Episode 9 Late Kick Off South, South West and West

This week's Late Kick Off it is rolling out the red carpet with the

Football League Awards. I am James Coming up, the man who is

officially the best player in the Championship, plus a big hand fall

apart award winners on a glittering night for the region. Feathers fly,

we get a view of what went wrong for Bristol City. And all the goals

it in our round-up of all the teams in the region.

Thank you for joining us. Leroy Rosenior, Graham Murty, joining us.

A terrific time was had last night at the Football League awards,

which saw supporters honoured. Are they a big deal? Any time you pick

up an award is a time to be celebrated and enjoyed, that is the

way you have to go about it. Definitely, give yourself aback --

pat on the back. But especially when you have one yourself! I was a

fortunate to win a football player in the community. Football teams to

a great deal of work in the community, it is an honour to be

nominated, that one is because I am involved in a charity, I am a

patron. Will be catching up with who won what throughout today's

show, and let's start with an honour for the fans and a story

that will resonate with a lot of supporters across the region.

of our clubs have been through hard times because of finance his club

but this one stands for the fans to stick by their club through thick

and very thin, and this year, it has gone out to Sue Pollard from

When she started watching, she could never have known the profound

effect that Plymouth Argyle would have on her life. Eight years ago,

everything looked rosy, promotions, championship football, games at the

biggest stadium. But then, at the bubble burst. The cash ran out.

Relegations followed. Going through what we did last year in particular,

it is the lowest this club has ever been. The fans were down on their

knees, the whole club was just sat with no hope for inspiration.

wasted no time, or organising Bath it -- bucket collections,

protesting and lobbying for change, and slowly, she got the right

messages into the right hands. was the staff and the way they were

being treated, that is what we be good to me at one stage. I first

met her when she rattled a bucket in my face and asked me for money.

Without people like Sue, there would be really dark times for

Plymouth. France's reaction to sue and now is testament to the crucial

part she has played in the last year, and she has been the ultimate

optimist. It may take years to come, but one day, we will climb again.

There is a lady who is just a stunningly passionate about saving

the club, she was totally selfless, she would do anything for anyone,

whether it was collecting in buckets in the rain, or whether it

was making a request for money that nobody had the courage to make, it

should do so by the what a great community club it is -- sh she

personified. She deserves to be Top staff. There has been some

amazing loyalty at so many other clubs in the region in similar

predicaments. So many amazing fans, she just epitomises it. Lot of

supporters talk about doing things, but she is somebody who get up, get

it done, and has a real effect on the community. Statistics would

suggest a particularly in our region, because it we have won the

award in the last three years, with Brighton and Southampton supporters.

Still to come, more happy faces at the Football League are what can

including an award for one of our managers, a man described as a...

Not! He is mad! Plus all the weekend's action, including the

West Country derby. Right now, it is action, featuring the other side

of the Bristol football divide, Bristol City, wondering what they

must do to get some light of late. They were beaten by arch rivals

Cardiff, and we have charged Murts it the digging out something

positive. I have had more luck than they had defending the goals that

their strikers that Cardiff do possess, but they struggle with

getting the ball into it Jon Stead. By people around the ball, and no

one is going be on the Cardiff back line to stretched the pitch,

everything seemed to be into feet. They are forced backwards because

there is no penetration, we are going to go back to the centre half.

Contrast that to Kenny Miller. He was making this wrong -- run all

night long. This one past 67 defenders out of the game up. --

takes a seven defenders out of the game. They got in behind the back

line here, and this is the goal. Jon Stead, coming on to the ball

for once, get the equaliser. Look at Brett Pitman's body-language, he

is saying, play the ball into the area, I am going to go and score.

Everyone now is focusing on going towards Cardiff's goal puts it at

the time that happened, that could have been the winner. I just wonder

whether they are missing Nicky may They might need him to go in behind.

Anybody is going to miss his pace, but you have to give them time, Jon

Stead and Brett Pitman haven't had time to develop a partnership. But

you have got to have a midfield players as well, you cannot have

them just stood behind them, watching, one has got to go and

create the space. They did have good quality into a centre

forward's feet, but then they didn't have the next round, there

was no through afterwards. We are talking about a third man running,

which is what they really needed to stretch the defence, because when

they did, they put Cardiff under pressure. Thank you. A bad day for

the Robins, how did the rest of our the Championship. Two goals from

Adam Lallana, St have scored 65 in the league this season, the highest

total in the Championship. His second goal is all about Tadanari

Lee. He does well to get away from the defenders. He doesn't crossing,

get his head up and looks, and then looks again. Fantastic for

Southampton, unbeaten in nine matches.

Great times at Reading, a winner after winner. It is brilliant as a

player, you feel invincible. That self-belief is shown with this a

fantastic shot. Jason Roberts has got plenty of attention, and make

headlines, but I want to focus on Noel Hunt, who provides the cross

at the Jason to turn in. He is getting the plaudits he deserves,

he was the man at the match. He hits a cross again for Reading's

third. Leicester did get a late consolation for abrading and

Southampton, on course for automatic promotion. -- Reading and

at Southampton. The Sunday hasn't played much this

season but came on. His old club Valencia turned down a huge bid

from Real Madrid for him a few years back. There is the option of

another year's contract. Pompey, And Bristol City, dropping into

danger as well. At the other end, Speaking at Southampton, Nigel

Adkins was calling the second half the best part of that ball he has

seen from them for a long time. They have been through a sticky

patch, and they have played football like that for a long time,

I have been impressed. But the confidence seemed to be back in the

front two, Lambert and Adam Lallana. A good weekend all round for them.

Not only did they set up something's first goal, -- at

Southampton's first goal, but he was on the short list for Player of

the year. And it was won by Richard Lambert. Dr Ward was decided by the

League managers'. -- the award was decided. Played a lot of games, a

lot of experience, and obviously, I have been kicked by a lot of big

defenders as well. So obviously, you learn from their games you play,

and if you are going to get to the Championship, you hope to get here

at your peak, and I feel I am picking now.

Interesting journey he has been on as well. He has, I saw him playing

for Rochdale in midfield, and he did have a great technique, but he

was no one near as fit as he is now. They have always been doubts about

his fitness, with his quick enough, but he has a fantastic brain and

great picnic. I'm really pleased for him, he has worked really hard

at it. He has got quite a shot on him as well. This isn't the most

important are what he has picked up, two years ago he was the grateful

recipient of how fast shot competition. Richard Lambert,

Is that a lot? Those are the shots you try to get out of the way off,

you don't block vote. He is not just about power, there. I think

playing in midfield helped him develop. He has got great feet, he

is great in tight areas, but good on the far post. He is not a big,

powerful striker, he doesn't seem to be challenged, he makes the

space. And he has got to thank his team-mate, they have been giving

him the service. Things have been going very well at the top of the

Championship, it could be a South versus West report -- Late Kick Off

trouble going on, Southampton and possibly Reading going up in the

automatic places. At Reading could move level on points tomorrow. Also,

Brighton are in the play-off positions, what do you think?

Reading are the form team in the country. We talked about Brighton

before, we had a good feel about them, we think they are going to

push on towards the end of the season, Gus Poyet has done a great

job. Having said that, perhaps Portsmouth were a bit unlucky not

Brighton, but when things aren't going for you, you don't get those

Back to last night's award, and what I was interested in was a new

one, an outstanding achievement by her manager award, which went to

Gus Poyet, not surprisingly, for promotion last season with the

Seagulls. Here is what some of the key part -- folk at Albion think of

His secret, I think, is intense professionalism and a burning drive

to be the best and the transfers that to everybody around him.

really honest. He comes and tells you the truth. He talks to

everybody, gives everybody his time. He is a really good man-manager.

is conscious about the rest of the staff, what is going on in their

life, he picks a big interest in the people he has got around him.

He is deeply involved with everything at the club. He has

worked very hard and has got the timing so perfect for us last

season, to have come up with such style. They don't call him Radio

for nothing, he does love to talk! But he does love to talk about his

passion, which is good poor. His wife is just the same, by the way!

Attention to detail, the boys are under no illusions what we are

supposed to be doing. Win or lose, he is on the coach straight away,

he put on a DVD of the next game coming up. We look at each other to

say, the man is mad. But it away for an hour, but he cannot, that is

him. Thankfully, he is at in our He was in a talkative mood himself

last night. If you are a Brighton fan, you might want to listen

carefully to his answer. If it was with Brighton, it would be amazing,

fantastic and perfection. If in four years we didn't make it, of

course I would like to move to the Premier League. Factors were the

best managers are. I want to be there. He has been subjected to

interest from Premier League clubs. Does he have the skill set? He does,

for me. The reason he did he run the award is because he is good at

his job. He was to be in the Premiership a few years ahead.

Ideally it will be with Brighton but they will do well to hold on to

him if they are not their. Its rich for Charlie calling him a matter!

He is intense, in a nice way. He is ambitious. Brighton fans will

appreciate that. They were not going anywhere and he has shown the

club that if they can follow his ambition, they can be successful.

He has said three or four years but is there a warning bell there?

said two years as well. I think to would be preferable. Don't be

looking for trouble. Let's celebrate its now.

Back to men kicking a ball around from Gavin Williams. Great

precision on fire to strike as he puts The Oval on course. The Oval

Leavold. -- Yeovil. Andy Williams strode into the gap. No goals for

Wickham in this match but there doesn't concede either. This was

Wycombe's 4th clean sheet in either league the system. -- in the season.

Four games without a goal now. A five straight defeats. How about

this for a third goal? This deflection coming up, how does that

feel when that happens to you? has never happened to me! It's

knocked the stuffing right out of Exeter. This third goal was far too

easy. Exeter now need to get back trap for -- trapdoor at present.

Bournemouth is hanging on to top Good news for Radio 4 as it looks

like they will be staying in the division. -- for Yeovil. It is

ironic. They started the season having to rebuild the squad on a

shoestring budget. They've had some money and invested in four new

players and they have a lot tweaked the team in the way they had

anticipated. They've lost their momentum. Yeovil have momentum.

seven wins in 11. The key is that he has gone in there, not a

somebody who is going to make all the decisions, he has fitted in. He

has worked alongside his team makes and he has had awards. Let's get

back to last night's football league awards and this next one is

poignant because it goes to Portsmouth, family cover of the

year. And rightly so. Pompey have fantastic fans, vehement, loud.

They take care of the other side of things as well. It is the heart of

Who do you reckon is in the manager's seat? You are, for the

Fantastic. I love that. Next one. want to see some really colour for

comics of your day at Fratton Park. Nice to me cue. -- nice to meet you.

We have lots of neighbours around the football club and there is a

generation that need help. We run clubs in local secondary schools

and there has been an 80 % rise in attendance on Thursdays. It is

important that we show children we are more than just football. We are

a club that cares about their lives. By so much at stake over the next

couple of months for that club. It is a fantastic club and it is a

shame we have the headlines about their financial straits. Plays do

so many things well. Swindon will lead to this winners. There was one

other winner but more about that later on. Any thoughts about

today's winners all the topics we are talking about, you can continue

the debate on Twitter. League Two, our round-up begins with a

swashbuckling affair at Plainmoor, featuring gulls, and some patchy

has! He has gone inside the box and is forced to save it. Torquay have

put the ball into the net. diagonal ball. He has got a touch

on it and it has reflected, and it I hope they are disappointed and

not content. I hope they don't think it is good enough because it

shouldn't be. Is a comeback like this as good as a winner? Obviously,

in the toys -- points total it isn't but in terms of character

that the lads have shown, they looked dead and buried, but they

have shown real resilience. Today was a perfect example. What you

reckon? Glass half full or half empty at Torquay? In the last

couple of days, only one point. That is still three-quarters full

from my point of view. I know how difficult it is to get a club into

that position with its resources. It is a difficult place for clubs

to go. There is a long journey back their and their long journey back.

A it's interesting how the balance of power could be shifting in the

south-west. It always has done. When I was at Torquay in the

Conference and Plymouth win the championship, it always seems to

turn around. What I would love to see is all in League One are

playing against each other and a regular basis. A that would be

terrific. Let's move on and find out some

more of the lead to action. Loads of effort, but hardly a point to

afterwards that he had been advised which way he would hit the penalty.

Great advise, coach. Paul Benton his lead to player for the month of

February. He has had seven goals in his last eight appearances.

Crawley should have won first, surrendering a two-goal lead.

was a wonderful strike. Look out cleanly he picks his love. Crawley,

normally you would expect them to get the points racked up but they

are having a shake-up. Unfortunately for Crawley,

Macclesfield get an equaliser in stoppage time. My producer has said

I am not allowed to say anything about that the tackle. As bad as

that tackle was, is not as bad as this one. What are you doing? No

need to lunge in their. A penalty to Bradford gives them a 1-0 lead

which they quickly make a 2-0. the end, Oxford did get a goal back

but it wasn't enough. Here is an example of not being able to learn.

They must get someone on the centre forward's toes. They don't, a free

header, 2-0. Stay on your feet! They don't, they die then, penalty.

3-0, even though Jamie young does go the right way. Danny Wilson had

the consolation but it was too little, too late. Plumber if

dropping into the bottom two. that is very unlucky. That does not

look like a penalty for me. I really hope that decision doesn't

cost them dear at the end of the season. There is the lead to a

table at the top Swindon are stretching away. A clutch of our

teams are in the play-off places at the bottom. Plymouth are in the

For Swindon like petrol prices, they are going up. He said you can

send me of us may times as you want but we are going to win the league.

Swindon are going up a very fast. They have a trophy coming up on

Sunday week. Everything's looking good. Going to Wembley is a great

reward. People can say it can detract from your league season but

I don't think it can. They need to win the game. Madrid she, let's

have a word or two about him. How important is his form? He is

absolutely unstoppable in this division. He is quick and sharp.

He's got a great left. He has been recognised by League managers as

the League Two and player of the year. Let's have a little look at

The great stuff their from Swindon. A different state of affairs at

Crawley. Eight points off the top three. What has happened there? Did

they do their sums wrong? I don't think they did their sums wrong. It

came from the board. Absolutely. Steve had nothing to do with that.

It has put them up against the buffers. They cannot score goals

and they are dominating games but cannot get that goal to open teams

up and giving teams a chance of getting points. It is a tough one

for Steve but it is when people make decisions above your head, you

can still much. -- you cannot do much. The intensity is there from

the manager, it's a question of keeping your composure and making

sure you do everything right. It is recoverable but it will be a hard

task. They have lost their momentum. It's impressive what they've done.

It might have been too much, too soon but we will see what they can

achieve in the final weeks of the season. In the meantime, let's give

a little bit of love to David James. Last weekend, has 900 the

appearance and he was made captain by Bristol City for the occasion.

Now 41 years of age, how far can he go? What big numbers can he read?

He can reach 1000. I don't see why not. A lot of people still think he

should be playing in the Premier League. He had a dip in form

earlier in the season but I was impressed by the way he came back.

He has always kept himself fit and sharp. When he loses that hunger,

that will be the time. He will decide. Some players never lose

their hunger, he will know because he is clever enough. He is fit and

strong at the moment but he will decide. Many congratulations to

David James. That brings us to the end of today's late kick-off. Many

thanks for joining us and thank you to Graham Ansley right. Regrettably,