Interesting news from the offal. Clint Dempsey has stormed to the player of the month crown, winning by a landslide margin.

Given that Clint had scored two goals against Chelsea – including that vital late header that secured a point – there was little prospect of anyone else winning the award. I thought Dempsey’s display against Middlesbrough earlier in the month ran his Chelsea performance close as one of his best for the club.

I was pleased to see that Danny Murphy, who in his own understated manner, finished second. That’s a just reward for a man who has been massively important in our brilliant recent run – and hopefully both men can keep their fine run of form going into the New Year.