Episode 9 Late Kick Off London and the South East

Hello, welcome to the final Late Kick Off of this season and tonight

we are in a party mood because there is simply so much to celebrate.

Yeah! It's going to be one of those programmes and joining in with the

manly hugs, a player whose team are hoping to be having their own

celebrations at Wembley in three weeks. The QPR and former Crystal

Palace defender. Clint Hill. Who is feeling what going into the

play`offs? What is the mood in the camp? Positive, excited. Obviously,

there will be a few nerves as well. Two difficult games against Wigan.

And it is just going to be, you just never know what is going to happen.

Form kind of goes out, no matter where you finish in the League, what

kind of form you were in when you go into the game. It is just all about

how you handle the occasion on the night. Plenty of nerves about but

hopefully we can do it. Optimistic, that is the word that QPR fans want!

Plenty more to come on QPR but while Clint and co secured their play`off

place weeks ago, Brighton went to Nottingham Forest knowing a win

would put them into the top six, but would put them into the top six, but

only if Reading dropped points at home to Burnley, and didn't they

leave it late? Near post header. Well, he has

fumbled it! Whether it has taken a deflection, but a close`range header

for Nottingham Forest gives them the lead. Back across the six yard box.

Glaring miss. It comes back again. Stephen Ward firing in from close

range! They have a vital equaliser as they push for the top six. Plays

it wide to Smith. He whips it in! He scores! In injury time! In the final

game of the season. It is the cyclone, he is a force of nature and

he could have well put Albion in the play`offs! You just could not write

the script. There is the final whistle, Albion have done it.

Victory at the City ground. They are through to the play`offs for the

second season running. All thanks to an injury`time winner from Leonardo

Ulloa. They never gave up. And we kept

plugging away and we got the goal we deserved. So, this is the line`up

for the play`offs. Brighton host Derby on Thursday with the return on

Sunday. And Clint's QPR take on Wigan at the DW on Friday, with the

second leg at Loftus Road on Monday. BBC local radio has commentary on

all of those games and the Wembley final takes place on Saturday, May

the 24th. So, Brighton going to the play`offs euphoric, Newcastle in a

strange limbo because while you knew you were not going to get up

automatically, in your heart you knew you were going to get the

play`off place so you have been sitting in that limbo state? `` you

guys. If I'm being honest, we have not quite been good enough this

season to stay in the top two. The two teams that have gone up are

fantastic, consistent. Why haven't you been good enough? I just do not

know, I don't like to say but I think the key injuries have hurt us,

we're not a high goal`scoring team. We lost Charlie for a large part of

the season. Mike Phillips as well. Danny Samson. Big players for us.

And we just could not keep that momentum going. We tried and I think

the other two teams were magnificent. They have lost five

games, Burnley, which is magnificent. We have lost 12, which

tells it all. I think we are strong at home, we went away and we could

not quite match the home record we have got. We just have not been

consistent enough to be in the top two but we will get another crack at

it again on Friday. I vividly remember interviewing you for

Football Focus earlier in the season and you talked about the problems

last season. There was a something of the night factor about the squad,

certain players were not trying and you were not quite willing to say

that. Have you eliminated that and restored equilibrium? Is everybody

singing from the same hymn sheet? We can't go back to what it was, it has

been a massive improvement, the gaffer has brought in the right

people but unfortunately we have not done it consistently on the pitch.

But I think we have been together and we have given it a right go. And

hopefully we will get another crack at it, hopefully we can get to

Wembley and who knows where that might take us? You went into the

play`offs with a win at Barnsley. Let's just satisfy the QPR fans

watching this. You are not playing! What is the score? I was going to

say that! You're being polite to me. I have had a virus the last few days

so that kept me out. He has rested a few players as well. But the lads

went there and have done fantastic, that is a great result and the score

here is amazing. Great dribble and a great strike at the end. Playing

left back, that is not my position! We have to put that to bed! I have

always had you down as a left back? No! You have played left back in

your career, let's get that absolutely straight. The main

threats to QPR in the play`offs? What are your thoughts going into

these? The only team that have not been the Premier League, the four

teams who have ended up in the play`offs. I did say before that I

think it might suit QPR because I have been involved in the play`offs

myself and he is right because last year, Palace, one win in the last

ten games going in there, they won the play`offs. It just depends on

how you handle the occasion. I think they have got some Premier League

experience, big`name players who I feel can handle the occasion. But,

the most important thing is you cannot lose that first game. But you

have to deliver, that's the thing. There is this galaxy of players

straight out of the Premier League, Panini sticker stuff, but you have

to deliver? It has come down to that situation. We have not got ten or

five games to find that form and go at it. We have to do it now. We know

what we need to do. One big game at Wembley. It is time to get ourselves

into gear. Can I ask you something? I was at the back of the tunnel for

the Millwall game. You came out after the half`time team talk and I

clearly saw you turning to all the boys and saying, come on! Let's get

out there! Would you take the boys to one side as well as the coach and

have a quiet word? We have a lot of people who have that experience and

who are vocal and we all have our say, we all want to drive each other

along and we want the same achievement, which is Premier League

football. So now is the time to stand up. The Millwall game was

disappointing for us, I don't think we played very well. And a few

things were said because we won't get that chance again in three

games. It has to be done now. We'll all go on holiday feeling very sorry

for ourselves. We couldn't be happier to have the QPR left`sided

centre`back in the studio with us! Along with Reading and QPR, there is

another team still dreaming of playing at a higher level come

August. Leyton Orient had a play`off spot weeks ago but on Saturday they

confirmed third place as they won 3`1 at MK Dons with goals from Kevin

Lisbie and from David Mooney, his 21st of the season. The result means

that Russell Slade's men finish above Rotherham on goal difference

with a club record 86 points. The meet Peterborough in the

semi`finals, who are looking to bounce back to the Championship for

the first attempt. The first leg is on Saturday with the return next

Tuesday. Rotherham or Preston await in the Wembley final on Sunday May

the 25th. Russell Slade says his team are the underdogs? Possibly

because Peterborough got relegated last season and were very unlucky to

get relegated. He probably wanted to bounce back first time but they have

a bad away record. The top six clubs, Peterborough have lost 12

away from home, so I think the most important thing is knowing what they

have to do. If they can get out with the lead, they know they can

probably close that game out. But it is nice to see, five goals in the

last two games, Lisbie has 18 goals for the season and Mooney is scoring

goals again so they have strikers who can put the ball in the back of

the net, but so do Peterborough. They have the second best striker in

the League, 23 goals. So there is a threat but they have had a great

start to the season and they have hung in there. They haven't been

quite good enough for QPR to get automatic so I hope they can do it

with the play`offs. It really will be exciting for them. It could go

either way! Talking about taking it to the wire! Wycombe went into

Saturday's game knowing even a win might not be enough to keep them up.

They also had to hope that either Bristol Rovers or Northampton lost.

With a potential takeover also set to fall through if the club failed

to preserve its League status, could the boys mastermind a great escape?

We hit the road with the chairman, Don Woodward, to find out. This week

has been very strange, trying to get used to the idea that our players

are not quite coming together. It works out to be about ?1 million if

we go down. It is massive because of the potential takeover, so if we

don't pull this off today, that will be lost. We did not see this

scenario coming, bottom two, last week. The first time in the bottom

two all season. We're in it together, this is a club and we

stick together. There will be a nice little magic carpet ride on the way

home if we actually do win. I went to the League Cup semifinal and the

FA Cup semifinal and this is more important, isn't it? He has the

mentality of an underdog in his fighting spirit and I hope he can

bring that today. More than a thousand have come down from

Buckinghamshire to see whether Wycombe can pull off the great

escape. Yes! It is a goal for Wycombe! Just

the start they needed! There is a goal at Northampton, it has gone to

Oxford. As it stands, Wycombe are above the dotted line. Cleared off

the line, desperate defending from Wycombe. The big news from Sixfields

is it is Northampton Town zero, Oxford United one, but Oxford are

down to ten men. He hits the post! There has been a goal at Sixfields

and it is not the news we wanted to hear. Mansfield have gone 1`0 up at

Bristol Rovers. Wycombe are out again of the relegation zone. It is

helter`skelter stuff, isn't it? There is a chance for Wycombe. Will

he score? Yes, he does! Craig to put Wycombe 2`2. There is the half`time

whistle. As it stands, Wycombe are not going down. Two goals to the

good. Just over the top. That was a foul? He is off! His second yellow.

No news is good news at the moment from the Memorial Stadium. It is a

goal! As it stands Wycombe will stay up, but all it will take is one goal

by Bristol Rovers at the Memorial and that will change. We're being

told that Bristol Rovers have missed a sitter. It has finished there and

it has finished here. Wycombe Rovers, they have survived! ``

Wanderers. Absolutely overwhelmed, ten years at one club and they have

this. They mean so much to me. I am just so proud. You always have to

believe that every game you go into. But even more so today because we

knew we had to win first and we did our job and the other results went

our way. Absolutely brilliant, fantastic. What a crowd! What

support! And didn't we play well for once?! Fantastic, I couldn't believe

it. It's the best thing I have done in my career. It is awesome. I am

going to stay as high as I can for the next few days and enjoy this one

because that was a special day. I'm just lost words. After 35 years, up,

down, and now we're staying up. It just shows that we can do it if we

turn up on the day. I have never seen anything like it. That crowd!

This is the first time under our ownership and with Gareth as

manager, we have the chance to pick our own squad together. It is

general knowledge that people have been interested in investing in the

club but it has all been about investing in a Football League club,

not Conference. So we're now confident that those negotiations

will move ahead. What comes out in the next few days about where we

could be going, if the supporters go for the next stage of the programme

of what we done, it will be fantastic for the club. How old is

Gareth Ainsworth?! Talk about managers clambering on the crossbar

this season! Have you ever known anything like that? Just

unbelievable scenes. You just look at it and how relieved they are. Not

just the players but the club as well. They potentially could have

lost a lot of money by going down. It is just massive for everyone. I

am made up for Gareth because what a great guy he is.

You have been there, you've experienced great escapes like that,

what does it feel like? It is all a blur. It's not great,

I've tasted both sides, I was relegated with Tranmere which is not

nice, I managed to survive a couple of times. The games were horrible,

didn't enjoy one`minute, but as soon as the final whistle goes and you

know you are safe it is like winning a Championship, I can only imagine.

It means that much because the season you have gone through, the

lows, the highs and disappointments, but when you get that result you

need it is a relief. We heard from Gareth Ainsworth on

the programme last week and he said, we can still do it. I thought,

come on! I know. There are three teams to

play around them, and they lost to two and beat Torquay, who were

bottom, so I'm really pleased for them. I spoke to an ex`international

footballer who is involved in the takeover and there are some exciting

times ahead for Wycombe now they have survived. We will have to look

forward to see what happens in the next week or so. Mark Bright would

like it to be known he has never had any great escapes in his career as

the various tables he has been in. the various tables he has been in.

That is not true! Millwall also have a taste for

drama. And suddenly they dodged dropping out of the Championship on

the final day for the second year in a row. Chris Slegg was there to

witness them break out a few dance moves and the cigars, and to ask

what next for a club that so often finds its way to thrive in the face

of adversity. There are clubs named after heroic

medieval knights. Others take their names from poetry.

But only one is named after a wall. And they have been up against it

quite a lot ever since. The latest escape from a bit of a

tight spot came on Saturday. Good block, challenge going in, can

he float the ball into the box? He can, Martyn Woolford with the

header! That is the opening goal! A crucial goal. How much might this

matter? Celebrations going to go on for a

while tonight? It could be a long weekend, just a

long night. What did Ollie say to the players in

there? He was doing the great escape dance.

It was a great escape. Everyone wrote us off about eight games ago

and we have shown what we have for next year.

I don't know how the other results went, but it didn't matter, as long

as we did our job today that is enough.

After a performance like that today, You deserve a cigar.

The cigar goes back to a few years ago when we got promoted at Wembley

and we had a cigar in the changing room.

We nearly burned Wembley down. I always give David a cigar at this

time. Last time when the police wanted to arrest me at Wembley,

David got in front of me and said, you have to go through me first if

you want by chairman. Can you keep going with this stress, the second

season where it has gone to the final day?

What will it take to make sure it is not a relegation struggle next time?

We have a very fine manager, he has got some good players in, we will

continue to do that. The stress... You're right, I am 61

years old, I am not sure how much I can do with this old kicker here.

It all stems from a day here, we trained here before we went to

Nottingham Forest and the ones who have not been playing have beat the

ones who have been playing 6`0. I was brave enough to make some

changes to that team and put in that confidence the other team showed me

here into the main team and we have not lost since. It seems to become

harder every season to stay in this division and it will take

investment, isn't it? Our wage bill is probably as big as

Burnley's. You ask yourself whether we should have two add to that or

not. `` whether we should have two add. I am saying it is about getting

the right long`term, and the long`term is producing young

players. I am so excited about the ones we have got coming up, just

bubbling underneath. If I cannot make some of them first`team players

there is something wrong with me. This was our highest budget in the

history of the club and we struggled. Spending money is simply

not the answer. Even if you have limitless money, if you do that, you

get tired of it. And you certainly get tired of losing. When I first

came, people asked me what my ambitions were, I want to win. I

continue to want to win. We are staying up!

We are staying up! I have seen it all now, Nicky Bailey

in his pants. Have we just landed Millwall in it? There will be

somebody in Boris HQ going straight round about them lighting up cigars

in a football stadium. Yes, health and safety.

What is the key to Millwall kicking on from here and building? I have to

say, well done to them, eight games unbeaten in the season.

They have beaten two other teams who ended up in the play`offs. That

shows the potential is there for them next season.

I think he will go out and he is very good at getting that right

combination with some of the young players he has. I said, they will be

thereabouts next year. I have a feeling he will get them up there.

Two seasons ago Millwall finished above Pelz.

The rest is history. Obviously the jubilation in London has piled on

the misery elsewhere, so if you want to gate`crash the more sombre

proceedings experience that Reading, Doncaster, Bristol Rovers or

elsewhere, the other six regional versions of Late Kick Off are on BBC

iPlayer. Now to another team celebrating survival, Charlton and

Brighton's Championship safety confirmed.

What a week for Callum Harriott who got a hat`trick in that game.

I spoke to Alex Dyer about the team, told him well done, he scored one

goal before the last two games in the season. 20 years old, left

footed, dynamic. Had a struggle earlier in the season but Chris

Powell stuck with him and he has come good now. I am really pleased

for him. He is one of about seven players from the Academy. Well done

to Charlton's Academy for bringing these players through. Hopefully we

will see them come to fruition and not struggle. It can light the fires

for the senior players, can't it? When they see a good crop of

youngsters coming through it can revitalise a whole club.

And you don't want to lose your place, so it can give you a little

kick up the backside come if you know what I mean. You don't want to

lose your place so it is good for everybody. It is competitive. I am

just making sure it was not more gratuitous when you clarified what

your favourite position is. Time to see how the 2013`14 season

wind its way down for the remaining six clubs.

There is Emma Jones and Ian Ramsdale. Watford boss said he was

unable to express the pain he felt after the Hornets ended their season

in the worst possible manner. Jonathan Bond's mistakes summed it

up with Huddersfield scoring for micro second half goals as Watford

whimpered to a fourth straight defeat. It is hard to describe the

injury time penalty as a consolation goal for the home fans given that 24

goal striker is steward to be a target for Premier League clubs this

summer. `` is sure. Watford finished 13th.

Championship bound Brentford ended their season on a high after a win

over Stevenage, with Trotter slipping in for their first, and

Alan Judd was played through for us sitter later on to the kick`off of

celebrations. Mark Warburton says he has already

studied to keep his promotion side together for a campaign which would

include derbies with Phil. Gillingham skipper Adam Barrett

scored their last ball of the season knowing that unlike shrews believe

they will be playing League One for next year's campaign.

Having secured survival a week ago, Peter Taylor was rewarded with a new

two`year deal by the chairman. There was also a new contract for

another manager brought in with John Gregory's crawly finishing in 14th

place. This deflected volley from Jeannie Proctor put the home side

ahead, but Bristol city side who had been bottom in December equalised

just after the one`hour mark. The Reds can plan for a third season in

League One and Gregory says he has already received assurances about

improving the squad in the summer. Neal Yardley says things will have

to change both for him and his players in the summer, because he

will not stand for a repeat of the performance he saw at applicant

Standley `` Accrington. The Dons were already 4`3 down when

they attempted to stage it come back, first from a penalty then with

an 89th minute header that just crossed the line to make it a nervy

end for the hosts. Wimbledon finishing the season 20th in the

table, and it may have been 16th but for that 3`point deduction.

Some of Dagenham's most recent results have been disappointing but

they ended with an entertaining win. A own goal ended the them `` got

them back into the game after Cheltenham took an early lead.

Their loanee claimed the winner. Dagenham finished ninth in Wayne

Burnett's first full season in charge. That is just about it for

this series Late Kick Off. Just time for me to ask you, how

much is changing on you getting promoted? It is a loaded question,

because I am wondering about the gaffer's future that QPR.

I think he has another year left. The main objective for us is to get

promoted. The club has a lot of things they

want to do and progress with new stadiums, new training grounds, and

it will be appropriate to do that when we are in the Premier League.

We want to do it, we're 100% ready, and we need a bit of luck, as well.

Hopefully in the next two of the games we can. Do you feel the weight

of that with everything coming together?

Not to make it worse for you! There is a lot of pressure on your

shoulders. 11 players, 14 players over the

course of a game, have to deliver. There have been 46 games like that,

to be honest. Teams have raised their game against

us and we fully expect that again in the next two or three games. We have

to be ready for it, this is what we are in the game for and what we

wanted to achieve. It goes without saying, good luck.

What a season for the club is on our patch, no relegations, one

promotion. Three in the play`offs and Phil

coming down next year. It just goes to show, things can pick up.

Well done to Wimbledon and Dagenham, as well, because last season they

were involved in the struggle `` scramble and well done to Wycombe

Wanderers, as well. We don't just do bad news, folks.

That is it for this season, and good luck to Brighton, QPR and Leyton

Orient in the play`offs. The game is all about great goals so

we will leave you with some of the best from the 2013`14 season as

tools in by you. Have a great summer.

Goodbye. `` as chosen by you. Barnes trying to bring it down, what

a strike on behalf of all a! `` on the half`volley.

Stevens clears. Will he get logged? That is a terrific effort!

That is a screamer! And absolute screamer!

And he finds David Mooney, mini looking to turn and he sets up Cox,

shot! That is an excellent strike! Morrison has got goal side of

Crawford, he chests down edge of the area, what a goal!

Charlie Austin with a right footed strike!

All my word! Sammy Miller with an absolute thunderbolt!

Great effort, great goal! A peach from Sam Wood.

and the grand final with me, Graham Norton.

My fellow friends, it's time to get your glad rags on,

invite your friends over, and bring out the hors d'oeuvres,

because this is one party you don't want to miss.

Eurovision! And the UK's 2014 entry, Molly!

Catch the semifinals with Scott Mills and Laura Whitmore,

and the grand final with me, Graham Norton.

With Molly, the UK could finally win.