07/12/2013 The Football League Show

Hello. After another week of managerial mayhem it is finally time

to focus on the football. I am on the south coast, as Brighton take on

championship leaders Leicester for what promises to be a terrific

contest. Here is what else we have got coming up tonight. Leicester

maintained their position at the top of The Championship despite

suffering a shock defeat at managerless Sheffield Wednesday on

Tuesday night. Today the League leaders faced a further test of

their title credentials at another club struggling for consistency,

Brighton. Blackpool looked to bounce back from a surprise setback at

Yeovil midweek. Paul Ince's side were at Derby County, with the Rams

building confidence and momentum with every game. And as ever we have

all the goals from another dramatic day in the Football League,

including those scored in the two matches in played in League's One

and Two. We start the show at the AMEX Stadium as league leaders

Leicester take on the hosts, Brighton, two teams looking to put

things behind -- defeats behind them from midweek.

Last season, the foxes it hot spot before Christmas before nosediving

dramatically and scraping into the play-offs. Into the side for

Brighton comes Peter Brezovan, the Slovakian goalkeeper, with Jake

Forster-Caskey dropping out, and Ashley Barnes the lone striker.

Leicester City make a couple of changes. Former Brighton captain

Dean Hammond makes his second start in a Leicester City shirt. Andy King

returns to the starting 11. Anthony Knockaert and James the players to

make way. Lopez, that was a sloppy touch, and

Dean Hammond, the former bright and cap and is exploiting the space.

Caught in possession. -- former Brighton captain. Peter Brezovan

made an important save. He has reacted in the best possible way,

the Slovakian. An enterprising run by Danny Drinkwater, resource base

in front of him, and let fly. That is a decent start. Lovely ball into

the far post, and Brighton take the lead. Nobody had picked up Ashley

Barnes. He had ghosted in on the far post and what a start for the

Seagulls. Lopez had too much room. It was a pinpoint cross to Ashley

Barnes, and he couldn't miss. It was aced the sparing dive from Kasper

Schmeichel. -- it was a despairing dive.

That is strong from Rohan Ince. And the driven ball by Crofts, seeking

out Craig Conway. The first-time ball into the middle, and Rohan Ince

goes for gold. That was a delightful Brighton move. From one end of the

pits to the other, side to side, and an accurate, swinging cross from

Craig Conway, promoted with Cardiff last season, with an accurate

delivery, and Rohan Ince should have done better. Leicester, moving the

ball well. That is a nice touch by Ashley

Barnes, who has made the run wide. Lopez finds Craig Conway with a

lovely ball. That is a stunning goal from Brighton. What vision from

David Lopez to pick out the run of the Scotland international. The hard

work still to come. But what expert control from Craig Conway, and what

a finish, and what a way to open your account for Brighton.

There is room opening up. And the shot on goal is ambitious from

Andrew Crofts. Was he more than 40 yards out? Kasper Schmeichel called

into action. Was that a push on Matthew Upson? He

goes to ground and looks at the referee. The goalkick is given. My

word. Strong appeals for a penalty from the Brighton players.

Free kick. Dangerous position for Leicester City. Every Brighton

player back in their own penalty area. Anthony Knockaert delivers,

and the header on the far post is from Andy King and there is a

lifeline for Leicester City. Nobody had picked up Andy King, who buried

the ball past Peter Brezovan, and Leicester City are very much back in

this match. Nice interchange between Danny

Drinkwater and Anthony Knockaert. And it is tipped over the bar by

Peter Brezovan, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher almost made an

instant impact. Leicester City, who have been lacklustre for much of the

match, have come to life. Here, Leicester City once more. Paul

Konchesky goes for gold. It has broke into Gary Taylor-Fletcher. And

what are saved by Peter Brezovan. Andy King almost had a second goal

in the space of a couple of minutes. Gary Taylor-Fletcher running through

a couple of half-hearted Reichmann challenges. -- Brighton challenges.

Leicester City commit more players forward, creating more open spaces

at the back. And here come Brighton, once more. And Ashley Barnes is on

the end of it. Was he pushed? Yes, says the referee. Wes Morgan on

Ashley Barnes. And Ashley Barnes had got goal side of Wes Morgan and the

penalty is awarded. And it will be Ashley Barnes to try and secure what

surely would be three points, and it is buried, Kasper Schmeichel thought

he had got enough on it, but Ashley Barnes is all smiles. Brighton, all

smiles. And it is the Seagulls who regain their two goal advantage.

12 minutes left. What have Leicester City got left in the tank?

Danny Drinkwater goes the gold. Smart stop by Peter Brezovan. --

goes for goal. That was a decent save by the Slovakian goalkeeper.

And it again by Brezovan at the second attempt. Leicester City's

tenure at the top of The Championship is looking precarious.

Very well done, was that the best home performance this season? I

thought it was the best performance, for sure, not away, but at home. It

was the best one. The perfect response after what happened against

Barnsley. Yes, we needed the performance of the players. It was

very good. I am very happy. I am pleased to see how we played. Nigel,

a disappointing afternoon for your site. How do you reflect on that 90

minutes? Similar to the game in midweek. We have had two very poor

first half. We have conceded some cheap goals and given ourselves a

lot to do. The second-half showing was better, and terms of ice showing

a bit more drive -- of us showing a bit more drive, but we gave

ourselves a lot to do against a decent side. We're going to have to

rectify that pretty quickly. More from The Championship now and QPR

took advantage of their promotion rivals' travails by moving up to

second on Tuesday with a convincing 3-0 win over Bournemouth. Earlier

today Harry Redknapp's side welcomed Blackburn to Loftus Road. Before

kick-off, players and supporters celebrated the life of Nelson

Mandela, which was a scene replicated at grounds across the

country. In midweek, QPR brushed on the side whilst Blackburn crumbled

at Ipswich. The visitors carried the greater threat than the first half,

and Clint Hill was perfectly placed to deny the opener. The Blackburn

boss made quite a changes to his line-up. Taylor squandering this

opportunity. Rangers had dropped only two home points this season.

They created two glorious chances. Andy Johnson teed up Matt Phillips

but Simon Eastwood pulled off an outstanding save. Phillips unable to

make it two goals in two games, and then the usually reliable Charlie

Austin had the goal at his mercy, and he headed against the post

before blocking the follow-up from Gary O'Neil. It was a tight game. I

thought that that blended well. -- Blackburn did well. In the second

half we picked it up. We had two fantastic opportunities. We could

not take one. I thought they would be disappointed. They did not

deserve to lose. On the balance of play it was probably a fair result.

The first clean sheet away from home this season at a very tough place to

come. They are top team and expecting to get promoted. I was

delighted with the response we had. With Burnley, the return of top

scorer Danny Ings after a jury had to be good news, but strike partner

Sam Vokes provided that threat early on. David James going to goal, as

the home side tried to get past Jack Butlin, but Barnsley were not

overawed. The chances came and went and it came to Kieran Trippier, who

has had three separate loan spells at Oakwell to break the resistance

of the visitors. It was a special finish from Michael Kightly to

settle only knows. -- to settle Burnley Knauss. They protected an

unbeaten home run stretching nine months. Burnley thought they had

made victory more comfortable when Jones and Scott Armfield played in

Sam Vokes foray scuffed shot, only for a flight from an official to

rule it out. But Burnley were back on top, enjoying that winning

feeling once more. Barnsley had nothing to lose anded

everything to gain. A great run of form. We delivered again today on

the whole. Reading were defending an unbeaten home record. Bournemouth

had been beaten convincingly last time out. The Royals almost seized

an early advantage. Sharp's header requireded goal-line intervention.

Two goals in four first half minutes gave the travelling contingent

something to celebrate. Grabban restored to the starting line-up

with their opening effort. They followed that up with a second. This

time, Matt Ritchie accepted the congratulations. The finish,

everything he had hoped for. Bournemouth had a comfortable

cushion. Le Fondre's introduction late to a -- led to a late

contribution. The club couldn't prevent a first Championship loss

since January 2012. Really good result for us today. It was always

going to be difficult coming to Reading. It will be a really tough

game having not been beaten at home all season would make that tougher.

The main thing from our point of view was to deliver a performance.

We played really good football, in control, don't know how many corners

we had. Sharpy had one-off the line. We were in total domination of the

game. Goals change games. There were 10 goals between these two last

season. 6-1 winners 13 months ago, Watford were in their stride after

12 minutes, Deeney scoring. Watford were further ahead before the break.

Bellerin ran almost the length of the field before this goal. Goals

for United came from Pugh, he got his first goal of the season.

McCormack was at it again. He couldn't have done more to tee up

Matt Smith with this perfect cross, 2-2. Watford's defence (inaudible).

Among a series of chances this deflection meant that they couldn't

get a goal from the rebound. Leeds top-scorer obliged with his 16th

season, 3-2, Leeds looking at a sixth successive home win. Watford

drew on their last day disappointment. Deeney was ready for

the rebound to rescue a point when it looked as if that first half lead

had all gone to waste. If you see a game like that, what is wrong with

that? Fantastic game of football. It was a difficult game, a tough one. I

think we handled it very well. Wen Darlow gifted possession this

touch gave the keeper reprieve. Roared on by 4,000 travelling fans,

Cox created an opening for himself. The shot didn't match the turn.

Three minutes after the break Halford's first time delivery was

out of Mackie's range, not Cox. The Irish international with his fourth

in five games. Wednesday yet to keep a cleansheet this season. Caretaker

Grey confirmed he wants to succeed Dave Jones and is on the shortlist.

Any hope of grabbing a point flew wide with this late effort. Forest

up to fifth. The manager determined to ignore the critics and keep the

ups and downs in perspective. In this situation you always find

yourself with people euphoric and people suicidal because of league

positions from one week to the next. People need to sell newspapers, I

understand that. What we have here is great belief, great spirit and

confidence in the dressing room. We will keep working away. To

Saturday's early kick-off now and Derby's promotion charge is building

by the game. On Wednesday, Steve McClaren's young side recorded their

fourth win in succession against Middlesbrough. Next up, a match

against a Blackpool side still smarting from defeat at Yeovil

having had three players sent off in the closing minutes. Steve McClaren

named an unchanged starting 11 from the team that beat Middlesbrough 2-1

in midweek. This included a front three of Jamie Ward, Chris Martin

and Tottenham loanee Simon Dawkins. Paul Ince made three enforced

changes after Blackpool's trio of red cards at Yeovil on Tuesday,

Tyler Blackett, Barry Ferguson and former Ram Steve Davies coming in.

Dan O'Hagan was watching this one. The header flicked on and in. What a

start here for Blackpool. The Rams are on the back foot. Here the

goalkeeper was deceived completely by the flight of this. Paul Ince's

Blackpool here have made a cracking start. Here is Ward for Derby.

Great play. Blocked by Bishop. Blackpool's defence stands firm for

now. Off target. Bishop has been all-action in this first half.

Martin blocked by the spreading block from the make-shift right

back. Ward off target. Will Hughes, Chris Martin. Wisdom's ball. Dawkins

back across. Over the ball somehow, from Bryson from six yards. Derby

here beginning to find chances, opportunities here, none taken as

yet. Russell, first touch for him since

coming on. Wisdom now. Martin, flag stays down. Martin now has gone

down. Penalty given. Foul by Jack Robinson. It is the worst possible

second-half start for Blackpool here. Chris Martin man handled the

contact was, in truth, very, very minimal. From the spot, Chris

Martin. Up he comes, and buries it. Derby level at 1-1. It's a very soft

concession of the spot-kick by Blackpool. Martin earned it, you

could say, he scored it as well. Well taken down by Martin, cleared

away by Osbourne. Wisdom, tries to seek out their Simon Dawkins.

Dawkins in here. Punched away, Martin! Blackpool's make-shift

defence is breached. A big, big bash and blunder is punished. Derby in

front by two to one. This, for Blackpool, was oh so avoidable.

First mistake there from Bishop, then from Basham. Gilks does well.

Chris Martin would not be denied. Square pegs in round holes exposed

here for the Tangerines. A catalogue of Blackpool's mistakes. Bishop.

Martin here finds Simon Dawkins. Derby's Dawkins dancing. Wisdom

still, Wisdom. Bryson. Flicked in, 3-1, Derby. Craig Bryson's deft,

cute touch, gives the Rams a two goal buffer. Blackpool here undone.

Second-half collapse, calamitous. Derby three goals in rapid

succession. Bryson with almost a backheel finish from Craig Bryson.

He's got the magic touch here McLaren. This is Johnny Russell for

Derby. Russell long here for Dawkins. He deserves a goal today.

Simon Dawkins. A great run. Bishop challenges back. Another penalty

given, is it? Yes, it is. Bishop, the guilty man. Referee goes across

to consult with the assistant here. It's given. It's a penalty, no

question about that. A red card to Neal Bishop. Martin for Derby, for

the hat-trick for 4-1. He's got both. Derby County, it will be five

successive Championship wins. The Rams mean promotion business this

season. Will Hughes, to Simon Dawkins here,

rolls away. Dawkins then clipped. A card here for Angel. Derby can

break. Second yellow card for Martinez. Three off on Tuesday and

two off today. The eighth red card this season, just one behind what

they finished with on Tuesday now. Down to nine.

Dawkins, Forsyth, off Gosling for a corner ball.

Bryson takes the corner. Oh saved, and then in. Another one, it's Keogh

this time. His first goal for April. It's five for impressive Derby. The

header saved, Keogh with the reaction and the goal. Derby 5,

Blackpool, 1. A message of intent here, hammered out boo by the Rams.

The key moment was the start of the second-half, the penalty award. What

did you make of it? I don't think from my point of view, I think from

everyone's point of view. It's easy to see the lad has dived. If there

was contact, which there wasn't, it was outside the box. He stumble and

dived inside the box. If the linesmen are making poor decisions

that are causing teams, players and managers livelihoods we need to

change it. There is enough money in football to have professional

referees in the Championship. If we continue playing the football and if

we press a little bit better and not give Blackpool so much time on the

ball we will cause errors and mistakes by our sheer pressure. You

know, I have said to the players in there, OK, you know two sent off and

penalties, but that is the reward for the energy and tempo in that

second-half. Another good afternoon for the Championship's top-scorers.

Indiscipline seems to be Blackpool's problem. Next up from Mick

McCarthy's side, Huddersfield Town. Incompetence Ipswich were chasing a

third straight victory for the first time this season. Their opponents

were enjoying an impressive run of their own. When this challenge on

Vaughan resulted in a Huddersfield penalty it was left for Vaughan to

accept responsibility. He missed the spot-kick on their last visit. The

keeper kept them out. The top-scorer frustrated again. They went in front

with this run and cross fell for Danny Ward, this time there was no

lettoff for the home side. Ipswich were back in the game when

McGoldrick had a perfect through ball and Mick McCarthy's men were

level. They went on to win it. The goal came late in the game from a

free-kick head home by Daryl Murphy. Things are looking up for the

Tractor Boys. The boys kept going, we got the winner. Which I think

overall it was probably deserved. It was a tough old game. I don't think

it was a penalty. I think that was a harsh decision, they were both

looking at the ball. It was just desserts he missed it. A lesson in

seeing the game out. We didn't do that. We gave them a life line, to

not convert your chances is a cardinal sin. We didn't do that

today. Wigan's new manager had a watching brief. Millwall had been in

decent form on their home turf and they got off to a flyer. Steve

Morrison on target for the second time in as many games. On Monday

they are away to Maribor in the Europa League. Before the break the

hosts almost doubled their advantage and it would have been something to

savour. That was a let off for the visitors,

but they were heading for a fifth successive defeat. Jermaine Easter

had only been on for four minutes and he made his arrival count. That

was on 83 minutes, but Wigan were far from finished. They have

struggled to score in their travels, so the incoming boss could take some

comfort from James McArthur's instability, his first of the

season. The Latics were denied a point. He will realise he has got a

decent squad to work with. He will go away and maybe think we are not

the finished article, but we could be. It was always going to be back

against the wall and thankfully there was a great save and it is no

more than we deserved. Birmingham have been enjoying their best run of

the season, but climbing the table did not look likely. Could the side

go on to claim a rare away win? Birmingham stepped up after

half-time. This almost caused an own goal by Jonathan Woodgate, but Lee

Clark's side were not held at bay for long. Paul Caddis on current

form does not miss. That was his third goal in three games.

Middlesborough did not flinch and they hit back strongly and got the

award. Daniel Ayala poked in what looked like to be the winner and a

highly prized away win. But city had a saviour in waiting. Kyle Bartley

headed in the equaliser barely two minutes after coming on. Both teams

slip places in the table. The first half ran its course and we were not

great. In the second half the players showed they had the

character and the fight and they kept on pushing and Kyle came up

trumps. I have been here for four games and three of Fame we have made

mistakes and we lost a lot of points. After successive defeats the

Bolton manager redid a response from his players, but they almost

conceded an own goal. Baptiste was relieved to see his header stay out.

Jo Mason led the way with the help of a sizeable deflection. Doncaster

had enjoyed successes over Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers, but

they have not won away in five. Moritz added to their problems.

Walton had only won once at home in the league, but that was to change.

Substitute Neil Danns confirmed the victory. It was convincing in the

end. Doncaster dropped to 20th in the table. You put that sort of

performance in and it is a decent Doncaster side. It was very

pleasing. If beating those around you is the key to survival, the

importance of this was clear. Chris Powell described it as Charlton's

biggest game of the season. Just before the break he made another

telling contribution. His delivery from the left and was met by Johnnie

Jackson. And a side that had been binding goals hard to come by turned

around to to the good. Jo Grant's cross was diverted past his own

keeper by Michael Morrison. That instilled a fresh belief in the

hosts and four minutes maker Grant was again making a nuisance of

himself. He won the penalty. Ishmael Miller has made a notable impact

since arriving on loan from Forest slammed it straight down the middle.

This completed the Glovers' comeback. The addicts will now lose

Jackson for three matches as the referee took a dim view of that

challenge. Sometimes you have to be 2-0 down to keep going and that is

what our team did today. I was really pleased they got their own

confidence back. We get a penalty, there are no complaints, then we go

down to ten men, the game swung in our favour and I have to applaud the

players in the end for holding out and making sure we took something

from it. Yeovil are now unbeaten in three. There were only two games

played in League 1 and League 2. We start at Meadow Lane where Notts

County were six points of safety right at the bottom. They played a

side also struggling for form, gelling. One month after taking

charge at Notts County Shaun Derry was still waiting for his first win.

Bradley Dack almost found the net. Five minutes before half-time county

got their break. How is that for goal number nine for the 20-year-old

Scot? Two minutes after the start gelling them were level and Bradley

Dack finished how he meant it in the first half. But McGregor was not to

be denied. He showed nifty footwork for his second of the game. If you

thought that was good, wait until you see County's third goal. Jack

Grealish is hoping to make it to Aston Villa and he scored his first

ever seen your goal three minutes from time. County are now just three

points from safety. -- senior goal. Charlton had gone seven games

without defeat and when Jason Taylor's cross caused confusion they

looked as if they were going to score. But in the scramble that

followed the effort was blocked. Despite the pressure there was no

end product as the hosts somehow held out. But Cheltenham did find a

way through the effort was finished off by Troy Brown and it proved

enough. An amazing goalmouth scramble in the first half. It

happens sometimes. Just needed somebody with a bit of a camp edge

to get the ball over the line. A good chance to get close to where we

want to be, but overall Charlton -- Cheltenham she did it. Cheltenham

are building up a head of steam. Let's look at the table.

We have made it into the dressing room. A quick reminder to join Mark

Chapman for Match of the Day two on Sunday night. We are back next

Saturday for the best from the Football League across all three

divisions straight after Match of the Day. Thank you to everybody at

Brighton for their hospitality. They got their tactics spot on with their

win over Leicester. But just look at the state of this home dressing

room. I imagine the cleaners will begins in. Imagine the mess they

would have left if they had lost the game!

In the middle, just keep ticking over. Before you know it you go back

to where you came from.