15/02/2014 The Football League Show

Hello there. 24 hours after Valentine's Day - and there was

definitely no love lost in the Skybet Football League today and the

blustery conditions made for a hugely testing afternoon for sides

right across the country. And with me to reflect on the day's big

winners and losers tonight, a special welcome to the Football

League's Ginger Mourhino and the Big bad Wolf - otherwise known as the

Burnley manager Sean Dyche and Reading striker Jason Roberts. Guys,

great to see you. And here's what's coming up tonight. Having suffered

their fourth defeat in six games at Watford, will fresh Chinese

investment at Saint Andrews be a turning point for Birmingham? We

will have the best of their game against Huddersfield. And it is

another busy round of Madrid fixtures, so we have the latest from

the promotion and relegation battles as the season goes up a gear. Six

years on from guiding Hull City to the promised land of Premier League

football, Phil Brown is once again chasing promotion with Southend

United. I'm at Roots Hall for the visit of Exeter City. In all, we've

got 62 goals on the way. Some, well worth staying up for. We start

tonight at Deepdale, Preston, as the football family paid tribute to one

of England's greatest sportsmen. Sir Tom Finney died yesterday at the age

of 91. Arguably the most gifted player of his generation, Sir Tom

was a one-club man, representing his home Town team on more than 400

occasions in a career spanning 14 years. Add to the fact he also

served his country in Montgomery's Eighth Army during the war, he

returned to civilian life, winning 76 caps and scoring 30 goals for

England. Twice voted Footballer of the Year at a time when he was

earning ?14 a week. He turned down a hugely lucrative and potentially

life-changing offer to play in Italy. Retiring at the age of 38,

the man affectionately known as the "Preston Plumber" spent much of the

rest of his life working tirelessly for his home-town club and for the

good of football. He'll be sorely missed. Absolute legend. He was Mr

Preston North end. He was order -- model father, a model person. What

he did was immense. Not just within football but throughout the charity

world as well. He is a big loss. The greatest player, and nice man, what

more can you want? Few of the fans who came to pay

respects to Tom Finney would have witnessed first-hand, but archive

pictures and memories past down from older supporters, so everyone inside

Edendale knew that they were honouring one of the all-time greats

of the game, a gentleman and a wonderful family man.

The brilliant winger war the white shirt with such the sinks 14 years,

and his name was on every Preston shirt on what was an emotional

afternoon. The slow start from Preston was understandable and

Mathieu Baudry should have put Leyton Orient in front. Slowly,

Preston started to hit their stride. Paul Gallagher latched onto a Scott

Weisman cut back and was only just wide of the far post. Preston since

the breakthrough but following a great knock-down from Kevin Lisbie

just before the break, it was Mathieu Baudry who popped up inside

the box Leyton Orient, and this time he did not miss. Just after the

one-hour mark, Mathieu Baudry was penalised for a challenge on Craig

Davies. Marking and mixed afternoon for the Frenchman. From the spot,

Preston's top scorer, Joe Garner, calmly levelled the game, with his

16th goal in his last 18 appearances. Back in November,

Preston became the first side this season to beat Leyton Orient at

Brisbane Road in the league, and almost completed the double, but

Kevin Davies failed narrowly to provide the finishing touch, on the

day when Preston paid tribute to a legend. He was a fantastic person

for this football club, he had a fantastic career, and you can see

from the comments nationwide and worldwide about him, that probably

summed the man up. That stops a run of defeats for

Orient, but that was an emotional day at the Dell with everyone paying

tribute to Sir Tom Finney. We have not seen him play in the flesh, but

it is clear that we have lost a very special football and a gentleman. It

certainly seemed that way from the bits of history that have come up

about his life. I knew him as a kid, my father always mention names

like that, Sir Stanley Matthews, etc. To go from being a top player

to being a plumber, that will not happen to many top players now. It

was an emotional day, you could see from the fans what he meant. He was

a figurehead for the community. To be a winger in the time that he

played, I can match and he was kicked from pillar to post, and the

never be booked sent off, that shows the stature of the man. The way that

people speak about him, they speak of at him in the same sort of class

as the likes of Ronaldo and Messi. He was the Messi of his time. You

wonder if we will see his like again. Players move more freely now,

it is rare that players stay at a club for that length of time and

become, that get that legendary status, that 1-club name. It is a

shame but it is a sign of times in football. Well, in The Championship,

we start at the Goldsands as Sean's second-placed Burnley arrived on the

south coast to face Bournemouth. For the Cherries manager Eddie Howe it

was a chance to get one over his former club. While for the Clarets,

they were looking to open up a six point gap on the chasing pack.

former club. While for the Clarets, they were looking to open up In a

week that have seen storms battering Ballmer mercilessly, as footballers

were determined not to follow suit. The promotion chasers would be

pushed hard by their hosts, who were quick to get to grips with the

tricky conditions to stop Simon prances unleashing a shot that Tom

Heaton smothered. Borno escape Turf Moor with a point fax to their

record signing tequila rented. This was his only other goal for the club

since joining from Malmo in August. That sparked the burly response. A

double substitution just after 60 minutes that was a masterstroke.

Keith Treacy converting the deflected cross from fellow

substitute Ross Wallace. If Burnley thought that would be the turning

point that, they were wrong. The home side redoubled their efforts.

After Lewis Grabban brushed aside Jason Shackell, the keeper stood his

ground at the near post before denying the home side again in

spectacular fashion, shifting position to get his fingertips onto

this header. At the end of a good week for Burnley, that had garnered

six points, this was becoming a stiff test of their defensive

resolve. They survived another boring attack with Yann Kermogant

heading wide. On balance, the Clarets could not argue with a draw

that made second place more secure, regardless of what QPR do on Sunday

against Reading. The Cherries finished frustrated. In a game of

poor quality because of the pitch, we got into the lead, and you hope

that that would be enough, but apart from that goal, something I have

said a few times this season, it is a disappointment, because in the

main, we defended very well for the majority of the game.

It was not the best quality game. More low lights than highlights.

They did well to get the game on. Everyone knows how bad the weather

has been down there. To try and get the moisture out of that pitch, and

unfortunately, it played poorly, and it was hard work for both teams.

Hard work for your players to get back from a goal behind. Yes, and we

had played midweek. But we went into it in good spirits. As you can see,

it was a soft goal from a set piece, from our point of view, and it was a

soft goal from their point of view, getting a deflection. We were

pleased, because we were not as good as we had been, recently. The

comeback at this level shows real desire. Tell us about the success of

Burnley this season, you were 16th favourites for promotion and have

been in the top three since September 21, best start in over 100

years. What is the secret? What has happened? Like any manager and group

of players, you work very hard. We put it down pretty cleanly to the

players, and to preseason, which added to the flavour and a mix of

the group, and we agreed as a group that we can only go one game as a

time. We have done that. We have a very good preseason. The performance

levels preseason were very high, and we took that into this season. And

then that builds confidence and belief. The home wrecker has been

fantastic, we have been good on the road, good defensively. -- the home

record. We have that belief and energy to the side. We have a good

framework, all those good things. It is working. You see some

similarities with the Reading side of a couple of seasons ago. Yes,

consistency of selection through the spine of the team, the top two

working hard on getting their fair share of goals, but working hard to

the team, giving the team a good platform to build attacks. They

obviously know what they are doing, defensively, linking it up, and

working hard for the team. On the 1st of August when you lost Charlie

Austin, I said on Twitter, that you had lost those goals from the last

campaign, and the three remaining strikers had scored eight times in

the league, and you did not get anybody else. You are one of the

unbelievers. But 40 goals between Danny Ings and Sam Vokes, they have

been phenomenal. Danny Ings is a good player. He was good last

season, we used them across the front line. He has played wide on

the left and wide on the right. He is part of Burnley, we wanted him

there. He has been floating around clubs and going on loan, and he had

not been the main star of the team, but he has been terrific. And Ashley

Barnes has come in and made that challenge. It is a pretty small

squad. Are you tired of hearing the pundits say, it is not going to

last, only one injury away from collapsing. There is an aspect of

truth to that, you do not want injuries, of course, you do not want

to be affected by that, but if that challenge comes around, and there

have been occasions when we have had people going down injured and we

have managed to fill their slots, and we have only had 18 starters, to

give you an idea how small the squaddies, but they are a very

good, motivated group of players. We have got a good framework to the

team defensively, and we have that strong mentality, that belief, as a

group. And it has taken us a long way. We have the continues. -- we

hope it continues. Next to St Andrew's, where

Birmingham City have had a torrid time this season. Without a win

there since September, Lee Clark's men were hoping to end their ten

game run against his former side Huddersfield. For the visitors, they

had the chance to put an end to their travel sickness after four

consecutive away defeats. Laurence Herdman watched this one. Birmingham

City sit nine points clear of the relegation zone. Solid progress with

a young team, but the home jinx stretches ten matches without a

league win. Mid-table Huddersfield live four points and four places

above their hosts, but Huddersfield Town have lost the last four matches

on the road. In a month there has been a turnover of 16 players at

Birmingham, two changes today, with Lee Novak returning to partner

Federico Macheda upfront, and 17-year-old Rhys Brown also stars.

Huddersfield. Scorer James Vaughan failed a fitness test to face his

hometown club, so Danny Ward gets the nod in attack. Former Birmingham

City Academy striker Joe Lolley is on the bench after his move from

Kidderminster. Clayton finds Smith. Knocking the ball around nicely,

Mark Robins' side. Decent ball, turned over his own crossbar by

Martin. The control initially met Dixon down but he found an excellent

delivery into the Birmingham City penalty area. Danny Ward has gone

across to take a corner kick for Huddersfield. They have pushed the

big men forward. And the target is Joe Hart. It has just gone over the

crossbar. Anthony Gerard, almost finding the back of the net.

It came off perhaps the Birmingham City defend, PackWood. Just

beginning to get ahead of steam, rob robin's side. From a distance. A

shot on goal. That was a terrific effort from Danny Ward. It had

Randolph scrambling away. Darren Ward must have been 25-yards out,

unchallenged, collected the ball. Set his sights. A good effort. We

have had some memorable results this season, in terms of wins. They are

passing the ball well in these early stages. Adam Clayton is

orchestrating most good things from midfield. Again, too much room for

Ward, who will lift it into the Birmingham penalty area. The opening

goal is scored by Oliver Norwood, the Birmingham City marking was

poor. Fine finish by the Huddersfield midfielder. It was

decent midfield play. Lifted forward by Ward. It was well taken by

Norwood. It was driven past Randolph. Nothing Paul Robinson

could do. Nothing that Reece Brown, the teenager, could do. Norwood got

between both and finished in style. Here come Huddersfield once more.

Dixon. Driven towards Ward. He got onto the end of it. Wells. He tried

to back it in towards goal. Randolph juggled the ball. Finally, made the

save. Another half chance for Huddersfield Town. Once more, there

were big gaps at the heart of that Birmingham City defence.

Caddis will try and fashion a cross. It was blocked by a combination of

Clayton and Hogg. It's just wide by Adeyemi. It should have hit the

target. Clever by the Scotland winger, Chris Burke. An accurate

cross. That was a coat of paint wide. Here come Huddersfield on the

edge of the penalty. There didn't seem to be too much on. Wells is

already in scoring form since his arrival from Bradford City. He got

away from Martin. He managed to force a save.

It's a nice touch by Novak and Macheda. Plenty of room on the right

side. Hughes finds Lee. It will come back to Hughes. Straight at the

goalkeeper. The most enterprising passage of play from Birmingham in

this second period. It was good build-up. Macheda started it. Lee

joined in. When he found the past it worked its way back to Hughes, and

his shot was straight at the Huddersfield keeper. Clayton. Width

offered by Dixon, who has Caddis in front of him. And Clayton, Clayton

running towards the penalty area. What a shot! Adam Clayton, beards

are in vowing, and so are long-range shots like that. Adding to his

winning goal last weekend. Clayton got away from Hughes. He just bent

it. He deceived Randolph, the flight of ball in the air. What a strike

from Adam Clayton. It's opening up here a little bit

for Hammill. Onside is Wells to finish it. There was late flag.

Wells wasn't aware he was offside much he drew an excellent save from

Darren Randolph. Hammill unchallenged. Was Wells onside?

Well, there are still 10 minutes to play. Disgruntled with the

performance this afternoon, and the ongoing political shenanigans at the

club, Birmingham fans have had their fill. Here's Macheda. It has got

away #23r Southern. Is there a consolation late on for Birmingham?

It was slow and laboured. Across from Caddis. There is a chance here.

It's into the roof of the net. Birmingham City do have their

consolation. Substitute Lee has at last drawn one or two late smiles,

but none from manager Lee Clark. Too little, too late for the home side.

Burke played it back to Caddis. A high looping cross. Zig gic does

what he does best. High into the Huddersfield net from Lee. You've

got to have courage and determination to come back from

setbacks. Our fans quite rightly sank towards the end when we had our

first attempt mid dwoel goal. You can't play in home games without

putting them under pressure and not have attempts at goal. It's football

suicide. That's what we're doing at the moment. That's not certainly

performance... That's worthy of this club. I thought we passed it well. I

thought we controlled the game from start to finish. I thought it was a

scrappy game, you know, in stages in spells. Difficult conditions, but I

thought we thoroughly deserved it. I thought we passed it well and nearly

a perfect away performance. What is of concern to me is we have

magnificent fans, it looks like my play hers are frightened to play in

front of them. That's something we have to try and sort out quickly. A

pretty honest assessment from Lee Clark. We will get back to that. For

Huddersfield it's an toned their recent away form. Jason, two goals

from midfield. That middle third you were impressed it I was very

impressed. Ward was at the centre of everything good that Huddersfield

did. Fantastic ball here. He isn't looking up. Noes where he is -- know

where is he is. Fantastic touch. Excellent finish. He made the runs

all game. He has seen him, knows where he wants to put the ball. The

touch was fantastic because you have players closing him down. The finish

was good as well. Norwood had an excellent game. In midfield they won

the ball well. They won it high. Here, Clayton, show as little bit of

quality, yes, from the keeper's perspective he will be disappointed

with that. It moves a little bit. You would want your goalkeeper to

get something on that. That was just the way they were performing in

midfield. Stronger, won the challenges, pressed high up the

pitch. It was the kind of performance you need away from home

to win football matches at that level. One of the three sides you

have lost to this season. How impressed are you with his men? They

were very good. They have spent money this year. They have brought

in Vaughan, Wells, amongst others. They had a push this year. I think

consistency is their biggest challenge. O on their day, like a

lot of Championship teams, on their day good side, hard to win games,

they have been a bit inconsistent. What about the fear factor of

playing at St Andrews, no win in 11. Was it too o honest? Maybe. There

are issues, loan players going out of consistency selection that he

found hard with the players coming in and out. To come out and talk

about the challenges they face with their home form in the public

domain, maybe that's something you would keep in the dressing room. The

fact there is maybe a fear factor to come out and say it, does that

magify the situation for young players and players who may be

aren't use to this level of pressure? Each manager tries to get

the best out of their team. Maybe he is trying to provoke a response from

his players by speaking openly am he wears his heart on his sleeve, Lee.

He means everything he says and he will want to share that with him. He

used to play like that. We wish him well. Sure. Let's find out how the

rest of the Championship unfolded then, starting at Portman Road where

Mick McCarthy's Ipswich had the chance to go within touching

distance of the play-off places as they entertained a Blackpool side in

freefall. they entertained a Blackpool side

For some Suffolk is unconquered frontier. Blackpool had never won

here. They arrived at Ipswich with a a caretaker-manager and without a

victory anywhere since November. Not that the they seem down on

themselves. Haroun tested the keeper. The Belgian was involved in

the somewhat chaotic build-up to one of the home side's better

opportunities, gifting the ball away and watching with justifiably

concern as Murphy let fly. The Irishman had scored a stoppage-time

winner at Bloomfield Road in the autumn. Blackpool average less than

a goal per game but set-pieces are a strength. McMahon's free-kick

locating ma Kenzie. He located the ground and was the only visitor to

claim an unlikely penalty. A third draw in five games for an interim

manager in search of a permanent posting. A disappointed dressing

room. We had a few chances to get that goal. I think if we get a goal

and go in front we can go on and get a decent result. Had a flurry late

on, but no, we didn't do enough to win. It I'll take the point. Nothing

else I can do about it. It's a game we could have lost.

Jonathan Bond must have feared the worst when he was beaten by Jonathan

Woodgate. Offside said the officials. Watford survived and

capitalised after the break. Fernandez Forestieri made it

possible causing havoc when he ran at Gibson. Boro could have little

complaint over the referee it decision. Step forward the stand in

skipper for his 14th goal of the season. That was the good news. Now

for the bad. Deeney had nine other team-mates when Diakite was shown a

straight red card. Middlesbrough sensed their chance. If Graham had

shown the abg are ra sill -- accuracy that made him feared four

years ago. A player was sent off for a needless challenge on the

goalkeeper. The referee produced a second re-yellow card for Ben

Gibson. His departure left the gaps that players thrive on. The chances

kept on coming. Watford moved ahead of Middlesbrough after three wins

out of four. It's difficult for me to do the (inaudible) after all the

things that that you said to the play happen, we didn't score any

goals. We didn't do nothing that I told them in the meeting room. Game

changed with the two sending offs. Opened up a lot. We had chances to

make the game safer. Obviously, you know the longer we went without

putting the second goal away the Middlesbrough were always dangerous

as well. Military wall may have been perched just above the bottom three,

Ian Holloway looked happy enough knowing a victory over Bolton would

drive their opponents into the mire. That plan suffered a set back.

Jutkiewicz is beginning to deliver. Two goals in four starts a

respectable return. The home side felt hard done by after making much

of the early running and could barely believe their eye as this

effort was turned to safety. Bolton's backline was looking far

from water tight. Easter was close to levelling the scores. Baptiste to

the rescue this time. That goal was living a charmed life. Eagles'

free-kick crashed against the post. Baptiste burst through the middle to

realise the return pass had been delivered a fraction too late. The

offside flag kept Millwall in the match. At the other end Bolton had

Bogdan to thank for protecting the lead. A fine save to deny Woolford.

Even if Bolton's style wasn't to his taste. Shittu was penalised for

handball. Jutkiewicz had the chance to put the result beyond doubt.

David Forde had other ideas. The keeper played a part in a move that

rescued the match for Millwall. Steve Morison sprung the offside

trap. Jackson couldn't beat Bogdan. Woolford put his name on the

scoresheet. Both sides had to settle for a point a piece when they

thought they might have had more. We had to earn that because our keeper

made a brilliant save. Woolford smashed it in. I could only see one

winner. We didn't get that. That would have been a huge impetuous to

go above them. We missed the penalty it gave them the energy when they

got the goal. Overall we hit the crossbar, missed a penalty,

unfortunate not to take the three points.

The BBC has a long-standing radio phone in for the people of South

Yorkshire called praise or grumble, but all of their Championship teams

in the bottom eight, maybe it should be renamed just crumble. Doncaster

and Barnsley produced a feisty derby match. The visitors took the lead

after hesitation by Sam Johnstone. And Martin Craney had an effort

chalked off for a push. The experienced referee Andy D'Urso

disappointed both teams, declining to give a penalty when Martin

Woods, until a fortnight ago, I Rovers player, appeared to foul

James husband. Some extensive discussions between public of and

the fourth official. The equaliser came in first half stoppage time

when Luke Steele had an aberration, allowing James Copping jetted pass

into an unguarded net. He has been at Doncaster long enough to have

laid at the old world view. Within ten minutes of the restart is called

again, giving Barnsley that familiar sinking feeling. Danny Wilson is

insisting on spirit in adversity and his charges displayed just that. The

Tykes poured forward, with Jim O'Brien creating another opportunity

for the German striker. Once again, Johnson was equal to it. In what was

becoming a theme of close-run thing is, defender Peter Ramage was denied

by the Doncaster crossbar. Ardsley have become used to luck stories,

but assistant at -- persistence is a virtue and they got their reward.

Even then, a rare away point was mismatched from their grasp, when

Husband escaped. It was a tough game. We have no arguments with it.

The referee did not see it. He had his back to play. I thought the ball

was going elsewhere, and it happened in a split second, and by the time

he turned round, the player was on the floor and it was a big shout for

a penalty but you cannot give it if you do not see. It seemed like a

blatant penalty and whether the referee saw it or not, obviously the

fourth official has told him it was a penalty, whether he could hear the

communication or not, I don't know. The other" the bottom of course,

Millwall against Bolton. A game full of talking points. It is not a

result either team would have liked. But some good quality and some good

roles as well. This was a great header, a proper centre forward's

run. Sean would have liked that. Across the keeper, and he did great

with that one. They have got the penalty. I am sure that David is

delighted, and then very soft, from big Jutkeiwicz. This is hardly

free-flowing football, but sometimes you just get there. When you look at

it, it is a fantastic finish, from this angle, to get it in from that

angle takes a lot of skill, so that was an excellent goal. Ian Holloway

said that Bolton were boring. He said you would be bored senseless

watching that kind of performance from them. Was that really

necessary? I do not think that is right. Millwall had a lot of the

ball, but they were positive, they had a lot of shots on goal, but

Bolton went there to get a result, and there are different ways to skin

a cat, so if Bolton go there to perform a certain way, I am not sure

that the opposition manager should the commenting on that, it is more

important to focus on what your team are doing on the pitch. Let's get a

fresh perspective on where things stand and -- 's stand in The

Championship, starting at the bottom. Things are looking more

difficult for Yeovil Town and Barnsley, but Charlton have got

games in hand, and that the be crucial. It is tough for them down

there at the moment. The bottom to have got it all to do. They have got

games in hand but they would prefer points, at Charlton, if they are

honest. The teams above them, who knows? To me, the big surprise our

Bolton. I thought they were good in the first game of the season. Coming

from a Burnley manager! I think they have got a good squad, good

manager, good stuff, but they just can't quite get it going. Millwall,

59 goals conceded. One win in 74 Ian Holloway, not quite the start he

would have wanted, so they have to start turning some of those draws

into victories. You were the only team from the top six to play today.

We'll rest hold of the top spot? It is fair to say that they have gained

experience over the last couple of years. The squad get-together from

last year, and Nigel has got them going. They have put together an

amazing group of games, to get that advantage. It is going to be very

hard to call them back for anyone in the division. Who is going to be

like Reading from two seasons ago, and putting on a late charge? When

their players are performing, they can put a run, a string of

performances together, so they are team that you would look at, Derby

County, to maybe challenge. Brentford went into today's fishes

two points ahead of rules. The opponents, Crewe found themselves

flirting near the drop zone. It is not often that rings are run

around Brentford, but a publicity hungry husky delayed kick-off at

Brisbane Road. Not that it took long for Brentford to escape the lease.

Alan Judge produced edge -- produced a goal that spoke of finesse as well

as force. His arrival from Blackburn has strengthened an already

impressive unit. The run has continued under Mark

Warburton. Some possession football left Crewe mesmerise. Spectators to

the spectacular, as Alan Judge let fly with a shot. The frustration of

consecutive postponements was being taken out on Crewe. The visit is the

bowl also make the month short list. The Crewe keeper Ben Gama, going

through the motions with the dig. Some small consolation for Crewe

when Clayton Donaldson stuck out a hand, whilst on defensive duty.

Protestations of innocence were brushed aside, and the home

supporters were given a reason to stay, with 20 minutes remaining on

the clock. The greater likelihood during that spell was of another

Brentford goal. George Savile, then Donaldson both gave Garrett some

discomfort. The tumble filter register with the referee, but the

Brentford boss saluted his performance. Three very good goals.

Yes, the simple ones are mice to score, but we were very good in

parts today. In general, some very good football being played. I think

we deserved three points. Steve, they are good team. Yes, we knew

that we would not be able to outplay them at home, we knew what to

expect. They are up there for a reason, going 18 games without being

beaten, for a reason. Next week's meeting between Brentford and walls

will be. Spot. Wanderers stayed within swapping distance of the bees

against Notts County. They went ahead early with Michael Jacobs

converting. The magpies have stuck past -- three past Coventry last

week but could not hike those -- could not hit those heights here.

Callum McGregor could not quite take Notts County's best chance of the

match. Missed chances were not restricted to the away side. Better

to miss now rather than next week, perhaps. It did not matter here,

with Wolves making sure of victory moments later, with Notts County

standing off in defence, inviting Jacobs tissue, for his third goal in

as many games. And rules with their fifth straight win. -- Wolves. I

thought we played well in patches and defended well, and we need to do

because Notts County threw everything at us in the end. I am

disappointed with the level of performance. I am accustomed to a

lot better than that. That is the overriding disappointment from my

team today. After two weeks off because of bad weather, Rotherham

were raring to go. And there was a free for all just before half-time.

And Thomas scored despite protests for offside. His second goal in as

many games. Rotherham were almost caught cold at later, but Francois

Zoko making a brilliant stop. Stevenage had the better of the

second half, and Francois Zoko made it to, unmarked from Jimmy Smith's

corner. The bottom club thought they had done enough for a point, but

reckoned without the Rotherham captain. The opening was not

obvious, the relief certainly was. Steve Evans side have closed the gap

on their rivals above, cementing fifth-place.

It is not often that a match involving Peterborough or Walsall

ends goalless, but testing conditions at London Road mitigated

against entertaining football. The second-half drive from Danny Swanson

proceeded this chance by Adam Chambers, with the Sheffield United

loan player making light of the sticky surface, but failing to test

the goalkeeper, as both teams found the heavy going the ground too much

of a challenge. Credit to both teams for the football they try to play.

Very bad conditions with the wind and rain. Both teams try to play a

bit of football. Please do, with a clean sheet. Peterborough are free

scoring here. It was an awful playing surface. We have now got

three weeks without a game on it and we need to get something done to it,

because it is going to cost us points. It is not the best pitch,

but that is another point in the bag for the football league were other

Ginger Mourinho, and Brentford, with three goals on Saturday, all of them

pearlers. Alan Judge, fantastic ability. I was

at Blackburn with him. You can see his quality. Might be harsh on the

bulky, but that was a great strike. -- harsh on the goalkeeper.

We spoke about there being a wind element to some of the goals, but

from the point of view of Alan Judge, he's a player has got the

ability to play at a higher level than where he is at the moment and

if he continues to perform like that, he will be. Mark Warburton has

walked in there, seamlessly. You know him well. Yes, he's a good guy,

he was taking the under 16 is at Watford then became the academy

manager. Whether it is as a football director, at Brentford, when the

chance has come round, they have offered it to him and he has done a

very good job, so far, for sure. We saw victory for Brentford, we saw

winds also for Wolves, 2-0 against Notts County. Then five wins in a

row, under Kenny Jackett. Considering, that the fence was

leaking goals in the last couple of seasons. Yes, he has tightened up at

the back. And look at the players, Jacobs, Hendry, players of real

quality, but people know that about Wolves, but they have not been

working as a team in previous seasons, which is why they are in

this league, but looking at that defensive record, there is a real

work ethic and spirit in that side at the moment. How hard is it to go

into a club that has been surrounded by negativity for a couple of

seasons and to try and turn that around? I know Kenny, he is a solid

character, he knows what he wants from his players. He knows the

market as well. Wolves will have to be careful. They have made some

astute signings, not massive names, people who know the division and can

get them out of it. That is his first task. I like Kenny a lot and I

am pleased that he's doing a good job. As for the rest of League One,

with just one point from their last six games, things were looking

pretty dire for managerless Shrewsbury. Languishing four points

from safety, the Shrews welcomed play-off chasing Port Vale to the

Greenhouse Meadow. play-off chasing Port Vale to the

The stats tell the story. 8 minutes were played before a shot on target.

Woods with the first of only two in the entire match. Neither of them

belonging to Vale. Williamson came closest to them. Shrewsbury got a

first cleansheet in three months. We tried to get three points.

Obviously, it's not worked out like that. Pleased with the cleansheet. I

thought it was a better performance and grit about it. A bit of spirit

about it. That was pleasing and a cleansheet, definitely. We could

have done better with some of the crosses that went in the box, set

plays, crosses in we should have been better with them. Pritchard had

inspired Swindon to a brilliant come back at Port Vale last weekend.

After his 30 yard drive was turned aside by Walker the match never

caught fire. At least in terms of goals it didn't. Colchester's Watt

over reacting to a challenge in the centre of the parkment the referee

produced a red card for the former Arsenal youngster. No side in League

One have scored more home goals than Swindon. Even against 10-men for the

last 20 minutes they couldn't find a winner. Burn wasting the final

chance in the dying moments. We dominated the game from start to

firn. The conditions make the game a bit of a Lottery. We played good

football in testing conditions. The only thing missing was a touch of

quality in the final third. We deserved to win the game, no doubt.

MK Dons need big win ifs they are to become play-off contenders. They

didn't need for Oldham to take the lead before half-time. Lockwood got

his first Latics goal. Whatever Robinson said to the home side at

the break did the trick for Carruthers. He took matters into his

own hands to equalise within minutes of the restart. One nearly became

two soon after when Ben Reeves beat the goalkeeper, but not the frame of

the goal. Oldham had been warned. The visitors found themselves

reduced to 10 men when Kusunga was shown a second yellow card for

tripping Gleeson. Worse was to follow. Oxley couldn't hold the shot

from Carruthers. There was no denying Reeves for his tenth goal of

the season to close the gap on the top six to seven points. Bristol

City made the news in the week becoming the first English club to

install a safe standing area. It's only for use at rugby at the moment.

This spectacular opener from Baldock brought Aston gate to its feet. It

Tranmere were back on level terms. Cassidy slammed in his first goal of

the season. Rovers might have got the win if Lowe had converted from

Cassidy's flick. In the event, neither side was able to climb away

from the relegation zone. They couldn't even pull away from each

other in this one. City thought they won it with 12 minutes to go when

Williams netted his first ever senior goal. This time the advantage

lasted only two minutes. Koumas, at the opposite end of his kaer radio,

equalised for his first Tranmere goal in 12 years and first since

rejoining Rovers last summer. It have been nice to go home with a

win. I can't be disappointed in the magnificent performance they put in

with their effort, determination. Not only that with fantastic

football attempts. Looked shartered today. It took a lot out of them the

other night, the emotions and everything. It's important on days

like today that you don't get beat. The one thing we did do, we tried,

we did try to win the game today. I'm not quite sure if that is what

Bristol fans want to see. Revealing the players are tired. This is when

things really start get interesting, you don't want to hear that, do you?

No, with that amount of games, they are down there, trying to climb

away. Maybe emotionally tired as well. It can be draining if you are

top, middle or bottom. Particularly the bottom end there is more

pressure and expectation. Especially the club the size of Bristol City,

big resources and a big wage bill. He will want to get them up and

running and get them out of there. They are climbing away. Not sure he

will be -- should be offering that up to the public. Were pulled back

twice in their game. League One is looking congested down there, isn't

it? I suppose Stevenage, they have themselves, I reckon, they believe

he will get out of. It Crawley's games in hands on their rivals? You

would prefer to have the points than the games in hand. It's about how

you start the games in hand. If you win the first two you think, we have

more games in hand. If you lose, you think, we could be in trouble here.

That is something you would look at from their perspective. Shrewsbury,

with their recent run of form, they will be concerned. Crawley is the

one that you really look at and you fear for them. Sheffield United are

a big club. To be in that position is something that Nigel Clough will

be desperate to turn things around? Major challenge for him. He has gone

in there, they have got slightly better, but not took off as much as

he hoped. Stle three games and Crewe. Tough one. They have good

players. Trying to remote vat, reenergise it, Nigel is a good

manager and got good staff, I'm sure he will get them back round and

stronger going forward. They have to get it done now. Of the sides won on

Saturday. As far as the top half are concerned. Leyton Orient, thankfully

they have put an end to the consecutive defeats with that draw

at Preston. Changing his goalkeeper, he had to use his squad, three

goalkeepers in the last four. That doesn't help though, does it? No,

absolutely not. I must say, they have done fantastically well -

Similar to Burnley in some respects? Yeah. They haven't got the resources

of everyone else. There is some quality there. They have goals,

obviously. You would expect at some point they will have an awkward run.

I think many have said, as you suggested, many have said that about

us. To get to games 28, 29 before they had that run, it's a pretty

good achievement. He will be hungry for more. He will make sure they

push on. As for League Two, and having arrived at Southend in

controversial circumstances days before the Johnstone's Paint Trophy

Final, nine months on and Phil Brown's side are in the thick of the

fight for the play-offs. Clem takes up the story with the visit of

Exeter. The last time he was chasing pro it

culminated in one of the most memorable moments in recent Football

League history. That's a fantastic goal! It's the grand old man of

football. Phil Brown's current job is not without its challenges. The

issue of finally starting work on a new stadium has hung over Southend

United for a decade-and-a-half. The financial consequences of relegation

from the Championship in 2007 resulted in a transfer embargo that

limited his squad to just 20 players for the early part of the season.

During the current apocalyptic weather conditions where to train

has been an issue, resulting this week in a four-day trip to Portugal.

You have been topping up English football's most famous tan this

week, have you? I don't know about that! We got to Portugal, thanks to

the chairman, we were desperate for a bit of grass. Desperate to get on

some training venue we could put work into the players. We haven't

been on the training ground for maybe two or three weeks. When you

tasted the high life, as you did a few years ago, how deep have you had

to dig to retrench and go again and work at this level? I'm enjoying

life from a personal perspective, grafting, getting back on the

training ground every day and getting my hands dirty, as people

call. It working with good people. And, getting a response from the

players. The biggest word is "infectious" full of confidence.

When he is around you it's hard not to rub off that confidence. I think

it shows. The team spirit is amazing. The togetherness that we've

got is absolutely a different class. He said to me he has calmed down

over the last few years. I wouldn't have liked to have been involved

with ham few years ago when he was at Hull. Hopefully we are at the

forefront of a good finish to the season. If that takes us to the new

stadium and a higher division. Thee are all the things we set out at the

start of the season. If we achieve that and move forward and move on,

who knows how far this thing can go. Do you know when the first salt will

be cut? We are in the last phrase with the contractors we should be on

site in spring. It it will be this year. What Brighton achieved is what

we can do here. Post arrives going on within the bigger picture. That,

for me, is the good feel. Now it means for nothing unless players

walk across the white line for 90 minutes on a Saturday afternoon and

perform to the best of their ability. That's the challenge today.

Results have dropped off, goalkeeper Bentley didn't follow instructions.

Kehane got his first goal of the season. Two minutes later Southend

were level through Phillips. This clever pass almost presented Keohane

with his second of the game. Phillips was in the thick of the

action for a second header. So far, so good for the home side. 2-1 it

stayed until the final eight minutes. Sercombe unleashed the shot

of the day to stun the home side. Worthy of the winner surely? That

was just around the corner. Keep an eye on Elliott Richards, who is on

the ball now. He choose his moment, three minutes from time, he scored

his first goal since joining on-loan from Bristol Rovers the week before

last. Brown's men are winless in five games and seven points off the

top three. Not a feeling ing you have

experienced here for quite some time? No, it isn't. Licking your

wounds is not my style. Have you to put it behind and address the next

one coming along. This is a lesson at this stage of the season. If you

take your foot off the gas. If you think it will be easy. If you don't

think there will be pressure at the end of the year, you have something

to think about. Today was a reminder that you are the business end of the

division. You are coming to the business end of the season. We need

businessmen. From yous sfrating Phil Brown there. A couple of cracking

goals there, Jason? Outstanding goals. What will be frustrating from

Phil Brown's point of view the goals came in the last eight minutes.

Fantastic goal from Sercombe. This is what I like. The feet from

Richards. You can't think you will get a is shot, he gets the goal.

Great ability. To get those goals at such a late point of the game makes

it even sweeter. Of course it's a fine way for Exeter to get their

first win. Two managers who you know pretty well. I suppose they're

trying to make their name from very different angles, aren't they? Yeah.

I mean he has done well for a number of years of Exeter. He went off a

did a bit of Bath when they coming up through the division. Got in the

FA Cup, went to Exeter, did a good job over many seasons. Phil, the

opposite way round. Been at the top, under Sam Allardyce, went on his

own. You have to give him credit. He could have bided his time until a

job came up in the Champion snip Football is in you. You get the

chance, especially management, I'm young and learning, it's in you. You

can feel it. He's definitely got that in him. He has shown it

already. The chance was available he thought - forget about the levels. I

want to do it. I want to be outside there, get his hands dirty, coaching

on the grass. Great challenge. Different challenge, resources,

training pitches, like he said, he is full of enthusiasm, that is for

sure. You agree? We spoke about 20 players to choose from. Not having

the opportunity to train correctly and get your ideas into the players.

To do so well cementing that place in the play-offs. He has done a very

good job there. Elsewhere in League Two, Sean's

former club, Chesterfield, retained top spot thanks to a hard fought

draw at second placed Scunthorpe last week. Today, the Spireites were

at home to relegation-threatened Torquay.

What any promotion chasing side wants most against lowly opponents

as an early goal to set the tone. Jay O'Shea must oblige the

Chesterfield but the leaders found themselves facing an uphill struggle

Baxter and exceptional first senior goal that Sammy Goodman will never

forget. His good work was undone and farcical circumstances, with the kit

from Michael Poke drop kicking, and giving him for one for the games. It

did not affect Goodwin's confidence. The peonage on loan from Brighton

unlucky for Conor Wilkinson wasted the rebound. Chris Hargreaves men

with roulette missed opportunity with Chesterfield more rigorous in

the last ten minutes. Jay O'Shea, in particular. They have rediscovered

the golden touch at just the right time, and their opponents remain in

the relegation zone, available be heartened by the performance and Jay

O'Shea was able to make the performance more convincing in

stoppage time, which was tough on Torquay United after a battling

display. It was a poor game, but we came away from home -- from home

with a game plan, took a game plan, to castrate us and stifle us, but

then they get a breakaway. It took us through a couple of

substitutions, and a bit of a fortunate equaliser. I thought we

played well, we can paint them, we had a game plan that work, we had a

fantastic goal from a young lad who could have had two, and then you

made a bad mistake. After just one defeat in their previous eight

games, it was hardly surprising that Accrington started on the front foot

against high-flying Scunthorpe, and the first goal in ten months for Lee

Molineux put them in front. Seven minutes before the break they took

advantage of some slack Scunthorpe defending to double the lead. Peter

Murphy with his fourth in five appearances. Accrington Stanley have

won only three games on their own park all season, and when Sam

Broomhall drove the ball home for his sixth in the goal of the

campaign, you send some unease among the home fans. It quickly became

apparent that Scunthorpe were taking control. But with the game in

stoppage time, Edward like a point each, until David Murton swooped, to

keep Scunthorpe's automatic promotion challenge Bang on course.

The lads are devastated and I devastated for them. They put

tremendous effort into getting a result and they have come away with

nothing. Mansfield could do with a spell at finishing school. The

dynamic first 20 minutes, and all that was lacking was a goal-scoring

touch. Perhaps they could learn from a master of the art, David Connolly,

27 minutes in, the veteran produced the type of goal that he has been

tucking away for two decades. Another recent Oxford signing put

game beyond Mansfield, Mickey Rose with his second goal and a yellow

shirt, sending United on their way to a second home win. The Oxford

masterclass ended with a crafted team goal, after the run from James

Constable, Smalley completed the goal-scoring lesson. It was a great

result against a team that put you under a lot of pressure. I thought

we were fortunate to go goal up. But it is a great result at the end of

the day. It looks from the scoreline as if we took a battering. I think

we have had 14 attempts on target. The game should have been out of

sight within the first 20, 25 minutes, I thought. It took three

pitch inspections to pass Scotland's fit for action and the ground staff

might have wondered if it was worth the effort when more common in

front. Scott Probyn outmuscled a green parish and made the rest look

simple. The finish of a man in top form. It stayed all square until 70

minutes from the end when the goal went in that keeps the pressure on

the top three, Ian Henderson with the winner.

If it was not for Jack, 's super clearance, he would have put his

side in front. And it was the Daggers who struck first. The on

loan ridding youngster with a superb 30 yard shot, stunning the home fans

just before the break. Dagenham, after their 2-0 victory in November

had a chance to complete the double over Burton. A second yellow for a

trip made life much more difficult. And the equaliser went in with 20

minutes still to play. Burton were calling the shots but after the ball

was scrabbled relate on, the ten men held on for a point.

Encouragement from Tuesday's victory at Torquay turn to familiar

disappointment for the bottom club, with Gareth Evans moving away and

Fleetwood never looked back. The home side should have confirmed

their superiority comfortably in the first half. With Jamil Matthews

making his first-team return from injury, he should look away now. Not

that the stayed in touch until the final quarter when another flowing

attack led to another Parkin cross from which Evans could not help but

score the second of the game, and Fleetwood climbed to fifth place

after their first win in five games. Bard weathermen Newport County were

forced to postpone the last two fixtures, so there were raring to go

after a fortnight of, but a bright start at Hartlepool went unrewarded,

but a smart start at Hartlepool went unrewarded, but the smartphone from

the James so I'm on target, taking them above their opponents in the

chase for a play-off place. Some comedy defending sealed Newport's

fate. The defender diverting the ball past his own keeper. The

victory rounded off emphatically by Luke Williams, and Newport now have

not won a game since Boxing Day. Plymouth have been unbeaten in five

home games, but they played the bulk of this game with only ten men after

the referee dismissed Neal Trotman for his challenge on Ryan Bowman.

The red card inevitable. And Wes Fletcher's deadly goal of the

campaign arrived from the spot after 11 minutes. York had failed to score

in four of their previous five league games but in first-half

stoppage time, John McCombe made it 2-0 with his first goal for the club

and two more followed at the end of the game. Splendid set up play by

Michael Coulson allowed John McCombe to tuck away his second, and the

goal of the game followed from Josh Carson. The 20-year-old Northern

Ireland international running from inside the centre circle before

lifting the ball beautifully into the corner to secure the biggest win

of the season for York. Neil R rated the dons could snatch this, as long

as they did not offend too deep crosses. Guess what happened next?

Ryan Taylor with this goal. Frustrating stuff for Wimbledon who

felt worthy of a point, at least. The save from Alan Bennett ensured

that they did not get one, and the first win at home for Pompey since

Christmas. That gives Portsmouth a bit of breathing space as far as

relegation is concerned. Chesterfield, the surroundings have

changed a bit since you were playing there. Yes, a good new stadium and

they are doing very well. To come back from 1-0 down, it is a big

result, because it is getting tight at the top end of the league, but

they have been up there all season. They have a place in my history, so

I wish them well. The manager is doing a decent job. Yes, they have

been decent this season. And the new stadium is quite different to when I

was there. Outstanding away performance from York against ten

men of Plymouth. Yes, I have been impressed with their style of

football, and it does not get much better than a 4-0 victory. It is

great that he has taken up the challenge to go there. He's

implementing his style and they are playing attractive football. 2014

has been a good year for them so far. Yes, you know that you are

performing well when you get five wins, and that has shot them up the

league. It might be too much to look into the play-offs, but it has

staved off any threat of relegation. How do you see this panning out? A

bit of a gap from Southend to Burton. Is the race on for the last

play-off place? It is the nature of all these divisions, 3-point makes

all the difference, you can have a good week and things change. It is a

big ask. But you are looking at that side of it, Southend upwards, they

are going to be challenging. They have put down a marker, so they will

be disappointed if anyone comes out of that. At the bottom, a side that

you asked quite close to, Northampton. Yes, my little boy,

Max, plays there. I played there, myself. I know the chairman, the

club, he has put a lot of money in over the years, and I wish Chris

well. I am still resident in Northampton so I want the club to be

in the division, that is for sure. And Torquay, were duped made your

league debut. Yes, that is a club that is close to my heart. A run of

games would give them the chance to shoot up that league. Before we go,

don't forget, Winter Olympics coverage continues at Sunday at my

name on BBC Two. We will be back next Saturday after Match of the

Day, to reflect on another easy day in the foot all-league, from five

the midnight. Good to see you, Jason, and thank you, too, for your

company. From all of us, good night.