Dave Watson begins his spell as caretaker player-manager at Everton, with seven games to show his worthiness to be considered on a permanent basis.He has started in a decisive manner, recalling Paul Rideout from China where he was about to join Huan Dao Vanguards. "More than likely I'll have four kids under the age of 20 on the bench at Aston Villa," he said. "In those circumstances we cannot be without someone of Paul's quality and experience."On the same theme, Watson will recall the veteran goalkeeper Neville Southall.. Leeds, with Iestyn Harris making an immediate impact, were last night denied the distinction of becoming the third side in a row to deprive Wigan of Super League points by a late Andy Farrell drop goal.

Inspired by their expensive newcomer, Leeds had fought back impressively during a thrilling second half, only to be robbed of the draw that was the least they deserved by Farrell's boot and cool head. The Wigan coach, Eric Hughes, has had much to say over the last, uncomfortable couple of weeks, about the lack of bulk and power which he has at his disposal, but an unlikely looking forward pack performed well enough for him in the early stages at Headingley.After two penalties from Farrell had outweighed one from Leeds' Graham Holroyd, Wigan's French second-rower, Gael Tallec, had what would have been a splendidly inventive try disallowed when he failed to touch down after taking his own kick on the bounce and heading for the try-line.There was an argument as well about the try that was allowed, but Jason Robinson had come from a marginally onside position to scoop up Farrell's grubber kick and send the supporting Craig Murdock over the line, Farrell adding the conversion.After 32 minutes during which they had posed few problems for Wigan's defence, Leeds brought on their record signing. Virtually Harris's first act was to wrong-foot Terry O'Connor and Tony Smith with a little shimmy and send Phil Hassan in for a try. Just to embellish his dream start, Harris, taking over as kicker from Holroyd, the man he had replaced, added the conversion.Harris continued to be heavily involved for a player who had only had two training sessions with his new team-mates, with Richie Blackmore in particular enjoying a service which promised to unlock his match-winning potential.Wigan were starting to look worryingly scrappy before a little glimpse of guile from Farrell steadied their nerves. The Wigan captain dummied to kick, which gave him enough space to send Gary Connolly through a gap.

Robinson backed up to score, although Connolly's final pass looked suspiciously forward.Leeds should have hit back when Adrian Morley made as good a break as any second-rower in the game could produce. That chance was wasted but Holroyd, back on the field, soon put over a penalty.Harris and Holroyd then linked up to send Hassan, originally from Wigan, in for his second try, Holroyd landing a fine kick to bring the scores level with 13 minutes left.Leeds could have won it when Martin Masella made a marvellous run but failed to find the supporting Damian Gibson and again when Harris's cross kick picked out Paul Sterling, who was stopped two yards short by Connolly.Cruelly, with two minutes remaining, Farrell gathered a low pass from Martin Hall, steadied himself and slotted over the winning point.Leeds: Gibson; Sterling, Blackmore, Hassan, Rivett; Holroyd, Sheridan; Masella, Collins, Mathiou, Morley, Anthony Farrell, Mercer. Substitutes used: Harris, Hughes, Newton, Leathem.Wigan: Murray; Robinson, Connolly, Radlinski, Johnson; Smith, Murdock; O'Connor, Cassidy, Holgate, Haughton, Tallec, Andy Farrell. Substitutes used: Hall, Baynes.Referee: S Cummings (Widnes).. If anywhere illustrates the thin line between football success and failure, it will be Burnden Park this afternoon. At the beginning of the season Colin Todd was being jeered for selling Sasa Curcic; today the manager will be acclaimed for taking Bolton into the Premiership. Wanderers require only a draw at home to ensure promotion that only a mathematical pedant would deny them anyway. They might have gone up courtesy of Wolves' shortcomings last Monday but that near miss was hardly a disappointment as it is patently preferable to gain achievements first rather than second hand."If it's going to happen then the best place is before your own supporters," Todd said.

"We prefer to do things for ourselves." Poignantly, and in many local minds appropriately, the visitors will be Queen's Park Rangers, whose assistant manager is Bruce Rioch.It was Rioch, of course, who guided Bolton to the Premiership two years ago but he would be the first to acknowledge the going up has been better second time around.In 1995 Wanderers required the play-offs to reach the elite, this time they have headed the First Division since January and approach today's match 17 points clear at the top."Our principal ambition is to get promoted," Todd said, "but we'd also like to achieve a target of scoring 100 League goals and get 100 points." To do the latter Bolton need five points and a draw from their last six games while they require another 14 goals.. Bobbie Goulding returns to St Helens' team in Paris tonight after a six-match absence, his appetite for his job sharpened by frustration and bitterness, writes Dave Hadfield. Goulding has missed Saints' first three games of the Super League season, plus the latter stages of their progress to Wembley, because of his suspension for a high tackle in the Challenge Cup victory over Wigan in February. "It's been the longest eight weeks of my life," Goulding said "I'm buzzing. I'm so eager to get going that I feel like a new person."The new person, however, is still furious about the treatment meted out to the old one. "I'm very, very bitter about what was done to me," he said of his sending-off by Russell Smith and his original eight-match ban, subsequently reduced to six."I've seen far worse tackles in matches refereed by the same man and players haven't even been sent off."Goulding's complaint about the lack of consistency from referees is as old as the hills. The new element in his latest suspension is how well Saints have managed without him.The 18-year-old deputy scrum-half, Lee Briers, can reflect on a job well done as he steps aside for Goulding. St Helens have won every match with him at the helm."I can't take anything away from him at all," Goulding said.