael Green to beat Raregem, who is entered again.

Dear Virginia, I am in despair because I have found that my six-year-old son has been lying to me. I've only caught him out twice – once when he said he hadn't broken something when he had, and once when he said he'd finished his supper and it turned out he'd put it in the bin when I wasn't looking. I really worry. Should I punish him next time he does it? Yours sincerely, Claudia

A compelling encounter, which sent one side, albeit briefly, to the summit of the Championship and the other to its foot could give cause for rejoicing in the strength of this vibrant division. It certainly makes for an enthralling title race. But the Bristol City manager, Gary Johnson, knows his side may only get one shot at the Premier League and history suggests they must take it.

Watford, whose eight-point lead in the Championship had dwindled to one in the space of the previous month, pulled out of their stall impressively last night as they stretched the gap again after recovering from being two goals down within half an hour.