Colin Enlander: Most annoying part of the Costa ban is his lack of appreciation of what this means to all Fantasy Football Managers.

We feel your pain, Colin. A straight swap for Sergio Aguero perhaps? Or new Crystal Palace signing Shola Ameobi to save a few quid? Decisions, decisions...

Snow woe in Altrincham.

Saturday's Conference match between Altrincham and Aldershot Town has become the first game in the top five tiers to be postponed this weekend because of the snow.

The pitch at the J. Davidson Stadium was deemed as unlikely to improve significantly in time for the match following an inspection on Friday.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville:, external If Darren Fletcher signs for West Ham his first game is against.... Manchester Utd!

On the prospect of new players coming in before Monday's transfer deadline: "I am really happy with my squad. I think there is not many movements happening. I believe there will not be too many activities, but in football you never know."

On Harry Kane's long-term future: "There's no doubt his future is at Tottenham. I'm not worried about that and the supporters don't need to worry about that."

On rumours linking winger Aaron Lennon with a move to Hull. "There's lot of rumours, so far it's all rumours and I never comment on rumours."

Image source, Murry Toms

Cheltenham fans have raised £650 to fund a billboard proclaiming their team is better than Manchester United.

Robins supporters claim this because their side won 2-1 at Cambridge United in October's League Two game, but the Premier League giants drew 0-0 against the U's in the FA Cup last week.

Murry Toms, a lifelong fan, started the campaign on Thursday in a bid to boost ailing attendances at Whaddon Road.

He reached the target in 11 hours and is now looking to fund a second poster.

Saad Chandna:, external Costa's ban was well deserved, and anyone claiming otherwise is just fooling themselves. Long time coming; the way he plays.

Crumbz:, external How can anyone deny something so obvious, TWICE, and expect to get away it? Diego Costa is a troublemaker.

Richard Todd:, external Costa getting rightly banned should set a precedent now and punishment just, should now coach a youth team as part of sanction

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has described the club's fixture congestion in the run-up to the League Cup final with Chelsea as "unfair".

Spurs face the prospect of four games in 11 days, including a Europa League tie against Fiorentina in Florence less than 72 hours before the Wembley final on 1 March. By contrast, Chelsea have one match in nine days before the Wembley contest.

"I think it's not fair to play in Florence on Thursday and play a final on Sunday," Pochettino said. "Chelsea have a clean week. It's not fair but this is football, we need to accept that and be ready."

Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray signs a one-year contract extension with the club, which will extend his stay with the Eagles until 2017.

Murray, 31, recently returned to the club after a short loan spell with Reading, but has featured in three of Alan Pardew's first four games in charge.

Manchester City can cope without influential midfielder Yaya Toure when they go to Chelsea on Saturday, insists boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Toure, 31, is currently on international duty with Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

"He's an important player but we qualified against Roma and beat Bayern Munich without him. Teams don't depend on one player," says Pellegrini.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter

Image source, Reuters

"No consolation to Jose Mourinho or Chelsea but it could have been worse for Diego Costa. Talk of an increased ban for a frivolous appeal was nonsense. The player was well within his rights to contest the charge.

"However, had referee Michael Oliver deemed the incident with Martin Skrtel worthy of violent conduct then he could easily have faced a six-match ban as part of a double punishment. Whether you agree or disagree over Costa, the FA's fast track system has worked well."

Just an update on our earlier entry, with BBC Sport's Simon Stone now confirming that Darren Fletcher is having his medical at West Ham today.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini insists Saturday's trip to leaders Chelsea will not decide the Premier League title race.

Reigning champions City are currently in second place, five points adrift of Jose Mourinho's men after 22 matches.

"It's an important game, it's not the game that will decide the title because after that we have to play for 48 points," says the Chilean.

"It's not a final. Remember, City won the title in 2011-12 after being eight points behind Manchester United."

Image source, Getty Images

Kenyan Rita Jeptoo, winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons for the last two years, has been banned from the sport for two years after failing a drugs test, Athletics Kenya said on Friday.

"AK followed due process in her (Rita Jeptoo) matter and it was appropriate that she serves a two-year ban," Athletics Kenya chief executive Isaac Kamande told Reuters.

Jeptoo has denied doping, telling reporters last year that the accusations against her were "lies".

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is hoping that French attacking midfielder Samir Nasri could return for the top-of-the table match after a groin injury., external

"Samir has worked normally in the last couple of days," says the Chilean. "Maybe it's too soon but we will see if he can be on the bench."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal have announced Emirates Stadium will host an international friendly match between Brazil and Chile on Sunday, 29 March.

This will be the seventh time that the Brazil national team has played at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal chief executive officer Ivan Gazidis said: "It's a compliment to both Arsenal Football Club and Emirates Stadium that we will once again be hosting a fixture of this magnitude."

Image source, @MCFC/Twitter

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has just settled down into his seat below this glitzy screen. Where, of course, he is chatting to the media ahead of Saturday's trip to Premier League title rivals Chelsea.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone at Carrington: "Van Gaal also confirms he will not be signing anyone before the transfer window closes on Monday.

"The Dutchman adds: 'Every day I read that I am interested in players. I am not interested in players, only selling.'"

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal confirms Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher is in talks with West Ham, reports our man at Carrington, Simon Stone.

Fletcher, 30, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been granted a free transfer by the Old Trafford club.

"'He is now in West Ham, I believe," the Dutchman tells the news conference.

"We have to wait and see. He is my third captain, an important guy in the dressing room. I like him as a human being. But he has not played so much."

Andrew Tuffnell:, external So glad Costa got banned! Just a shame they didn't give him extra games for the cheek of even appealing it!

Catchwords:, external It would be a more fitting punishment to ban Costa from playing in the Capital One cup final for his 'alleged' stamp.

Conor McMeekin:, external Costa banned, who saw that coming - Media campaign once again comes good for anyone against Chelsea which seems to be everyone.

Image source, Getty Images

This from Manchester United's Twitter, external account: "Louis van Gaal tells #MUTV that Michael Carrick will miss around four weeks with a muscle rupture but Ashley Young is closer to full fitness."