Episode 8 Late Kick Off London and the South East

Coming up tonight, the Bees are going up - what next for

Championship-bound Brentford? A big step was taken last week, now we

have to cement our place and keep building, keep developing.

And who's staying up? It's in their hands, but can Charlton hold their

nerve? Two Lions head to their former

hunting ground on the prowl for Millwall points. And a day of

destiny at Adams Park, as Wycombe's Football League future hangs in the

balance. Hello, everybody, welcome to Late

Kick Off. In case you haven't quite worked it out for yourself, I'm Mark

Clemmit and not Jacqui Oatley, who is on maternity leave for the final

couple of weeks of the season. Our congratulations to her and the

family on the birth of baby boy Max. And talking of new arrivals,

Brentford are now a Championship team, so joining Brighty and myself,

midfielder Sam Saunders, who just over a week ago, with his

team-mates, was finally able to celebrate promotion on what was a

very good Good Friday at Griffin Park.

There was Jamie and Sam, and we knew a goal went in. It just erupted, and

I think that's the moment that will live with me for a long time. We are

going up, say we are going up! The level of excitement was fantastic,

the players could feel it, and that for me was a real hair on the back

of the neck moment. Yeah, I don't remember that much, it was all about

everyone going crazy, to be fair. There's some real genuine supporters

at this club, and to see them get that reward is fantastic. We've come

so close, we've had play-offs, we've had final days scenarios where we

could possibly go up. Oh, it was amazing. I mean, that was probably

the best feeling I ever had. Everyone knows what happened, what

possibly should have happened, and we can look back and actually smile

about it now, because we've achieved what we were looking to do to. You

know, I came back and tried to do my best, and at the end that definitely

makes it more special. The owners spoke to me 18 months ago and set a

five-year plan. He spoke about the Championship, he spoke about the new

stadium. And he also spoke about the Premier League. We've got a good

squad here, we'll add some quality to it as and when we need to, we'll

be in good shape next year. Well, Sam, it must have been a bit

bittersweet for you, because you were in the firm of your career, you

know, player of the month in January, and then obviously you get

injured and miss getting over the line. How was your promotion day? It

was brilliant. I was supposed to be in the squad but then had to pull

out through a little strain. So at the start of it I was devastated,

obviously, having the operation, thinking I wanted to be involved.

But then at the end of it I was on the bins, running around, forgot all

about it, so it was a fantastic day and something I'll never forget. The

boys working so hard, particularly after what happened last year,

everyone is just delighted. Well, I wanted to ask you about that. Did

the high of getting over the line this time in any way compensate for

the low of what happened to you without penalty miss and then

missing out at Wembley last year? I was looking round the changing room

come February, I was looking round, and everyone hurt so much from last

season. I just thought, we're not going to let this one go, and

particularly that result at Orient, turning them over 1-0 with ten men.

After that, I thought, yeah, we're going to go up. Yeah, I mean, we

heard Mark Warburton talk about the Premier League there, the owner's

ambitions for the Premier League. Is that realistic? I think you've got

to have a vision, haven't you? I think Fulham had a vision some years

ago, and everyone laughed at Mohamed Al Fayed, he wanted to be the Man

United of the South. But you have to have a vision, and obviously part of

that vision is getting into the Championship. The new stadium is

about to come, and then you have to say, can you build on what you have?

And you have to say that, I think in football, the neutrals, everybody's

happy for Brentford, because of what happened at the end of last season.

Yeah, I mean, from your own point of view, Sam, eight, nine years ago,

you're working as a sparky on London Underground. Now look, you know,

you're at a club... I'm sitting here with Brighty, aren't I?! Totally

different, this is what I wanted. Are you pinching yourself a little

bit? You could be playing Fulham next year if QPR don't make it. It's

unbelievable. When John come in for me and I was in non-league, and if

you'd have asked me if I would play championship football, I would have

absolutely bit your arm off. So as a personal note, I'm delighted to get

that opportunity next season. But it's a collective thing, and the

boys have been so good. Obviously, I haven't kicked a ball since January,

so I wouldn't be getting this opportunity of it wasn't for them.

So they've got to take massive credit. Do you know what I always

want to ask players that have just been promoted? Do you in any way

fear promotion insomuch as you know some of the squad will not make the

next level? Is that an unfair question? It is a tough one, because

at a club like Brentford, and how they've been the last few years,

it's one of them that if you don't progress with the club and move

forwards, you're going to get left behind. And it's a winning mentality

they have at the club, and you've just got to know, as an older pro,

you got to do your bits, do your extras if you want to keep

continuing with this club, because it's a club that's moving forward.

And the young lads are pushing, the older pros are helping, and it's

just a great mix we've got at the minute. I'm enjoying that pressure

of having to perform every week, and every year come back that little bit

stronger, because you know that you've got to impress and do well to

get your shirt. Enjoy every second, it's been a

fantastic season, but I'm afraid, after all that celebrating, the rest

of the programme is a slow descent into despair as we concentrate on

three teams battling the drop. First up, Millwall - on Saturday, the

Lions were on South Africa Road, the natural habitat for two of them.

Here at QPR, those who once proudly pulled on the blue and white hoops

are now pulling Millwall back from the brink.

You good? Yeah, I'm all right, and you? I am! Welcome home-ish! Yeah,

sort of! It is weird for you, isn't it, you and Ollie today? 15 years

the pair of you put in here. Yeah, I know, I know, it's not been as

difficult, because as I said, first time I've ever wanted QPR to lose

today. Yeah, it should be good. I'm glad they've got really nothing to

play for, cos that made it a little bit difficult. It's nice to be back

and come to a place full of memories for me, ten years, five as a player,

five as a manager. And it's great to see them growing. Where would

keeping Millwall in this division fit into the hierarchy of what

you've achieved in the game? As good as any of that, I believe. I think

it was really tough, really difficult situation, and a squad

that really didn't have any fight. And for Millwall, that's just not

acceptable, but now I can honestly say that these lots don't give up.

They've got rubbish coaches here like Ollie! And rubbish players like

Armand. Yeah, so hopefully we've got our game plan, we've been doing well

away from home, as you know, and we're trying to carry on.

If Millwall win and Blackpool lose, their incredible escape act will be

complete. Anything less, and they'll be sweating it out a little longer.

Right-hand side of the penalty area, Dixon across... Oh, Ravel Morrison

with the header and David Forde with the save.

Smith's scored! And a score coming in which is going to send shivers

down spines. Wigan zero, Blackpool one.

It's a penalty! Simeon Jackson for use of the hand, and the referee

points straight at the spot. Here comes Austin and drives it into the

back of the net! It's picked up by Malone inside the area, shot from

Malone, it's there from Scott Malone! It's Queens Park Rangers 1,

Millwall 1, how important could that be?!

Gaffer not happy. Yes and no, happy that we got one in the last couple

of minutes, but not happy that we didn't win and not happy about the

penalty, really. Well, clearly, you've got a lot of happy memories

of this place but not necessarily this afternoon. I will have, Clem,

to be fair. I think to go behind in the fashion we did, it really hurts,

to be honest. I just think that's ridiculously harsh. You know, we

showed tremendous character to come back, so I feel everybody connected

with the club should be very proud of themselves today.

Well, Brighty, I think when he went into Millwall, we all thought, he's

taken Palace into the Premier League, why would you? But I tell

you what, he's proved his worth, the last six or seven games, hasn't he?

They got themselves out of the relegation zone. He will get the

team focused, and I would have to refer to Crystal Palace, when he got

promotion, three games, Brighton home and away, Watford in the

final, the team absolutely focused because of his intensity on the

training ground. This last week now, they couldn't have anyone better on

the training ground to get them motivated and looking forward to

that last game. It is very noticeable, I sat quite near to some

of the unused box, at the team spirit and the banter, with the

players on the pitching a really serious game. You can't take that

dynamic for granted, that comes from the. The team spirit is massive,

they are enabling the Asian scrap, so to have that bit of banter, it

could be a good thing for them. -- they are in a relegation scrap. He

is transmitting something that makes you stay on. Ian Holloway has always

had that relationship with his players, it seems to be rubbing

off. It has obviously worked. Say to the players, you have beaten

Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, Wigan, teams going for promotion. It

is everything or nothing now, and he has got them in a position where

they will get out of it. A really exceptional manager can get that

kind of team spirit. He is so different in the changing room and

on the training ground, doing the dancing elephant with the players.

When he's focused, the team will be focused, and the team will be

focused at the end of the week. Millwall do not have a monopoly on

south-east London relegation worries. Charlton have been in or

around the drop zone for most of the season. On Saturday they hosted

play-off seeking Blackburn, we sent Chris Slegg on a scenic route to the

Valley to take a view of proceedings.

Now, it would be easy to use a cable car ride looking out towards the

Valley as a metaphor for Charlton's current plight. Championship status

hanging by a Fred et cetera. But we wouldn't do that. This season,

though, has been an interesting journey. Well, it hasn't been great,

has it? Painful, in one word painful. Obviously the new manager

has come in and changed things around, and we've got the points on

the board to prove it. What will you say to your players before they go

out onto the pitch? I think that we have learned a lot during the

previous game. The last one is a good example of what we don't have

to do during the first 20 minutes and what we have to do is take from

this experience. The Championship is so tight - lose to Blackburn, and

Charlton could be in the bottom three can take time. Win and they

will be safe if results go their way elsewhere.

King with the ball into the area, and it is in from the head of Rudy

Gestede! Cousins to Sordell inside the

penalty area. Marvin Sordell with this spot kick. Sordell comes up and

the save is made by Paul Robinson! Key got the touch to take it past

Ben Hamer. A goal back for Charlton. Sordell

goes for the shot. There could be another opportunity for Blackburn. A

final clearance. Cairney comes in. Should jackson have taken that

penalty? It's normally him. That's what I say to the staff. At this

moment we can not stop a player when he ask to take his responsibilities,

it's part of the game. Have you said to the players after that Johnny

should have taken that penalty? You know, it's something Marvin knows

well what he missed. It's some lesson for the future. But we need

to be efficient in the present, that's the main thing. If that

penalty had gone in it would have been 1-1. Who knows Charlton might

have gone on to win and be safe. Why don't you obey a manager's orders

out there? On the pitch players don't think like that. He scored a

hat trick bank holiday Monday. He is on a high. Sometimes players don't

want to fight for the ball on the pitch. Let the goal-scorer take it,

he misses. We saw with Brentford what happened. He says I want to

take it, give it to me. Players don't always follow manager's

instructions. They didn't defend well enough Charlton on that day. It

didn't have the same sort of consequences but you did experience

this last season with that penalty, that Trotter penalty and the

consequences out of there. Take us through that. You are a - you could

have taken it that day. He wasn't happy with myself. He was on form. I

thought he would score. You were happy for him and Kevin was? He was

the man decided he thought he should take it, it was a bad move.

Hopefully for Charlton they don't get the same problems we have had by

not going up last season. Hopefully they get the result on Tuesday,

they'll be safe. It's one of them that happens. From now on it will

never happen at our club, we have about five list of players who are

down to take the penalty if he is not on, someone else is taking them.

There will never than mistake again. It's one of them things we have

learned from. It's gone now. Thank God that we got promoted and turned

it around. And probably benefitted from the experience. Let's look at

the bottom of the Championship table.

Both these two in our region were in real trouble a short space of time

ago. Both have surged up. Full credit to both. With Charlton we

knew they had the games in hand because of the Cup run they had been

on and some games rained off or whatever. We knew they could have

pulled themselves out of it. This is what they've done, got themselves to

this position here. You would have to say with one game to go, we

always say the same thing, destiny in your own hands, that's what they

have. Let's look at the fixtures coming up. Charlton have that extra

game tomorrow at home to Watford. How are you seeing it, Sam? I think

they'll be OK. I think Birmingham against Wigan, Wigan are pressing

for the play-offs, as well. Can't see them getting much there. Away to

Bolton is not easy. I think they're going to be OK. It's in their hands.

If they get the result on Saturday, regardless of what everyone else

does, but with the fixtures looking there, I am happy with what I see

for the London clubs. I think they'll be all right. Good. I am

glad about that. We did warn you that the mood would

be darkening throughout the show. It doesn't get much gloomier than at

Adams Park right now. Wycombe took on their relegation rivals Bristol

Rovers on Saturday, knowing defeat could send them into the bottom two

with just one game to play. What's emotional about today is I am

thinking this could be the last league game at Adams Park. We know

what we have to do. Yeah, we are... Definitely the biggest football

league game they've had. It's not just a football thing, it's about

the business side, as well. The people who want to buy the club,

they'd rather own a football league club if that's going to happen at

all. It's a huge game on and off the pitch for Wycombe and the fans are

very tense and nervous about this. It's a goal. It's a terrible start

for Wycombe. What a goal! What a fantastic goal!

There is the half-time whistle. 1-1. Mc Clure. It's across the face of

goal! It's a chance here for Rovers!

They've taken it. It's Clarkson who scores and how vital a goal is that

going to be. Wycombe go 2-1 down. As it stands, they are in a relegation

position. Wycombe have been beaten this afternoon. It may well be that

it's Rovers who are staying up. There's obviously some disgruntled

fans. That's football, that's what happens. They've every right to do

that. Hopefully I can still give them something next week to cheer

about. They're gutted. Really devastated. I have said look, we

have one more mammoth task. Beat Torquay next week and hopefully

somebody does us a favour. Desperate times then for Wycombe

whose 21-year stay in the Football League is now hanging precariously

in the balance. Their pain deepened when they heard how Northampton had

got on at Victoria Road. Dagenham Redbridge not doing Wycombe any

favours at all. Northampton started the day in the bottom two, but ran

out 3-0 winners in East London. As far as the Daggers were concerned,

their faint play-off hopes had already evaporated over Easter. They

failed to muster any real resistance as Northampton cruised to a

comfortable win to move themselves above Gareth Ainsworth's team.

Which means that Wycombe have to win on the final day and hope for a

favour from elsewhere. They need to pick up maximum points at

already-relegated Torquay and also hope either Bristol Rovers lose at

home to Mansfield or Northampton are beaten at home by Oxford.

That is a tall order. Yeah, absolutely. We looked at the run-in

for Wycombe and I feared it for a little bit for them. But the saving

grace for me was they had two teams below them, Bristol Rovers and

Torquay and the team above them Northampton to play. You think there

is your mini league, you have to beat those teams. Obviously losing

at Bristol was a huge blow for them. They've dropped to the bottom two.

And now I really don't see them getting out of it. Are they paying

the price for doing what we would like all our football clubs to do,

which is living within their means? They haven't spent any money, they

don't have because they don't have a rich benefactor. A few weeks ago we

covered the club could be taken over, debt-free and the underground,

the supporters trust owned the ground and what a great situation

for someone to invest and give the manager money to try and improve the

squad. Gareth has had a really tough job. We say this all the time. His

baunl is one of the smallest -- budget is one of the smallest

budgets in the league. Losing 11 games at home, more than anyone else

in the league, you know, it's been a huge blow for them and not scoring

enough goals easily. You know all about the conference and 14 former

football league teams in the conference this year alone. No

guarantees you come straight back out of there. It's a tough league.

You see with Luton. John's worked wonders to get them up this year.

Bigger clubs have gone down. They've been there five years. Alter shot

and Hereford went down. It's going to be tough if they go down. Looking

at the fixtures and points they're behind it's a tall order.

Listen, smile! Right, some good news now, in that two of our teams did

actually manage to win at the weekend. Here's Emma Jones and Jamie

Reid with the round-up, that includes those victories for

Brighton and Orient. Sam you might want to skip this bit and go and get

yourself a cuppa. There's also Brentford's heavy defeat at

Colchester tucked away in here. The play-offs are still a real

possibility for Brighton after this late win. A 77th minute cross

bounced in and the victory that would also see Yeovil relegated was

confirmed with this from Lingcard in the second minute of stoppage time.

Victory at For he is on Saturday and Brighton will be in the top six if

Reading fail to beat Burnley. Watford went in to their game at

Derby knowing they had to win to stand any chance of joining their

opponents in the play-offs. They got off to a good start. The Rams

levelled. Despite having a player sent off Father a second I do le

Watford made it 2-2 thanks to a header. Chris Martin completed the

scoring as Watford suffered their 8th away defeat of the season.

This would be Orient's last home game before the play-offs and it was

a comfortable victory. They had the lead before half-time. Then there

was the most of a poor clearance from the visiting keeper to shoot

into an empty net. A win and first clean sheet in nine games. We will

have to wait until next week to find out what their play-offs semifinal

opponents will be. John Gregory says his team will be

working on defending set pieces in the summer after losing to a late

goal at valley Parade. Bradford led through McClean before Crawley

equalised. Thompson headed home the winner with four minutes to go to

condemn Crawley to their 6th away defeat in the last seven.

Gillingham boss Peter Taylor had said he only deserved to stay on if

he kept the club up. Other results ensured he managed that on Saturday

despite defeat at Preston. The hosts took an early lead through John

Welsh but the Gills drew level. However, a Preston side preparing

for the play-offs weren't going to be denied a win. Paul Gallagher put

them ahead again before Kilkenny condemned Gills to a fourth defeat

in six. A promotion party hangover saw

Brentford thumped 4-1 with a performance manager described as

unacceptable. The The impressive Dallas pulled one

back in style for Brentford. Seers rounded off the scoring before the

visitors misery was compounded when Judge's penalty was saved.

Wimbledon signed off their home campaign on a low note. Morecambe

were 2-0 up with a couple of goals before half-time. Goal number three

came late on from the spot. The home fans hadn't been given much to shout

about this campaign. Something he is promising to put right next season.

Not a brilliant 48 hours for Wimbledon. Deducted three points for

fielding an ineligible player against Cheltenham in March. Is it

one rule for the big clubs and the small ones? Sunderland get away with

it? With the Sunderland case it was their own player who had been out on

loan abroad. And he had come back. Sunderland didn't reregister him. It

wasn't like he was someone who shouldn't have been playing for the

club. He was their own player. In Sunderland's sort of defence, you

know... I know what you are saying. It always seems that way. It seems

the big clubs have funds to make legal challenges. From 14th to 18th.

Still had an excellent season. The Daggers, as well, praise to them.

They've had good seasons this season. Hopefully they can build on

that next. Now, young man, what went on with your team at the weekend?

What's going on? Is it difficult when you have got over the line not

to take that into the next game 2-0 up and doing really well. I watched

the game there and we dominated and conceded two late goals. On Saturday

I wasn't there. I heard... Is that your own get out of jail? The lads

have said they didn't perform. The gaffer wasn't happy and on Saturday

they'll be looking to put that right. I guess the gaffer has to

issue a straightener like he did. He singled out one or two players and

said the rest were rubbish. You have to do that, you have to keep

everybody in very much in the place. There was a winning mentality at the

club. To go there and lose 4-1, I know coal chest her a lot to play --

Colchester had a lot to play for. Credit to them performing. It was

sloppy goals, as well, set-plays and penalties and stuff. Stevenage at

home Saturday we look to put it right. Are you glad you took the

risk years ago, gave up that well-paid job on London Underground?

As soon as I got asked do I want to be a footballer, I will take it

every day of the week to follow your dream and that. To be doing it now

and playing and it's all come true, sitting next to Brighty. Really good

to have you in with us. Good to see you too.

One week to go. Plenty to play for, good luck to Brighton in their push

for the play-offs. And when it comes to the relegation stakes, by the

time you join us next week, we'll know the fate of these three teams.

Goodnight.