Episode 6 Late Kick Off Midlands

Tonight, under the microscope ` a remarkable look at how science

rocket`fuelled Leicester City's charge to the Premier league. And

Hereford United ` the latest club to fold, or yet another survival story

for the Bulls? Welcome to Late Kick Off.

Some pump iron, others do their homework but for the manager of the

Foxes, the secret of promotion`chasing is getting back to

nature. I like to be out in the sticks,

basically, and doing whatever I get up to there.

Before the weekend, Walsall thought they were still in the play`off hunt

` Saddlers boss Dean Smith is with us. Will they pay a heavy penalty

for this defeat at Port Vale? From the penalty spot with his left

foot into the back of the net. They are back ` the Late Kick`Off

Supporters Crew as we once again have our Question Time for fans.

Just four programmes left for you to be in our audience. Facebook, email

or Tweet us and we'll reserve you a place. With us tonight, he began as

a player at Walsall and now he's managing them ` welcome Dean Smith.

Brought his own fan`club it seems. And more from Collymore ` Stan's

back. Up the Villa! You can't miss him. This week's mascot is Whaddney

the Robin from Cheltenham. Leicester City are back in the

Premier League. How did they become the first English side to go up this

season? It's not as simple as you might think. Natalie Jackson can

give us this remarkable insight to the work of the back`room staff at

the Foxes training base which helped secure promotion.

Leicester's team have been utterly dominant this season, but promotion

to the Premier league has been no fluke. Into the back of the net. The

win against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night combined with results

going their way on Saturday meant Leicester were promoted. Fans and

players celebrated. Early one morning we were given fly on the

wall access at the club's training ground to show the secrets behind

their success. 7am and the kit man, the cleaner,

and the sports science team were already in. An early start isn't it?

It can be. It can be a lot earlier. There is an awful lot of preparation

that needs to be done before the players arrive. Kev has prepared the

drinks that have powered the players to the Premier League. One of these

before training, during training and protein shakes after. Some of them

will require more tablets than others. Different proteins just

dependent on their own performance. We've been given access all areas at

the training ground, nothing off`limits, to show the lengths

Nigel Pearson and the team behind the team have gone to this season to

get back into the top flight. If everybody improves by a couple of

percent it quickly adds up and that is what it is about. Anthony

Knockaert had barely wiped away the tears at the end of last season when

Nigel Pearson called a debrief. We went to the pub. We had two days at

the pub in Shropshire which was fabulous from what I can remember of

it. It was at that point that we went away and debriefed the

positives from the season and discussed where we needed to go in

terms of changing the philosophy of it more. They already had a very

good squad. Innovations in sports science has this season helped give

them the edge. It is about educating the players so each player will have

their clips available. So for example here he will show himself.

These clips then go on to form unit related clips where we have a coach

who becomes a mentor to the players. This season they have pioneered some

software for iPads which means players can educate themselves

without realising they are actually doing it. That is on and off the

ball. He is looking at us off the ball, recovery runs, and all the on

the ball action, so he's able to see ten seconds before and ten seconds

after that happens. What kind of difference has that made? It gives

you an opportunity to watch it whilst you keep working. Strength,

pace and power has been their style on the pitch. Every bit of work they

do in the gym is measured from leg strength to leg power to speed. And

because of the chart here I guess it gives them that competitive edge.

They want to be at the top the chart. It has definitely played a

part in terms of performance and injury prevention. Having stronger

players, they are going to be more robust, resilient to picking up

injuries and niggles, so that helps me, it helps the physio room, it

helps Nigel in his team selection. They have meticulous planning and

analysis of opposing teams. We will watch every team at least three

times before we play them. Analysis is done on that aspect as well. Do

you have to recruit a lot for the Premier League? I do not think so.

It is just key areas where we feel we need either cover or improvement

but ostensibly we will run with what we have got and I think from there

we will try and build in key areas. They have had a settled side.

Statistics show using the fewest amount of players gets results. We

can start to see that teams that are doing well in the championship like

Burnley, Leicester and Derby were all really high up on that list.

This is something that we try to work on, keeping our players injury

free. Come Saturday he can pick his best players. The day Leicester went

up, Nigel Pearson went for a bike ride. The manager who keeps his

focus by getting away from it all. I like to be out in the sticks

basically doing whatever I get up to there. It is a bit of escapism. This

is the type of thing I enjoy doing. I will be planning another trip

shortly. Before that his staff and players want to win the title for

him. The way he manages is it's us first and foremost, then it's

performance and results second, which is a novel approach, but we

believe it works. It certainly has. The club have a togetherness from

top to bottom and with six games to go they have returned to the Premier

League for the first time in a decade.

Congratulations to Leicester on their promotion. The game is all

about fine margins, about recovery. With 23 goals scored in the last 15

minutes is that they do? Yet it is. When I was there in 2001 they got me

back playing with Alan Smith. Previous to being as Leicester I was

at Aston Villa and the physio department at Leicester was better

than theirs then. They had me playing back within six weeks of a

dislocation. Keeping players on the pitch for as long as possible means

consistency of selection and consistency of performance. What do

you make of those facilities? We try to get the best for our players. Our

physio does four jobs because of the resources we have. The art of sports

science is finding a balance because players want to play. As Stan said,

getting that consistency is fantastic. Mark is a big Leicester

fan. I suppose credit has got to be given to the owners at Leicester for

sticking by Nigel Pearson, who it was thought this time last year he

wouldn't be here. It has been all about stability this year, from the

owners keeping faith in Nigel Pearson, to Nigel Pearson keeping

faith in the squad. It is basically the same squad and same management

as last season. Exciting summer ahead for the Foxes.

Now to today's news about another Midlands team which is in money

meltdown. Coventry City are homeless and with money worries, Birmingham

City financially rudderless and now Hereford United are fighting to stay

alive. The Bulls may not be as big as some, but to many of us they

truly are an iconic football club. Just five years ago they were a

League One side. The Championship was a realistic target. But with

success came debt. Over 20 years money worries have meant too many

close shaves. Hereford may have been safer keeping its ambitions in

check, but sometimes the grass just seems greener in higher divisions.

The Bulls have never been one to run away from a red rag. Newcastle

United wore that colour when they suffered one of the great upsets of

all time at the hands of Hereford. What a goal. They were non league

that day and became the first team in nearly quarter of a century to

knock out a top`flight side. A few people still look at it and think

Hereford are that team that beat Newcastle, although is years ago.

Hereford always reserve special FA Cup nights under the floodlights for

its fans. The heroes of the past do not pay the bills of the future.

Once again Hereford are looking to upset the odds. But then miracles

have happened at Edgar Street before. Back then the future looked

rosy. Will it ever again? D`day for Hereford United. They went

to the High Court on the back of a debt of ?78,000. Keith, you are a

fan, what is the outcome today? We got a seven`day stay of execution.

We paid 40,000 last Friday. It looks like the club is safe. We have got a

club legend here, player manager in the game against Newcastle. How

important is it to keep Hereford going? It is very important. Not

only for the club, but for the county, for the supporters. It would

be a disaster if we fold. Gareth Davies, you have played for Hereford

on a number of occasions. Tell us how it has affected the players. It

has been downbeat for a long time. I was a supporter as a young lad and

was lucky enough to play for my club. It would be a travesty if it

went. It can't go. And Dean, you played there ` what does the

football club mean to the community? Massively important. It's a

wonderful football club. It's very hard because if you get relegated

from the Football League you lose the funding and if you do not get up

at the first go it is very difficult after that.

Keith, thanks for the update. Give him a round of applause.

Birmingham City continued their remarkable, and probably

division`saving, away form with a win at Doncaster Rovers.

He is quickly crowded out. He wins it back. Slides it in for the

equaliser. A goal for Federico Macheda.

He has got a chance. It is a goal. Novak has scored. The 10th goal of

the season for Lee Novak. Is it away win number nine? Federico Macheda,

the third goal of the second half. A Is this three precious points?

Doncaster one, Blues three. Way that is the chapter and verse

about while Macheda should play. They have only got Wigan in the

remaining games that are in the top half of the table. With a little bit

of momentum they have got to three home games left and they could be

safe. But the job is not quite done yet.

There are teams and only then that have got games in hand. They have

got a healthy goal difference. But they are not safe yet. They need to

win that game at home. That conform is worrying. It has been all season.

It has been all season, to be fair. They were just saying there in

commentary, I think it's nine away wins, they need Macheda, the ideal

storm for them is that Macheda gets a couple of goals, they keep a clean

sheet, in front of their home faithful, last five or six games and

then they go on a little bit of a run. At the other end, Derby County

have an 11 point cushion so are all but assured of a place in the

play`offs. But that one goal away defeat meant an unhappy return to

Middlesbrough for their boss Steve McClaren. Gents, Derby's run`in, it

isn't so bad when you look at it. No, it's not, they have a six`point

cushion over Reading now and we said over the last two or three weeks

that it's about staying in that mini league and I think that they will,

particularly at home, they had that month, if you remember where they

struggled to score and then all of a sudden they got that five against

Nottingham Forest. I do not think they will struggle to score at the

iPro Stadium in the remainder of their home games. Dean, we talked

about Birmingham and their away form has been so much better than their

home form, but how concerned would you be if you were Steve McClaren,

you've only won one of your last eight games away, knowing that

you're going to go into the play`offs? I think they will be

planning for the play`offs already. Some of the teams would have to go

on a hell of a run to overtake them. They will be working on what they

can do to move forward and get ready for the play`offs. Vic, you're a big

Derby fan, is now the time to rest players knowing that you have this

11 point cushion and save them for the play`offs? Once we are

automatically safe we should rest players and start planning for the

play`offs because the key thing is momentum going into the play`offs.

Yeah. Momentum is going to play a massive part. It is funny, cos you

hear from some Derby fans who talk about the disappointment of not

finishing second, but getting into the play`offs highlights just what a

great job Steve McClaren has done. It's been a remarkable achievement.

After Clough had been sacked I thought maybe if we got someone in

we could get some stability this season but that amazing run in

December propelled us into the play`offs and we've never looked

back since. No, it certainly has. Thanks, Vic. Forest's slide

continues. A home defeat against Millwall, just this Jamie Paterson

goal as a consolation. Still five points off of the play`offs, Stan.

Yes, they are in a group of teams now ` Brighton, Ipswich,

Bournemouth, that are all chasing them down. Looking at their

remaining fixtures, they've got to play Bournemouth, QPR, Brighton, it

is going to be very difficult for Gary Brazil, and obviously Stuart

Pearce is not joining the club until July one. The wheels have fallen off

at the wrong time and I do not think they will get into the top six this

season. Now, is it because Stuart Pearce has better commitments to a

radio station that he will not take on the job until the end of the

season? Well, I think it is unfair to say better commitments, he is

simply that type of man, having played with him as my captain at

Nottingham Forest, and knowing the kind of character that he is, if he

has signed up to do something, he believes he should discharge it, he

will be coming out with me with my radio station for two or three weeks

at the World Cup. Yes, stop plugging it. I haven't mentioned the name,

but he is coming out and then he will be going back. I think he wants

to give Gary Brazil the time to be able to look at what they've got. He

will be sending scouts to the games, he will be looking at potential

additions for next season and whatever division they are in, more

likely the championship. I think going in early for pre`season is

probably the best option for Forest. It is a great appointment, isn't it,

Stuart Pearce? Yes, I think he is a great fit, being the ex`captain as

well. He was iconic at Forest when he was there. I just find it

surprising because I still think they are in with a shout of the

play`offs and I thought they may have got somebody until the end of

the season to give them a little bit of momentum to go up. Adrian is a

Forest fan, how do you assess Forest's chances then of getting

into the play`offs? Well, if I'm honest, I think Billy Davies, the

debacle at the end of his reign and arguably with his training regime

which caused a spate of injuries we've had have more or less done for

us this season. But it is getting better, Lansbury, Kelvin Williams

coming back? Yes, exactly. The two things we've been missing from the

middle of the park are the drive of Lansbury and the creativity of Andy

Reid. Lansbury is back and Andy Reid is close. If Gary Brazil can get us

there, it will be fantastic, but equally there is a part of me that

is already anticipating next season and looking forward to it. You are

very excited? I've been to the club shop and got "Pearce" put on the

back of my shirt. It's 20 years since I've had that on the back of

the Forest shirt, so if Brazil can get us there it would be fantastic.

Thank you. Let's move into League One, shall we, lots of issues still

to be sorted. Let's begin with Walsall and Port Vale, both with

outside chances of a play`off place. Dean may want to look away now.

Dean may want Back to Birchall, back to Duffy.

Ball over the top looking to pick out the run of Tom Pope. Into the

penalty area, Tom Pope goes down in the box and that is a penalty. Tom

Pope brought down by Paul Downing. In the 52nd minute at Vale Park. A

chance for Port Vale to break the deadlock against Walsall. It is

Jennison Myrie`Williams from the penalty spot. With his left foot,

into the back of the net! Port Vale lead in the Midlands derby. Jennison

Myrie`Williams gets into double figures with his 10th goal of the

season. Dean, it was a penalty all day long.

figures with his 10th goal of the season. Never been a penalty,

Manish. I was very surprised when he gave it and I have since seen it

and... A BERRY bad decision perhaps? Yes, a very bad decision. Carl Berry

being the ref. Well, he gave a penalty against us last day of the

season at Crewe when we had gone seventeen games unbeaten and I

didn't think it was a penalty then and I don't think that one was on

Saturday either. What about the season in general, are you pleased

with how it has panned out? I think we will be a bit disappointed if we

don't make the play`offs, we have shown an awful lot of potential this

year. It was very difficult to replace the goals because we lost

Febian Brandy, we lost Jamie Paterson to Forest, we lost Will

Grigg to Brentford. He's not even a regular at Brentford. I know, yeah.

That must be annoying. Yes, it does a little bit but it is part and

parcel of football. We produce players and they get sold on.

Hopefully next season as well we can get something more who is going to

score goals for us. You know, Craig Westcarr's scored 16 this season.

We've not really had anyone else up there. What do you think about what

Dean has done? I think he's done an incredible job. We were apprentices

together and it is nice to see somebody, a local lad, he has plied

his trade at other clubs. You mentioned Hereford, Leyton Orient,

and come back to the Midlands to help produce players. It reminds me,

if you think of Everton in the Premier League, there is a bit of a

glass ceiling because they do not have the budget of Manchester City

and other clubs like that. It is always going to be the same because

you have big clubs like Wolves dropping into League One but I would

say the fact they have come on so much under Dean, they would be

disappointed if they do not get into the play`offs bearing in mind that

there must be a dozen or so clubs with bigger budgets. It is a

testament to what he has done this season. Good luck for the rest of

the campaign, Dean. Wolves look almost certain to be the

next Midlands team to gain promotion, they need to just seven

more points from a possible 15 after this win against Peterborough.

season. Good luck for Here's the corner, played short to

Ricketts. Curling it in. Batth's header! That was a beauty. Danny

Batth pulls his shirt over his head and turns to the South Bank and

receives their acclaim. The boy from Brierley Hill puts Wolves in front.

Could this be Sako going for it himself? And he does! Olejnik trying

to stop it and it's in by Edwards. He has scored for the third time in

five games and it is just after the halfway mark of the second half that

Wolves are surely set fair to win, leading 2`0.

That took them to 90 points, two short of a club record.

Surely the title is within sight now? Yes, six points they need, two

wins, I think they will get that in fairly short order and again, the

theme from last week, Liam McAlinden scoring, his first goal for Wolves

at MK Dons, a Cannock lad, and then Danny Batth from Brierley Hill

scoring as well, so nice to see a local, younger lads are being

brought through, they understand the club, they walk around, the live

around the alien, it is really nice to see Wolverhampton Wanderers

bringing through a young core of local`based kits.

Ken is a regular at Molineux, but what has pleased you most about this

season? Goals and good play, and a good manager. And a great away

support, some of the attendances you are taking away from home, it is

almost around 9,000. 9000 was the last one at MK Dons. Much tinkering

needed in the summer, what do you think? Maybe, yes, but at the moment

we are doing well. No denying that, that is for certain. Shrewsbury are

still battling against relegation and they won at home against

Stevenage on Saturday. A huge victory. It was a huge win, it was

needed because Crewe, Tranmere, Carlisle, all one. Notts County

lost. It was a real sort of concertina effect down at the bottom

of League One now, but it was a massive three points for Mick

Jackson's men. It was needed bearing in mind that others around them also

got three points. The scorer, Jon Taylor there. Not much celebrating

going on in the dressing room and that is what the manager wants to

hear because clearly the job is not done yet. No, it is a good sign

because Michael has gone into that job and it is his first job and it

is a tough position that they are in. It looks like there are four

from seven at the bottom of that league at the moment who could go

and they have given themselves a good chance by getting that victory

over Stevenage. Notts County's only goal of the game

wasn't enough to help their survival battle.

and they have given themselves a good chance by Jimmy Spencer's goal

came when they were already 3`0 down and, of course, they did go down to

ten men as well. We've got a doctor in the house, Nick is here. Nick,

the home games for Notts County are going to be crucial, aren't they?

Absolutely, but consistency is the key, the one thing they've lacked

all season. They've either won or they've lost. I think they've got

the fewest number of draws in the division, maybe even the whole of

the 92 teams, so they have just got to be consistent but what I do hope

is that whether they stay up or go down that they keep the same

management team. they've lost. I think they've got

the fewest number of draws It is similar to Dean at Walsall, Shaun

Derry is a local lad, born in Nottingham, Notts County supporter,

they must give him time, that is what they have not been giving

managers over the past few years. Thomas, I have a clue about what you

will say, but how hopeful are you that Notts County will stay up?

Very. I thought so. Great input, now, on May 18, for the first time

in 12 years there will be a Potteries derby. Port Vale are to

host Stoke City in a Legends game and here to tell us why are two very

special guests, we've got a former Port Vale striking legend, Tony

Naylor. And with him, a man who was is Stoke through and through, it's

Hancock's Half Minute, it's Tony Hancock. Great to see you, fellas.

Tony, let us start with you, you have Port Vale in the blood, why

have you arranged this game? My father has Alzheimer's and it is one

of those horrible illnesses where we are trying to raise as much money as

possible and the best way to do that around this area as for Stoke City

to play Port Vale. It will be very eagerly contested on the day, I

would think. Who have you got pencilled in playing for Port Vale?

I have a lot of the old boys, Neil Aspin, Steve Guppy, Ian Bogie,

Martin Foyle and we've got not a Port Vale legend, but a real legend

in Ian Rush who said he will play for us. What a signing! I need

someone to do my running! That will be a great day. Nick, you are

representing Stoke, it is a great cause. Tony is a very well`respected

figure and when he asked me to help out I was more than happy to do so.

Alzheimer's is a terrible affliction and something John Ritchie suffered

from, so I know that the Stoke City old boys raise a lot of money for

Alzheimer's anyway. And who have you got pencilled in? Mickey Thomas who

is always a good lad, he will turn up. Mike Pejic, they are all a lot

older than your squad, I think. We have quite a few I believe who are

obviously a lot younger, we are trying to get Rory Delap to play.

You are taking it much more seriously! But obviously you do not

know who will turn up on the day. Remind us of the date. May 18. Good

luck with that, gents. Give them a round of applause, please.

Right, so to League Two and Burton's Callum McFadzean is keeping their

play`off place is very much alive. Top three still within their grasp,

Stan. It used to be 1`0 to the Arsenal, but now it is 1`0 to the

Brewers. The goals they have scored in their last six games but

crucially they have kept clean sheets. Deleted with that. Over a

couple of games, perhaps in the play`off chase, they will have to

put teams away and that would be my worry for them, they do not score

enough goals. 17 clean sheets as a bit of a dream. Results and

performances are very important but so are clean sheets.

A very good one for Mansfield. This was a fantastic goal against

Morecambe. He scored a similar free kick earlier in his career. Right

into the roof of the net. They are not going to go down. It is about

point for new contracts. Putting yourself into the shop window. Great

strike. I think the manager has done a really good job. It is very

difficult when you just come up from the league below. They could not get

a victory for a while but they have come through that rough patch.

Finally, Rodney's team, we will not ruin your day but you are preparing

for next season? That is it for another Late Kick

Off. My thanks to Dean and Stan. Rod Laver Robin, please do the honours.

If you want to be part of our audience, get in touch with us. We

will be back at the same time, same place, next Monday. From all of us,