Episode 9 Late Kick Off North West

Your average person gets to take the bank holiday off. Football League

fans, though, are far from average. That's why we're all here tonight.

Welcome to Late Kick Off. Coming up on the last show of the

series: A tale of two teams - charting the ups and the downs of a

frantic final day at the bottom of League One.

It was always going to be a tough day. We wanted to do it ourselves.

We didn't want to rely on other teams to do it for us.

The Clarets come to town - we're on the bus for Burnley's big bash.

And three games from promotion - we check out the chances for our trio

of play-off teams. Yeah, a lot to come. Also tonight,

the very best... BUZZERS ..that these fellas brought us. According

to staff, which Accrington player dresses the worst? BUZZER. Dean

Winnard. LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE.

Yeah, he wasn't happy, was he? Joining me in the studio tonight, a

man whose season still has hopefully three games to go. It's

play-off-bound Preston striker Kevin Davies. And with him a man who has

played for Bury and Burnley, coached at Rochdale and North End and

actually thought Dean Winnard looked a bit natty there. He's now a pundit

on BBC Radios Manchester and Lancashire - welcome to Jamie

Hoyland. Guys, thank you very much for coming.

At the end of every season, one thing that's always guaranteed is

final day drama. For two of our League One sides, that meant the

dreaded last-ditch bid for survival. Crewe's fate was in their own hands,

but Tranmere needed victory and favours from others, including

Oldham, who hosted relegation rivals Notts County. Reporting from Gresty

Road and Prenton Park, it's Ian and Alex.

The sun is shining at Prenton Park. But Tranmere know that their fate is

not in their own hands. They need it least a draw and for results

elsewhere to go their way. In training this week, though, the

players seemed very relaxed, there was a great team spirit and John

McMahon said that they were determined to fight for their

survival. They keep working hard, the players,

they give it everything they have got. I'm sure, come Saturday, they

are going to do exactly the same and hopefully the hard work and

perseverance will pay off for us. The views of Tranmere coach John

McMahon there but what about the Crewe boss, Steve Davis? Well, we

did try to get a word with him but unfortunately he declined all TV

interviews, saying it would put more pressure on him and the team ahead

of a game they know they have to win to guarantee their status in League

One next season. Second-season syndrome, I think it

is, as they say in football. It is a tricky game, there is no doubt about

that. I think it is very important, if there is any goals, that Crewe

get the first goal. If they do, I think they could go on and get the

result they want. I am nervous, very nervous. A good run of form at the

moment, we just need to see it through to the end. Hopefully, at

5pm tonight, we will still be in the division. Nervous. More nervous.

Worried! COMMENTARY: Here we go then. A day

of destiny for Tranmere. But, really, it's all about what

Crewe Alexandra do. Their destiny is in their own hands.

Inside the penalty area. Held it. It's gone in!

Crewe are now putting pressure on. The crowd has been quieter since

news came through of the Tranmere goal. Left-footed. Header! GOAL!

Rises like a salmon and gets his first goal of the season!

Adam Dugdale with the header. Look at the reaction around us. The fans

firmly believe that Crewe are staying up. That is the chance. News

is coming through of a goal at Crewe. You can see some fans

checking their mobile phones for the score. As it stands, Tranmere remain

relegated. Tackles have been flying in from

both sides, resulting in some bad May for Tranmere - Junior Brown was

given a straight red card. -- some bad news. Tranmere down to ten men.

Still 1-0 up, still in the relegation zone.

You have got some good Preston pressure in that block by Dugdale

just a few moments ago. It might again prove vital. What a hero he is

turning out to be this afternoon. Just want other goal, don't we?

Another goal will settle it. Another 45 minutes to go and you never know

what is going to happen. Crewe Alexandra will have another 45

minutes to keep this result as it is and they will be in League One next

season. I'm listening to Graham McGarry on Radio Stoke and hoping to

hear that we are getting a goal at Tranmere and Tranmere are drawing.

But we're not hearing that. What's the deal with Notts County and

Oldham? As far as I know, nothing has changed there at all. It's still

the same. We need to do something here if we can. What can he do? He

is still battling. 2-0! Crewe Alexandra!

That reaction just about says it all. Crewe are 2-0 up. Could that be

the goal that secures their League One safety? Certainly, the fans

think so. And, at Boundary Park, good news for

Tranmere. And Adam Lockwood gives the Latics

the lead. 22 minutes gone. The Tranmere fans over there have

just let out a huge roar as the news is filtering through that Oldham

have scored, meaning that Tranmere, as it stands, will stay in League

One. But that didn't last long. There was

a hand there and a penalty. High to his left.

The near side now. Meredith turns it in. He has got it!

Bad news from Prenton Park. Bradford have just scored. It is now 1-0

here. The fans behind me here are just trying to get behind the

Tranmere team now. They need one more goal and we also need something

else at Oldham, we believe it is 1-1 there. At the minute, Tranmere will

be relegated. News coming through an equaliser at

the Tranmere game? Tranmere, one, Bradford, one, that's all I can

hear. Obviously, that news is filtering through. I heard it

shouted over there. I suppose it is a huge relief. Yes, it is a huge

relief! It's not a bad substitution. The edge of the penalty area! Fires

in goal! Preston have scored! Nervous times for Crewe. 90 seconds

to go. The referee looks at his watch. Crewe Alexandra! They are

League One team next season. The final whistle goes and Tranmere

will be in League Two next season. The players sink to their knees,

heads in hands. One minute, it was elation, the next it was just

despair. I mean... Valiant effort but it is

not this game we got relegated on, it is the other 45 before it as

well. Some of the players were in tears at

the end of the game. What can you say to them after that? It's

difficult. They are emotional people. They'd given everything they

could today. It wasn't through a lack of effort or commitment, or

passion or desire. And it wasn't just today's game that's got us

relegated, it is numerous things. And it's been from the start of the

season. But, again, we need to regroup and take stock and hopefully

come back stronger. This time last year, we were on the

pitch with you as you fielded the entire home 11. Slightly different

circumstances. I know - very different! But a happy day

nonetheless. Yeah, I'm glad it finished like that. It was always

going to be a tough day. We wanted to do it ourselves, we didn't want

to rely on other teams to do it for us. Although, in the end, that has

been helpful. But we just wanted to do it for ourselves and we have done

today, which is good. To be honest, I'm devastated that Tranmere has

gone down. I went there earlier this season on loan. But I have got a job

to do. I'm pleased to get the goal and I'm more than pleased to get the

three points and to stay in this division, it means a lot for the

club and all the fans. We've been at the bottom of the league for the

whole season, so it's been a long, hard season. We're just delighted

that we're out of it all, we're delighted that we didn't go down..

whole season, so it's been a long, Wow, talk about contrasting

emotions! You can almost feel the stress through the screen, can't

you? Here's how it all ended up, Tranmere now facing up to life in

the bottom tier for the first time in 25 years. Kevin, we will talk

about Preston in a moment. You were there at the weekend. What was the

atmosphere like? It was a cracking atmosphere. There was a lot riding

on the game for Crewe. We still wanted to finish the season on a

high and take that momentum into the play-offs. But you have to give

credit to them, they performed really well from start to finish.

The early goal settled them down a bit and they were obviously checking

on the other results and things but they wanted to do it themselves.

They deserved it on the day but it was a good atmosphere and good luck

to them. Yeah, it was a big crowd. There'd be a lot there from Preston,

about 7,500. The manager, Steve Davis, says the crowd got them over

the line. Yeah, you need that. We'll be looking to our crowd - they've

backed us all year. You do need that crowd and it can get you over the

line. They were fantastic, they got behind them throughout the game.

They got that first goal, then the second and then they were pretty

much safe. We were disappointed to lose the game, but they did deserve

it on the day. More Preston in a second. Let's talk Tranmere. Real

disappointment for them. They have lost four out of the last five. They

could have turned it round, couldn't they? They could. Like the fans said

there, and John McMahon, it's not that game that sent them down, it's

all over the season. They have not produced in the big one on Saturday.

Even though they needed a victory, they did not get that and the

results went against them unfortunately. The takeover

collapsed, they lost their manager... Everything that could go

wrong in the season went wrong and then the sending-off on Saturday,

the deflected goal, it was written that they were going to go down.

Well, let's hope that, next season, we're talking them back up again.

The top half of the League One table shows that we have one team with

plenty to play for. Preston are heading for the play-offs and that

defeat to Crewe, coupled with a win for Leyton Orient, means a

fifth-place finish and Rotherham over two legs. Here are the details

of those games: North End are at home in the first leg this coming

Saturday and make the trip across the Pennines a week on Thursday.

Build-up, commentary and reaction from both games on BBC Radio

Lancashire. The queues have been there already today, Kevin. The fans

have been served tea and copy while they waited for these precious

tickets. Let's talk about this defeat to Crewe because that has

cost you home advantage. How much of a blow is that? I'm not too sure

about it. I think it can work either way. We wanted to finish on a high

and finish third, just to finish as high as we can. We didn't target one

of those teams to play. They are all really good teams in there, so for

us to be promoted, we are going to have to beat two of them. That is

going to be difficult. But we fancy our chances. There is no doubt about

it, it will be a big crowd for us on Saturday and they will get right

behind us. If we can take a good lead over to Rotherham, we will be

in with a good shout. What do you make of Rotherham? You have drawn

twice with them this season - 0-0 at their place and that incredible 3-3

draw at your place, when they equalised in the last minute.

There's a bit of a needle, isn't there? Yeah, there is a little bit.

I think, if you look at the table, we're two teams that are really well

matched and the results have proved that over the season. The two draws.

They scored a late equaliser in that 3-3, as you mentioned there. We've

already proven we can go there early in the season and get a result. We

know what to expect. It will be difficult. They have only lost two

or three games since the turn of the year. But we fancy our chances. We

have worked incredibly hard to get where we are and I think we have got

a manager who has proven that he can get you over the line. So we're

looking forward to it. And your manager, Simon Grayson, said after

the game at the weekend that it would sharpen you up mentally, that

defeat. Is that what you were saying to each other in the dressing room

after the game? Yeah. I think one of the important things is that we have

always followed and backed that up with a good result. We've lost seven

games all year. Every time we have lost a game, we have come back with

a good performance. At home, I think we've scored 14 goals in the last

three games. I think it will be a tough game for Rotherham as well.

We've been in training today, there has been a good response. We've had

a good week this week. We'll go into it on Saturday and... We can't wait.

And the manager will have in mind that they are a tough, physical

side, aren't they? Yeah, they revel at the top there and they have

players who will look to support that. They are scoring a lot of

goals. We know what to expect. We have to roll our sleeves up. It will

be a real battle. They won't give up until the 95th minute. You know,

whatever it takes, we have to match that. We have the quality player

that we can bring in to win us the game. A lot of play-off history on

this bench. Here, you're a winner. Jamie, you're a loser. Obviously,

I'm a loser! What do you make of this record? Eight play-off attempts

for Preston, and eight failures. Does that matter? Does it mean

anything? Like Kevin says, they have got the man who could end that.

Simon has got the pedigree in the play-offs to take them up. It will

be a cracking game. The managers I don't think like each other. I went

to the one where they were 3-3. Steven refused to shake hands with

Simon when they were coming off. That'll add to it and that will

galvanise as well. Going out there, knowing how much they don't like

Rotherham, that they want to beat them. I think being at home for the

first one will not matter. It doesn't matter in the play-offs. It

is just how the players react. Wow. You need to be giving the team talk!

I think Preston have got the big-name players who can get through

it, to be honest. I've said all season that they'd go up

automatically. I was wrong with that, but play-offs definitely.

We'll take the next best thing. Get him in before the game, in a suit of

armour, he'll have you fighting! Thanks very much, chaps. More from

the boys in a second. One team down from League One but

one to take Tranmere's place from League Two. BBC Radio Manchester's

Liam Bradford starts his look back at the weekend's League Two action

with promoted Rochdale. Pink pants and party mood for

Rochdale officials and fans at Newport, as Keith Hill's side kicked

off knowing that a win and the right results elsewhere could mean

promotion to League One as champions. They got off to the right

start, taking the lead through George Donnelly, but the home side

were back on terms before the break, thanks to O'Connor's scrambled

effort. Dale got a break late on when Ian Henderson was brought down

in the box, and culprit Ryan Jackson was red carded. But Matty Lund's

spot kick was saved, and it was the ten men who would go on to claim an

unlikely three points, Kevin Feeley heading home with just three minutes

to go, but it's a result which shouldn't and won't deflect from

Dale's superb season. What we have done this season has been a massive

achievement. A financial achievement as well. These players deserve all

the accolades they are going to get. Fleetwood still hope to join Dale

and Saturday's opponents Chesterfield in League One next

season, but the play-offs are their only route to promotion. Matty Blair

gave them the lead against the eventual champions with a nicely

worked goal just thirteen minutes in, but this was Chesterfield's day

and they made the most of it. Two goals within four minutes early in

the second half turned the game around. First Sam Hird headed home,

before former Accrington man Gary Roberts won it with the goal of the

game. It's York in the play-offs now for Fleetwood. Stanley finished the

season in style, winners over Wimbledon at home. Kayode Odejayi

gave the hosts an early lead before a brace from James Gray put the

result beyond doubt. He nodded home on 19 minutes and then converted

Will Hatfield's corner as his side finished 15th in the final table.

It's been contrasting ends to the season for Morecambe and Bury, who

rounded the season off with a stalemate. Danny Mayor had the best

chance for a Shakers side who lost just one of their last ten, while it

was the Shrimps, winners of just one of their last 11, who had the best

chance in the dying seconds, but Ryan Edwards fired high. Let's hope

for better seasons for both teams next time out.

Let's confirm all that. And a look at the final League Two table shows

Dale up and Bury with a creditable top-half finish after a season much

of which they spent struggling. Watch out for the Shakers next year.

Fleetwood in the play-offs. More of them in a moment. A glance at the

bottom half reveals Morecambe and Stanley. Safety and another Football

League season, the big plusses for them after some worrying moments

over the course of their campaigns. Let's focus on Fleetwood, Jamie.

They are in the play-offs fourth. Will they be happy with that?

Probably overall, no. With the results they got, the squad they

have, I think they would have been disappointed not to be in the top

three. As it is, they've hung on to the play-off spot because at one

point it looked like they could miss out on that. They have the advantage

of being away at York, so all to play for. You have seen them a bit.

Do they have what it takes to get up? Yeah. Talking about big players,

there's ones in their squad which should see them through, but they

are playing York, who were second bottom are few months ago and have

come through. They could be the side who could surprise somebody. Let's

look at the fixtures for that game against York. Fleetwood have a tough

task because York are in form, unbeaten in their last ten. Yeah,

they are. They have some decent players. They have a couple of young

players doing really well, Will Hayhurst and Ben Davies, who have

done well. players doing really well, Will

Hayhurst and Ben Davies, I think it will be a difficult game for

Fleetwood. York won at Fleetwood in February 2-1 and then Fleetwood

managed to knock over one at York. Can you read anything into previous

results when it comes to a play-off? It is in the back of your mind,

especially when it is a positive one where you've been there and turned

them over 3-0, you know you have the beating of them so it helps

psychologically but on the day anything could happen, they could

take an early lead or there could be a sending-off, it helps mentally.

The manager would use that, we beat these, remember when we came back in

the second half, and using it as a positive to get something going in

the game. Good luck to Fleetwood. The Championship has kept us busy

again this season with north west action and interest at both ends of

the table. Suzanne Hailey kicks off her look back at the last weekend

with the almost safe Seasiders. A season to forget for the Seasiders

and a final game to match. Results everywhere kept them up and it's a

good job they did, after a 3-0 home defeat to Charlton. At the end of

the day our remit was Tuesday in the league and we have that the hard

way, but they can be hard because from day one, then given me

everything. Dash-mac they have given me everything. Then tried so hard in

their training everyday and its been a joy to watch them. Bolton ended up

being a story, but only for the comeback and relegation reprieve

they allowed Birmingham. Wanderers led 2-0 late on, thanks to goals

from Chung Yung Lee and then Lukas Jutkiewicz, his effort helped on the

way by Blues keeper Darren Randolph. Bolton boss Dougie Freedman says his

side have dropped too many points at home this season, and to prove it,

they allowed Birmingham back in. They scored two late goals to earn a

point and a place in the Championship next season. Blackburn

kicked off against play-off bound Wigan with a slim chance of joining

the visitors in the top six. The action is described by BBC Radio

Lancashire's Andy Bayes. And it's Cairney, he has Conway outside of

him. On his left foot, beautiful skill from Tom Cairney. That is a

magnificent goal. Here comes the delivery. Robinson's gone forward

and it's headed into the net, and it is Ramis with the finish. It's back

to Rudy Gestede, 2-1. Blackburn back in front straightaway. Cairney with

a cross, good header, good goal. Excellent finish. Now McEachran to

get the crossing, McClean, 3-2. Dash-mac to get across in. Craig

Conway to deliver the free kick for Blackburn. Can they seal the points

here? They can. Maynard shoots, what a great goal. Burnley bid farewell

to the Championship with a point at Reading, one which cost the home

side a play-off place. Scott Arfield and Danny Ings put The Clarets 2-1

up after they had gone behind early, but this corker from McAuley meant

honours ended even at the end of memorable Burnley campaign. Good

effort. Great goal. Burnley's weekend didn't end in

Reading. There was the small matter of a promotion party back home, one

to which the whole town... Don't laugh, he's the mayor. ..was

invited. Absolutely amazing. Brings tears to

your eyes. They're all happy. Great for the town as well. Look where we

are, Burnley are promoted! CHEERING. For these players, my staff, myself

to be manager of a team in the Premier league and walking around

fantastic stadiums is a great achievement and one that we all look

forward to going into next season. I've been waiting for this moment

all my life. Best day of my life. Hopefully I can take it into next

season and really enjoy it. It's huge for the town, getting

promotion. It's been a great year and it's a lovely way to cap it off.

Come on, Burnley! You might be on telly!

We're all on telly. A look at the final Championship table shows

Burnley bound for the Premier League and Wigan heading for the play-offs.

The other end shows a disappointing season for Bolton and survival for

the Seasiders. I think we can expect interesting and busy summers for

both of those sides. Wigan's fifth-place finish means a play-off

against pre-season promotion favourites and big let-downs QPR.

BBC Radio Manchester will have the very best coverage of Friday's home

leg and then the return at Loftus Road a week tonight.

BBC Radio Manchester will have the very I'm told that return leg is

already sold out. very I'm told that return leg is

Jamie, let's look at Wigan's prospects. A few weeks ago, everyone

was talking about them, a real inform team but they've dropped off

a cliff. They've lost three out of the last four. What does Uwe Rosler

have to do? Exactly. At one stage they were looking at the automatic.

They had the semifinal, which they lost to Arsenal and since then

they've hit the form. -- they haven't had the form. I saw them at

Burnley and Burnley wiped the floor with them, then they struggled

against Blackburn and just managed to get over the line against

Birmingham, lost against Saturday and then went into play-offs with

that form in the back of their mind. He'll have to galvanise them and get

them together. It is a tough game against QPR. QPR have been very hit

and miss, you do not know which side will turn up, but if they do, they

have some big players. They have the players, I think Austin is back now,

he's a key player for them, but for them not to get

he's a key player for them, but for for them. You expect them to be

challenging Leicester for the title, so they found themselves in the

play-offs and it will be an interesting game. It's a tough one

to call. Uwe Rosler has done a fantastic job since he's been there,

he hasn't been there that long, so he's still working on the squad.

He's an ex-teammate of mine, and he's working on the fitness. The

amount of games they've had to play, maybe that will catch up on them,

but he is probably resting a few key players and trying to get them ready

for these two huge games. They will know each other well from Premier

league games. -- from Premier league days. But QPR, if it goes wrong for

them early on, their fans will turn because they have had enough this

season. They have. They have to get over the line this year and that is

one thing in Wigan's favour, all the pressure is on QPR to go up, so they

can be a little more relaxed and get on with the game. They have a bigger

wage bills than Borussia Dortmund, so there's pressure there. And

that's just Joey Barton! Thanks, guys. There you are, Jamie, that's

for you. It's gone off early. That's yours, Kevin. Now then, over the

last couple of years, those noises...

It took us an artery to reverse that. -- and are to reverse that.

These have given us a lot of laughs. A big thank you to all the teams

that have played along brilliantly with our little bit of fun, One on

One. As a tribute to you all, and to give us all another giggle, here's

this season's best bits. Well, I say Best. Finish the title of this

famous Beatles song. Strawberry... Cream.

Name Han Solo's Wookie companion from Star Wars. I know this one.

Chewbacca. Do your impression again. Go on. It's a once in a lifetime.

Which cricket team is the Red Rose County? Georgia. What? Can you give

us a clue? They play at Old Trafford. Lancashire.

Which player complains the most? Jason Shackell. Ross Wallace. He

comes in and whinges everyday about breakfast not being right. Get it

right. What is the capital city of Canada?

You can't write that! Canberra. That's Australia! Get him off. It

begins with an O. Ottawa. According to staff, which Accrington

player dresses the worst? Dean Winnard.

What is superhero Batman's real name? Bruce Willis. Bruce Wayne. You

can't take help. How many livers does a human being

have? Two or one. Three. I can only imagine it's like an

episode of Newsnight before a game in some of these dressing rooms. You

were there. Did he get some stick for that? I think they picked him on

purpose to embarrass him with his answers but he was good fun. What

kind of banter do you guys have prior to a game? Is it the case, if

someone's reading the Guardian, they're a swot? Do you have some

huge intellects? I've not seen too many over the 21 years I've been

playing, but it's a good place to go in and work every day, have a laugh

and enjoy working hard. Certainly in no Sheffield United or Burnley

dressing room did anyone read the Guardian. Thank you for coming in.

It's been brilliant. Oh, it's gone off, I stood on it. Sorry. Not only

is that it for tonight, or is it this morning? I've lost track. But

also for the series. Thanks to everyone who has helped us and you

gain a real insight into the game at Football League level. We'll be on

the BBC iPlayer for one more week, but from all the team here, thanks

for watching. Have a great close season. Good luck to all our sides

in the play-offs. We'll see you next season, with a bit of luck.

Goodnight. and the grand final with me,

Graham Norton.