Mark Hughes' spirited backing for striker Craig Bellamy in his spat with the neighbours makes a decent page lead for Richard Tanner in the Daily Express.

In the wake of the FA's decision to prefer no charge against Craig, the Express' respected Manchester correspondent examines the manager's credo under the headline "Short fuses are fine by Sparky".

The Wales skipper wears his heart on his sleeve and can make an easy target, but Hughes tells Tanner: "All he did was go over to tell the lad in no uncertain terms to get off the pitch because he shouldn't have been there."

The Blues boss and "Roscoe" go back a long time to Wales days, when Mark was as fierce a competitor as they come. He tells the Express man: "You can't take emotion out of football, or any sport for that matter. That passion is fundamental to how they grow and envelop as a top player. You have to have that edge."

Elsewhere, The Sun's Neil Custis is tickled by the Reds manager's suggestion that he will have to turn up the Old Trafford TV to drown out the noisy neighbours. He quotes a bullish Sparky: "They know we are going to have an influence on who wins the league for seasons to come."

Does that telly volume go up to eleven, Sir Alex?