:00:00. > :00:00.Yes, less than a month to go, every goal counts, every fan cruchal,
:00:00. > :00:25.every point priceless. Tonight, relegation rivalry and a
:00:26. > :00:30.battle of the airwaves. It's headphones on as our commentators go
:00:31. > :00:33.mic to mic at the Lamex. It's all to play for, isn't it, this
:00:34. > :00:36.afternoon? Colchester have lost their last four, so they've got to
:00:37. > :00:40.find some form from somewhere, which they haven't shown recently.
:00:41. > :00:41.Thrown a lifeline, how the Cobblers got a huge helping hand in their
:00:42. > :00:53.battle for Football League survival. And, with our League gates down by
:00:54. > :00:57.20% in five years, just what's the solution to falling crowds? Our
:00:58. > :01:05.fans' forum gives us their verdict. It's been getting progressively
:01:06. > :01:06.worse, and we're now down to just having the stadium just over half
:01:07. > :01:14.full. Hello, good evening. Yes, l`ter we
:01:15. > :01:18.discuss why attendances at our grounds are falling and what can be
:01:19. > :01:21.done about it. But for many of our clubs, success will now be judged on
:01:22. > :01:25.survival. Whether you're Northampton Town or Norwich City, it's `ll about
:01:26. > :01:28.the fight against the dreaddd drop. So, plenty to discuss tonight in the
:01:29. > :01:32.capable hands of stand`in presenter Paul McVeigh last week ` well done,
:01:33. > :01:35.good work ` and, of course, Colchester boss Joe Dunne. Joe,
:01:36. > :01:39.fantastic result for you on Saturday. Yeah, it was an ilportant
:01:40. > :01:43.three points at such an important stage of the season. We'll take a
:01:44. > :01:46.look at it now, because it was a proper six`pointer, wasn't ht? Both
:01:47. > :01:48.sides scrapping at the wrong end of League One. And for our loc`l`radio
:01:49. > :01:52.commentators, these are nervous times, too, as they chart their
:01:53. > :01:54.club's rise and fall. To thd battle on the pitch and on the airwaves at
:01:55. > :02:04.the Lamex. I'm Glenn Speller, I'm the sports
:02:05. > :02:06.producer at BBC Essex. I'm Steve Watkins, I'm the Stevenage
:02:07. > :02:11.commentator for BBC Three Counties Radio.
:02:12. > :02:16.I've followed Colchester Unhted for much of the season up and down the
:02:17. > :02:22.country, and what's not been a great year so far in League One. H've seen
:02:23. > :02:25.all the ups and downs for Stevenage so far this season. Unfortunately,
:02:26. > :02:28.most of them have been downs. We're hoping for better things thhs
:02:29. > :02:32.afternoon. Well, quite simply, this is a massive game for certahnly
:02:33. > :02:36.Stevenage, and I guess it is for you as well at Colchester. Yeah, I think
:02:37. > :02:39.Stevenage being bottom of the table, they could argue they maybe need the
:02:40. > :02:42.points more than Colchester, but Colchester have got the worst form
:02:43. > :02:45.at the moment in League One, so they need to pull out some points from
:02:46. > :02:48.somewhere. Cos they're really getting dragged into it. Very much
:02:49. > :02:51.so for Stevenage, cos I think defeat today, and going into Sheffheld
:02:52. > :02:56.United next week, we could be looking at relegation next weekend.
:02:57. > :02:59.I think if Colchester can gdt a win today, it puts them seven points
:03:00. > :03:02.ahead of Stevenage then, dodsn't it? So I think effectively, if xou like,
:03:03. > :03:05.knock Stevenage out of the dquation as far as Colchester are concerned.
:03:06. > :03:08.So, one of those relegation places taken up. But they're the tdam with
:03:09. > :03:11.the worst form, they're the ones that have been sucked into ht,
:03:12. > :03:14.whereas Stevenage have been fighting it most of the season, haven't they?
:03:15. > :03:17.Of course, a win for Steven`ge and they're only a point behind
:03:18. > :03:20.Colchester. It's all to plax for, isn't it, this afternoon. Colchester
:03:21. > :03:23.have lost their last four, so they're got to find some form from
:03:24. > :03:24.somewhere, which they haven't shown recently. OK, let's see how this
:03:25. > :03:42.pans out. Into the area, and he finds the net!
:03:43. > :03:47.It's the worst`possible start for Colchester United!
:03:48. > :03:57.Still, Colchester try anothdr shot. Good work on that far side.
:03:58. > :04:03.He might just find him with a shot ` goal! The moment he hit that, he
:04:04. > :04:05.knew it was going to find the back of the net. Stevenage one,
:04:06. > :04:14.Colchester United one. In goes the corner ` it's hht the
:04:15. > :04:19.post, it's in now! It's the ideal start to the second half! Now,
:04:20. > :04:28.there's another threat for Stevenage. The shot. Can he find
:04:29. > :04:33.him? He goes for goal and scores, his second of the afternoon.
:04:34. > :04:38.Colchester now, there's daylight between them.
:04:39. > :04:43.He puts it in the net, that's a lovely finish from the Stevdnage
:04:44. > :04:45.midfielder. And a little bit of hope for the home side, and a nervous
:04:46. > :04:55.last few minutes. There's a bit of an argument right
:04:56. > :05:03.in front of these terraces. Ten 12, 14, 15 men. It's a red card. The Us
:05:04. > :05:09.fans are all on their feet, and listen to that.
:05:10. > :05:13.That's Colchester three points clear of the League One relegation zone
:05:14. > :05:17.now, and also, vitally from their point of view, seven points clear of
:05:18. > :05:21.Stevenage, so they may well feel that's one place that won't be
:05:22. > :05:24.catching them. Yeah, on what we ve seen today, it looks like Colchester
:05:25. > :05:27.are probably going to be safe. From Stevenage's point of view, the
:05:28. > :05:30.manager's said he's got to win the next four games, the four g`mes that
:05:31. > :05:34.are remaining. That starts `t Sheffield United on Good Frhday So,
:05:35. > :05:37.it's going to be a tough ask. Graham Westley's done it before, btt I
:05:38. > :05:42.don't think he's ever climbdd a mountain as big as this. I think the
:05:43. > :05:45.thing for Colchester now is about stringing results together, getting
:05:46. > :05:49.two wins back`to`back, and hf they can do that, they'll be find for the
:05:50. > :05:51.rest of the season. Wish yot all the best. Thanks for that! I thhnk we
:05:52. > :05:55.need it! Great work, and great work by Joe
:05:56. > :05:58.Dunne and Colchester United. A hugely important victory, you've
:05:59. > :06:02.been struggling with form. What did you do differently on Saturday? We
:06:03. > :06:07.just instilled belief and took our chances. We've been making chances
:06:08. > :06:09.in the games we've been in. Unfortunately, we haven't bden
:06:10. > :06:12.taking them. But certainly, Saturday we took three. And huge bre`thing
:06:13. > :06:15.space now in that league table. Paul, for sides like Colchester
:06:16. > :06:18.wins like that are priceless. Joe realised that if Stevenage had won
:06:19. > :06:22.that game, they'd have only been one point off them, so the fact that
:06:23. > :06:24.now, Joe, you've got that lhttle bit of breathing space, but it hs still
:06:25. > :06:33.pretty tight at the bottom. Yeah, it's certainly not done yet,
:06:34. > :06:37.there's plenty of teams in there and teams that can get dragged hn. You
:06:38. > :06:39.have to keep going to the vdry end. For Graham Westley, a different set
:06:40. > :06:43.of circumstances. It's worrying times for him and his
:06:44. > :06:46.team. It's been a difficult afternoon it
:06:47. > :06:49.reflects the way we've been this season. To turn it around and make
:06:50. > :06:53.the impossible happen is gohng to be a big ask, but you know what I'm
:06:54. > :06:56.about, you know what we're `bout. We won't take no for an answer, we ll
:06:57. > :06:58.give the last four games evdrything we possibly can.
:06:59. > :07:01.Some important fixtures for Stevenage coming up, but ond of the
:07:02. > :07:04.things he said as well, Paul, he's questioning the mentality of the
:07:05. > :07:08.team, he says they're paying the price for sitting on leads. That's
:07:09. > :07:11.not the kind of thing you w`nt your manager to say. No, and I think as
:07:12. > :07:14.well, the fact they haven't won in eight games, the confidence must be
:07:15. > :07:16.absolutely rock bottom. And the fixtures, Joe, coming up, ilportant
:07:17. > :07:21.for you but important for Stevenage. Let's take a look at them. Xeah
:07:22. > :07:24.we've got an important Eastdr period coming up now. Oldham at hole on
:07:25. > :07:27.Friday and going to Crewe. @gain, two more teams that are in `nd
:07:28. > :07:30.around us, and wins are crucial And from your perspective, key for both
:07:31. > :07:33.sides. They are, but whenevdr you see that Stevenage's fixturds as
:07:34. > :07:36.well, because Stevenage are right at the bottom of the league, and you
:07:37. > :07:39.think going to Sheffield Unhted after they've just played in the
:07:40. > :07:42.semifinal of the FA Cup, and then, of course, at home to Bristol City.
:07:43. > :07:45.At this stage of the season, everything counts. Doesn't ht just.
:07:46. > :07:48.Plenty, though, still to cole on Late Kick Off tonight.
:07:49. > :07:50.So close yet so far. Luton Town s return to the Football Leagte denied
:07:51. > :07:58.by East Anglian rivals. And, dare to dream, Ipswich down
:07:59. > :08:01.Donny to keep their play`off hopes alive. Could Town be heading back to
:08:02. > :08:11.the Premier League? It wasn't just a full house at the
:08:12. > :08:15.Lamex. Just over 3,000, I think and the battle of getting bums on seats
:08:16. > :08:19.is getting more and more difficult, blame tough economic times or mixed
:08:20. > :08:24.fortunes on the pitch. Thesd figures tonight from three of our clubs in
:08:25. > :08:26.our region really tell the story. At Ipswich, Colchester and Southend,
:08:27. > :08:31.the difference in the past five years very telling. There you can
:08:32. > :08:32.see the difference at Ipswich, the same for Colchester, a smaller
:08:33. > :08:45.amount, and for Southend as well. Joe Dunne is with us, it is
:08:46. > :08:48.difficult for everybody. From your perspective as a manager, how
:08:49. > :08:53.problematic and how concerndd are you by the falling gates? F`lling
:08:54. > :08:57.gates have a key role to pl`y, based on the 60% we have to operate in
:08:58. > :09:01.terms of turnover. So, big gates are important for us in terms of how it
:09:02. > :09:05.affects the budget and what type of player you can bring in. Thhs is one
:09:06. > :09:08.of the reasons why we've decided to look at our academy and bring
:09:09. > :09:16.through as many youth players as we can. How difficult is it? If you're
:09:17. > :09:19.a manager, you're playing in a great stadium, but it's not full, is it?
:09:20. > :09:21.It must be pretty difficult? It s difficult, sometimes there's an
:09:22. > :09:26.atmosphere, sometimes there's no atmosphere. We've a 10,000`seater
:09:27. > :09:29.stadium and you've shown yotr stat about our average attendancd. But
:09:30. > :09:32.it's been like that for a pdriod of time. I remember playing at Layer
:09:33. > :09:36.Road when we had a similar type of gates. The difference was it was
:09:37. > :09:38.compact and it was a good atmosphere. The trend worrids the
:09:39. > :09:40.fans as much as the club thdmselves, judging by the Late Kick Off fans'
:09:41. > :09:54.forum. I've been a Colchester supporter for
:09:55. > :09:58.longer than I care to remember. I was one of the 16,000 at Laxer Road
:09:59. > :10:03.when we beat Leeds in '71, `nd the ground when it's full and rocking is
:10:04. > :10:08.fabulous. But you need the people there to get the atmosphere in the
:10:09. > :10:12.stadium. Obviously, the fin`ncial implications are self`explanatory.
:10:13. > :10:17.It's just really sad that the crowds are falling. Certainly, specifically
:10:18. > :10:22.my club, we could do much, luch better. You've only got to look at
:10:23. > :10:25.Ipswich. Since we got releg`ted you expect a fall`off of crowds, but
:10:26. > :10:28.it's been getting progressively worse, and we're now down to just
:10:29. > :10:37.having the stadium just over half full. It's a 30,000`seater stadium
:10:38. > :10:41.and we're averaging 15, 16,000. It's a lot of revenue to be down on. And
:10:42. > :10:46.even when we did get relegated, we were still hitting 20 plus for a few
:10:47. > :10:49.seasons afterwards. But the problem is I just think they're alidnating
:10:50. > :10:53.the casual supporter, because to turn up on match day, they charge
:10:54. > :11:00.you a premium, 30, 35 quid ` ticket to sit pretty much anywhere in the
:11:01. > :11:09.ground. More if you sit in the premium seats, if you will. I do
:11:10. > :11:11.think that things need to bd done specifically to encourage the
:11:12. > :11:13.youngsters along, cos they're the supporters of tomorrow. I d`re say
:11:14. > :11:18.you've been supporting Southend since a boy, haven't you? Ydah,
:11:19. > :11:22.probably about 20 years now. Our crowds aren't particularly bad.
:11:23. > :11:26.We've got a good marketing team at Southend, we do tend to put some
:11:27. > :11:31.deals on. Earlier in the se`son we had a home game against York City
:11:32. > :11:35.and charged a fiver to get hn. The ground was full. Obviously, you run
:11:36. > :11:38.the risk of annoying your season`ticket holders if yot do
:11:39. > :11:41.that, but when the FA Cup g`me against Hull came round, thdy
:11:42. > :11:46.reduced the season`ticket holders' prices, and that was full as well.
:11:47. > :11:51.So they can be compensated. Yeah. It all depends on how we're getting on
:11:52. > :11:54.on the pitch. I think it dods to a point with all clubs, but
:11:55. > :11:57.ironically, our lowest crowds over the last ten years have been this
:11:58. > :12:02.season, which has been our best season for the last ten years,
:12:03. > :12:05.probably. So, it's ironic. Do you feel that once supporters are lost
:12:06. > :12:09.that it takes a while for them to come back? Yes, I think thex're
:12:10. > :12:11.being prices out of it, I think that because you've got lower crowds
:12:12. > :12:15.there's less atmosphere, so it's less enjoyable. That was thd thing
:12:16. > :12:18.that dragged me into football as a youngster, standing on the terrace
:12:19. > :12:27.on the milk crates, it was ` real tribal atmosphere, you felt part of
:12:28. > :12:32.something much bigger. Thosd experiences make you a lifelong
:12:33. > :12:41.clan. Yes, that is what I al saying, getting the youngstdrs
:12:42. > :12:49.hooked. I started off... I started off for ?1 a ticket, and I `m still
:12:50. > :12:52.going. When we are doing well, if you do reduce the prices and give
:12:53. > :13:00.people something back, it c`n pay dividends. We have had the ground
:13:01. > :13:04.full twice, which is not bad. I wonder if there is too much choice
:13:05. > :13:11.for a lot of fans, they can go to any game. You can have more
:13:12. > :13:16.options, and round Europe especially. When I see that the
:13:17. > :13:24.crowds are down, there are numerous reasons, the economic downttrn,
:13:25. > :13:28.people have less money, and a lot of it is what you are seeing on the
:13:29. > :13:32.pitch, did you want to watch your lower league teams when you can
:13:33. > :13:44.watch the Premier League quds`mac how do you compete with Livdrpool or
:13:45. > :13:58.Manchester United ques`mac dash`mac? Such a fundamental tallish dash`mac
:13:59. > :14:03.choice of entertainment, it is the brand of football they want to see,
:14:04. > :14:08.and the opposition they want to see. It does come down to a choice, the
:14:09. > :14:13.person would want to come and watch something that has a probabhlity of
:14:14. > :14:18.being successful, and based on what they can choose, parting with their
:14:19. > :14:25.hard earned money to watching a good brand. A fascinating subject. We
:14:26. > :14:28.would love to hear what you think on Twitter and on Facebook. As it
:14:29. > :14:30.happens, Ipswich Town enjoydd their biggest crowd of the season at
:14:31. > :14:33.Portman Road. 19,500 people there at Portman Road. They're probably
:14:34. > :14:40.thinking now that they're on the verge of getting into the Premier
:14:41. > :14:43.League. Of course they are. You can see Tommy Smith, a great ch`nce
:14:44. > :14:47.there. He has done well in the last few weeks. Putting the ball in the
:14:48. > :14:50.box for Murphy. How well has this guy done? He has really stepped up
:14:51. > :14:53.to the mark. That's his thirteenth goal of the season. Goals are
:14:54. > :14:56.important at this level, especially to get Ipswich back into thd Premier
:14:57. > :14:59.League. They are capable of doing it. They have got momentum `t the
:15:00. > :15:03.moment. Unfortunately, he h`s given away the penalty at the othdr end.
:15:04. > :15:06.This was in the last ten minutes of the match. You think, it looks
:15:07. > :15:10.pretty clear cut from there and for Chris Brown, just slots that away.
:15:11. > :15:20.Mcarthy probably thought he would get a point out of it. A good come
:15:21. > :15:24.back. This is the big talking point in the match. As he goes in for a
:15:25. > :15:27.challenge, it looks as if hd has gone over the top. The ball is
:15:28. > :15:35.eventually broken to Chambers on the right. It is a great finish and an
:15:36. > :15:38.important win for Ipswich. Ht keeps the momentum going. McCarthx will be
:15:39. > :15:42.relieved, hugely relieved bx performances like that. If they make
:15:43. > :15:49.the play`offs, what do other sides need to be wary of? I think, the
:15:50. > :15:52.teams in the play`off in thd Championship at the moment `re of a
:15:53. > :15:56.high quality and they are all playing well at the moment. The team
:15:57. > :16:00.that bounces into the play`offs with that momentum can really catse a lot
:16:01. > :16:03.of damage. I suppose when you look at that and just see the action the
:16:04. > :16:06.fact that the challenge comds in, you know, he has gone on and scored
:16:07. > :16:14.literally five seconds afterwards and that looked like a red card The
:16:15. > :16:18.referee can make a decision. He is not that far away from it. Ht
:16:19. > :16:23.depends on his angle. Mick said they maybe got away with one there.
:16:24. > :16:28.Looking at the footage, maybe so. The referee is there to refdree the
:16:29. > :16:31.game. Ipswich went on to score. Key fixtures over the Easter brdak for
:16:32. > :16:34.Ipswich. These are make or break, like so many sides in the rdgion.
:16:35. > :16:38.Watford on Saturday and then Bournemouth. I think Watford are not
:16:39. > :16:41.really playing for anything. They have no chance of getting to the
:16:42. > :16:51.play`offs. Bournemouth will be the tricky one. That for me is going to
:16:52. > :16:53.be the key fixture. That is the battle to get out of the
:16:54. > :16:57.Championship. What about thd push to get into it? Peterborough and MK
:16:58. > :17:01.Dons have been in a chase for the final promotion place in Le`gue One,
:17:02. > :17:06.a race that would appear now to be won. Yes, you would think that.
:17:07. > :17:11.Whether it is the confidencd they got from winning the cup. Jtst a
:17:12. > :17:15.terrific header. It really hs a thumping header. Even though there
:17:16. > :17:22.was a chance here, just one chance, one goal. That is it. As a set piece
:17:23. > :17:27.goal, they scored a set piece goal against us not long ago. MK Dons as
:17:28. > :17:33.well, Robinson, a few weeks ago we were talking about it was a people
:17:34. > :17:36.talking the talk. Whenever H saw them playing against Coventry, they
:17:37. > :17:40.played so well. They passed the ball well. It looks like the defdnding
:17:41. > :17:48.here, a good young player, just handed it to them on a platd. 2`0
:17:49. > :17:53.and that was just the end of it It must be so frustrating for Robinson.
:17:54. > :18:01.One week his team is playing like world beaters but the next day do
:18:02. > :18:04.not look like they will score. Interesting statistic. They will be
:18:05. > :18:10.disappointed with the momentum of nearly going into the play`off
:18:11. > :18:13.position. It is difficult. The League One table at the top looks
:18:14. > :18:18.like this. If you are Ferguson, what are you thinking now? What do you
:18:19. > :18:23.think of the way Fergie is handling the pressure? I think they have done
:18:24. > :18:26.great. Especially after the momentum of winning the cup and in their
:18:27. > :18:31.play`off position now, it is a case of the better strategy for home and
:18:32. > :18:35.away. And the fixtures for both these sides? Peterborough, really
:18:36. > :18:41.important ones. Bradford aw`y and then they travel on Easter Londay at
:18:42. > :18:45.home against Carlisle. You look at the table and they have pretty much
:18:46. > :18:51.cemented sixth place. I cannot see them messing up at this stage in the
:18:52. > :18:54.season. They have done enough. Huge disappointment for Pete Winkleman.
:18:55. > :19:01.He is desperate at Colchestdr to try and get through. What does ` manager
:19:02. > :19:05.do in that situation? He will still want to win as many games as he can.
:19:06. > :19:09.He has an effect on the top of the table. On now to Northampton Town's
:19:10. > :19:18.desperate fight to stay in the Football League. The fight could go
:19:19. > :19:21.on till the final day of thd season. They know they are in with `
:19:22. > :19:27.fighting chance. Chris Wilddr is working wonders? He is. Even if you
:19:28. > :19:31.did get a little bit of luck from the keeper, you have to havd a
:19:32. > :19:38.strike on goal and you have to be on target. When you are forward, you
:19:39. > :19:42.are asked to hit the target. Anything can happen. The go`lkeeper
:19:43. > :19:46.has to do it. Whenever you `re down at the bottom and you get that kind
:19:47. > :19:50.of luck, it is so massive for you. You can practice as much as you
:19:51. > :19:56.want. But it does not ready matter how much practice you do, you have
:19:57. > :20:00.to have a little bit of luck. You have to put your bodies on the line.
:20:01. > :20:04.They certainly did that on Saturday. This is the thing. Down the left
:20:05. > :20:12.hand side, they have alreadx got the goal. So unlucky. We were t`lking
:20:13. > :20:17.about luck and then he hit the post. It does not look like they `re short
:20:18. > :20:20.of confidence at all. Like xou say, two back to back wins are ilportant
:20:21. > :20:23.and that gives them momentul going into the final. The fans were hugely
:20:24. > :20:27.happy at the end. Their fixtures are going to be fundamental. We all talk
:20:28. > :20:30.about how important Easter hs, but if you are Northampton Town, Wycombe
:20:31. > :20:35.and then Portsmouth, it could be done and dusted in a week's time?
:20:36. > :20:38.Well, the funny thing is, Wxcombe are just above themselves in the
:20:39. > :20:41.bottom two at the bottom of League Two and with Wycombe on the same
:20:42. > :20:47.points, it's just a goal difference thing. And then, Portsmouth. I don't
:20:48. > :20:51.know, Portsmouth are probably safe but Northampton are strugglhng. Yes,
:20:52. > :20:56.you think Portsmouth had a great result. That probably put them in a
:20:57. > :21:03.safe position. What is the first key ingredient at this time? Yot have to
:21:04. > :21:08.compete. You have to put yotr body on the line and start thinkhng about
:21:09. > :21:13.getting the ball down and playing. Great determination can plax a part.
:21:14. > :21:17.So the Cobblers giving themselves a fighting chance. At the othdr end of
:21:18. > :21:20.the table, just as tense for Southend fans, hoping to extend
:21:21. > :21:24.their season with a date in the play`offs. It is working well for
:21:25. > :21:33.them at the moment. It was per result on Saturday. That was such a
:21:34. > :21:39.clear cut penalty. Jack slotted this and maybe he was a bit luckx. I
:21:40. > :21:43.think so. It was a strange one. It looked like he would take it with
:21:44. > :21:46.his left but changed to his right. I've seen Southend this season and I
:21:47. > :21:49.think they've done terrificly well. It's a disappointing result, but
:21:50. > :21:52.they shouldn't lose too much heart about this. I suppose when they re
:21:53. > :21:56.coming up, they did have ch`nces. Barry put that one over the box
:21:57. > :22:03.It's one defeat in four gamds but it's a really good run of form. Phil
:22:04. > :22:07.Brown seems to be the master of his craft in negotiating this end of the
:22:08. > :22:10.season? Yes, he has vast experience in terms of getting teams to the
:22:11. > :22:15.Premier League. He's passing on that knowledge now to Southend. When you
:22:16. > :22:18.look at the top of the tabld, just above Oxford. But there's so much
:22:19. > :22:23.competition. York or Plymouth or Mansfield will think they c`n get
:22:24. > :22:27.into the play`offs. It's all about momentum at this stage. The three
:22:28. > :22:34.wins out of four for Southend keeps them in there. Great opporttnities,
:22:35. > :22:40.especially this weekend. Rochdale are doing pretty well but Accrington
:22:41. > :22:45.Stanley are mid table. Also, Phil Brown, as we have said, has the
:22:46. > :22:49.experience. Doesn't he just. As you'll know, our brief here on Late
:22:50. > :22:52.Kick Off East is primarily to reflect the fortunes of the seven
:22:53. > :22:55.Football League teams in our patch. That number is about to increase
:22:56. > :22:58.next season, by at least ond, possibly two or three clubs,
:22:59. > :23:01.including Luton. We thought we'd be celebrating with them tonight but
:23:02. > :23:04.things didn't quite work out as planned at Kenilworth Road, as
:23:05. > :23:07.Jonathan Park now reports. Ht was the day Luton were to be crowned
:23:08. > :23:17.champions. We're going up! @t least that is what 10,000 Luton f`ns
:23:18. > :23:24.expected. Demanded. Come on, Luton! We are here Braintree have played a
:23:25. > :23:28.few games and are tired. Thhs is it. It's been five long years. We want
:23:29. > :23:36.to get back into the Football League, where we belong. Banished to
:23:37. > :23:39.the non`league for financial misdemeanours, it has taken five
:23:40. > :23:45.years to get to this day. It was a nervy day of destiny. Peopld have
:23:46. > :23:52.nerves. It would be weird if people did not have nerves. It is ` big
:23:53. > :24:00.occasion. I think that adds to the excitement. After 200 games, this is
:24:01. > :24:05.the ticket back into the football league. There was another tdam with
:24:06. > :24:13.something to play for. Braintree have been punching above thdir
:24:14. > :24:17.weight. Nobody was expecting what would unfold.
:24:18. > :24:32.Left footed. It is clipped hn. Number 19. At the near post and
:24:33. > :24:42.deflect in. It is another one. James Melly gets Braintree a lead. Is it
:24:43. > :24:48.going to be a sending off? The referee has a big decision to make.
:24:49. > :24:55.It is read. Very nervy here at half`time. He does not what anyone
:24:56. > :25:06.was expecting. This is a sex through. Braintree score thdir third
:25:07. > :25:15.goal. It is tight. Clearing field. It is inside the box. Into the
:25:16. > :25:24.corner. A great penalty. It goes back. He takes the deflection. That
:25:25. > :25:29.brought looped and right back into this. Braintree move into a play`off
:25:30. > :25:35.position. Luton Town have to wait another day. We have been wobbly.
:25:36. > :25:42.Our performances have not bden as they were earlier in the se`son The
:25:43. > :25:49.pressure is on. Today did not go for us. We all expected the trophy to be
:25:50. > :25:58.presented. We will do it. Wd all have faith. Still confident? Without
:25:59. > :26:03.a doubt. After putting it into context, this game disappointing
:26:04. > :26:12.that the whole season has bden amazing for the letters go back and
:26:13. > :26:19.do it all again. It is just a matter of time, isn't it? They havd been
:26:20. > :26:23.flying all season. They havd had 11 wins in 16 games. That is jtst no
:26:24. > :26:29.way they were not get promoted. Braintree spoilt the party was that
:26:30. > :26:36.they have a fighting chance? They are a good side. It is all `bout
:26:37. > :26:44.Luton Town now. I would expdct Luton Town to go up as champions.
:26:45. > :26:51.Braintree are certainly there. If Cambridge do not win tomorrow night,
:26:52. > :26:56.Luton Town will be promoted. I think they have the experience of getting
:26:57. > :26:58.there. They have had so much chances in so many seasons. This is the
:26:59. > :27:11.season. For Norwich, they are exactly where
:27:12. > :27:20.they did not want to be. Can they do it? Yes. You do not sound too
:27:21. > :27:27.optimistic. It is going to be so, so difficult. When you look at the next
:27:28. > :27:33.fixtures, you think this will be the most difficult run in as I have ever
:27:34. > :27:40.seen. Liverpool at home. How they would get anything out of that? Then
:27:41. > :27:50.you'll have Manchester Unitdd and Chelsea. It is not impossible. They
:27:51. > :27:55.must still believe they can do it. They have to treat every gale as a
:27:56. > :28:04.cup final. We all know what the atmosphere will be like. Wh`t does
:28:05. > :28:10.Neil Adams need to do? He ndeds to make sure the players still believe.
:28:11. > :28:17.Keep them believing. I am stre Norwich can do it. Thank yot very
:28:18. > :28:21.much to our guests this week. Good luck this week because the Daster
:28:22. > :28:27.break for top we would love to hear from you. From all of us here, have
:28:28. > :29:16.a good Easter weekend. Every time I see you,
:29:17. > :29:21.it's shorts and a dressing gown