a mere two wins so far this season, while Blackburn Rovers remain in the drop zone along with Southampton who have slipped into the bottom three that has been vacated by an improving Coventry City side. Bolton Wanderers are still top of Division One, but Barnsley have cut their lead to just two points. Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and an Oxford United side searching for a second successive promotion complete the top six. Manchester City, who had been expected to feature highly in this season's promotion race, are now one point and one place above the relegation zone. 1 January 1997 – Middlesbrough sign Slovakian midfielder Vladimír Kinder from Slovan Bratislava for £1 million. 5 January 1997 – Newcastle United are rocked by the resignation of manager Kevin Keegan, who explained, "I feel I have taken this club as far as I can." 8 January 1997 – The 1995 Football League Cup Final participants (Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers) are eliminated from the same tournament at the quarter-final stage by Middlesbrough and Wimbledon respectively. This is the furthest the Dons have ever progressed in the League Cup. 11 January 1997 – Blackburn Rovers continue their revival with a 4–0 home win over Coventry City. Middlesbrough's relegation worries are deepened with a 1–0 home defeat to Southampton, and later this week their survival battle could be toughened by a points deduction. 13 January 1997 – York City, who knocked Everton out of the League Cup this season and Manchester United last season, find themselves on the receiving end of a giant-killing feat when Hednesford Town knock them out of the FA Cup with a 1–0 win at Keys Park. 14 January 1997 – Middlesbrough, bottom of the Premier League, are deducted three points for cancelling their fixture at Blackburn Rovers last month. They are also fined £50,000. Striker Fabrizio Ravanelli claims that his club will now "almost certainly" be relegated. Ravanelli's fellow countryman Gianluca Festa joins Middlesbrough from Inter Milan on the same day for £2.7 million. 15 January 1997 – Kenny Dalglish is named as Newcastle United's new manager. 16 January 1997 – Leicester City pay £1.6 million for Oxford United's 28-year-old defender Matt Elliott. 18 January 1997 – Kenny Dalglish begins his reign as Newcastle United manager with a 2–2 draw at Southampton, costing his own side two valuable points as he looks to become the first manager