We wanted to be positive. We honestly did.

We took a look at Bayern Munich’s odds of 1/100 on to progress to the quarter-finals against Arsenal tonight and fancied backing a famous comeback in the Allianz Arena.

We tried to find reasons to believe it was possible. Omens, empirical data, you name it. But after we’d considered it all, this was what we are left with if we are to believe that a British club will make it into this year’s last eight of the Champions League...

- It’s not like Bayern are 20 points clear in the Bundesliga and haven’t lost at home by more than one goal for 52 matches

With Brian McDermott biting the dust as Reading manager with his club second bottom of the Premier League, we decided to take a trip down memory lane to see who else was given the bullet a season after winning promotion to England's top flight. Harsh? You can make your own mind up as we look at how these unfortunate gaffers triumphed in the Championship before the axe fell a season later.

1. Brian McDermott (Reading)

Championship final table 2011-2012

Premier League table 2012-2013 when McDermott was sacked

2. Nigel Adkins (Southampton)

Championship final table 2011-2012

Premier League

With the sad news of the death of legendary commentator Tony Gubba, most renowned for his work on football among several other sports, at the age of 69 after a short illness, we look at 11 more famous faces from yesteryear who were the voices of their sport. They are no longer with us, but live on through their work.

1. David Vine (1935-2009)
Once described by comedy duo Fry and Laurie as 'the Guv'nor', Vine presented a several shows ranging from Miss World to Grandstand, but is best recalled for his work on snooker and Ski Sunday.

2. Sid Waddell (1940-2012)
Author, script writer and

1. GET A GRIP! - China's Li Lei breaks his bat as he hits a pitch at the World Baseball Classic.

2. AH, THE AGONY! - Liverpool striker Luis Suarez takes a theatrical tumble past Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

3. PILE ON! - Players of the Montreal Canadians and the Florida Panthers dive on each other during their NHL match.

4. HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE - A Saskatchewan fan sits all alone at the Canadian Men's Curling Championships in Edmonton.

5. LIKE AN ARMY OF ANTS - Cross-country skiers start during the Engadin Ski Marathon on the frozen Lake Sils.

6. JUST CLOSE FRIENDS

To mark International Women's Day, we present a selection of the greatest female athletes in the world.

It's not a comprehensive list, and the order is alphabetical rather than on merit.

If we have left out someone you think deserves inclusion, please let us know in the comments!

Luciana Aymar (Argentina, Hockey): The greatest hockey player of all time. Seven-times World Player of the Year and four-times Olympic medallist.

Tora Berger (Norway, Biathlon): Managed almost complete dominance of the 2013 World Championships, winning four gold medals from six available.

Jessica Ennis (Great Britain,

Robin van Persie has stormed to the top of the Premier League replica kit charts, selling three times as many shirts as any other player.

The Dutchman has displaced Wayne Rooney in the Manchester United pecking order, and also knocked him off the top of the replica kit charts, with last season's top dog Rooney falling two places to third.

Van Persie's number 20 Manchester United shirt accounts for over a quarter of all named shirt sales, according to online football store Kitbag.

1 - Robin van Persie - Manchester United - 25.4% of total Kitbag sales

2 - Steven Gerrard - Liverpool - 8.2%

3 -

Sir Alex Ferguson was apparently "distraught" and unable to face the world's media after his 10-man Manchester United side lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 at Old Trafford.

Much of the blame attached to the 3-2 aggregate defeat has been left at the door of Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir and his contentious decision to red card Nani for a high challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa with United leading 1-0 early in the second half.

Fergie has never been overly keen on speaking to the media, but is rarely lost for words when it comes to confronting match officials.

We are guessing