AFTER a disastrous dummy run in round three, the television companies have finally got their act together for the next stage of the FA Cup.

Of course one man's meat is another man's poison (or as a spokesman for Manchester City once famously put it at the height of the craze for blow-up supporters' novelties: one man's inflatable banana is another man's obstructed view).

But two of the three ties selected for live viewing over the past weekend were never likely to set the pulses racing.

The one exception was Manchester United's game at Fulham which I would have happily sat down and watched had I been a Sky man.

Instead I had to settle for Newcastle United against Aston Villa on ITV which was pretty ordinary fair, and that from someone who used to support the Geordies from the Milburn Paddock at St James' Park when it cost all of £6 to get in.

Even Des Lynam felt the need to implore viewers to stay tuned for the second half when at least a couple of goals livened things up.

You can't blame ITV for neither side being on top of their game or David Ginola's inability to trap a bag of cement.

But even when the third-round draw was made this game had sterility and 'just another weekend' written all over it.

And by all accounts things got even worse on Monday night when Middlesbrough overcame Bradford City 1-0 in game memorable only for Hamilton Ricard's winner and the confirmation that Stan Collymore and Benito Carbone weren't, after all, what the West Yorkshire club were after in their fight for survival.

Salvation has at least arrived in the billing for fourth-round weekend with Leeds-Liverpool, Manchester United-West Ham and Gillingham-Chelsea the chosen live games.

The Premiership bias could have been trimmed slightly by including Arsenal's trip to QPR or Luton.

But at least there are genuine heavyweight clashes, almost guaranteed entertainment at Old Trafford and the potential shock factor at Gillingham to look forward to.

WHILE poor old ITV are getting some stick, it's also worth pondering what a loss Football Focus will be if the BBC aren't allowed to show any Premiership stuff next season and subsequently pull the plug.

Last Saturday's Morecambe and Wise kitchen sketch featuring Morecambe players Mark Smith and Steve Walters ahead of their FA Cup clash with Ipswich was priceless and summed up what the Beeb do best.

STICKING with the television theme, that great spectacle that is the Embassy World Darts Championship is well under way and bringing a shaft of light to the dark days of January.

But even closet darts fans like myself couldn't have anticipated the drama of a streaker on the second day of action at The Lakeside.

Play was held up for 20 minutes for the players to "regain their composure" after a busty blonde raced across the stage.

And I thought topless darts, along with the weather in Norwegian, was a thing of the past since the demise of L!ve TV.

HANG out the bunting, we've got our man. Sven Goran-Eriksson has duly handed in his notice at Lazio and dusted off his white charger in time to take charge of England's friendly against Spain next month and the World Cup qualifiers to follow.

Meanwhile, as the Swedish Eriksson made a hash of things in Italy, Cockney wide-boy El Tel has been transforming a lame duck at Middlesborough on the back of an inspired unbeaten run. Need I say more.