win her match the doubles effectively becomes academic, the tie will be won and britain will concentrate on tomorrow's second round robin match against greece. fairly complicated behind you. the two top teams in these groups will play against each other on saturday, but there is a similar tournament going on in poland. this is the euro africa's. it is a long way back to the top. it is, always a frustrating process for the british players. on two fronts, the inability to get out of the level they are at, they have beenin of the level they are at, they have been in that level or below since 1993. and also the difficulty of getting a home tie. that is also 1993 since great britain last had a home tie. the first part of the equation has been improved, the lta decided if we can't get a home draw let's host the event. therefore it isa let's host the event. therefore it is a big advantage to great britain this week at the university of bath. only one of these teams will survive the week. britain needs to top its

pool and when a play—off on saturday. if that is one it will be —— they will be in a position they have been in for the last couple of yea rs have been in for the last couple of years which means they will play a tie over a weekend in april. last year they lost agonisingly in japan. they have to win that tie ultimately to get into world group two. reform we are told of this format is around the corner. but that is the equation for britain's women in 2019. you explained it perfectly, we all understand now! enjoy the tennis. those play—offs town in bath. back to the football now. a full round of fixtures in the scottish premiership and you just feel this is an important night in the title race, here are the six matches, the leaders celtic are expected to win against managerless hibs, the important game is really this one at pittodrie. 3rd placed aberdeen against 2nd

placed rangers, you feel only a win will do for either if they are to keep themselves in it table top celtic 6 points clear of rangers, aberdeen a couple of points further back. if there is a winner tonight they should keep in touch with celtic but if it is a draw i'm guessing celtic will want aberdeen to win that is well. you feel that celtic, that will be able advantage for them in the title race. tyrone smith has sent us this from pittodrie. given the rivalry between these two clu bs given the rivalry between these two clubs they usually serve up a pretty tasty affair. tonight should be no different, particularly given what is at stake. teams are desperately trying to hang onto the coat—tails of premiership leaders celtic.

currently six points clear of the top. just two points between aberdeen and rangers so it is all to play for. steven gerard has yet to sample that winning feeling over aberdeen. the dons having the upper hand in the three previous fixtures they have played so far. in the build—up to this one, gerard compared the rivalry between these two clubs as being similar to the rivalry he experienced as a player between liverpool and manchester united. you can follow alternate's football in the premier league and scottish premiership through the bbc sport website. trying to forge a career in the lower leagues of the game is tough but one player has had it much tougher. the rochdale midfielder joe thompson has been forced to retire at the age of 29. he's recovered from cancer twice over the past six years and he says the intense treatment he's had to go through means that hsi body isn't up the intense treatment he's had to go through means that his body isn't up

joe thompson in the rochdale dressing room this morning. his football home for the bulk of his career. after twice fighting back from cancer to return to play, joe has had to call it a day. but he does so with no regrets. has had to call it a day. but he does so with no regretslj has had to call it a day. but he does so with no regrets. i have to be grateful, i'm blessed. some say i maybe shouldn't be here. i have dodged a bullet twice. everyday is a bonus me, i wake up and i appreciate all the little things. his health problems have not been small. he was first diagnosed with cancer at tranmere rovers six years ago. a year later was given the all clear but had to go through it all again when the cancer returned. once again the popular forward battled when the cancer returned. once again the popularforward battled back to return to the pitch. his focus now

is on the family at his! —— that has fuelled his determination.” is on the family at his! —— that has fuelled his determination. i want to be able to do stuff with my little girland be able to do stuff with my little girl and potentially my grandkids. football has been unbelievable, so many memories to cherish, so many i’u ns many memories to cherish, so many runs i have made. 29 probably a bit early but the headline could have read a lot different. you certainly have made some headlines as a player, the goal at the end of last season player, the goal at the end of last season that kept rochdale up. yes. i think you understand how much cancer affects anybody and everybody. for me to achieve those things, for people to see it, i had a bit of a platform that meant that people would see it and it empowered people. it inspired people, gay people. it inspired people, gay people that were suffering hope. yourfamily will people that were suffering hope. your family will no doubt be very proud of you. are you proud of yourself? i am. i try proud of you. are you proud of yourself? i am. itry to proud of you. are you proud of yourself? i am. i try to be as humblest possible and play it down.

but i have got to be proud of it. i know my mum and my wife proud. my little thinks i'm superman. superheroes don't always wear capes! this one wore the number 15 and will be given an emotional sendoff by the faithful at saturday's game against coventry. wishing him all the very best. whatever direction his life ta kes best. whatever direction his life takes on next. that's all from sportsday. we'll have more throughout the evening. hello. some very strong winds on the way to parts of england, wales.

overnight and into thursday, the troublemaker is this area of cloud which has been developing rapidly. a very powerful area of low pressure beginning to make inroads. the first place that will see these stormy winds will be across parts of wales, particularly the bristol channel and down towards south—west england. gusts of winds each —— easily reaching 60 miles an hour. parts of the midlands into east anglia and the midlands into east anglia and the south—east, winds the strong could bring down one or two trees. there is the risk of transport disruption. almost certainly speed restrictions on bridges across the severn estuary. away from the windy south outbreaks of rain further north. also some snow across the hills of scotland. centre stage overnight tonight and into tomorrow very powerful winds that bring the risk of some disruption. that is your weather. you're watching beyond one hundred days... there's a special place in hell for brexiteers without a plan, so says the president

of the european council. donald tusk‘s outburst was certainly not the most diplomatic — but it does reflect growing furstration in brussels. the man who warned the uk that "winter is coming", now vents his frustrations at the politicians who campaigned for brexit. .. i've been wondering what the special place in hell looks like for those who promoted brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it. donald trump's state of the union makes a ritual nod to political unity but it's really one for his own base. also on the programme... in richmond, virginia, the democrats are wracked by scandal,