F1 2013 team-by-team review: Imperious Vettel makes it nine in a row

01 RED BULL-RENAULT

01	Sebastian Vettel (Ger)	Red Bull-Renault	397 (13 wins)
03	Mark Webber (Aus)	Red Bull-Renault	199

2014 Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo
The commentators ran out of superlatives to describe Sebastian Vettel's achievements in 2013 - and, no wonder, considering he joined a club of only three other drivers in winning the F1 world title four times, also being the youngest of those. This is, indeed, Vettel's fourth consecutive title and it was easily his most convincing - even more clear-cut than his previous runaway success in 2011. The defence actually began no more than steadily in the first half of the season with victories in Malaysia, Bahrain, Canada and at the Nurburgring in Germany, his first home triumph.
However, a mid-season tyre change by Pirelli following a series of dangerous incidents at Silverstone seemed to benefit Red Bull more than anyone else. From Belgium onwards, Vettel won every single race, a streak of nine successive victories, equalling Alberto Ascari's 60-year-old record and breaking the record by two for the number of consecutive wins within a single season. Not everyone appreciated Vettel's utter dominance and, admittedly, the races at the front did become a complete bore for the television companies to cover. But, still, the German did not deserve to be booed when collecting the top prize on various podiums around the world. After all, he could only do what he is paid to do, and win.
Vettel has been accused of being rather arrogant in his celebrations with his detractors pointing towards the one-finger salute and his tendency to celebrate by making tyre doughnuts on the track. However, in his last couple of races, the radio messages to his team made it clear he is very self-aware that 2014 will be much tougher for him to win with the new smaller engine sizes among a whole raft of changes being brought in. Enjoy this dominance while we can was pretty much the message he wanted to give. But, at just 26, and with Adrian Newey still at the helm at Red Bull, it is perhaps no surprise that the German should already be listed as odds on for a fifth consecutive crown in 2015.
One man who will not be there to see that, if it happens, is Vettel's long-suffering team-mate Mark Webber. The Australian has often given the impression that he felt his younger counterpart was favoured by the team but the brutal facts are simply that Vettel has been the quicker driver over the last few years and no amount of bickering about team orders can hide that fact. Still, Vettel's decision to overtake in Malaysia against a clear team order was clearly the final straw for Webber and it was no surprise in June he announced he was leaving Red Bull for Sportcars.
Nevertheless, the Aussie has never resolved his own problem of a lack of speed off the start line though, against that, it is of huge credit to him that he has often fought his way back up the field. And, while he did not manage a Grand Prix win in his final season in F1, Webber did finish second on no fewer than five occasions, four of which contributed to Red Bull 1-2s. As the ultimate team player - in a brilliantly successful team - and, as a nice Australian to boot, he can leave F1 for Sportcars with his head held high.

02 MERCEDES

04	Lewis Hamilton (Gbr)	McLaren-Mercedes	189 (1 win)
06	Nico Rosberg (Ger)	Mercedes	171 (2 wins)

2014 Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg
Mercedes have kept faith with the Lewis Hamilton-Nico Rosberg partnership for 2014 and it really is not hard to see why after an impressive set of results saw the German team finish in second, ahead of Ferrari and Lotus. Indeed, before the mid-year tyre change put clear water between Red Bull and the rest, Mercedes were challenging having chalked up three wins. Rosberg enjoyed a mid-season purple patch to record two wins in three races, in Monaco and at Silverstone - and this undoubtedly once again demonstrated the cracking character of the young German who has previously outlasted Michael Schumacher's misguided comeback.
Nevertheless, he still finished 18 points down on Hamilton although, looking back, this was largely down to a slow start - Rosberg retired twice in the opening three races - and, thereafter, the Grand Prix, in Hungary, which the Briton won and Rosberg could not finish due to an engine problem. At least, that victory allowed Hamilton to justify easily his risky move from his boyhood team McLaren in the last close season.
Friends since their karting days as teenagers, Hamilton and Rosberg clearly have a mutual respect for each other, and actually a great blend of youth and experience to form a formidable F1 partnership. Or, at least, they would have had more chance of that if Mercedes had not messed the team's best chance of securing a title next season by letting the phenomenal technician Ross Brawn go, late in this campaign. Frankly, Hamilton must be praying that Brawn does not turn up at one of his rivals as he seems destined to do.

03 FERRARI

02	Fernando Alonso (Spa)	Ferrari	242 (2 wins)
08	Felipe Massa (Brz)	Ferrari	112

2014 Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen
Another frustrating campaign for Ferrari even saw them cede second place in the Constructors' Championship to Mercedes, and this despite a decent start from number one driver Fernando Alonso. When the Spaniard last tasted victory, back on 12 May in his home Grand Prix in Barcelona, he was just 17 points behind Sebastian Vettel having matched the German in race wins with two each and, as ever, Alonso battled hard for the remainder of the season, finishing on the podium seven times, scoring five runners-up spots and two third places to finish clear in second place in the Drivers' Championship.
But Ferrari were clearly unable to compete with Red Bull again and, to a winner like Alonso, his second place feels like nowhere. Indeed, aged 32, he is no doubt beginning to wonder if he will ever add to the two world titles which he won with Renault in 2005 and 2006, and that frustration boiled over in a mid-season row with the team president, Luca di Montezemolo. Bearing that in mind, it will be interesting to see how Alonso copes in 2014 with a more competitive team-mate in Kimi Raikkonen, with Felipe Massa having finally drunk in the last chance saloon for too long.
Arguably, Massa has never been the same since his serious accident in 2009, the Brazilian seemed all too content in his role as a support driver for Alonso, scoring just one podium all season - and that came in Spain where, for the one and only time in 2013, Ferrari were the dominant force. Nevertheless, Massa's consistency was much improved as the season wore on and he achieved fourth-placed finishes at Ferrari's spiritual home at Monza in Italy, and also in India, as part of a streak of nine points finishes from the last 10 races. Massa's choice of Williams is an interesting one and, in an ideal world, both driver and new team will help to give each other a lift.

04 LOTUS-RENAULT

05	Kimi Raikkonen (Fin)	Lotus-Renault	183 (1 win)
07	Romain Grosjean (Fra)	Lotus-Renault	132
21	Heikki Kovalainen (Fin)	Lotus-Renault	0

2014 Both drivers TBC
Lotus enjoyed another strong showing with Kimi Raikkonen considered a genuine title contender in the early part of the season. Indeed, the Finn won the opening Grand Prix in Australia before stepping up on the second rung of the podium in three consecutive races, in China, Bahrain and Spain - all in the first five races. A three-race spell outside of the top three followed, before another set of successive second places in Germany and Hungary. Then came a retirement at Spa in Belgium, a significant moment as it brought to an end his remarkable run of consecutive points finishes at 27 races.
More vitally, he dropped from second to fourth in the championship and fell ever further away from run-away leader Sebastian Vettel. Further podium appearances at Singapore and Korea followed but, having already agreed to join Ferrari, Raikkonen then refused to race in the last two Grand Prix, citing a back problem which was likely more to do with the fact that it emerged Lotus's financial problems had meant he had been going unpaid. Compatriot Heikki Kovalainen replaced him but failed to score with consecutive 14th-placed finishes.
Romain Grosjean did impress, though, and restored his accident-prone reputation which was borne out of his involvement in no fewer than seven first lap incidents in 2012. Fatherhood seems to have settled down the Frenchman - or maybe he was just never as poor a driver as his previous demolition derby form suggested. For while, of course, he could not match Raikkonen, he did make six of his own visits to the podium altogether, four of which were in the last six races. That sort of form, if carried through, suggests a fruitful 2014 is in the offing for Grosjean - but much depends on the identity of his team-mate and if indeed the team can establish a sounder financial footing.

05 McLAREN-MERCEDES

09	Jenson Button (Gbr)	McLaren-Mercedes	73
11	Sergio Perez (Mex)	McLaren-Mercedes	49

2014 Jenson Button, Kevin Magnussen
Having finished with the fastest car on the grid at the back end of the 2012 season, it came as something of a surprise to see McLaren become the first major team to drop out of contention. Well, it did until we had the misfortune of seeing the MP4-28 on the track. This was a truly rotten car, which ultimately served up the team's worst performance in 33 years, the last time the Woking-based outfit failed even to make it onto the podium once.
The closest McLaren got to a top-three finish in 2013 was from Jenson Button's fourth-place finish in the season finale in Brazil and, in fairness, the 2009 champion often did as best he could with the equipment he had. For a start, he never retired all season - and he scored, or rather often scraped, points from all but five of the races. Button must hope that, having been treading water since a runners-up finish in the Drivers' Championship in 2011, his team take advantage of the new regulations and an increased development time to come up with a properly competitive car. A reunification with Ross Brawn, not entirely out of the question, would be the icing on the cake.
Whatever happens in Woking over the off-season, Sergio Perez will not be there to see it having been ditched in favour of Kevin Magnussen. The Dane has graduated from McLaren's Young Driver Programme and he replaces Mexican Perez who, despite showing flashes of his speed, struggled for consistency until four consecutive points-based finishes in the last four races which, by then, was too late to save his job. A return to Sauber looks the obvious next move.

06 FORCE INDIA-MERCEDES

12	Paul di Resta (Gbr)	Force India-Mercedes	48
13	Adrian Sutil (Ger)	Force India-Mercedes	29

2014 Both drivers TBC
Consistency remains elusive to Force India who nevertheless jumped back above Sauber in the mid-table of the Constructors' Championship, having finished behind the Swiss team last year. However, that outcome is still hardly good enough for this highly-ambitious team, meaning neither Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil can yet be sure of taking their seats next season.
After a decent start, in which he scored points in seven of the opening eight races including a fourth place in Bahrain, di Resta suffered a mid-season slump which saw him then fail to score in seven successive races. Now it remains to be seen if a slight return to form - an eighth-placed finish in India and a sixth in Abu Dhabi - will be enough for the genial Scot to save his position but, ultimately the fact that he does not bring in any money in terms of sponsorship is likely to count against him.
German Adrian Sutil has done, hence his return to the team even after he was convicted of an assault in a nightclub which meant that he missed the whole of the 2012 campaign. Like di Resta, though, Sutil's season faded after a bright start, though this is a reflection on the fact that Force India struggled with the mid-year tyre change more than most.

07 SAUBER-FERRARI

10	Nico Hulkenberg (Ger)	Sauber-Ferrari	51
16	Esteban Gutierrez (Mex)*	Sauber-Ferrari	6

2014 Sergey Sirotkin, TBC
Nico Hulkenberg probably got more out of his car in respect of its limitations than any other driver on the grid, regularly qualifying in the top 10 and securing 10 points-based finishes across the season including a fourth-place in Korea. In all, the 26-year-old German scored a remarkable 89% of Sauber's 57 points with no other driver outscoring his team-mate quite as heavily as Hulkenburg did.
In fairness to Esteban Gutierrez, this was his rookie season, and Hulkenburg was extremely good, but the gap still yawned far too wide at times. Worryingly for the Mexican, Sauber have already brought in Russian teenager Sergey Sirotkin to fill a seat next season and it is doubtful if the Swiss outfit would put two such inexperienced drivers together. Regardless of what happens, though, Hulkenburg can surely expect a better offer than Sauber with rumours that Force India or even Lotus are looking to snap him up.

08 TORO ROSSO-FERRARI

14	Daniel Ricciardo (Aus)	Toro-Rosso-Ferrari	20
15	Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra)	Toro-Rosso-Ferrari	13

2014 Daniil Kvyat, Jean-Eric Vergne
And another one graduates! Daniel Ricciardo's regular points-scoring finishes was always likely to be enough to catch the attention of Toro Rosso's more established big brother Red Bull - and Ricciardo would have had to be crazy to turn down the chance to drive at, presumably, the top end of the grid for the four-time Constructors' champions.
It is really nothing more than Ricciardo deserves, having scored points in seven of this season's Grand Prix, results which included two seventh-placed finishes in China and Italy. Team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne also started well, a sixth-place finish in Canada actually putting him six points clear of Ricciardo after seven races. However, that was the last time that the Frenchman scored all season while, in comparison, Ricciardo continued to pick up points here and there right up until the season finale in Brazil.
For now, Vergne has hung onto his seat at the Italian-based team and, in 2014, will be joined by young Russian GP3 champion Daniil Kvyat. Ricciardo, meanwhile, must be careful that his assumed status as number two driver to four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel does not stunt his own development. After all, he is much younger than the man he replaces, his compatriot Mark Webber.

09 WILLIAMS-RENAULT

17	Valtteri Bottas (Fin)*	Williams-Renault	4
18	Pastor Maldonado (Ven)	Williams-Renault	1

2014 Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa
Following a year of seemingly genuine progress in 2012, Williams reverted to their 2011 form at the back of the grid over the past 12 months, scoring just five points all season. Nevertheless, there were still some positives, almost exclusively from Valtteri Bottas who was rewarded for a solid debut season with an eighth-placed finish in the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
That was enough for Bottas to earn a seat at the British team next season alongside Felipe Massa who joins from Ferrari to replace the desperately disappointing Pastor Maldonado. The Venezuelan scored just a single point this year, in Hungary, and he was regularly outperformed by his rookie team-mate and that win at the Spanish Grand Prix from pole last year now seems completely unfathomable. Instead, Maldonado departs F1 with a reputation for being unable to stay out of trouble, while his unfounded, perhaps even envious, accusations of sabotage in Texas will hardly endear him to potential suitors.

10 MARUSSIA-COSWORTH

19	Jules Bianchi (Fra)*	Marussia-Cosworth	0
23	Max Chilton (Gbr)*	Marussia-Cosworth	0

2014 Jules Bianchi, TBC
Of all the drivers destined to finish on nul points, Jules Bianchi showed the best glimpses. The Frenchman's best result came early on in the season as a 13th-placed finish in Malaysia kept him above his fellow-non scorers and, much more vitally, ultimately secured prize money for 10th place in the Constructors' Championship for Marussia.
Fellow F1 debutant Max Chilton was far more cautious, often trundling around at the back. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old Briton still achieved an extraordinary result in finishing every single Grand Prix of the season, becoming the first rookie ever to do so. A spate of retirements in Monaco ensured a season's best finish of 14th.

11 CATERHAM-RENAULT

20	Charles Pic (Fra)	Caterham-Renault	0
22	Giedo van der Garde (Ned)*	Caterham-Renault	0

2014 Both drivers TBC
Caterham bring up the rear this year having indeed slipped a place as compared to 12 months ago following a difficult second season for Frenchman Charles Pic and a real struggle for Dutch debutant Giedo van der Garde.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, despite signing a multi-year deal at the back of last season, Pic's place in the team next year has not be confirmed and nor has GP2 graduate van der Garde. Both could score no higher than 14th-placed finishes in 2013 with Pic achieving this in Malaysia and Korea, and van der Garde once in Hungary. Both drivers also matched each other with the number of retirements with four.

CALENDAR

Date	Television		Pole position	Fastest lap	Winner
17 March	Sky	Australian Grand Prix	Vettel	Raikkonen	Raikkonen
24 March	Sky	Malaysian Grand Prix	Vettel	Perez	Vettel
14 April	BBC Sky	Chinese Grand Prix	Hamilton	Vettel	Alonso
21 April	Sky	Bahrain Grand Prix	Rosberg	Vettel	Vettel
12 May	BBC Sky	Spanish Grand Prix	Rosberg	Gutierrez	Alonso
26 May	Sky	Monaco Grand Prix	Rosberg	Vettel	Rosberg
9 June	BBC Sky	Canadian Grand Prix	Vettel	Webber	Vettel
30 June	BBC Sky	British Grand Prix	Hamilton	Webber	Rosberg
7 July	Sky	German Grand Prix	Hamilton	Alonso	Vettel
28 July	Sky	Hungarian Grand Prix	Hamilton	Webber	Hamilton
25 August	BBC Sky	Belgian Grand Prix	Hamilton	Vettel	Vettel
8 September	BBC Sky	Italian Grand Prix	Vettel	Hamilton	Vettel
22 September	Sky	Singapore Grand Prix	Vettel	Vettel	Vettel
6 October	Sky	Korean Grand Prix	Vettel	Vettel	Vettel
13 October	BBC Sky	Japanese Grand Prix	Webber	Webber	Vettel
27 October	BBC Sky	Indian Grand Prix	Vettel	Raikkonen	Vettel
3 November	Sky	Abu Dhabi Grand Prix	Webber	Alonso	Vettel
17 November	Sky	United States Grand Prix	Vettel	Vettel	Vettel
24 November	BBC Sky	Brazilian Grand Prix	Vettel	Webber	Vettel

STANDINGS
Drivers' Championship

P	Driver	Team	Points
01	Sebastian Vettel (Ger)	Red Bull-Renault	397 (13 wins)
02	Fernando Alonso (Spa)	Ferrari	242 (2 wins)
03	Mark Webber (Aus)	Red Bull-Renault	199
04	Lewis Hamilton (Gbr)	McLaren-Mercedes	189 (1 win)
05	Kimi Raikkonen (Fin)	Lotus-Renault	183 (1 win)
06	Nico Rosberg (Ger)	Mercedes	171 (2 wins)
07	Romain Grosjean (Fra)	Lotus-Renault	132
08	Felipe Massa (Brz)	Ferrari	112
09	Jenson Button (Gbr)	McLaren-Mercedes	73
10	Nico Hulkenberg (Ger)	Sauber-Ferrari	51
11	Sergio Perez (Mex)	McLaren-Mercedes	49
12	Paul di Resta (Gbr)	Force India-Mercedes	48
13	Adrian Sutil (Ger)	Force India-Mercedes	29
14	Daniel Ricciardo (Aus)	Toro-Rosso-Ferrari	20
15	Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra)	Toro-Rosso-Ferrari	13
16	Esteban Gutierrez (Mex)*	Sauber-Ferrari	6
17	Valtteri Bottas (Fin)*	Williams-Renault	4
18	Pastor Maldonado (Ven)	Williams-Renault	1
19	Jules Bianchi (Fra)*	Marussia-Cosworth	0
20	Charles Pic (Fra)	Caterham-Renault	0
21	Heikki Kovalainen (Fin)	Lotus-Renault	0
22	Giedo van der Garde (Ned)*	Caterham-Renault	0
23	Max Chilton (Gbr)*	Marussia-Cosworth	0

*= Debut season in F1

Constructors' Championship

P	Team	Points
01	Red Bull-Renault	596 (13 wins)
02	Mercedes	360 (3 wins)
03	Ferrari	354 (2 wins)
04	Lotus-Renault	315 (1 win)
05	McLaren-Mercedes	122
06	Force India-Mercedes	77
07	Sauber-Ferrari	57
08	Toro Rosso-Ferrari	33
09	Williams-Renault	5
10	Marussia-Cosworth	0
11	Caterham-Renault	0

The Ashes 2013/14: Trott takes the first step to recovery

ENGLAND batsman Jonathan Trott began the long road to recovery after leaving the Ashes tour in Australia because of a long-standing stress-related condition.

Trott made only 19 runs from two innings in the first Test in Brisbane as he struggled to cope with the short, fast-paced deliveries of Mitchell Johnson.

Of course, he was far from alone in his struggles against man of the match Johnson as England went down to a horrendous 318-run defeat inside four days.

But everyone who is susceptible to mental illness has a tipping point and this was clearly his.

"I don't think it is right that I'm playing knowing that I'm not 100%," said the 32-year-old, who has undoubtedly made the correct choice in returning to the UK to spend some time with his family.

England coach Andy Flower described Trott as having managed his ongoing problems "very successfully" - and indeed he has since his debut in Test cricket in the decisive fifth Test of the 2009 Ashes series.

He began with a bang, scoring a century at the Oval to secure a return of the urn to England, and has remained a permanent fixture in England's Test and one-day teams, scoring 3,763 Test runs at an average of 46.45 and almost 3,000 one-day international runs at 51.25.

Anxiety and depression, though, are no respecters of past achievement or personal status, as previous England cricket internationals Marcus Trescothick and Michael Yardy are well-aware.

Trescothick had to leave the 2005-06 tour of India and the 2006-07 Ashes tour of Australia, and wrote extensively about his issues in his highly-regarded autobiography, Coming Back to Me. Left-arm spinner Yardy, meanwhile, flew home from the 2011 World Cup in India.

Trott has now joined Trescothick and Yardy in making the gut-wrenching decision to leave his team-mates - but he really should not think he has let anyone down. Instead, he should focus on how well he has done to get as far as he did under absolutely immense pressure.

Of course, that pressure only got worse during the course of a caustic first Test at the Gabba where Australia's desperation to begin an Ashes series on the front foot was belied by a rather nasty streak.

Aussie skipper Michael Clarke has even been fined 20% of his match fee for warning last man James Anderson that he was going to have his arm broken.

And, while Clarke defended his side's conduct as "banter" and "part and parcel of the game", sledging - though surely entitled to be inappropriate - is best achieved with some wit and intelligence.

Seemingly, that would be asking too much of the Australians whose coach Darren Lehmann, actually pretty unlikeable in his playing days, has done absolutely nothing to quell the growing tension.

It against this uneasy background, then, that Trott has been battling his demons - and his struggle was undoubtedly made much worse by David Warner's comments.

Warner described the England number three as being "poor and weak" in his dismissals and, though I agreed that he had a point in my match report, it is notable that the England set-up pretty much never bad-mouths an opponent.

Again, the Australians, while they have at last begun to start winning matches once more, have much to learn about winning with good grace.

Hopefully, Trott's departure will not encourage them but rather teach them to keep their gobs shut and take a leaf out of England's book to err on the side of caution.

After all, nobody really knows exactly what is going on in the opposition camp, and there would no doubt even be many within the England team who would not be fully aware at least of the extent of Trott's issues.

Presumably, the team doctors and psychologist would have known - but, ultimately, the decision to go on tour would have been that of Trott himself.

No one can or should blame him for choosing to travel away, especially given a shedload of evidence supporting the idea that he was managing his condition well. While obviously I cannot see inside his mind, his biggest fear was perhaps letting people down.

Please remember also that mental health issues are a lot more common than many people realise.

Statistics suggest that one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year, and mixed anxiety and depression is the most common disorder in Britain.

I should know. Unfortunately, as previously shown on this very blog, I have also been in that desolate landscape more than once before. The illness completely debilitates you physically as well as mentally.

For, once sensitised by stress, pretty much everything can become a worry. The symptoms of anxiety are many and varied but sufferers will often be hyper-vigilant and study their bodies looking for something seriously wrong to justify the pain.

It is how, for example, I ended up being taken from the Guinness Storehouse exhibition on St Patrick's Day in Dublin this year to the nearby St James Hospital.

I was complaining of feeling faint and nauseous, and of having a racing pulse - but there was actually nothing wrong with me - or nothing serious anyway.

The fact that I had hardly eaten for the previous two days, because of an anxiety-nausea cycle, had left my blood sugar levels stupidly low.

Nevertheless, following a completely wasted night in a hotel room, I still went out to see the magnificent St Patrick's Day Parade... and, yes, actually enjoyed myself, in spite of the rain.

Total recovery takes much longer and requires a variety of remedies, including medication and cognitive-behaviour therapy, which will both presumably be offered to Trott as they were to me.

For now, though, the most important thing for Trott is time - and plenty of it, for there can be no pressure over how long it takes to sort this out.

With time comes desensitisation from the stress and, with a clearer head, a greater understanding of your personal unravelling process.

Once understood, the issues can be more easily solved - but very little can be achieved without having allowed the time to pass for the head to clear.

"Get well soon", though well-meaning, is an ultimately empty gesture when dealing with anxiety and depression. "Just remember your health is most important" is a rather better way of looking at it.

Good luck, Jonathan Trott, and well done already for taking the first steps to recovery.

The Ashes 2013/14: Australia hammer desperate England

Australia 295 & 401-7dec beat England 136 & 179 by 381 runs Scorecard
Man of the match: Mitchell Johnson (9-103)

MITCHELL JOHNSON took a five-wicket haul for just the eighth time in Tests as Australia completed a comprehensive beating of sorry England inside four days at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Johnson posted 5-42 in the second innings, and match figures of 9-103, as England collapsed for the second time in the match, losing by a massive 381 runs.

This was a defeat straight from the dark days of English cricket in the 1990s - but this team has shown itself in the past to be a lot more talented than their counterparts from 15 or 20 years ago.

And so that is simply what is so stunning about this turnaround. Indeed, even during day one of this Test, England - holders of the urn since 2007 - were heavy favourites again.

Stuart Broad reacted brilliantly to some extreme goading from the Australian press and supporters to run through the Aussie top-order, taking the top four wickets on the way to figures of 6-81.

Broad had become a persona non grata in Australia following an incident on the third day at Trent Bridge in the first Test of the summer series.

Clearly edging behind to first slip, Broad - as is his right - stood his ground expecting to see the raised finger of Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar.

Incredibly, it never came, and Broad - having refused to walk - carried on where he left off, eventually scoring a vital 65 in what was eventually the tightest of victories.

Already in the past, Broad has shown himself to be a pretty thick-skinned character so it is doubtful that a few headlines - or, ridiculously, being referred to as the "27-year-old medium-pacer" on the Brisbane Courier scorecard - will bother him too much.

Nevertheless, it is a pretty pathetic an hypocritical campaign from the journalists in a country who actually popularised the notion of not walking.

Perhaps the Aussies are just a little more sensitive having had to become accustomed to losing over the last few years.

Not in this series, though, if this desperate England display is replicated elsewhere.

Firstly, having had Australia on the ropes at six down in their first innings, captain Alastair Cook allowed the match to drift as Johnson and Brad Haddin put on 114 for the seventh wicket.

Haddin eventually fell six runs short of his century the following day, run out by quick-thinking debutant Michael Carberry, after going for a second which was never on.

Australia were still all out for less than 300, and England began the task of establishing an innings lead in reasonably confident manner.

Johnson's first spell lasted just three erratic overs, and Carberry looked especially at home in eventually top-scoring for England with 40.

The same could not be said for the vastly more experienced Jonathan Trott, who fell in the over before lunch, patently unable to cope with some short and genuinely fast-paced bowling from Johnson who had been brought back on.

Trott's dismissal had taken the gloss of a solid morning for England who, at 55-2 and then 82-2, had no need to press the panic button.

Except that Johnson - following his inauspicious start - had become a constant menace, regularly clocking 90mph on the speedometer.

Australia's other bowlers were coming into play, too. Ryan Harris took the scalp of Kevin Pietersen who lofted a drive to George Bailey at midwicket, before Carberry was hustled out by Johnson.

Spinner Nathan Lyon dismissed Ian Bell for five and Matt Prior for a golden duck to leave England on 87-6 - and it got worse as Joe Root (2) and Graeme Swann (0) quickly departed to Johnson to leave England on 91-8.

Astonishingly, the tourists had lost six wickets for nine runs inside 10 overs, their worst ever collapse in the first innings of a Test and their worst anywhere since Melbourne in 1990.

Nevertheless, a slow start to an away series is nothing new for England - there is a pattern which has already been set.

For, in tours in the last two years to Pakistan (in the UAE), Sri Lanka, India, New Zealand and now Australia, England have failed to pass even 200 in the first innings of the first Test. If anything, they are getting further away.

More generally, Cook's men have failed to pass 400 in any of their last 17 Test innings, including all 10 innings of this summer's successful, though perhaps now highly-flattering, Ashes series.

The impressive Broad batted with the tail for a while to make 32 but holed out off Peter Siddle to Chris Rogers at deep square leg.

And so, England were humiliatingly all out for 136, a deficit of 159 which grew to one of 224 runs as Australia's openers Rogers and David Warner easily got to close of play undefeated on day two.

Rogers did not last very long on day three, and nor did Shane Watson, but Warner batted magnificently to compile his first Ashes century and the first by anyone in this series.

He was joined at the crease by his skipper Michael Clarke who saw off a perceived short-ball weakness to make it into three figures too.

Indeed, by the time Swann could make his breakthrough, Australia were already on 294-5, a lead of 453.

Clarke then allowed Johnson (39 not out) and debutant Bailey (34) some time at the crease while Haddin (53) completed another half-century.

But, with an hour of the third day left, he declared with Australia having racked up a massive lead of 560.

Only two teams have scored over 200 to win a Test match at the Gabba, and the highest was 236 in 1951 by Australia against the West Indies.

England were no in position to be breaking records with BBC Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew describing them as being "in disarray". 

And, by the close of day three, England were 24-2 and finally staring a huge defeat in the face. 

Carberry was out for a duck this time, defending to Harris, only to see the ball almost apologetically bounce down between his legs and rebound onto the stumps.

Then Trott could not make it to the close, and was never going to, given his skittish approach and poor body position when faced with Johnson.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan described Trott's nine runs as "the worst I've ever seen an England number three make" and, indeed, he made no more, shovelling another short Johnson delivery to Lyon at deep square leg.

Trott just about sums up England's state of mind at present and, though it pains me to admit it, Warner has a point in describing the number three as "poor and weak" and England generally as having "scared eyes".

Of course, the tourists resumed on day four in a frankly hopeless position, and so it was with some credit that Cook led from the front in making 65.

Pietersen (26) and Bell (32) also helped delay the inevitable for a while but Siddle then snaffled the latter with a delivery which was back of a length to leave England on 130-4.

Then, the rains came - easily England's best chances of saving the game. Actually, it was not just rain but hailstones the size of golf balls which were falling out of a blackened sky.

However, the match was delayed for merely 90 minutes and, on its resumption, Cook was out almost immediately, nicking a thin edge behind off Lyon.

The spinner then accounted for Prior, caught down the leg-side by Warner for a paltry four before Broad could only equal that score as a second collapse gained momentum.

Johnson, who had taken Broad's wicket, was in the midst of another great spell and, within the same over, he ensured Swann completed a miserable Test with a second duck.

Another rain delay was actually rather cruel on England who, by this stage, wanted just to get the whole sorry affair over and done with.

And, on the resumption, Chris Tremlett obliged - only managing to fend a short ball from Harris to Bailey for seven - before James Anderson was fittingly caught and bowled by man of the match Johnson for two.

It was all over, England having failed to make it to 200 again in losing by a mammoth 381 runs, their fifth worst Ashes defeat ever in terms of runs and sadly a fair reflection on the difference between how the two teams have played.

England have, of course, bounced back from slow starts in several series in the recent past, securing draws in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and collecting a magnificent comeback win in India.

But the most worrying thing about this series is that the die already seems to have been cast, the theme being the England top order's complete inability to cope with short, fast-paced deliveries from Johnson.

Serenaded at the start of this Test by England's Barmy Army with that song, the Queenslander is the stand-out figure so far in this series.

A repeat performance of his efforts here in Adelaide, beginning a week on Thursday, would surely put the Aussies 2-0 up.

Then comes Perth in Western Australia where England have won just once ever, even losing heavily in their impressive series victory three years ago.

And so, unless England's batsman can get themselves sorted out pretty sharpish, this series could indeed be decided in a flash - just not in the way it was expected to be.

There is a hell of a lot of work to be done.

THE ASHES 2013/14

21-25 Nov	FIRST: Australia 295 & 401-7d beat England 136 & 179 by 381 runs	Brisbane
5-9 Dec	SECOND TEST	Adelaide
13-17 Dec	THIRD TEST	Perth
26-30 Dec	FOURTH TEST	Melbourne
3-7 Jan	FIFTH TEST	Sydney

CENTURIES
124 David Warner (Australia)
113 Michael Clarke (Australia)

FIVE-WICKET HAULS
6-81 Stuart Broad (England)
5-42 Mitchell Johnson (Australia)

SLOW STARTERS
England's last five first innings scores in the first Test of an away series
192 v Pakistan in Dubai (January 2012)
193 v Sri Lanka in Galle (March 2012)
191 v India in Ahmedabad (November 2012)
167 v New Zealand in Dunedin (March 2013)
136 v Australia in Brisbane (November 2013)

World Cup qualifying playoffs: Big guns make it to Brazil

(Q) Brazil, Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea, Netherlands, Italy, United States, Costa Rica, Argentina, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Colombia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia, England, Spain, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Algeria, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, France, Mexico, and Uruguay

ALMOST all of the powerhouses of world football who were forced into the 2014 World Cup playoffs have ultimately negotiated their way to the finals in Brazil.

France, though unseeded, were still favourites to progress against Ukraine - however, Les Bleus inconsistent form meant that they had the closest the call of all the European teams.

Didier Deschamps' men were beaten quite convincingly in Kiev and, having failed to score an away goal in their 2-0 defeat, were aware that four goals would be needed if Ukraine scored in Paris.

Instead, at the Stade de France, the French dominated from the start with goals from Mamadou Sakho and Karim Benzema repairing the damage from the first leg within half an hour. 

Ukraine went down to 10 men with Yevhen Khacheridi sent off for two bookings either side of half time and Oleg Gusev own goal on 72 minutes then put France ahead for the first time in tie. 

Still, just one goal would be enough for Ukraine to go through on away goals. However, France held out with some ease to become effectively the last of the 32 qualifiers. 

That is not officially correct because Mexico and Uruguay still have to labour through 90 minutes tomorrow against New Zealand and Jordan respectively in their inter-continental playoffs. 

Mexico ended up in the playoffs because of some simply dreadful form which left them down in fourth place at the end of the CONCACAF qualifiers - and only then because the United States scored two last-minute goals against Panama.

How New Zealand would have preferred to face the Panamanians! Mexico, for all their faults, were simply too strong for Ricki Herbert's All Whites, winning 5-1 at the Azteca to render the second leg a formality. 

World Cup 2010 semi finalists Uruguay enjoyed an even more convincing win, 5-0 away in Jordan, to ensure their return match at the Centenario in Montevideo will simply be a celebration. 

Oddly, Luis Suarez was not on the scoresheet in Amman - and it took Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani until stoppage time to register although, when he did, it was with a cracking direct free-kick. 

Nevertheless, Maxi Pereira, Cristian Stuani, Nicolas Lodeiro and Cristian Rodriguez all took advantage of some woeful defending to put the tie out of reach of the Middle East outfit. 

Back to Europe, and the tie of the night was in Stockholm where Sweden began their match 1-0 down to Portugal following Cristiano Ronaldo's first leg goal. 

After a cagey first half, Ronaldo made the breakthrough again, leaving the Swedes needing three to score. 

Suddenly, though, the situation sent Sweden on the front foot for almost the first time in the tie. It is a tactic perhaps they should have considered earlier given the talent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads their attack. 

And, indeed, their talisman duly began to deliver, heading an on-the-night equaliser before drawing the aggregate scores level with a rasping free-kick into the bottom corner. 

With less than 20 minutes left, Sweden still needed one more - and it was almost inevitable that they would be caught on the break. 

Ronaldo broke Swedish hearts with a cool, well-struck low finish for his third of the tie on 77 minutes before the Real Madrid star completed a second-leg hat-trick less than two minutes later. 

A tie dominated by two of the undoubted stars of world football was won by the Madeira-born man, who now travels with his countrymen across the Atlantic to the largest Portuguese-speaking nation on the planet. 

Also in Brazil will be Greece who qualified for successive World Cup finals for the first time having done most of the hard work last Friday in Athens. 

Konstantinos Mitroglou scored twice in a 3-1 win, and when the same player made it 4-1 on aggregate early in the second leg in Bucharest, it was a long way back for Romania.

Their best chance perhaps was to force extra time on the back of the momentum of a comeback - but, though an own goal by Vasilios Torosidis briefly gave them hope, a Greek tragedy was never likely. 

Speaking of ultimately dashed hope brings us to the fourth European tie which featured the fairytale of Iceland, bottom-seeded in qualifying and yet runners-up to Switzerland in Group E. 

The adventure was still on heading into the second leg, with the Icelanders having drawn the first one in Reykjavik 0-0 despite playing almost all of the second half with 10 men following Olafur Skulason's dismissal. 

In Zagreb, the roles were reversed with Croatia down to 10 following the sending off of Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic. 

But, by then, Mandzukic had given the Croatians an early lead and, when Darijo Srna doubled the advantage for the short-handed seeds, the fairy dust had rather dissipated. 

Surprise package Iceland had been unwrapped and exposed. Croatia, meanwhile, have impressively missed only one World Cup finals since gaining independence. 

In Africa, the sub-Saharan countries in the west were dominant in the final reckoning as Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria all sealed their place in the finals. 

Only Algeria qualified from North Africa with Egypt letting themselves down big time again. 

The Egyptians, who are without a finals appearance since 1990, will have to wait at least another four years longer after going down 6-1 to 2010 quarter finalists Ghana in the first leg. 

Effectively, it ensured any efforts in Cairo - eventually a 2-1 win - would be forlorn. Their underachievement goes on while Ghana's Black Stars rise again. 

Ivory Coast also did most of the hard work in the first match, and indeed in the first 14 minutes, when they went 2-0 up thanks to a Didier Drogba penalty and an own goal. 

The Elephants then went 3-0 up but a goal from Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse deep in stoppage time left Senegal with some hope. 

That little bit of hope became much more tangible when a Moussa Sow penalty 13 minutes from time left the Lions of Teranga just a goal way from the finals.

But, instead, the final goal of the tie went to Ivorians as Salomon Kalou wrapped up a 4-2 aggregate win in the last minute.

It could have been all so different if Senegal had not been forced to play their home match in the third round at a neutral venue in Morocco. 

At the same time, though, the one-year ban was imposed due to riots in an African Nations Cup match against Ivory Coast earlier in 2013 so there can be little sympathy, to be honest.

Elsewhere, on the continent, Nigeria made light work of Ethiopia, the east Africans' attempts at a first-time qualification dashed by Super Eagles' wins in both legs. 

However, the other two ties were much closer. Burkina Faso, also looking to make it to a finals for the first time, gave themselves a great chance of progressing by winning the first leg against Algeria 3-2. 

But those two away goals for the Desert Foxes ended up proving vital as an early goal in the second half of the second leg from former Rangers man Madjid Bougherra gave the Algerians a 1-0 win, and victory in the tie. 

Algeria, who famously drew 0-0 with England in 2010, have thus qualified for consecutive World Cups for the second time in their history - they also achieved the feat in 1982 and 1986. 

Four years after that, of course, Cameroon announced themselves on the world football stage, taking England to extra time in a World Cup quarter final. 

Ever since, the Indomitable Lions have disappointed in the finals, never progressing beyond the group and even missing out altogether in 2006. 

Nevertheless, a comprehensive second leg win - 4-1 against Tunisia - has given them another chance of redemption, Volker Finke's men finding it surprisingly easy in Yaounde after a tight 0-0 draw away. 

The World Cup finals draw at Costa do Sauípe Resort in Bahia on Friday 6 December at 4pm GMT. The eight seeds will be hosts Brazil, holders Spain, and also Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Switzerland and Uruguay.

QUALIFIERS (by continent)
Africa (CAF) Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria
Asia (AFC) Australia, Iran, Japan, South Korea
North America (CONCACAF) Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, United States
South America (CONMEBOL) Argentina, Brazil (hosts), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay
Europe (UEFA) Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland

RESULTS
UEFA (Europe)

First Leg

Second Leg

Agg

15 Nov, 19:45

Portugal

1-0

Sweden

19 Nov, 19:45

Sweden

2-3

Portugal

2-4

15 Nov, 19:45

Ukraine

2-0

France

19 Nov, 20:00

France

3-0

Ukraine

3-2

15 Nov, 19:45

Greece

3-1

Romania

19 Nov, 19:00

Romania

1-1

Greece

2-4

15 Nov, 19:00

Iceland

0-0

Croatia

19 Nov, 19:15

Croatia

2-0

Iceland

2-0

CAF (Africa)

First Leg

Second Leg

Agg

12 Oct, 16:00

Ivory Coast

3-1

Senegal

16 Nov, 19:00

Senegal

1-1

Ivory Coast

2-4

13 Oct, 14:00

Ethiopia

1-2

Nigeria

16 Nov, 15:00

Nigeria

2-0

Ethiopia

4-1

13 Oct, 18:00

Tunisia

0-0

Cameroon

17 Nov, 14:30

Cameroon

4-1

Tunisia

4-1

15 Oct, 17:00

Ghana

6-1

Egypt

19 Nov, 16:00

Egypt

2-1

Ghana

3-7

12 Oct, 17:00

Burkina Faso

3-2

Algeria

19 Nov, 18:15

Algeria

1-0

Burkina Faso

(a)3-3

(a) Algeria qualified on away goals

Inter-confederation (AFC v CONMEBOL, CONCACAF v OFC)

First Leg

Second Leg

Agg

13 Nov, 15:00

Jordan

0-5

Uruguay

20 Nov, 23:00

Uruguay

0-0

Jordan

5-0

13 Nov, 20:30

Mexico

5-1

New Zealand

20 Nov, 06:00

New Zealand

2-4

Mexico

3-9

Selected international matches
14-17 Nov
England 0-2 Chile, Scotland 0-0 United States, Belgium 0-2 Colombia, South Korea 2-1 Switzerland, Russia 1-1 Serbia, Italy 1-1 Germany, Ecuador 0-0 Argentina, Japan 2-2 Netherlands, Equatorial Guinea 1-2 Spain, Honduras 0-5 Brazil
18-19 Nov
England 0-1 Germany, Italy 2-2 Nigeria, Argentina 2-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina, Australia 1-0 Costa Rica, Austria 1-0 United States, Belgium 2-3 Japan, South Africa 1-0 Spain, Russia 2-1 South Korea, Netherlands 0-0 Colombia, Brazil 2-1 Chile, Honduras 2-2 Ecuador

The Ashes 2013/14: Battle rejoined

SQUADS
Australia Michael Clarke (c) Brad Haddin (wk) George Bailey, James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson
England Alastair Cook (c) James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk) Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Michael Carberry, Steven Finn, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wk) Boyd Rankin, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Ben Stokes, Chris Tremlett, Jonathan Trott

ASHES foes England and Australia recommence their rivalry late tonight as the first Test of a five-match series begins at the Gabba in Brisbane.

It is only 85 days since the two teams finished the last Ashes series with a draw at the Oval which gave England a comfortable 3-0 win, their biggest over the Aussies since 1978-79.

However, both boards agreed back in 2011 to restructure the competition so that, from now on, the demands of the Ashes series in Australia are kept in separate years to the six-week Cricket World Cup, which is next held Down Under in 2015.

But, rather than a much larger gap between 2013 and, for example, a 2015-16 campaign in Australia, the boards also agreed to squeeze in the first back-to-back contests since the 1970s.

Additionally, the next England home series has been brought forward from 2017 to 2015 to prevent a lengthy gap between meetings.

It all means that, by the time that the English summer of 2015 is finished, England will have faced Australia in 15 Tests over three series in just slightly more than two years.

And, despite fears of "Ashes overkill", the timing actually looks to have worked pretty well for England who have emerged as the dominant force between the two teams.

The current urn-holders have indeed won four of the last five contests, a streak which includes a brilliant 3-1 win over Australia two years ago.

That campaign featured three crushing innings victories at Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney - though no one should expect it to be so easy this time around.

For a start, England's smooth preparation for the 2010-11 series has not exactly been replicated this time.

The fitness of wicket keeper Matt Prior following a calf tear has remained in doubt right up until the last minute while it is also unclear who, out of Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin, will fill the tourists' third seamer spot.

None of them really impressed in the three warm-up games, a frustrating set of matches blighted by poor weather.

At least, the likely identity of England's opener alongside Alastair Cook became clearer with Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry hitting 153 in the draw with Australia A.

Joe Root will drop back down the order to bat at six, though there is hope that he can thrive there given that he will be protected from the new ball.

Meanwhile, Australia's own preparations have hardly been ideal either with their bowling attack suffering a spate of injuries, ruling out Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Jackson Bird.

Ryan Harris will be fit, though, after concerns over his hamstring, and he will be joined by the mercurial Mitchell Johnson whose inconsistency has already become written in Ashes folklore.

Skipper Michael Clarke has also had injury worries but bounced back from a six-week layoff with a stylish 88 for New South Wales against Tasmania. 

His Test record as captain, though, makes for less welcome reading - so far, it is played six, won none, drawn two, lost four. 

Nevertheless, it is widely accepted that Australia will field a much more settled side this time, and Clarke will be expecting his men can take advantage of that with a quick start in Brisbane.

After all, it is at a ground which England have found difficult over the years and, though he would be foolish to admit it, captain Cook would probably settle for a draw.

Next comes Adelaide where England wiped away their horror show on the final day in 2006 with that stunning victory three years ago.

And, of course, the key to this game is likely to be determined by whether either side has carried any momentum from the opener.

For the third Test, Cook's men travel west to the Waca in Perth, the scene of England's only defeat in the 2010-11 series, a heavy one, and a ground at which they have only won once ever.

Then, it is back to the east coast for the final two matches, in Melbourne and Sydney, where the tourists have had rather more success over the years, winning 20 and 22 times respectively.

Remember, as holders, England need only draw the series to retain the Ashes - and, even against an improved Aussie side, it would disappointing if they were unable to grind out a 2-2.

Coverage of the first Test begins at 11pm tonight on SkySports 2 with an hour-long highlights programme at 10am tomorrow, before being repeated at midday, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm.

The Verdict show, with former England captain Bob Willis, is at 9pm tomorrow and, due to its time-slot, will feature a preview of the coming day's play as well as a review of the previous day.

Alternatively, radio listeners can tune into the always-reliable Test Match Special on Radio 4 LW and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra from 11.30pm tonight. The whole commentary is then repeated the following day from 11am.

THE ASHES 2013/14

31 Oct-2 Nov	England 391 drew with Western Australia 451-5dec & 168-5	Perth
6-9 Nov	England 430-7dec drew with Australia A 119-3	Hobart
13-16 Nov	England 418 & 151-3 beat Australia Invitational XI 304 & 261 by seven wickets	Sydney
21-25 Nov	FIRST TEST	Brisbane
29-30 Nov	Tour match v Chairman's XI	Alice Springs
5-9 Dec	SECOND TEST	Adelaide
13-17 Dec	THIRD TEST	Perth
26-30 Dec	FOURTH TEST	Melbourne
3-7 Jan	FIFTH TEST	Sydney

• Five ODI matches on 12 Jan (Melbourne), 17 Jan (Brisbane), 19 Jan (Sydney), 24 Jan (Perth), 26 Jan (Adelaide)
• Three T20 matches on 29 Jan (Hobart), 31 Jan (Melbourne), 2 Feb (Sydney)

21st CENTURY ASHES SERIES

2001	(H)	Australia won 4-1
2002-03	(A)	Australia won 4-1
2005	(H)	England won 2-1
2006-07	(A)	Australia won 5-0
2009	(H)	England won 2-1
2010-11	(A)	England won 3-1
2013	(H)	England won 3-0

OVERALL RECORD

TESTS	All-time	In Australia
Played	315	157
England	103	56
Australia	123	77
Drawn	89	24

SERIES	All-time	In Australia
Played	67	33
England	31	14
Australia	31	17
Draw	5	2

A field for the Fallen

THOUSANDS of little wooden crosses all lined up, each carrying a poppy and adorned with a message clearly mattering to someone.

The Field of Remembrance at Saltwell Park in Gateshead is back following its successful introduction last year.

Situated near Saltwell Towers, the grand Victorian mansion, the memorial was opened on Saturday 2 November with a service led by The Reverend James Breslin, Chaplain to the Royal British Legion in Northumbria. A two-minute silence was held at 11am.

Yesterday, of course, was Remembrance Sunday and, in keeping with tradition, the Queen was joined by thousands of veterans and civilians at the Cenotaph in London for a further two-minute silence to remember fallen service personnel.

And today, on Armistice Day itself, I paid my own respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Britain with a visit to the impressive sea of crosses and poppies at Saltwell.

The Field of Remembrance only came about following a campaign by north east newspaper, the Sunday Sun, and the family of Tyneside Rifleman Mark Turner.

Aged just 21, Rifleman Turner, from Sheriff Hill in Gateshead, was killed in 2010 by an improvised explosive device as he searched for roadside bombs in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

Ever since, his mother Anne has worked tirelessly on creating a place where loved ones could pay tribute to absent family members and friends. Plans on creating a permanent garden are still ongoing.
 
For now, visitors have until dusk on 15 November to see the temporary arrangement. 

And the sun was indeed setting on another crisp winter day as I knelt down and planted my little wooden cross into the earth.

But, before the cloak of darkness could once again fall across Tyneside, I read one last message which featured the words of Laurence Binyon from his commemorative poem, For the Fallen.

Originally published in the Times in September 1914, it included Binyon's famous Ode of Remembrance: "Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."

• Donations to the Royal British Legion can be made on their website here.

The Season 2013/14: Arsenal stride five points clear

1 ARSENAL (P10 W8 D1 L1 F22 A9 Pts 25)
First 10 League games: LWWWWWDWWW
League Cup: lost 0-2 v Chelsea (H) in fourth round
Europe: Currently top of Champions League Group F [W2 D0 L1 F5 A3 Pts 6]
Top scorer: Aaron Ramsey (10)
Manager: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996)
Original prediction: 4th
Since a shock opening day defeat to Aston Villa, Arsenal have been the one stand-out side in the division so far, winning eight of their subsequent league games and drawing the other. The Villa loss prompted open revolt in the stands at the Emirates and finally convinced manager Arsene Wenger to dip his hand into the transfer market on deadline day. And what a dip it has proved to be! Mesut Ozil may not have come cheap at £42m+ but the creative midfielder's assist stats over the last few years speak for themselves - and his arrival has brought the best out of Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey. The latter added to his goals tally in the top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool on Saturday to send the Gunners five points clear. With progress also being made in a tricky Champions League group, all is suddenly calm in this part of North London.

2 CHELSEA (P10 W6 D2 L2 F16 A8 Pts 20)
First 10 League games: WWDLWDWWWL
League Cup: QF v Sunderland or Southampton (A) on 17 December
Europe: Currently top of Champions League Group E [W2 D0 L1 F8 A2 Pts 6]
Top scorer: Oscar (5)
Manager: Jose Mourinho (since June 2013)
Original prediction: Champions
Exemplary as ever at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's current away form in the Premier League leaves much to be desired with just one win out of five. Their latest defeat, at Newcastle United, prompted the twice-title winning boss to bemoan his starting line-up. "I made 11 mistakes," said the Portuguese in a not-so-subtle dig at his inheritance, despite his selection including stalwarts Ashley Cole, John Terry and Frank Lampard from his previous spell. Nevertheless, by currently leading the chasing pack - and having won at Arsenal last week in the League Cup, the Blues still look most likely to reel in their London rivals. They really will need to improve on the road first, though.

3 LIVERPOOL (P10 W6 D2 L2 F17 A10 Pts 20)
First 10 League games: WWWDLWWDWL
League Cup: lost 0-1 v Manchester United (A) in third round
Top scorer: Daniel Sturridge (10)
Manager: Brendan Rodgers (since June 2012)
Original prediction: 5th
In Luis Suarez and England youngster Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool probably have the strongest striking partnership in the Premier League this season, with 14 of the Reds' 17 league goals so far coming from the pair, a massive 82%. Indeed, all of Liverpool's wins this term have featured either Sturridge or Suarez scoring, and both found the net in the three wins over West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Crystal Palace. This genuine threat up front has ensured the Anfield club has avoided a repeat of the slow start in the last campaign as Brendan Rodgers sets his sights on a first top five finish in five seasons. But Liverpool's greatest strength is also their greatest weakness - they are likely to struggle if they lose either of their frontmen for whatever reason or if they are nullified as well as in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal.

4 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (P10 W6 D2 L2 F9 A5 Pts 20)
First 10 League games: WWLWWDLWWD
League Cup: QF v West Ham United (H) on 18 December
Europe: Currently top of Europa League Group K [W3 D0 L0 F7 A0 Pts 9]
Top scorer: Jermain Defoe (6)
Manager: Andre Villas-Boas (since July 2012)
Original prediction: 6th
Aided by four wins in their first five, Tottenham have made their best ever start to a Premier League season but, with just nine league goals scored, it has hardly been 'Glory, Glory' stuff at White Hart Lane. Instead, Andre Villas-Boas' men have become the masters of the narrow win with Roberto Soldado penalties beating Crystal Palace and Swansea City, and a last minute Paulinho goal getting the better of Cardiff City. Spurs, meanwhile, were on the other end of a 1-0 scoreline against Arsenal, though the real horror show so far came in a 3-0 home defeat to strikerless West Ham United. And so, while Tottenham may be in a coveted top four placing as it stands, considering both Manchester clubs are behind them, they will need to play a lot better than this to keep it.

5 MANCHESTER CITY (P10 W6 D1 L3 F28 A11 Pts 19)
First 10 League games: WLWDWLWWLW
League Cup: QF v Leicester City (A) on 17 December
Europe: Currently second in Champions League Group D [W2 D0 L1 F6 A4 Pts 6]
Top scorer: Sergio Agüero (11)
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini (since June 2013)
Original prediction: Runners-up
Man City's opening 10 games have been bookended by two thumping home wins - 4-0 against Newcastle United on the first Monday of the season and 7-0 against hapless Norwich City on Saturday. Those wins perhaps told us more about the state of Man City's opponents on those occasions than themselves as, in between, the Manuel Pellegrini era has hardly been spectacular. Yes, the Blues still reign supreme at Eastlands with a 100% record there, and a 4-1 thumping of city rivals United to boot. But they simply must improve on their away record of just four points from 15 if they are to get back into the title race properly. At least, with two wins out of three, the Champions League campaign is going much better this year.

6 SOUTHAMPTON (P10 W5 D4 L1 F11 A4 Pts 19)
First 10 League games: WDLDWWWDWD
League Cup: 4R v Sunderland (A) on 6 November. Winners play Chelsea (H) in QF on 17 December.
Top scorer: Jay Rodriguez (4)
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino (since January 2013)
Original prediction: 13th
A complete revelation, Southampton have lost just once in 12 league and cup games so far, a total contrast to this time last year when they had taken just four points out of 30 to sit bottom. Then-manager Nigel Adkins slowly guided the Saints away from trouble but, under Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, the south coast club look in even better shape. A solid defence, marshalled brilliantly by Polish custodian Artur Boric, has conceded the lowest amount of goals in the whole division with just four going in against them, including a total freak effort by Stoke City keeper Asmir Begovic. The defence is complemented by the attack talents of Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez - and, having even won at Anfield this season, Southampton's lofty placing should not be denigrated.

7 EVERTON (P10 W5 D4 L1 F14 A10 Pts 19)
First 10 League games: DDDWWWLWWD
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Fulham (A) in third round
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku (5)
Manager: Roberto Martinez (since July 2013)
Original prediction: 10th
Everton may have been effectively forced to change their manager this summer but, to the relief of their fans, things look hardly any different at Goodison Park after 10 games. The reliable Toffees look as solid as ever with five clean sheets already and, in September, the draws turned into wins with three apiece in their opening six matches, including a 1-0 home win over Chelsea. Unbeaten at home in the league in 2013 and with still just one league defeat altogether this term, Everton's hard-to-beat side will surely place comfortably in the top half again this season, a result which would represent a decent start to the Roberto Martinez era on Merseyside. 

8 MANCHESTER UNITED (P10 W5 D2 L3 F17 A13 Pts 17)
First 10 League games: WDLWLLWDWW
League Cup: QF v Stoke City (A) on 18 December
Europe: Currently top of Champions League Group A [W2 D1 L0 F6 A3 Pts 7]
Top scorer: Robin van Persie (9)
Manager: David Moyes (since July 2013)
Original prediction: 3rd
Slowly but surely, David Moyes is settling in at Manchester United. However, the transition from the Sir Alex Ferguson era has proved even tougher than imagined, with several sides turning up to Old Trafford and not lying down in the usual fashion. Southampton went away with a point and West Brom with all three, both deserved results for the visitors. On the road, Moyes has found it no easier with an early Anfield loss and a 4-1 defeat at Man City which was maybe even more emphatic than the famous 6-1 mauling from two seasons ago. Recent form has been better with five wins out of the last six league and cup games ensuring progression in the League Cup and almost certainly in Europe too. But, with so many points dropped already, it is indeed the cups which are looking like Moyes's best chance of winning some silverware this season.

9 NEWCASTLE UNITED (P10 W4 D2 L4 F14 A16 Pts 14)
First 10 League games: LDWWLLWDLW
League Cup: lost 0-2 aet v Manchester City (H) in fourth round
Top scorer: Loic Remy (6)
Manager: Alan Pardew (since December 2010)
Original prediction: 12th
Having gone from the sublime to the ridiculous, often within the same game, no club is more fully deserving of their mid-table place than Newcastle United this season. Beginning with a 4-0 defeat at Man City, the Magpies got on the points board with an unconvincing 0-0 draw against West Ham before beating Fulham late on. Impressive away wins at Aston Villa and Cardiff City came either side of a home loss to Hull, where Alan Pardew's men twice blew a lead and another 3-2 reverse at Everton when three behind by half-time. A battling draw against Liverpool repaired some of the damage from a 6-0 defeat to the same opponents in April. But Newcastle were unable to avenge their Tyne-Wear derby loss from the same month, losing successive matches to Sunderland for the first time since 1967. It then emerged that owner Mike Ashley had banned the local newspapers from reporting on the club - though the team were obviously not too distracted, producing a stunning second half performance in a 2-0 win over Chelsea. Loanee Loic Remy sealed the win in the last minute with his sixth goal of the season - and keeping this particular Frenchman looks like being the key to the Magpies' prospects this season.

10 HULL CITY (P10 W4 D2 L4 F8 A10 Pts 14)
First 10 League games: LWLDWWDLLW
League Cup: lost 7-8 penalties (after 2-2 draw) v Tottenham Hotspur (A) in fourth round
Top scorer: Robert Brady (4)
Manager: Steve Bruce (since June 2012)
Original prediction: 19th
Hull City are confounding the doubters and flying high in the top 10 under Steve Bruce, unbeaten at home and having come from behind to win 3-2 away at Newcastle. The Tigers - which should have surely just remained a nickname and not part of their official name - enjoyed a similarly heady start to their previous Premier League spell under Phil Brown before a second half collapse and a last day survival which merely delayed the inevitable for 12 months. With Bruce, though, Hull's solidity suggests this success will be much more than just a flash in the pan - although more goals would be nice. Averaging less than one per game, Hull are the lowest scorers in the top half.

11 WEST BROMWICH ALBION (P10 W3 D4 L3 F10 A10 Pts 13)
First 10 League games: LDLDWWDDLW
League Cup: lost 3-4 penalties (after 1-1 draw) v Arsenal (H) in third round
Top scorer: Saido Berahino (6)
Manager: Steve Clarke (since June 2012)
Original prediction: 17th
A slow start of two home defeats and two away draws was well and truly banished in the space of a week in September when a routine 3-0 victory over Sunderland was followed up by a fully deserved 2-1 triumph at Old Trafford, the Baggies' first win there since 1978. England Under-21 striker Saido Berahino was the hero, adding to Morgan Amalfitano's delicate chip, to score one of six goals so far this season. Indeed, thanks to Berahino, West Brom have made much lighter work of losing out on Romelu Lukaku than expected, being one of just two teams also to prevent Arsenal from winning. And, while Steve Clarke's men may have come back down to earth with a bump in a 4-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield, the subsequent 2-0 win over Crystal Palace suggests the Midlanders will stay out the thick of the trouble. 

12 CARDIFF CITY (P10 W3 D3 L4 F9 A13 Pts 12)
First 10 League games: LWDDLWLLDW
League Cup: lost 2-3 v West Ham United (A) in third round
Top scorer: Fraizer Campbell, Steven Caulker, Jordon Mutch, Peter Odemwingie (2)
Manager: Malky Mackay (since June 2011)
Original prediction: 15th
What a win, what a brilliant derby win! The red-shirted Bluebirds came out on top in the first ever Welsh derby in the Premier League to put behind them an uncertain start and even go above their great rivals from along the M4. Summer signing Steven Caulker headed a Craig Bellamy corner into the net just past the hour mark to give Malky Mackay's men a vital third Premier League win following a stunning 3-2 comeback against Manchester City on the second weekend and a 2-1 away win at Fulham. So far, so good then for Cardiff despite a lack of goals generally and a bizarre interference by unconventional owner Vincent Tan. The Malaysian's decision to replace experienced head of recruitment Iain Moody with 23-year-old Kazakh Alisher Apsalyamov has inevitably prompted questions about Mackay's own position, though the young Scottish manager can do little more than continue to get results like Sunday. 

13 SWANSEA CITY (P10 W3 D2 L5 F12 A12 Pts 11)
First 10 League games: LLWDWLLWDL
League Cup: lost 1-3 v Birmingham City (A) in third round
Europe: Currently top of Europa League Group A [W2 D1 L0 F5 A1 Pts 7]
Top scorer: Wilfriend Bony, Michu (4)
Manager: Michael Laudrup (since June 2012)
Original prediction: 7th
From victory at Wembley in February to a rather underwhelming start to the 2013/14 campaign by Michael Laudrup's Swansea. Suffering defeats in exactly half of their league games, including - painfully - to Cardiff, the Swans have stumbled to a lower midtable placing on the strength of wins against the rudderless bottom two and a solid victory at West Brom. That victory at the Hawthorns is perhaps one of only two occasions, alongside the 2-2 draw against Liverpool, that Swansea have performed to their optimum this season, although there has been little variation from their well-heeled possession football. Laudrup and Swansea will undoubtedly stick to their principles and it should still eventually pay dividends once progress in Europe is guaranteed, which will perhaps even be by the end of the week.

14 ASTON VILLA (P10 W3 D2 L5 F9 A12 Pts 10)
First 10 League games: WLLLWWDLLD
League Cup: lost 0-4 v Tottenham Hotspur (H) in third round
Top scorer: Christian Benteke (5)
Manager: Paul Lambert (since June 2012)
Original prediction: 8th
The curse of Villa Park continues. Having lost nine times at home last season and eight the season before, the Holte End has already bore witness to a further four defeats in Aston Villa's opening five league games, not to mention a 4-0 thumping in the League Cup by Tottenham Hotspur. Yes, three of the league losses were to Liverpool, Spurs again and Everton but Villa failed to score in any of them - and, with two further blanks on the road in 0-0 draws, it is clear Paul Lambert's men have struggled to account for Christian Benteke's injury-hit campaign. At least two stunning victories - 3-1 on the opening against Arsenal and 3-2 against Manchester City - are keeping the Villains' heads above water for now but, until the home form sorts itself out, this looks like being another tough campaign in the Second City.

15 WEST HAM UNITED (P10 W2 D4 L4 F8 A8 Pts 10)
First 10 League games: WDLDLLWLDD
League Cup: QF v Tottenham Hotspur (A) on 18 December
Top scorer: Ravel Morrison, Ricardo Vaz Te (4)
Manager: Sam Allardyce (since June 2011)
Original prediction: 11th
With concerns at home and away, this has not been the ideal start for West Ham United. At the Boleyn Ground, Sam Allardyce's men only just ended a rotten run of three consecutive defeats by drawing 0-0 with Aston Villa on Saturday. Meanwhile, on the road, Hammers fans have seen just four goals altogether - although they can at least be consoled by the fact that three of them have been in their favour. Indeed, all of them came in a stunning 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur - but, other than that surprise win and a League Cup run which has thrown the London rivals together again in the quarter finals, there has been little to get excited about in East End.

16 FULHAM (P10 W3 D1 L6 F10 A15 Pts 10)
First 10 League games: WLLDLLWWLL
League Cup: lost 3-4 v Leicester City (A) in fourth round
Top scorers: Darren Bent, Hugo Rodallega (3)
Manager: Martin Jol (since June 2011)
Original prediction: 16th
Martin Jol is favourite for the sack after Fulham's lacklustre end to last season has carried on in this campaign. Having effectively reached the finish line, the Cottagers lost six of their last eight matches at the end of 2012/13 but, worryingly for the Londoners, that form has continued with six defeats in the first 10 and safety nowhere yet in sight. New owner Shahid Khan has given Jol the dreaded vote of confidence but the Dutchman's stay of execution may short-lived. After all, Fulham have only beaten the few sides currently below them so far. Jol needs a big result soon and next up is Liverpool at Anfield.

17 STOKE CITY (P10 W2 D3 L5 F7 A11 Pts 9)
First 10 League games: LWWDLLLDLD
League Cup: QF v Manchester United (H) on 18 December
Top scorer: Kenwyne Jones (4)
Manager: Mark Hughes (since May 2013)
Original prediction: 18th
Mark Hughes has produced an incredible early achievement at Stoke City this season by making the Potters even duller than Tony Pulis's side. Excepting a stunning game at Old Trafford, which Stoke still lost 3-2, the team's other nine Premier League games have featured just 13 goals altogether. Only five have come from Stoke themselves, meaning goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is actually a joint top league scorer for his extraordinary effort straight from the kick off against Southampton. Indeed, with only two victories to call on - one of which came against Crystal Palace - this already looks like being the toughest of the club's five Premier League campaigns. For, although a lack of goals at the Britannia is not a new thing - only once have Stoke scored more than a goal a game on average in a Premier League season - if anything, the problem is worse now than ever.

18 NORWICH CITY (P10 W2 D2 L6 F6 A20 Pts 8)
First 10 League games: DLWLLWLLDL
League Cup: lost 0-4 v Manchester United (A) in fourth round
Top scorers: Johan Elmander, Gary Hooper, Jonathan Howson, Anthony Pilkington, Steven Whittaker (2)
Manager: Chris Hughton (since June 2012)
Original prediction: 9th
The early optimism, which was provided by an entertaining 2-2 draw against Everton and a hard-fought 1-0 over Southampton in Norwich's first two home games, has been well and truly extinguished. Since the end of August, the Canaries have taken just four points from 21 with a brutal fixture list featuring Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United (in the League Cup) and Manchester City resulting in four defeats and 18 goals conceded. Seven of those came against Man City as one of the league's best attacks benefited from a totally hapless defensive performance. And, although former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has hung onto his job so far, the East Anglians' bottom three presence means there is now huge pressure on him to deliver from a kindlier set of fixtures between now and Christmas.  

19 SUNDERLAND (P10 W1 D1 L8 F7 A22 Pts 4)
First 10 League games: LDLLLLLLWL
League Cup: 4R v Southampton (H) on 6 November. Winners play Chelsea (H) in QF on 17 December.
Top scorer: Emanuele Giaccherini (3)
Manager: Gus Poyet (since October 2013) replaced Paulo di Canio
Original prediction: 14th
Calamity, glorious relief and yet more calamity sums up Sunderland's season so far quite nicely. The Di Canio era lasted perhaps even less time than most people expected, sacked after taking just one point from 15. New man Gus Poyet got a horrifying first look at his squad in a 4-0 away defeat at Swansea City but, like his Italian predecessor, then got a precious derby win against Newcastle United. Joy was short-lived on Wearside, however, as the Black Cats reverted to type against Hull City, losing for the eighth time this season. In typically farcical style, ill-disciplined Sunderland scored an own goal and finished the match with just nine men following the dismissals of Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena for a pair of dreadful challenges. Poyet's squad remain deep in trouble, five points adrift of safety. 

20 CRYSTAL PALACE (P10 W1 D0 L9 F6 A21 Pts 3)
First 10 League games: LLWLLLLLLL
League Cup: lost 1-2 v Bristol City (A) in second round
Top scorer: Dwight Gayle (2)
Manager: vacant - previously Ian Holloway
Original prediction: 20th
Crystal Palace already look set for maybe the most predictable relegation since Derby County's ill-fated 2007-08 campaign, having lost nine of their 10 league matches so far, winning the other against fellow strugglers Sunderland. Manager Ian Holloway has departed, citing a lack of squad unity - and, with him gone, so surely has any chance of the Eagles avoiding a record fifth top-flight relegation since the formation of the Premier League in 1992. In fact, at this current rate, Palace would be touch-and-go to overtake Derby's record points low. The south Londoners need another win - and it needs to come pretty sharp-ish.

Note: Top scorers goals relate to all senior competitions. Original predictions feature in my preview post here.