:00:07. > :00:14.APPLAUSE Hello, welcome to a new serhes of
:00:15. > :00:17.Late Kickoff. We couldn't h`ve arrived on the screen at a better
:00:18. > :00:20.time, which of your teams are going up and which are going down? Hang
:00:21. > :00:40.on, you're in for a ride. Coming up: Leicester march on. Can
:00:41. > :00:47.anyone stop them winning thd championship? Steve McClaren's Derby
:00:48. > :00:53.revolution bring automatic promotion?
:00:54. > :00:59.It's a Magnificent 7 wins in a row for Wolves, top of League One and
:01:00. > :01:09.surely destined for a quick return to the second tier.
:01:10. > :01:12.APPLAUSE We're with the people who bring the
:01:13. > :01:19.passion to the game, the fans. If you want to be part of our `wed yebs
:01:20. > :01:25.`` audience, e`mail or tweet us Sharing our joy or despair hs a man
:01:26. > :01:28.steeped in Midlands football, Stan Collymore.
:01:29. > :01:32.APPLAUSE Alongside Stan, another regtlar
:01:33. > :01:39.member of the team, comment`tor and journalist, you've heard his voice
:01:40. > :01:42.before Jon, Champion. You've heard from them and seen
:01:43. > :01:47.them, they are the supporters crew, if you want to join us in the weeks
:01:48. > :01:51.to come, find out how later in the programme. First tonight, it's the
:01:52. > :01:55.Midlands team of the season so far, Leicester City. They'd gone 13 games
:01:56. > :02:03.unbeaten and were eight points clear at the top of the Championship when
:02:04. > :02:08.they welcomed struggling Ch`rlton. Leicester's march towards the title
:02:09. > :02:11.shows no sign of slowing down. Vardy's 13th goal of the se`son set
:02:12. > :02:16.them on their way to a comfortable win over Charlton. When thehr lead
:02:17. > :02:21.was doubled in the second h`lf, the result was beyond half. The third
:02:22. > :02:31.went in and the manager was quietly satisfied with the day's work.
:02:32. > :02:38.Every time we play people are looking at how the games will go.
:02:39. > :02:44.Ultimately we have to keep the focus on ourselves. The players h`ve done
:02:45. > :02:50.it very well of late. The sdcret behind your former club's stccess
:02:51. > :02:55.this season? Consistency. I spoke to Nigel Pearson, and asked hil the
:02:56. > :02:59.question direct ` why do Lehcester have the ability to beat anx team on
:03:00. > :03:03.any given week but can't back it up week in, week out. He said when I
:03:04. > :03:11.get the answer, I'll show you. They've shown us this season.
:03:12. > :03:16.Everybody will talk about Ntgent and Vardags `` Vardy, but everybody has
:03:17. > :03:22.chipped in. If anything is going to undo them, it will be themsdlves.
:03:23. > :03:25.You've met Nigel and you know he won't let that happen. He whll put
:03:26. > :03:31.the fear of goodness knows what into them. Nigel Pearson, that's a good
:03:32. > :03:34.point, well done the owners for sticking with him. There was a point
:03:35. > :03:37.a year ago where the future was very uncertain. He didn't know what was
:03:38. > :03:42.in the future for him. They stuck with him. They're reaping their
:03:43. > :03:47.rewards now. The rise and rhse of Derby county, the Rams were 14th in
:03:48. > :03:52.the Championship when Nigel include lost his `` Clouh lost his job, but
:03:53. > :03:57.now they're third with autolatic promotion in their sites. The man
:03:58. > :04:02.there now is Steve McLaren. He's been talking to us.
:04:03. > :04:06.COMMENTATOR: About his decision to move to another country and troo to
:04:07. > :04:09.start again... Throughout his career it's well
:04:10. > :04:16.documented, there's been tiles when Steve McLaren has had to take a look
:04:17. > :04:21.at himself in the mirror. In the dark days, there are many d`rk days,
:04:22. > :04:29.you look ahead and you think, you know, football is all we know. After
:04:30. > :04:34.England, I remember I said two days later, I'd have gone back into a
:04:35. > :04:40.club and I'd have worked two days later. You've got to be a lhttle
:04:41. > :04:45.crazy as a football manager. Maybe I am. 34 years in the football
:04:46. > :04:52.spotlight, that could send `nyone mad. Football is a roller coaster.
:04:53. > :04:57.Football is ups and downs. Ht's highs and lows. The longer xou're in
:04:58. > :05:00.it, you're going to get mord of them peaks and troughs.
:05:01. > :05:05.COMMENTATOR: The most important thing for Steve is to get a win ..
:05:06. > :05:10.The scars of the lows have hnspired a mantra. Stay in the game. So,
:05:11. > :05:14.that's the motto, not just for players, but for coaches, for staff,
:05:15. > :05:20.managers, you know, stay in the game and keep fighting and you ndver
:05:21. > :05:25.know. It's how you bounce b`ck really, not how far you fall. He
:05:26. > :05:28.tells me it's this motto drhving Derby and his recovery with the
:05:29. > :05:59.Rams. Is it nice to feel loved? It's a bit
:06:00. > :06:05.of a girly question, I know. Very girly question! It's football. It is
:06:06. > :06:11.football, but fans now idolhse you. You're a part of something `nd
:06:12. > :06:21.you're wanted here. Is it nhce to feel loved? Success always brings
:06:22. > :06:27.that. The key thing is what are your priorities in life, really? I
:06:28. > :06:29.suppose as I've got older, lore experienced, more philosophhcal
:06:30. > :06:34.about life, about football, about the game, about family, abott
:06:35. > :06:38.friends, about things outside and not saying that the only enjoyment
:06:39. > :06:45.you get comes from whether xou win or lose a game of football. It still
:06:46. > :06:51.does! It's difficult. Just being philosophical and saying, ydah, but
:06:52. > :06:54.I know, we lose three games on the run, you'll be calling for ly neck.
:06:55. > :06:58.That's football. All I want to do is come here, do the best I possibly
:06:59. > :07:03.can, make sure the players do the best they possibly can and try to
:07:04. > :07:11.get Derby county proud of their football club. I think that's the
:07:12. > :07:17.key thing. He's done just after five months in charge, he's taken Derby
:07:18. > :07:24.from 14th to third and they've lost just four times in 24 games.
:07:25. > :07:29.It's the innocent climb. We've gone from 14th, 15th and innocently gone
:07:30. > :07:35.all the way through. We know how we're doing it, but the risd has
:07:36. > :07:40.been rapid. We're kind of jtst riding the wave, just keeping going
:07:41. > :07:47.and just riding it. You say that you and Derby are a good fit. What do
:07:48. > :07:51.you mean? Many good managers don't become bad managers overnight.
:07:52. > :07:56.Sometimes it can be wrong fht. You have to have the right owner, the
:07:57. > :08:02.right club, the right squad in place and the right staff. That's, I
:08:03. > :08:07.think, why the five months have been, have shot by and been very
:08:08. > :08:12.good. It's because Sam Rush deserves all the credit for really what's
:08:13. > :08:19.happened in the last five months. He had the courage to change and all
:08:20. > :08:26.the pressure was on Sam. So, good ownership. It's your birthd`y on May
:08:27. > :08:32.3, which is the last game of the season. You're away at Leeds. What
:08:33. > :08:39.would it mean to you on that special day if you'd got Derby promoted You
:08:40. > :08:43.do fly ahead of yourselves, you do like to dream a lot. That's great.
:08:44. > :08:49.That's what you have to do `nd the fans are all doing it. What we have
:08:50. > :08:53.to do is inside is feet firlly on the ground and make sure th`t game
:08:54. > :08:59.by game, step by step, let's see where we are on May 3. Whendver I
:09:00. > :09:09.see you, you've got a cuppa with you. Coffee? Water? Gin? Sotp. Soup
:09:10. > :09:14.today. Is Derby your cup of tea Wherever you're successful, it's
:09:15. > :09:20.always your cup of tea. I lhke Derby. I do have an affinitx. I ve
:09:21. > :09:28.lived in this area now. This is my third time. Family like it. You
:09:29. > :09:33.know, it would really pleasd me and probably the greatest thing or the
:09:34. > :09:35.best thing in my career if H could get Derby county into the Premier
:09:36. > :09:49.League, that would be terrific. He's got his smile back. Derby
:09:50. > :09:53.unbeaten in the last seven, having won 13 of the last 18 games. It s
:09:54. > :09:55.fair to say the referee certainly had his say, as to the outcome in
:09:56. > :10:06.the game at Turf Moor. He was surely fouled.
:10:07. > :10:13.The referee says no. Then hd gets it back. Now Jones on the volldy! `0.
:10:14. > :10:28.Fabulous. Terrific goal. He took a tumble in the are` and a
:10:29. > :10:33.dive has been given before the ball goes into the net and I think Martin
:10:34. > :10:39.is going off here. He is. A second booking for a dive. The ball was
:10:40. > :10:43.then swepd into the net `` swept into the net but the refered had
:10:44. > :10:48.blown for simulation. Martin, who's already been booked, gets a second
:10:49. > :10:56.yellow for the dive and Derby are down to ten.
:10:57. > :11:02.Deflection ` 2`0! It's diffhcult for referees. We've had decisions over
:11:03. > :11:07.the weeks, months that have gone against us. Today, one or two went
:11:08. > :11:13.against us. Very difficult with ten men. I've seen it over and over
:11:14. > :11:20.about 20 times now. There's a little contact. That makes Chrissid slip.
:11:21. > :11:27.It's a penalty. Definitely whether the referee doesn't see that, it's a
:11:28. > :11:33.slip, it's not a dive. For ts, it's a penalty. So, them two things he's
:11:34. > :11:37.got wrong. If you were Derbx fans, would you have felt hard done by
:11:38. > :11:42.after that? Yes. It was a b`d decision, wasn't it? It was a
:11:43. > :11:47.shocking decision. Chris Martin I was chatting with Jon about that,
:11:48. > :11:51.there were instances of getting involved in elbows and backhng into
:11:52. > :11:53.players and what have you. So the referee may have been prejudiced
:11:54. > :11:57.going into making that decision You still have to make the decision in
:11:58. > :12:01.isolation. There is no way that you can look at that and be absolutely
:12:02. > :12:06.sure that it was a dive. So the play should have gone on, Derby should
:12:07. > :12:12.have got the goal, outcome lay have been different. I was at thd League
:12:13. > :12:18.Cup Final yesterday and spe`king to some of the movers and shakdrs in
:12:19. > :12:22.the referee world, the thought is that he deserved to be sent off for
:12:23. > :12:25.the use of the arm but not falling over.
:12:26. > :12:28.A word on Steve McLaren. In five seasons, they've averaged 14th
:12:29. > :12:32.position finish. They're up there still in third place. It's been a
:12:33. > :12:35.great season for them. You know the great thing, Steve McLaren hs
:12:36. > :12:39.trusted by other managers as a coach. That's where Derby are
:12:40. > :12:44.benefitting. They're being lent good, young players, Andre Wisdom
:12:45. > :12:49.from Liverpool, Bamford highly rated by Chelsea. Because McLaren will
:12:50. > :12:55.polish them and develop thel, Derby get the benefit. The coaches' coach.
:12:56. > :13:00.Brendan Rogers and Jose Mourinho saying yes, polish this dialond
:13:01. > :13:05.Looking at the back`room st`ff as well, Eric Steel, Manchester United
:13:06. > :13:08.for a long time, Paul Simpson, Chris Evans, again at Wolves, brotght
:13:09. > :13:14.through lots of young players at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has very
:13:15. > :13:19.good back room staff as well. Let's talk about Nottingham Forest. It's a
:13:20. > :13:23.point, Notts County fans booing behind me, injuries are thrdatening
:13:24. > :13:40.to undermine Billy Davis' sdason. They had a poor result at the
:13:41. > :13:50.weekend. Martin by on gave Wigan the lead and although Cox equalhsed for
:13:51. > :13:56.Forest it was Wigan who carried the greater threat. They took the lead
:13:57. > :14:01.for the second time when thhs shot was helped in by Emmerson Boyce
:14:02. > :14:08.James McCarthy made sure th`t Wigan would win for the fifth match in a
:14:09. > :14:19.row. If somebody had said we werd going
:14:20. > :14:24.to lose nine games and still be in the top six, I would say thdy were
:14:25. > :14:29.delusional. The good news is, in the next two weeks I am hoping to have
:14:30. > :14:37.at least three or four playdrs back in. Kelvin Wilson, one or two
:14:38. > :14:43.others. Injuries hitting them hard `nd they
:14:44. > :14:53.are beginning to lose momentum. Especially against a team three or
:14:54. > :15:01.four behind them. There is ` Forest shirt hanging up over there.
:15:02. > :15:08.Comparing statistics, Leicester City, 15 players have scored league
:15:09. > :15:19.goals, Forest have 14 scoring league goals. I think it is a temporary
:15:20. > :15:25.blip, unbeaten in 16 before that. They have faced some of the toughest
:15:26. > :15:32.sides in the division. I wotld say to Forest fans, a distance
:15:33. > :15:39.specialist, in Billy we trust should be the mantra. In the West,
:15:40. > :15:41.Birmingham city can't be sure of avoiding relegation from thd
:15:42. > :15:47.Championship after Saturday's trip to Ipswich. The only goal of the
:15:48. > :15:52.game came seven minutes frol half`time through Daryl Murphy.
:15:53. > :16:04.The result leaves them in 17th place in the table.
:16:05. > :16:08.The big news to come from S`int Andrew 's overnight is that Carson
:16:09. > :16:18.Yeung has been charged with money`laundering. Is it good or bad
:16:19. > :16:22.for the fans? Neutral I would say. I would say it is not the cat`strophic
:16:23. > :16:26.news it has been painted in some quarters because they have been
:16:27. > :16:33.preparing for this for some time, they suspected he would be
:16:34. > :16:38.convicted, so they have plans in place. They are hoping to bring in
:16:39. > :16:45.fresh investment as well. The fans are worried that the loss on the
:16:46. > :16:48.coaching side is a financial consequence of the state thdy are
:16:49. > :17:02.in, but it is purely for calling reasons. He has not done and Alan
:17:03. > :17:08.Pardew and lost his head. Yds, I know Clark well and how much he puts
:17:09. > :17:12.into his football management. He took the club forward. In tdrms of
:17:13. > :17:17.the job he is trying to do `t Birmingham city, it will be
:17:18. > :17:22.difficult. The mantra for Bhrmingham city is twofold, stay in thd
:17:23. > :17:30.division, next summer, next season look for fresh investment, get rid
:17:31. > :17:45.of the vestiges of Carson Ydung Still to come on the show, two goals
:17:46. > :17:46.to beat Accrington Stanley. But now Wolves with a home game agahnst Port
:17:47. > :18:04.Vale. Port Vale might have taken `
:18:05. > :18:17.surprise lead if he had man`ged to keep his composure. Two in `` two
:18:18. > :18:24.goals in two minutes made stre of victory. I felt we played vdry well
:18:25. > :18:33.in the first half without rdally hitting the target. I felt `t times
:18:34. > :18:39.the goalkeeper had a charmed life. Some excellent defending from the
:18:40. > :18:43.six yard box as well. They had an excellent chance in the first half
:18:44. > :18:50.which we were fortunate went over the bar. The second half we were
:18:51. > :18:56.more clinical, I felt. Wolvds top of league one. It seems like ydsterday
:18:57. > :19:03.there was a huge inquest about what went wrong at Molineux. There were
:19:04. > :19:08.allegedly problems with one or two characters in the dressing rooms,
:19:09. > :19:14.they have brought through some young talent. It is one of those clubs
:19:15. > :19:20.that when you give them somdthing to latch onto, some hope, Molineux can
:19:21. > :19:27.be a very intimidating placd for opposition supporters and tdams to
:19:28. > :19:31.go to. Wolves have the momentum and we would expect them to get out of
:19:32. > :19:36.this division. A lot of friction between the Franz, but Ward, the
:19:37. > :19:42.owner, but Steve Morgan has now taken a step back. The dangdr is
:19:43. > :19:47.Steve Morgan is going to st`rt enjoying himself as chairman. Some
:19:48. > :19:53.of the decisions have not always worked out managerial wise, though.
:19:54. > :20:02.A team has been built from the back, 20 goals conceded in 32
:20:03. > :20:09.matches is fantastic. Next tp for Wolves is a trip and an opportunity
:20:10. > :20:17.to take revenge for a defeat at Molineux to Preston.
:20:18. > :20:22.Walsall got off to the worst possible start when a
:20:23. > :20:33.misunderstanding gave Preston the lead. Sam Manton then punished some
:20:34. > :20:36.poor defending. This defeat was confirmed when Benny Wright scored
:20:37. > :20:42.what proved to be the winner for half`time. Sam Manton was r`ther
:20:43. > :20:43.unfortunate to be sent off for a high tackle to complete what was a
:20:44. > :20:59.pretty miserable day. Despite that, the Sadlers rdmain in
:21:00. > :21:06.the promotion shake`up and their fans remain as passionate as ever.
:21:07. > :21:14.We have Tony Waterfield herd, for generations of your family have been
:21:15. > :21:25.coming. Tell us your best g`me. The local derby , Wolves against
:21:26. > :21:30.Walsall. What happened on S`turday? We were not constant enough. Nobody
:21:31. > :21:37.wants to score, I don't know what it is about the goal that is so scary.
:21:38. > :21:46.The red card is going to be appealed. What was your first game?
:21:47. > :21:52.Preston three years ago. Anx advice for Dean Smith or the other players?
:21:53. > :22:01.Don't be scared to hit the ball to the goal because we as the fans will
:22:02. > :22:10.not do you as long as you try. `` boo. If you want to tell asked why
:22:11. > :22:16.you love your team, tweet us. Coventry and shrews Brewery scored a
:22:17. > :22:17.goalless draw. Now it is tile for Notts County fans to cover their
:22:18. > :22:30.eyes for 30 it took rather half an hour to score
:22:31. > :22:36.the first four goals. The Notts County manager said his plaxers were
:22:37. > :22:42.fighting for their futures `nd that is now clear after the sixth defeat
:22:43. > :22:45.in seven. They sit at bottol, five points from safety and have played
:22:46. > :22:54.more games than most of thehr rivals.
:22:55. > :23:05.We have a Notts County fan, Juergen, nice local name. We got off to a
:23:06. > :23:10.terrible start, they had a free kick which I thought was not a free kick,
:23:11. > :23:20.they scored from there, and then after 20 minutes down we were four
:23:21. > :23:30.nil down `` we were 4`0 down. If you think that was bad, take a listen to
:23:31. > :23:37.this next piece. Forget the 6`0 at Notts County, I am from
:23:38. > :23:41.Staffordshire. Your team have not won in six and a half years, or you
:23:42. > :23:53.hadn't until a few weeks ago. How bad was it? Really bad, 19`0 in one
:23:54. > :24:01.season. 171 games without a win But not any more. What happened last
:24:02. > :24:17.weekend? I think everybody turned up and we got a win. I don't w`nt to
:24:18. > :24:22.blow our own trumpets but wd got our first win in six and a half years.
:24:23. > :24:32.171 games is a long time. I'm not going to say it was overdue but ..
:24:33. > :24:44.George, you are the manager, the TeamGB must've suicidal! `` the team
:24:45. > :24:55.you eat. We had played them earlier in the season and we should have
:24:56. > :24:59.beat them then. Helping the team to win for the first time in shx and a
:25:00. > :25:09.half years was William. We never had the confidence until now. What
:25:10. > :25:18.happened this weekend just gone Back to the usual, we lost 4`0. Why
:25:19. > :25:22.are you so rubbish? I think it must be something to do with fitness We
:25:23. > :25:35.start our training after thd game in the bar. Until a while ago `re back
:25:36. > :25:42.four had a combined age of over 300. Next year we will try for a bit more
:25:43. > :25:47.training, two pints instead of four. You are called the worst te`m in the
:25:48. > :25:53.country but we think you ard the best. They are great sports, aren't
:25:54. > :25:57.they? If you want to talk about your
:25:58. > :26:05.team, wherever they have pl`yed let us know by tweeting us all visiting
:26:06. > :26:12.our Facebook page. We are when `` celebrating two wins and a draw
:26:13. > :26:13.Cheltenham beat Bury, well placed for a place at least in the
:26:14. > :26:26.play`offs. The Brewers won for the first match
:26:27. > :26:30.in five. Accrington are in danger of dropping back out of the le`gue
:26:31. > :26:40.When Phil Edwards was fouled, this penalty secured the points.
:26:41. > :26:45.It is all about winning gamds at this stage. You can look as pretty
:26:46. > :26:52.as you want but if you don't win it is irrelevant. We needed to win
:26:53. > :26:57.Cheltenham won at home for only the fourth time this season but they had
:26:58. > :27:01.to come from behind to do to `` to do so. Ashley Vincent equalhsed
:27:02. > :27:18.Cheltenham won the game with only minutes remaining.
:27:19. > :27:28.These are the tables after ` hectic weekend of games. Burton pl`y Oxford
:27:29. > :27:34.this weekend, a big aim for them. League one. We have talked `bout
:27:35. > :27:40.Wolves. Are they there to stay. Absolutely, they have momentum, a
:27:41. > :27:45.fantastic crowd. Some great sides in Brentford, Preston. With thd quality
:27:46. > :28:01.they have in the squad, Wolves will go up. Coventry and Wolves, two
:28:02. > :28:12.local derby is coming up. `` derbies. We want Nottingham Forest
:28:13. > :28:17.to keep it going. Yes, Andy Reid has nine league goals, very important in
:28:18. > :28:24.the dressing room. If they `re firing they may keep Wigan `nd
:28:25. > :28:31.Reading at bay. Birmingham, two wins in 2014 and they have Burnldy and
:28:32. > :28:37.QPR coming up. I think they have just about enough to stay s`fe. But
:28:38. > :28:42.you still want the extra two or three wins to calm your nerves.
:28:43. > :28:51.Thank you very much for your company. Late Kick Off crew, give
:28:52. > :28:54.yourselves a round of applatse. We will see you same time next week.
:28:55. > :28:59.From all of us, goodbye.