In these days of nice, tactful, diplomatic coaches and managers, we say: hail nutter Carlo Mazzone (aka, Brescia coach). When his lads equalised against Atalanta in injury time last week he ran 60 metres towards Atalanta supporters and made naughty gestures in their direction while officials tried, but failed, to restrain him. Referee Pierluigi Collina promptly sent him off, but Mazzone let further rip in a post-match interview, much of which was taken up with his thoughts on the virtues of women from Bergamo, where Atalanta are based.

Apparently his outburst was a response to chants about his parents from Atalanta supporters last season. "They insulted my parents, who are both dead anyway," he said, "so, when they called me a 'son of a whore' as I was returning to the dressing-room I phoned my wonderful sisters and I asked if our parents were from Bergamo." Ouch. And there was you thinking Bohs-Rovers games were rough.