TAKE TWO LAPSED IDOLS. ONE IS A goalkeeper whose fall from grace could prevent his father from winning £10,000, while the other is a tabloid treat whose foibles have encompassed misplaced ashtrays and wild bites in Bangkok. In a desultory draw devoid of thrills, Chris Kirkland and Joey Barton took their first small steps towards redemption.

Kirkland has been close to the England team, but he needs to make the final step before he is 30, in 2011, if Eddie, his father, is to make good on the 100-1 bet he made when his son was 13. Knee, wrist and finger injuries blighted Kirkland’s time at Liverpool and so he is on loan to West Bromwich Albion.

Barton, meanwhile, came to prominence most recently when threatening a teenager in a Thai bar and munching on Richard Dunne’s finger. At least he did not stub out a cigar on a team-mate’s eye this time. “There’s only one Joey Barton,” the Manchester City faithful chanted reassuringly on Saturday.

To his credit, Barton wants to mend his ways. He is working with Tony Adams’s Sporting Chance charity and joined up with the City squad only on Thursday. “I’ve seen a change from the day after the incident,” Stuart Pearce, the City manager, said. “I see it is a challenge, but if he betrays my trust we’ll have a rethink.”

Barton would have won this match with a raking 20-yard volley, but Kirkland rivalled him as man of the match and Zoltan Gera might have snatched the points for West Bromwich with a header.

In his darkest hours, Kirkland thought about quitting, but he used his father’s story as an inspiration. Eddie was once given 24 hours to live after a misdiagnosed cancer spread to his stomach, but he defied the doctors and now trains with his son. Barton might also take note as he seeks yet another second chance.