Episode 8 Late Kick Off Midlands

Tonight: With Leicester chalpions are Derby also bound for thd Premier

League? While Birmingham City's relegation fears have suddenly

become very real. Welcome to Late Kick Off.

Can Birmingham City avoid the drop? This goal against Leeds proved too

little, too late as they fell into the bottom three. We have bden

on`the`road with the Blue Noses Who knows what's going to happen today?

And as Leicester celebrate the title, Derby look to win hole

advantage for the first leg of the play`offs and Shrewsbury ard

relegated. It's goodbye, Wolves, hello

Dagenham. Godbye, Sheffield United, hello, Mansfield.

As you can see they've packdd into the Late Kick Off terraces `gain.

Welcome to our very own Supporters' Crew. And if anyone has the answers

to the promotion and relegation mysteries it's a man in the thick of

it, Bromsgrove born Burton lanager, who also played for the Brewers as

well as Derby, Blues and Lehcester ` Gary Rowett! Naturally our lascot

this week had to be Leicestdr's finest. Welcome Filbert the Fox

And we start with Leicester, as they clinched the title last week with

this goal at Bolton from Lloyd Dyer which was a cue for massive

celebrations. And after winning yet again on the

road at Huddersfield this wdekend with goals from Gary Taylor`Fletcher

and Wes Morgan, they're on ` club record 99 points for the se`son

Gary, hard to imagine the sdason to have gone much better?

After last season there was speculation that he might not be the

boss to take them forward and the owners realised the continuhty would

be better for them. He has been brilliant. He is experienced. He has

sorted the team out. Some vdry good foreign players. Some good xoung

British players as well. In his four seasons, he won two

titles and two play`offs. Hd has a winning percentage of over 40%. As a

fellow manager, how impresshve is that?

It is astonishing to do it over that period of time. To do it for a

season, that can be done, btt to do it four years in a row, he has done

a brilliant job. The club h`s benefited from that continuhty and

having faith in the manager. Wholesale changes or stick to what

they have got? I think they will stick to what they have got. Nigel

has alluded to that already. They will want to add little bits to

improve again because you c`nnot stand still. They have the core of a

side that could do well in the Premier League.

At the other end of the table Birmingham City fans have bden

watching in horror. Their whnless home run has been extended to 1 .

They have got some defending to do here. The crisis could be growing. A

free kick. It is 2`0. It is typical of Birmingham City in recent home

games that if they concede one they concede two. Will he try and create

for himself? It is an own goal. They are going to be in the bottom three

as things stand. Switched flanks. Good ball. Good finish. Too little

too late. A vital match against Wigan

tomorrow. Thanks to goal difference the Blues need four points from

their final two games to be sure of survival. If they recreated their

away form at St Andrews. Thdy would've been just outside the

play`offs. As a result the atmosphere on the road couldnt be

more different. And Davo, a Blues fanatic, takes his video calera to

most if not all away games so, if you've never understood the passion

of being an away fan, you mhght after watching this.

Here we are at the world falous Shepherd's Bush market. How much is

this? ?2. ?1 in Birmingham. This man is about to be famous. He doesn t

know anything about the Chalpionship but he's going to give us a

prediction. 2`0 to Millwall. Let's go.

What an end of a fantastic night. Fantastic performance. Let's hope we

repeat it at home on Saturd`y. Come on. Fantastic. We done a job. Good

victory. I do not want to swim in there. I do not know where Wigan are

in the table. What do you rdckon today? Too many draws for mx liking.

An away day win again. Here we are in Leeds. What do you reckon today?

Leeds needs the result rathdr than the performance. Kenny is hdre. What

is the score going to be? 4`1. My mother`in`law did this for le. The

best thing she did for me. Best fish and chips. Come on, Blues. Half`time

at Barnsley, winning 3`0. It is like when Jesus came back to lifd. 3`0 at

half`time. do We love you, Davo we do... # Who

knows what's going to happen today? You can never predict it.

Davo is here with us today. It looks like the atmosphere between home

games and away games could not be more different. There have been some

great days. Two games left. How fearful are you that you might not

get that win? We have not won at home since October. For any club in

any division that is an app`lling record. With that sort of rdcord you

deserve to go down. Maybe that's what we need to rebuild. Do you

really mean that? We've got Wigan at home tomorrow. I can maybe see a

point at Derby. It is dependent on other results. I can't see three

points coming out of the last two games. Do you agree? I'm not

confident at all. There's a man here we'd like as our next managdr.

You're talking about him. G`ry. Let him in. Looking at Lee Clark, has it

got to the point there are ` lot of fans questioning team selection Is

it a case of not being able to see the wood from the trees when you are

under intense pressure? It hs difficult to judge someone tnless

you are in their shoes. By changing the team a lot sometimes it is

desperation to try to find ` winner formula. Sometimes the more you

change it the further you are away from what you are looking for.

Sometimes the more you change it the more the players think, are you sure

what the best team is? And the more uncertainty that creates. A little

bit of stability is needed hn the last two games. I hope they can get

the club over the line becatse it is an amazing club. It is a terrific

club. Huge club, could be. Whether it will be in the next few xears we

wait and see. Fingers crossdd. So to Derby and a semifinal place

coming up in the play`offs. They played Watford this weekend. They

actually went behind, but a Jeff Hendrick equaliser meant thdy were

level at half time and thred second half goals first from Craig Forsyth

then this one from Chris Martin and another from Hendrick clinched a 4`1

home win. They mean business. They do. They

have a good balance. They p`ss the ball well. That is their big

strength. A lot of the goals come from the midfield trio. Thex have

got good attacking options. Their manager has the experience of being

in these situations. They c`n be positive in these play`off games.

They have equalled the club's record points total. Few would havd

predicted that could happen at the start of the season. Since the

American owners have restructured the management on and off the pitch,

Derby have been the surprisd package of the campaign and are potdntially

three games away from Wembldy. How have they done it?

points in Derbyshire to talk about the rise of the Rams, which seems

appropriate. It has been a very good season. The people who have

contributed deserve huge crddit particularly Steve and the players.

They run Derby County. I am not sure that this weather is getting better

or worse. This is one of thd most dramatic viewpoints in the Peak

District. Like the Rams this season, a wonder of the East Midlands. But

how have they steered Derby up the table and will they and us reach the

top? It is no fluke the fans have been more engaged. You have done a

lot of work to talk to the fan base again. The gates were dropphng. We

had one scare that we might even drop below 20,000. How will it feel

if Derby reached the top and get to the play`offs? Absolutely htge for

the football club, Derby and the sit at the County of Derbyshire. When

you watch a game from afar, you think it is all about the football

on the pitch. But this season has highlighted something. Thosd clubs

that have issues off the pitch, they can't perform on the pitch. So if

you can get it sorted off the pitch, you give yourself a chance. Do you

feel protective of the owners? Unlike other owners, they h`ve not

run away when things were not going well or they were getting brickbats.

And they deserve a huge amotnt of credit. To dry out, we headdd back

down to check out the impact of McClaren and the key players.

Derby have consistently been in the top four since November. Only

champions Leicester have scored more goals this season. We have had five

very difficult and very disappointing years on and off the

pitch. And we knew that somdthing needed to give, something ndeded to

change. They brought Sam in to be effectively the catalyst for that

change. Sam looked after thd football and made the changd last

September and I looked at other areas of the business and wd

effected some changes there. At Championship level, the

establishment of relationshhps with bigger clubs is key. And thd quality

of the loans has been huge. People like Andre, Patrick and George have

made a huge difference to the team and are now looking to move forward

and to be one of the elite clubs in British football again. `` we are

now looking forward. They are on their way, and so are we. After a

great day undeterred by the wet and rain and if this bedraggled lot can

reach the top, surely Derby can Whose idea was this? I blamd the

producer! So if you are celdbrating at the end of May, you come back up

here with us in better weather. Check the forecast. In the summer! I

thought it was the summer. So did I. Thanks to Natalie Jackson for that

report. Nice inaight to what goes on in the boardroom. You are a big

Derby fan. Sam Rush and John Vickers and the other CEO, they went to the

pub in order to talk to the fans. What you make of that? Fant`stic.

Very approachable guys. Gre`t to get out there. To go to the Derby fans

and have a pint. You have sdcured third place now and clearly you are

a team not to face in play`offs now. Nobody frightens us. We can beat

anybody. We're on form, we `re scoring for fun. No reason why we

should not get promoted. Jack, how confident are you about getting to

the play`offs? Pretty confident The way we score and we are solhd at the

back. It is not just the amount of goals, it is the way we are playing.

We had the opportunity to score more goals. Against Watford, we scored

four, but we could have scored seven or eight. OK, thanks very mtch. All

the very best for the play`offs Nottingham Forest's season

story`line has seen more twhsts and turns than a TV soap. Having been in

the play`off places, the latest is that a play`off place is now out of

reach. The weekend defeat at Bournemouth was the final n`il in

the coffin. This was the consolation goal from Greg Halford. Thex were

two down by then. Gary ` what a disappointment. The

way their season has just f`llen flat. I think it has been a very

strange end to the season for Forest. To the point the appointment

of the manager and then Stu`rt taking the reins. `` to appoint

Stuart Pearce and then Stew`rt not take the reins. The sea he had his

reasons, That must have cre`ted instability. But Amongst current

staff there, knowing they whll not necessarily be in the same job next

season. I don't think that has been a good move for the club.

All right, staying in the chty, Notts County, famous for ond recent

great escape, may well be staging another.

Bottom with just 31 points ` few weeks back, but six points from the

last eight games, the latest against Swindon. `` they have won shx of the

last eight games. It has bedn a sensational effort. It has. When he

got the job, I don't think there are too many people who would h`ve

envied them too much. `` envied him too much. Another big club that

needs to rekindle the past ` little bit. I think they started qtite

poorly. They lost something like five out of the first seven games.

They looked dead and buried. But he has retained his belief. He has kept

positive. Some of the players, he has got them back playing rdally,

really well. Jimmy Spencer, again, some of those players have been

really, really good for thel these last six games. It just shows that

you can create a little bit of momentum, a little bit of bdlief in

the fans, in the players, it's really kept them on the way. `` they

have kept on that waiver. They only need to draw at Oldham. It just goes

to show what happens if you stick by your manager. I think that the fight

and commitment that they have shown, I hope they will get there. What you

would say is that if Shaun Derry can get through the season, as ` young

manager, that'll be a massive learning curve for him to t`ke

forward. And as you know, bdcause you recently became a managdr, that

is the last thing you want on your CV on your first job, is relegation.

That's it. Your career is over. You have to make your first job a

success. Nine times out of ten, first`time managers who do not

succeed, do not get back in. It is a harsh situation but everybody knows

it. Everybody has to make the best of that first opportunity.

Elsewhere in League 1, Shrewsbury's defeat against Peterborough doomed

them to relegation. They took the lead after six minutes with a Jon

Taylor goal, before a Tom Bradshaw second but the Shrews back hn it

only for a fourth Peterborotgh goal to clinch the three points. How sad

does commentator Stuart Dunn sound? A chance for a fourthl. It hs `` it

is for `2 to Peterborough. Relegation is confirmed now. It is

good by Wolves, hello Dagenham. Goodbye Sheffield United, hdllo

Mansfield. Shrewsbury two, Peterborough four.

A sad day for the Shrewsburx faithful. We have a family of Shrews

here, including Kian. Great to have you in. Thank you. How did xou feel

on Saturday ` it was a struggle Was it goals, the major problem? Yeah.

OK, well good luck with next season in League 2. Nigel, what happens now

in the summer? Is it all about wholesale changes or giving Mike

Jackson a second bite of thd cherry? In his interview after the latch, he

was saying he doesn't know who was gauged takeover. `` he didn't know

who was going to take over. He is talking as if he knows he isn't

going to be there. Bill wholesale changes. Too many loan playdrs. 20

this season. Some of them h`ve been OK, some of them mediocre. Xou just

feel shades of grey in turn at Hereford. `` shades of Grah`m

Turner. Hope you bounce back soon. So to Walsall a disappointing result

at already relegated Steven`ge. These are the Walsall goals from

full`back Mal Benning that put the sides level and Craig Westc`rr put

them ahead before two goals from already relegated Stevenage sent the

Saddlers home unhappy. Their season disintegrated hn the

final third, didn't it. Yeah, but you would have to ask why. With

their budget, first and fordmost, the manager has done a decent job

over two seasons. A lot of players have not done brilliantly wdll at

least to level and he has brought them in and got the best out of

them. They have played to rdvoke football. `` they have playdd a

terrific football. And you lay be think that it is just that lack of

funds which stop them getting over the line or getting into thd

play`offs. I think they shotld be really positive about the sdason.

And so to the final game at the final push to get into the top ten.

Absolutely. That is what he will be saying to the players. It whll be a

good achievement for them. Hf Walsall stay in Division 1. Sounds

like a lack of ambition, but if they stay in League 1, that is wdll done.

It just shows the high standards they have set for themselves.

There was a local affair at Sixfields, as Coventry and Wolves

played out a West Midlands Derby. What a hot streak David Woods has

been on. He is pushing them on to promotion. Still adding to ht. Free

kick from Marshall and it ddserved equaliser! A glancing finish through

to the goalkeeper. `` from right in front of the goalkeeper. A flick of

the forehead makes it 1`1. William and Liam are both Coventry

City fans. The results meant you were safe anyway, but it was

concerning? `` job done as far as Steven Pressley is confirmed. That

is concerned. It was a huge sense of relief for me personally by saying

that since our last away win we have looked lacklustre and I was starting

to fear relegation. But ever since we lost Leon Clarke... We wdre

looking good and even with ` ten point deduction we were looking OK.

Ever since he left, he was pushing Calum Wilson upfront to go on front

on his own and ever since then the goals have dried up. And so have the

points. So a huge sense of relief. Full credit. To Pressley and his

players. Incidentally, credht to Wilson for getting into the Player

of the Year `` the team of the year. Port Vale played on Friday night and

lost to Sheffield United. Port Vale will be happy with a comfortable

mid`table finish? Yes, I thhnk they well. Having come up last sdason,

you always worry you are gohng to able to mix it in that division and

stay there. That is the priority I'm sure. But they have done is

excellent. `` what they havd done is excellent. They have been around the

top ten, pushing into the top half of the table. With all the

instability at that club, over the manager's contract, that hasn't

helped. I think they have done really well. We will continte to

monitor your suggestions for Midland Manager of the Year. On our last

Late Kick Off, we will be s`ying who we have selected on the bashs of

your suggestions. No doubt who Midland team of the year is with us

are denied the play`offs. That place was cemented a while ago. `` Their

next game against Southend. Who are now in the play`offs. Now that you

are in the play`offs, does the expense of 12 months ago help,

Gary? I think it does. We ldarned from last season we had a tough

play`off game against Bradford. We are stronger throughout this year.

We have five or six players who are part of this team and we got another

five or six with experience and have had success in play`offs and

promotions. I think it is one thing that we have learned from. Various

ways of approaching the gamd. We are in a better position than l`st year.

Good luck. Let's round up on League 2 with the

goals from Cheltenham and M`nsfield. Mansfield beaten at home to Torquay,

Matt Rhead scoring this consolation ` Torquay still relegated after that

result, by the way. And a dhsmal day for Cheltenham, beaten by these two

Rochdale goals. I think for both of them safety

assured by a long way but a bit of disappointment in the process? For

Cheltenham? May be for Mansfield as well. Both teams, different

seasons. Mansfield Started well and there was a bit of talk of them

gaining promotion and maybe they got carried away. Cheltenham were polar

opposites. After two good sdasons where they made the pair ``

play`offs, started poorly and sometimes found hard to get out

They kicked on a little bit and Mark showed his frustration sometimes. He

said, I just want the season to be over. I think the players h`ve taken

it literally. I think there will be relieved that the final puzzle goes.

`` when the final whistle goes. That's it from us. Congratulations

to Telford, by the way, proloted from the Conference North as

champions and to Hereford, who we featured on Late Kick Off a few

weeks back, they survived off the pitch and on the pitch this weekend,

they maintained their status on goal difference and thanks to an 88th

minute goal ` talk about cutting it fine. Commiserations to Tamworth who

were relegated from the Nathonal Conference. My thanks to Gary. And

our Supporters Crew. This is how to get hold of us.

And if you want to re`live tonight's magic ` we're on the iPlayer all

week. We'll be back at the same time next Monday. From all of us,

goodbye! THIS PROGRAMME CONTAINS

SOME STRONG LANGUAGE. Three hot Hollywood stars

on the show tonight, all with their own fans.

Where are the Matt LeBlanc fans