Fighting with Gerry is my clear memory

LEGEND . . . Les Chapman.

ALTHOUGH it wasn't the most exciting of spectacles, there were plenty of good and positive signs emanating from England's match-winning performance against Malta.

It was one-way traffic pretty much throughout, and I don't recall Joe Hart having a save to make.

Yes, it was always going to be a routine win for England, but I was pleased to hear a lot of the players speaking positively about Gareth Southgate after the game.

As I stated in last week's column, I want Southgate to get the manager's job permanently. I think he's the best candidate out there.

The players will find it much tougher against Slovenia tonight, but all being well another decent result will be forthcoming.

I was saddened to hear of the death of Gerry Gow yesterday.

Although I'm fully aware of his strong Manchester City connections (he played in the Blues' 1981 FA Cup final defeat to Tottenham), I didn't actually know Gerry and I never played in the same team as him.

However, I did play against him numerous times and my clearest memory of him is when we had a fight.

In fact it was a four-way free-for-all in the centre-circle as my Huddersfield team were playing Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

I can't quite remember how it all kicked-off, but me, my team-mate Graham Pugh, Gerry and his mate John Emanuel were throwing punches while the game was going on and the referee mustn't have seen it as none of us even got booked.

I recall he was always very competitive and really horrible to play against, but he was a good player and there has been lots of messages of sympathy on Twitter for his family.

So the City of the present day are back in Premier League action at the weekend with a home game against a good Everton side, who have started the season really well under Ronald Koeman.

I'm sure the City players will be raring to go, though, and of course Pep Guardiola will be hoping all of his international stars return from their travels unscathed.