Over the years that have been plenty of things about football which have left me shocked, stunned and not a little amazed.

And there have been others which have left me saddened and upset like, for example, the Hillsborough disaster.

But few have left me as downright sickened as the story that broke this week about how the ambulance in which Alan Smith was leaving Anfield last week was attacked by so-called Liverpool fans.

Smith suffered what can only be described as an absolutely horrific injury which left him wriggling in pain with a broken leg and dislocated ankle. As he left the pitch on a stretcher he was given a standing ovation by both United and Liverpool fans, which is always touching.

But as the ambulance left the ground to rush him to hospital it was pelted with stones and kicked by a mob of "fans" who had just learned who was inside it. Some accounts said they even tried to rock the vehicle from side-to-side.

These idiots should be locked up. No, wait, that's far too nice. They should be chained to a wall and repeatedly tortured until they finally admit that they are not, after all, human.

Attacking an ambulance. What in the name of God did they think they were doing?

Luckily for Smith he would not remember any of this as he had already been given a general anesthetic inside the ground to make getting him to the hospital less traumatic.

Representatives of both Liverpool FC and its supporters club have condemned the attack and distanced themselves from the maniacs that carried it out.

I just hope there is some way of finding out exactly who did it and bringing them to justice. Football does not need people like that associated with it.

Asier del Horno

Asier Del Horno was sent off on Wednesday night for running into an opponent at full speed with a foot raised. It's a simple as that.

No matter how much Jose Mourinho moans about Lionel Messi making a meal of the challenge - and that he certainly did - it cannot be denied that Del Horno was in the wrong.

He had been spoiling for a booking all match with a number of badly timed and malicious challenges, something which, I am sure, helped the referee decide on red rather than yellow.

The sending off ruined the game for the neutrals and possibly helped towards deciding the outcome of the entire tie and, on that basis, it was a pity. But I still say it was justified.

And you never know. Chelsea have enough strength in depth and character to go to Spain and get a result there. Yes, they have to score at least two to win, but they have the players and the manager to help them pull it off.

They just need to hope that Messi is too busy at drama school that night to take part in the match. Maybe sitting alongside Arjen Robben…

Paul Jewell

Quote of the week comes from Paul Jewell, the man who is rumoured to be in line to take over at Newcastle after his hugely successful first season in the top flight with Wigan.

Before a ball was kicked back in August, Wigan were everyone's favourites to go back down whence they came. Mine included.

But they have defied their critics with a string of assured, passionate and well organised performances. Last week they reached the magical 40-point mark, widely seen as the safety zone. And Jewell didn't let it slip by unmarked.

"I don't think anybody at the start of the season gave us much hope of getting 40 corners, let alone 40 points," he said.

Well they have now. And the doubters, myself included, are feeling pretty silly.

In fact the only worry for Wigan fans right now must be whether Jewell does move to Newcastle. That could end up making next season the end of their adventure in the top flight.

And I can't help but feel that would be a pity.

Carling Cup final

Just a quick word about tomorrow's Carling Cup final - a contest which brings together two teams with sharply contrasting ambitions: Wigan who are just overjoyed to be there and Manchester United who are desperate to rescue something from their season.

And for that reason I think we may just be in for a surprise.

Although underdogs, Wigan go into the match completely devoid of pressure. As I mentioned above their season has already exceeded their wildest expectations so this is just a bonus. United, however, know this is there only chance of any sort of silverware in a season which would otherwise be a complete disaster.

And that difference in pressure levels could just see us in for an upset. Game on!

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