Episode 1 Late Kick Off Midlands

APPLAUSE Hello, welcome to a new serhes of

Late Kickoff. We couldn't h`ve arrived on the screen at a better

time, which of your teams are going up and which are going down? Hang

on, you're in for a ride. Coming up: Leicester march on. Can

anyone stop them winning thd championship? Steve McClaren's Derby

revolution bring automatic promotion?

It's a Magnificent 7 wins in a row for Wolves, top of League One and

surely destined for a quick return to the second tier.

APPLAUSE We're with the people who bring the

passion to the game, the fans. If you want to be part of our `wed yebs

`` audience, e`mail or tweet us Sharing our joy or despair hs a man

steeped in Midlands football, Stan Collymore.

APPLAUSE Alongside Stan, another regtlar

member of the team, comment`tor and journalist, you've heard his voice

before Jon, Champion. You've heard from them and seen

them, they are the supporters crew, if you want to join us in the weeks

to come, find out how later in the programme. First tonight, it's the

Midlands team of the season so far, Leicester City. They'd gone 13 games

unbeaten and were eight points clear at the top of the Championship when

they welcomed struggling Ch`rlton. Leicester's march towards the title

shows no sign of slowing down. Vardy's 13th goal of the se`son set

them on their way to a comfortable win over Charlton. When thehr lead

was doubled in the second h`lf, the result was beyond half. The third

went in and the manager was quietly satisfied with the day's work.

Every time we play people are looking at how the games will go.

Ultimately we have to keep the focus on ourselves. The players h`ve done

it very well of late. The sdcret behind your former club's stccess

this season? Consistency. I spoke to Nigel Pearson, and asked hil the

question direct ` why do Lehcester have the ability to beat anx team on

any given week but can't back it up week in, week out. He said when I

get the answer, I'll show you. They've shown us this season.

Everybody will talk about Ntgent and Vardags `` Vardy, but everybody has

chipped in. If anything is going to undo them, it will be themsdlves.

You've met Nigel and you know he won't let that happen. He whll put

the fear of goodness knows what into them. Nigel Pearson, that's a good

point, well done the owners for sticking with him. There was a point

a year ago where the future was very uncertain. He didn't know what was

in the future for him. They stuck with him. They're reaping their

rewards now. The rise and rhse of Derby county, the Rams were 14th in

the Championship when Nigel include lost his `` Clouh lost his job, but

now they're third with autolatic promotion in their sites. The man

there now is Steve McLaren. He's been talking to us.

COMMENTATOR: About his decision to move to another country and troo to

start again... Throughout his career it's well

documented, there's been tiles when Steve McLaren has had to take a look

at himself in the mirror. In the dark days, there are many d`rk days,

you look ahead and you think, you know, football is all we know. After

England, I remember I said two days later, I'd have gone back into a

club and I'd have worked two days later. You've got to be a lhttle

crazy as a football manager. Maybe I am. 34 years in the football

spotlight, that could send `nyone mad. Football is a roller coaster.

Football is ups and downs. Ht's highs and lows. The longer xou're in

it, you're going to get mord of them peaks and troughs.

COMMENTATOR: The most important thing for Steve is to get a win ..

The scars of the lows have hnspired a mantra. Stay in the game. So,

that's the motto, not just for players, but for coaches, for staff,

managers, you know, stay in the game and keep fighting and you ndver

know. It's how you bounce b`ck really, not how far you fall. He

tells me it's this motto drhving Derby and his recovery with the

Rams. Is it nice to feel loved? It's a bit

of a girly question, I know. Very girly question! It's football. It is

football, but fans now idolhse you. You're a part of something `nd

you're wanted here. Is it nhce to feel loved? Success always brings

that. The key thing is what are your priorities in life, really? I

suppose as I've got older, lore experienced, more philosophhcal

about life, about football, about the game, about family, abott

friends, about things outside and not saying that the only enjoyment

you get comes from whether xou win or lose a game of football. It still

does! It's difficult. Just being philosophical and saying, ydah, but

I know, we lose three games on the run, you'll be calling for ly neck.

That's football. All I want to do is come here, do the best I possibly

can, make sure the players do the best they possibly can and try to

get Derby county proud of their football club. I think that's the

key thing. He's done just after five months in charge, he's taken Derby

from 14th to third and they've lost just four times in 24 games.

It's the innocent climb. We've gone from 14th, 15th and innocently gone

all the way through. We know how we're doing it, but the risd has

been rapid. We're kind of jtst riding the wave, just keeping going

and just riding it. You say that you and Derby are a good fit. What do

you mean? Many good managers don't become bad managers overnight.

Sometimes it can be wrong fht. You have to have the right owner, the

right club, the right squad in place and the right staff. That's, I

think, why the five months have been, have shot by and been very

good. It's because Sam Rush deserves all the credit for really what's

happened in the last five months. He had the courage to change and all

the pressure was on Sam. So, good ownership. It's your birthd`y on May

3, which is the last game of the season. You're away at Leeds. What

would it mean to you on that special day if you'd got Derby promoted You

do fly ahead of yourselves, you do like to dream a lot. That's great.

That's what you have to do `nd the fans are all doing it. What we have

to do is inside is feet firlly on the ground and make sure th`t game

by game, step by step, let's see where we are on May 3. Whendver I

see you, you've got a cuppa with you. Coffee? Water? Gin? Sotp. Soup

today. Is Derby your cup of tea Wherever you're successful, it's

always your cup of tea. I lhke Derby. I do have an affinitx. I ve

lived in this area now. This is my third time. Family like it. You

know, it would really pleasd me and probably the greatest thing or the

best thing in my career if H could get Derby county into the Premier

League, that would be terrific. He's got his smile back. Derby

unbeaten in the last seven, having won 13 of the last 18 games. It s

fair to say the referee certainly had his say, as to the outcome in

the game at Turf Moor. He was surely fouled.

The referee says no. Then hd gets it back. Now Jones on the volldy! `0.

Fabulous. Terrific goal. He took a tumble in the are` and a

dive has been given before the ball goes into the net and I think Martin

is going off here. He is. A second booking for a dive. The ball was

then swepd into the net `` swept into the net but the refered had

blown for simulation. Martin, who's already been booked, gets a second

yellow for the dive and Derby are down to ten.

Deflection ` 2`0! It's diffhcult for referees. We've had decisions over

the weeks, months that have gone against us. Today, one or two went

against us. Very difficult with ten men. I've seen it over and over

about 20 times now. There's a little contact. That makes Chrissid slip.

It's a penalty. Definitely whether the referee doesn't see that, it's a

slip, it's not a dive. For ts, it's a penalty. So, them two things he's

got wrong. If you were Derbx fans, would you have felt hard done by

after that? Yes. It was a b`d decision, wasn't it? It was a

shocking decision. Chris Martin I was chatting with Jon about that,

there were instances of getting involved in elbows and backhng into

players and what have you. So the referee may have been prejudiced

going into making that decision You still have to make the decision in

isolation. There is no way that you can look at that and be absolutely

sure that it was a dive. So the play should have gone on, Derby should

have got the goal, outcome lay have been different. I was at thd League

Cup Final yesterday and spe`king to some of the movers and shakdrs in

the referee world, the thought is that he deserved to be sent off for

the use of the arm but not falling over.

A word on Steve McLaren. In five seasons, they've averaged 14th

position finish. They're up there still in third place. It's been a

great season for them. You know the great thing, Steve McLaren hs

trusted by other managers as a coach. That's where Derby are

benefitting. They're being lent good, young players, Andre Wisdom

from Liverpool, Bamford highly rated by Chelsea. Because McLaren will

polish them and develop thel, Derby get the benefit. The coaches' coach.

Brendan Rogers and Jose Mourinho saying yes, polish this dialond

Looking at the back`room st`ff as well, Eric Steel, Manchester United

for a long time, Paul Simpson, Chris Evans, again at Wolves, brotght

through lots of young players at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has very

good back room staff as well. Let's talk about Nottingham Forest. It's a

point, Notts County fans booing behind me, injuries are thrdatening

to undermine Billy Davis' sdason. They had a poor result at the

weekend. Martin by on gave Wigan the lead and although Cox equalhsed for

Forest it was Wigan who carried the greater threat. They took the lead

for the second time when thhs shot was helped in by Emmerson Boyce

James McCarthy made sure th`t Wigan would win for the fifth match in a

row. If somebody had said we werd going

to lose nine games and still be in the top six, I would say thdy were

delusional. The good news is, in the next two weeks I am hoping to have

at least three or four playdrs back in. Kelvin Wilson, one or two

others. Injuries hitting them hard `nd they

are beginning to lose momentum. Especially against a team three or

four behind them. There is ` Forest shirt hanging up over there.

Comparing statistics, Leicester City, 15 players have scored league

goals, Forest have 14 scoring league goals. I think it is a temporary

blip, unbeaten in 16 before that. They have faced some of the toughest

sides in the division. I wotld say to Forest fans, a distance

specialist, in Billy we trust should be the mantra. In the West,

Birmingham city can't be sure of avoiding relegation from thd

Championship after Saturday's trip to Ipswich. The only goal of the

game came seven minutes frol half`time through Daryl Murphy.

The result leaves them in 17th place in the table.

The big news to come from S`int Andrew 's overnight is that Carson

Yeung has been charged with money`laundering. Is it good or bad

for the fans? Neutral I would say. I would say it is not the cat`strophic

news it has been painted in some quarters because they have been

preparing for this for some time, they suspected he would be

convicted, so they have plans in place. They are hoping to bring in

fresh investment as well. The fans are worried that the loss on the

coaching side is a financial consequence of the state thdy are

in, but it is purely for calling reasons. He has not done and Alan

Pardew and lost his head. Yds, I know Clark well and how much he puts

into his football management. He took the club forward. In tdrms of

the job he is trying to do `t Birmingham city, it will be

difficult. The mantra for Bhrmingham city is twofold, stay in thd

division, next summer, next season look for fresh investment, get rid

of the vestiges of Carson Ydung Still to come on the show, two goals

to beat Accrington Stanley. But now Wolves with a home game agahnst Port

Vale. Port Vale might have taken `

surprise lead if he had man`ged to keep his composure. Two in `` two

goals in two minutes made stre of victory. I felt we played vdry well

in the first half without rdally hitting the target. I felt `t times

the goalkeeper had a charmed life. Some excellent defending from the

six yard box as well. They had an excellent chance in the first half

which we were fortunate went over the bar. The second half we were

more clinical, I felt. Wolvds top of league one. It seems like ydsterday

there was a huge inquest about what went wrong at Molineux. There were

allegedly problems with one or two characters in the dressing rooms,

they have brought through some young talent. It is one of those clubs

that when you give them somdthing to latch onto, some hope, Molineux can

be a very intimidating placd for opposition supporters and tdams to

go to. Wolves have the momentum and we would expect them to get out of

this division. A lot of friction between the Franz, but Ward, the

owner, but Steve Morgan has now taken a step back. The dangdr is

Steve Morgan is going to st`rt enjoying himself as chairman. Some

of the decisions have not always worked out managerial wise, though.

A team has been built from the back, 20 goals conceded in 32

matches is fantastic. Next tp for Wolves is a trip and an opportunity

to take revenge for a defeat at Molineux to Preston.

Walsall got off to the worst possible start when a

misunderstanding gave Preston the lead. Sam Manton then punished some

poor defending. This defeat was confirmed when Benny Wright scored

what proved to be the winner for half`time. Sam Manton was r`ther

unfortunate to be sent off for a high tackle to complete what was a

pretty miserable day. Despite that, the Sadlers rdmain in

the promotion shake`up and their fans remain as passionate as ever.

We have Tony Waterfield herd, for generations of your family have been

coming. Tell us your best g`me. The local derby , Wolves against

Walsall. What happened on S`turday? We were not constant enough. Nobody

wants to score, I don't know what it is about the goal that is so scary.

The red card is going to be appealed. What was your first game?

Preston three years ago. Anx advice for Dean Smith or the other players?

Don't be scared to hit the ball to the goal because we as the fans will

not do you as long as you try. `` boo. If you want to tell asked why

you love your team, tweet us. Coventry and shrews Brewery scored a

goalless draw. Now it is tile for Notts County fans to cover their

eyes for 30 it took rather half an hour to score

the first four goals. The Notts County manager said his plaxers were

fighting for their futures `nd that is now clear after the sixth defeat

in seven. They sit at bottol, five points from safety and have played

more games than most of thehr rivals.

We have a Notts County fan, Juergen, nice local name. We got off to a

terrible start, they had a free kick which I thought was not a free kick,

they scored from there, and then after 20 minutes down we were four

nil down `` we were 4`0 down. If you think that was bad, take a listen to

this next piece. Forget the 6`0 at Notts County, I am from

Staffordshire. Your team have not won in six and a half years, or you

hadn't until a few weeks ago. How bad was it? Really bad, 19`0 in one

season. 171 games without a win But not any more. What happened last

weekend? I think everybody turned up and we got a win. I don't w`nt to

blow our own trumpets but wd got our first win in six and a half years.

171 games is a long time. I'm not going to say it was overdue but ..

George, you are the manager, the TeamGB must've suicidal! `` the team

you eat. We had played them earlier in the season and we should have

beat them then. Helping the team to win for the first time in shx and a

half years was William. We never had the confidence until now. What

happened this weekend just gone Back to the usual, we lost 4`0. Why

are you so rubbish? I think it must be something to do with fitness We

start our training after thd game in the bar. Until a while ago `re back

four had a combined age of over 300. Next year we will try for a bit more

training, two pints instead of four. You are called the worst te`m in the

country but we think you ard the best. They are great sports, aren't

they? If you want to talk about your

team, wherever they have pl`yed let us know by tweeting us all visiting

our Facebook page. We are when `` celebrating two wins and a draw

Cheltenham beat Bury, well placed for a place at least in the

play`offs. The Brewers won for the first match

in five. Accrington are in danger of dropping back out of the le`gue

When Phil Edwards was fouled, this penalty secured the points.

It is all about winning gamds at this stage. You can look as pretty

as you want but if you don't win it is irrelevant. We needed to win

Cheltenham won at home for only the fourth time this season but they had

to come from behind to do to `` to do so. Ashley Vincent equalhsed

Cheltenham won the game with only minutes remaining.

These are the tables after ` hectic weekend of games. Burton pl`y Oxford

this weekend, a big aim for them. League one. We have talked `bout

Wolves. Are they there to stay. Absolutely, they have momentum, a

fantastic crowd. Some great sides in Brentford, Preston. With thd quality

they have in the squad, Wolves will go up. Coventry and Wolves, two

local derby is coming up. `` derbies. We want Nottingham Forest

to keep it going. Yes, Andy Reid has nine league goals, very important in

the dressing room. If they `re firing they may keep Wigan `nd

Reading at bay. Birmingham, two wins in 2014 and they have Burnldy and

QPR coming up. I think they have just about enough to stay s`fe. But

you still want the extra two or three wins to calm your nerves.

Thank you very much for your company. Late Kick Off crew, give

yourselves a round of applatse. We will see you same time next week.

From all of us, goodbye.