KEITH Fahey sees ex-team-mate Kevin Doyle as an inspiration but admits that he never thought the Reading striker was that good!

The new Blues midfielder is hoping to have a similar impact on English football as Doyle did when he arrived at Reading from Cork City in 2005.

Doyle is now seen as one of the hottest properties outside of the Premier League having bagged a hatful of goals for the promotion-chasing Royals.

Fahey knew all about Doyle before his compatriot arrived at the Madejski Stadium having played alongside him as a teenager.

The Irish duo came through the ranks together at St Patrick's Athletic Under-18s and Fahey admits that he admires Doyle's progress.

But Fahey is also stunned by the Republic of Ireland goal-getter's development as he never expecting him to become so good.

"There is talent in Ireland," said Fahey. "I used to play with Kevin Doyle when I went back to play for St Pat's under-18s (after being released by Villa).

TO SOME, it's the end of the world as we know it again.

Blues lose, sound the alarm bells, it's crisis time.

Yes, it was not a very clever way to end a game that was closing to a goalless draw.

A couple of misjudgments, an error, and Jon Parkin punishes Blues in the first minute of stoppage time, inflicting a fourth defeat of the season, and only a second away from home.

THEY just won't let it lie...

It's seven years now since Preston North End defeated Blues in the play-offs on penalties at Deepdale.

You know, the one where Trevor Francis got in a strop because the spot-kicks were not taken at the redeveloped Town End, which was a building site, but instead in front of Preston's fans.

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher has reopened the club V country debate in his recently-released autobiography after admitting that he'd be more bothered missing a penalty for Liverpool than England.

Add to that England's travelling army suffering from falling numbers and Fabio Capello admitting that he'd prefer to play away from Wembley to avoid the Three Lions faithful's boos and groans.

So what do you think? Would you choose an England victory over Croatia tonight or three points against Doncaster on Saturday?

WHEN the final whistle sounded Kevin Phillips took a deep breath, sighed and looked to the heavens.

Only a few moments earlier Phillips had been put clean through on goal by Gary McSheffrey as Blues sprang devastatingly out of defence from a Norwich corner.

Phillips took a touch to steady himself inside the penalty area, a touch too much as it turned out, and David Marshall rushed out to save with an outstretched leg.

It was a gilt-edged opportunity for the goalscorer supreme, an invite to maintain Blues 100 per cent start and keep them top of the Championship.