Episode 3 Late Kick Off London and the South East

Good evening, welcome to Late Kick Off. Coming up on the show tonight.

All change at Charlton. Is Jose the man to lead the Addicks to safety? I

am here to be able to do what he asked me. To allow Charlton to stay

in the division. We send Mark Bright on a double derby day dash across

the capital, from Brisbane Road to the Den.

I'm here! We've got all the goals from the weekend including a

Battocchio belter for Watford. And London 2012 medallist Andy Lapthorne

tells us about his love for Brentford. To be on the pitch and

see some of the players I speak to on a regular basis was very special.

With myself and Mark tonight, a former Gillingham and Millwall

striker, Tony Cascarino. Great to have you with us. I hope you are

going to tell us that you still look out for the results of Millwall and

Gillingham, aren't you? Yeah. Six years at Gillingham and I spent a

lot of time at Priestfield. I had a great time. As a kid I followed

Millwall. Two of the first teams I look out for. We will hear plenty

more of Tony's stories later and a few from Mark as well. First, to

Charlton. Last week they became the seventh of our 12 clubs to change

manager since the end of last season. With the team fighting

relegation from the Championship and knocked out of the FA Cup by League

One opponents, new owner Roland Duchatelet took decisive action. The

BBC has learned Chris Powell has been sacked... New owner Roland

Duchatelet, it dismissed the ex`Addicks... Jose Riga has been

named as the new manager of Charlton.

Jose Riga, a new face in English football. A familiar face to

Charlton's owner, Roland Duchatelet. The pair also worked together at

Standard Liege. The president is a friend of mine, we know each other

very well. I'm here to be able to do what he asked me. To allow Charlton

to stay in the division. He's good, he speaks great English, he's got

over his points what he wants to get to the boys. We're bottom of the

league, now we need to get out of it, regardless of who's in charge.

The most important thing is to get Charlton safe. Before arriving in

south`east London, Jose Riga was employed at AC Milan's youth

academy. Jose Riga is a very clever man, very kind man, he has a lot of

education. He is not a fan of kick and rush football. So he'll like a

technical touch. He was once invited to coach at Real Madrid for a week,

although not everyone at the Bernabeu remembers.

At the Valley, replacing a fan's favourite won't be easy. He is a

coach rather than a manager. We could have a Les Reid scenario here

where it all goes pear`shaped in a matter of weeks! Powell has been

really good for Charlton, he got them promoted from League One. I

personally thought he could keep them up this season. I think this

new manager has got the right set of ideas to bring to the club. I think

we can do a lot better with him as manager, to be honest. This club is

well organised. Really good people, they know what they do. It's not

alone that we are going to win this challenge, it's altogether.

Mark, you know Chris Powell very well, you played with him at

Charlton. What do you make of this? We were just talking, they are

bottom in March, bottom of the table. As you said, decisive action

needed to be taken. Chris should be very proud of what he's achieved at

the club with promotion and everything, almost made the

play`offs last season. It's been a really disappointing year for him

and everyone concerned with the club. So I wasn't surprised. I hoped

he could survive and try and keep them up but Jose, I spoke to him

after the game, he is very hopeful of doing that. It seems there was a

real problem there, they had a different view on the transfer

policy with the Standard Liege connection and the players coming

in. Chris Powell couldn't seem to agree with that. With eight weeks of

the season to go, was it the right decision to take? That's going to be

at the season, if Charlton survive. I don't agree with managers being

given players that they not necessarily want. Chris would love

to have the say, and rightly so, have people he thinks can keep

Charlton up. When an owner decides to buy the club, that's one thing.

But to then start meddling and saying, you are getting these

players from Standard Liege, because there was a number of them. If you

don't fancy them or think they aren't good enough, as a manager

that undermines you. I think it's a really difficult situation for him

and, also, a year ago Charlton were in a really good position and now

it's changed. Results have so dramatically changing for him. You

feel sorry for him. I thought over the long period Chris would have

been fine. It has changed, there's a new owner there and now there's a

new manager who frankly, the fans don't know a great deal about. Do

they have reason to be concerned for the long term or should they be

optimistic? He's just said he's just got to try and keep the club up and

survive. Alex is still there, Damian is still there and the backroom

staff. He needs them. I wish them all the best because, having played

for the club, you know the journey they've been on and I wish them

well. But I think it's going to be a struggle. He doesn't know much about

English football, Riga, and he'll know even less about League One

football. Let's hope it keeps them up. The lunchtime kick`off at

Brisbane Road on Saturday was followed by 3pm start at the Den. So

that offered just about enough time to take in both matches. It was a

double dose of derby day action, where all four teams have something

to play for. East London meets West, with both

trying to map a route north out of League One. Their polar opposites

from the south`east of the capital are hoping to avoid veering further

south out of the championship. Who is staying up, who is going up? Who

is staying put? Lost your bearings yet? We sent Mark to navigate his

way through both London derbies. I'm here at Brisbane Road, home of

Leyton Orient FC. The O's have not been outside the top three of League

One all season. They are looking to break into the second tier of

English football for the first time in 32 years. In 1982 I was still at

school. I can't remember that far back! Yeah, they were good days.

We'd like to get back. For Brentford it has been a mere 21 years. Not

forgetting the six heartbreaking failures in the play`offs during

that time. It's automatically or that's it, we can't get through the

play`offs. History shows you that, painful, too painful. I've seen

Brentford at Wembley four or five times, we lose every time. I don't

want that again. No last`minute penalties. We desperately need to

win today because I think will carry us through to the rest of the end of

the season. Fortunately this year we are on such a good run that we won't

need to go through that heartache again, we are going to go straight

up. What a beautiful day for a game of

football. Top of the table clash in League One, second versus third.

Orient one point above Brentford, Brentford have two games in hand.

Who's going to boost their promotion hopes? Let's find out with your

commentator, Nick Godley. It's a real scramble, Button got

something on that. It's a poor challenge from the centre half.

Tarkowski has been shown the yellow card for that. Yellow card,

deserved. Donaldson has made a great run, he

has prodded around the goalkeeper but that is a terrific stop by

Jakupovich. That is a foul. And there's a scuffle breaking out here

now with MacCormack. A group confrontation.

Clayton Donaldson. He's got a yellow card. Brentford rolls it infield,

Trotta gives it to Forshaw... He drives it towards goal. What a

strike that is! Great move. A little step over, came to Trotta in the

box, left foot low. Could not stop it.

James Tarkowski has gone in very strongly there. It's a second yellow

card. Brentford are down to ten men. No need to do it on the halfway

line. Comes back out, rolls it square for James, who clipped it

into the penalty area. There is no flag, Mooney with a chance. It's

cleared away from danger. I tell you, the free kick wasn't very good

but the follow`up was a good chip into the box. Under pressure now,

Brentford. Mooney is wide, they are queuing up for this. It's been

blocked away. He sends it into the mix, it's a clearing header. It's

going to drop to Odubajo. Good save by Button. It looks like Brentford

are hanging on here, it's the final minutes. I've got another London

derby to attend ` I'm off! How much longer will the referee give us? Not

much longer at all. There are hugs and celebrations one that Brentford

bench because, my goodness me, what a magnificent away performance by

the Bees in West London. I don't think I've missed any goals.

Brentford look like they've done it. I'm off to the new Den to see what

happens there. It's a big game today. We talk about just three

points or another three points, but the fact of the matter it is second

versus third, East versus West in the London derby. The boys are aware

of the importance of the game. I thought they were magnificent today.

Maybe they should have been down to nine men. Donaldson has gone in

thinking it's a bar brawl. Young players who learnt a lot from last

year, that experience from last year was fairly unique. You've got guys

who are 21 years of age who have 120 odd league games under their belt.

They've learnt, they are better people for it and hopefully this

year they deserve to go one step further. I trust the group and I've

got great belief in them. They've got great character. They are not

finished yet. This season has been quite a journey for our south`east

London duo. New manager at both clubs, a new owner at Charlton.

Twists and turns see Millwall start this match two points above the drop

zone and Charlton three points adrift, but with four games in hand

on today's opponents. A draw won't do today, it's a must win game. If

we still win, I don't think we are out of the woods, we are in trouble.

I think today will decide the season. It's a must win game, we

have to get three points. Given that we've only won ten times out of 62

meetings here, I'd be happy to leave here with a smile on my face for a

change. On a day like today there's no

better way to travel. Rhys is a good rider, bad teller of jokes. One

down, one to go. It's Emma Jones with the commentary.

Welcome to a gloriously sunny south London Saturday afternoon. Now it's

Williams. Headed just wide! Harriott racing forward, he goes for

the shot. There's nothing to choose between the two teams. Both

obviously lacking confidence. Jackson for the shot. Ben Hamer down

to his right hand side. Half`time whistle. 0`0. Expect a bit better in

the second half. Wiggins with the ball in. Harris threw his body at

that. Moans and groans all around. They're desperate for a goal. If

anything, I think Millwall are going to get it. It's a left footed swing

to the edge of the penalty area. It's heading just over by

Maierhofer. Fredericks is able to get the ball in. Flicked off by

Morrison, dropped down inside the six yard box. It's very tense.

Owen Garvan behind this free kick, Garvan goes for the far post and

Hamer is across to push it away for a corner. Diego Poyet with an

interception to stop Woolford and his run. That is the full`time

whistle. Lots of effort and endeavour, there's no question about

that. A passionate London derby. But there was just no quality, no

creativity. Motions of flight predictable. A lack of options from

both teams. Could have created more but it's a bit of a nervous game. I

thought everybody looked a bit nervous. We knew what was at stake.

We are not today in the last position. Psychologically, it is

very important. It's tough at the moment because it's so vital for us.

Have you got enough to stay up? Yeah, I think we can be better than

three others. A busy day there for Mark. Just the

one goal you managed to see in the two games. You didn't get a speeding

ticket? It looked like it was going really fast. Just speeded up the

film, can I just point that out? They've got identical records,

Charlton and Millwall. One win in the last ten, one goal in the last

five. We've already talked about Charlton, how do you rate Millwall?

The atmosphere was excellent. You could see the apprehension in the

players' play. I spoke to Ian Holloway at length afterwards and he

is hoping Maierhofer, he can get him fit. He thinks he'll be a good

combination with Morrison. He said he needs somebody upfront who can

hold the ball and head the ball, and that's what he needs to do. They've

only got 32 goals. It's going to be a struggle. If you look at

Millwall's finishing position, it's gone down every season. Kenny

Jackett left. Looking what he's doing at the moment, it's fantastic,

but this is precarious right now for them.

Out of the two teams, there's something about Millwall, I feel

they probably stand a better chance. The games in hand with Charlton,

it's always difficult. I feel with Millwall there's something about

them. They might get themselves out. Ian Holloway left the Premier League

relegation battle in October and joined a Championship relegation

battle in January. Were you surprised by that move? I was. When

Ian left Palace looked drained manager. A tired guy, needed a rest.

Get away from football, get with your family, do something away from

the game. The last job you'd want to take a few months down the line is

Millwall. South London rival, me and Brighty have played in a few

Millwall/Crystal Palace games. Being an ex`Palace manager. I felt Ian

didn't need it. That job at that time, for me. I thought was a

strange appointment. He is a good manager, but he wears his heart on

his sleeve. That's how he manages a football club. It's very draining,

that type of manager. For me, a bit too quick but hopefully, and I say

hopefully because I'm not as optimistic as Brighty, I think

Millwall are in real trouble. Nine points separate seven teams. The

permutations, anything can happen, like it did last year and in League

One as well. He's got no goals in his team. That's clearly a problem.

Going back to events at Brisbane Road, and there were plenty of them.

Russell Slade felt that Clayton Donaldson should have been sent off

for Brentford. What did you make of that? I thought he was lucky.

I thought it the referee get a good look at what I saw. You can see

Clayton Donaldson coming to the fray here. Left hand into the face.

Clayton Donaldson, experienced player, if you are coming into the

confrontation, just separate players. Once you put your hand up

like that, you run the risk of getting a red card. I felt if the

referee sees him, he's got no option but to give a red card and that

would have been the second one for the team.

referee sees him, he's got no option Russell was also unhappy, Tony,

about the Brentford bench celebrations, they celebrated as if

they've won the FA Cup. Was it OTT or was it really understandable? Not

for me. If you look at it here. The situation from Brentford, the team

didn't go up on the final day of the season. So much went against them.

It was a massive game. I have played in games and the build`up in the

week leading up to this, as a player, you get caught up in it.

8,000 at Leyton Orient, the big game in League One. You get caught up all

week so when it comes and you get the result, the elation. Sometimes

it goes a bit OTT, but for me that is part of the game. It was so

significant because they've got games in hand and they were down to

ten men. I think it was relief as well as celebration. Last year what

happened to Brentford played a big part in the way they acted. Russell

was right in one thing, it's not over yet. A little way to go and we

look forward to that. Right, we've seen Millwall and

Charlton slugging it out at the wrong end of the Championship. Our

other three teams in the division are looking up instead of down. To

remind us how they fared on Saturday, here's Emma again and Ian

Ramsdale. After their midweek defeat at

Brighton, QPR were hoping for an instant response at home against

struggling Yeovil. And they got it thanks to a second brace in

successive Saturdays from Morrison. His first and unstoppable drive from

the edge of the area. It's been over a year since Bobby Zamora last

scored a goal but just four minutes after coming on, that was put right

against the Glovers. Before in the last minute, Morrison made sure of

all three points. QPR have their confidence back ahead of their trip

to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night.

Brighton are just one point behind sixth place Nottingham Forest thanks

to a goal in both halves from Will Buckley at the Reebok. Adam Bogdan

must've thought he'd somehow stop Buckley's first but the winger was

there to tidy up at the second attempt. The hosts hoped they'd

equalised on the hour mark, however the assistant referee was quick to

rule out Mason's effort before Buckley ensured Brighton's fifth win

from their last seven league matches. Meanwhile, on`loan striker,

Jonathan Obika has been recalled by Tottenham and is heading for a

second spell at struggling Charlton. Fortress Vicarage Road claimed

another victim in relegation battling Barnsley. The home side

took the lead early on courtesy of Cristian Battocchio. Before Troy

Deeney made it 17 so far for him this season. With the visitors

rarely threatening, the Hornets were able to extend their lead with

Alexander Merkel getting his first for the club. And while the Watford

head coach says his team can still improve, that is now five

consecutive home victories without conceding a goal.

All five of our teams kept clean sheets in the championship. Which is

nice for a change. QPR, they got the three points against Yeovil. What do

you make of their position now? Second win in eight, and I think it

is a struggle for them to get automatic promotion now. You have to

look at a collapse above you, Burnley. That doesn't look like it's

going to happen. Wolves did it in 2002, they were riding high, 11

points clear, collapsed, made the play`offs and didn't get promotion.

It is nice to see Morrison get another few goals, Bobby Zamora

getting the goals. But for automatic now I think it is out of their

hands. Difficult job by Harry Redknapp, but a lot of others would

fancy it with the money he's had. A lot of Premier League players in

there. What are your thoughts on where they are now? It has been a

frustrating second part of the season because they started so

brightly. Harry always likes to go and buy players, he does it very

well. Whether it's older, experienced players who come in and

do a job or someone like a loan, Morrison, a younger player. They all

do something fantastically for Harry. I think he has found the last

few months or so tricky because he has had players like Bobby Zamora

come back. They pay`out huge wages and it has come at a huge cost for

the football club. He is trying to find a way of getting the team... I

think now his only option is the play`off. Harry is a clever manager

about getting the best out of players. He has always overachieved

with what he has had. I think this year, it just changed mid`season. If

he can get them down towards the end. Losing two players has been a

blow but they still have Forrest to play, Leicester to play and Wigan to

play. They might be able to affect their season but for me at this

stage, I don't think they will do it. Ten points off automatic, just

one game in hand. OK, let's have a look at the table. Just confirm

that. If they get into the play`offs, you'd fancy them with

some of the big names they've got. Got a lot of players who have played

high`level football. Going to Wembley won't worry QPR. Let's go

down memory lane little bit, Tony. It is a few years ago now, you

played for Gillingham and you scored 110 goals. Was it? I didn't do too

bad. What are your overriding thoughts of your time back there?

Well I was a builder, then a hairdresser then ended up... A

hairdresser? Yes, I did hairdressing for two years and didn't play

football for some months. But I joined the club and was given an

opportunity by Keith Peacock. I was so raw and naive. I was off the

building site thinking, "wow I'm going to play football every day"

and I just jumped at it. It worked really. Great club. You have got so

much nostalgia with previous clubs but it was the club I played the

longest four. Six years I was at Gillingham. Great memories. Let's

have a look at how they got on at the weekend. A 1`1 draw with

Bradford. Peter Taylor's former club. Aaron Mclean with the opening

goal for the home side? Premier League football with Hull in the

season, that is a Premier League goal as well. Took it superbly well.

Cody McDonald. His 14th of the season. Good play from those two.

Getting a point away at Bradford is a decent result. Brenford, only one

of our other teams outside of the Championship won on Saturday. It is

with Crawley we begin a round`up of Leagues One and Two.

After three games without a win, Crawley claimed a precious victory

against visiting Colchester. The only goal of the game scored by Mike

Jones after hard work from his team`mates. The Ewes were more

threatening in the second 45 but were denied by the woodwork. Crawley

have now conceded just once in their last four league games at home. A

decent record to have with league leaders Wolves to come on Tuesday.

Gareth Ainsworth admitted his team simply weren't good enough against

York and apologise to the fans who'd made the trip. In his first match on

loan from Chesterfield, Sam Togwell fouled Josh Carson for the home side

to take the lead with a Ryan Bowman penalty. He added another just

before half`time breaking from a Wycombe corner, for Josh Carson to

get away a left footed shot. Wycombe's woes got worse late on

when Togwell was sent off for his second bookable offence, plenty,

Ainsworth says, for the team to put right in Tuesday's trip to

Cheltenham. For a second Saturday in a row, Dagenham were going to be

denied a win with a late equaliser. They took the lead early in the

second half when Morecambe defender, Chris McCready, was harshly judged

to have handled in the area. Medy Elito slotting home from the spot.

But then in the 89th minute, a strike from the Shrimps' skipper

Mark Hughes left the Daggers with no time to turn things around. Wayne

Burnett says his side need to manage games better with a midweek match

away at Newport County next. Wimbledon claimed a point in

dramatic fashion at the Pirelli Stadium. Promotion`chasing Burton

taking the lead when Alan Bennett fouled Dominic Knowles. Billy Kee

put away the penalty for his 13th goal of the season. The Dons

equaliser would be a first for his new club from defender, Darren

Jones, salvaging a point in the eighth minute of injury time. The

draw follows the same score line against league leaders Chesterfield.

That means Neil Ardley was pleased with two points from two tough

games. Tony, another defeat for Wycombe,

that's two in a row now. Just the three points between them and

relegation, should they be genuinely concerned? Well, York are the form

team in the league so I don't think there's any shame in losing to them

but they have a tough fortnight coming up. They have Cheltenham

midweek and then they have three teams out of the top five to play.

It will be really tight for them. Tony, we have had some tweets in

about your time at your former clubs. Del said, do you think

Millwall will ever have a squad like the one you won the Division Two

title with? Sheringham, Hurlock? At that time there was huge investment

in players. Reg Burr put a lot of money in to challenge to try to get

promoted. With that, finances does breed success. There is a legendary

story about you signing for Gillingham. I don't know if it's

true, but you signed from a non`league Kent side, Crocken Hill.

Was it true you signed for a load of balls and training equipment,

tracksuits. I have been trying to get away with this question for

years. I wasn't under contract for Crocken Hill because it was

non`league Kent football. As a gesture Gillingham bought me, gave

balls, cones, tracksuits, 12 tracksuits and some say they

overpaid! I have had all the jokes. It was done as a gesture on

Gillingham's part. So they didn't have to pay very much at all? No, I

loved that football club, I really did. I loved being around the town.

My first day there, I went and had a Wimpy and chips before my first

game. I didn't know I had been named as sub. Them days, 13 players and

the 13th was a player you didn't use. So great times. OK, it's lovely

to have you in the studio. Thanks for coming in. Mark, great to see

you as ever. Just a reminder BBC local radio has

all the latest news from your team. Midweek commentaries include

Sheffield Wednesday versus QPR on BBC London Digital Radio, Crawley

versus Wolves on BBC Surrey and Cheltenham versus Wycombe on BBC

Three Counties Radio. Great Britain's Paralympians have

left us all inspired with their most successful winter Paralympics

performance for 30 years and the last word tonight goes to a man who

made it onto the podium during the last summer Games at London 2012.

last word tonight goes to a man who made it When Andy Lapthorne isn't on

the tennis court, you can usually find him at Griffin Park. Goodnight.

I've been a Brentford fan since I was about eight years old. It was

the first proper football ground I'd ever been to. Got the bug really

from going into the ground, smelling the grass and sampling the

atmosphere. It was quite addictive. I know a lot of the people down at

the club personally. Are you in good shape? Yeah, I've been training

hard, so... They've really looked after me and really helped me

through, not just coming down to Brentford, but supported me through

my career so you do get passionate and just hope the team do well. Go

on! Oh! Head it. Go on Brentford. SINGING.

It's a very tough day to lose in the final. I was very disappointed we

were number one and we wanted to win the gold but to then go back to the

village and see messages of support from football fans, especially from

Brentford inviting me down to the game on the Saturday to present me

with a shirt and hear everybody to say, " well done". That supported me

so much, it was very special and to know most people were proud made it

easier to accept the Silva. That is a terrible ball. Obviously we didn't

have the greatest of starts this season either, but to come back and

go on the run the boys have been on has been unbelievable really. And

obviously I think we are in a good place. I will be going to Rio in

2016 and hopefully winning the gold medal and Brentford will be moving

into Lionel Road in 2016, so hopefully we can have two big events

going on at once and hopefully I will be walking round their

20,000`seater stadium with a gold medal.

CHEERING.