Burton Albion 0-1 Fleetwood Town League 2 Playoff final Monday 26th May 2014

Fleetwood Town clinched their sixth promotion in 10 years after defeating Burton Albion 1-0 thanks to a goal by Antoni Sarcevic.

In a close fought contest of few chances, it all came down to an error from Albion keeper Dean Lyness who completely misjudged Sarcevic's 75th minute free kick while under pressure from Town’s Nathan Pond. As the ball was floated in from the left, Lyness ran off his line thinking the ball would be flicked on by Pond but it went over his despairing arms and straight into the net.

 Brewers boss Gary Rowett said he did not blame his keeper for the defeat.

“Dean kept us in the game early on with a couple of saves so I told him there is nothing we can do about it and we must all stick together and regroup for next season.”

 For Graham Alexander and his team the victory means they will start next season in Division One for the first time in their history; a mere decade after playing in the North West Counties league.

 “I am delighted for the lads who worked really hard. It is great for everyone at the club. We now have to look at planning for next season.”

 Fleetwood started the quicker and could have been 2 – 0 up in the first three minutes with Lyness saving two close range efforts from Pond and team-mate David Ball. At the other end Albion captain Lee Bell fired straight at Cod Army keeper Chris Maxwell and Billy Kee headed wide.

 In the second half the Brewers seemed the side more likely to score with both strikers Adam McGurk and Kee providing a constant threat and winger Chris Hussey looking dangerous down the left. The best chance fell to centre-back Shane Cansdell-Sheriff who headed a corner across goal when he should have hit the target.

 As so often in football, teams that fail to score when in control, often end up being punished. Two days earlier, near neighbours Derby County were punished by QPR after being on top, and it was the same fate for Albion.

Full-back Phil Edwards gave away a needless free-kick 10 yards inside his own half and from the resulting kick, Sarcevic watched his long range floater go straight into the net.

For the remaining 15 minutes the Brewers continually pressured their opponents but failed to dent the Fleetwood defence despite the introduction of on-loan striker Zeli Ismail from the bench.

 The 1 - 0 defeat is Albion’s second Division 2 playoff heartbreak in two seasons after losing last year to Bradford City in the semi-finals.

 “These games are often defined by a mistake or a wonder goal but sadly for us it was the former,” reflected Rowett. “I am proud of the lads. Over 48 games this season they have been magnificent.”

 

 

Derby County 0 - 1 Queens Park Rangers match report Championship Play Off Final Saturday 24th May 2014

Bobby Zamora pulled off a last-minute smash and grab raid to send 10-man Queen’s Park Rangers soaring into the Premiership at the first attempt.

With what could well be his final kick in a Rangers’ shirt, Zamora pounced on a mis-kick by Derby defender Richard Keogh, to fire into the left-hand corner of the net and send Harry Redknapp’s team into the top flight just 12 months after they were relegated.

“I was delighted to get the goal which sends the team up,” said Zamora. “Obviously I would like to stay at QPR and play in the Premiership but the boss and Tony Fernandez have a lot to sort out so I’m just going to enjoy my holiday with the wife and kids and see what happens.”

The 90^th minute winner was heartbreaking for The Rams who had played superbly in front of a packed house but failed to test a Rangers’ defence which fought valiantly after Gary O’Neil’s 59^th minute red card for bringing down Derby’s flying winger Johnny Russell.

In the final half an hour, Steve McClaren’s men attacked relentlessly in search of a glory goal which would send them up to the Premiership for the first time since 2007 but failed to test the Hoops’ defence with ‘keeper Rob Green and man-of-the-match Richard Dunne in outstanding form.

The victory was even more sweet for the big Irish defender who only returned to football at the start of this season after over a year out with injury. During the dark days Dunne said he never felt like quitting.

“I always had belief and never felt like packing in. This was my 49^th game this season so playing 38 games in the Premiership next season will be a doddle,” he joked.

With an estimated £120 million riding on the Championship play-off it was no wonder that the first half was a cagey affair with very few chances. Charlie Austin for Rangers and Will Hughes for The Rams both firing over from good opportunities.

Derby players and fans screamed loudly for a penalty when Hughes was brought down by Dunne but replays showed referee Lee Mason’s decision to wave the calls away, was a correct one.

Both teams upped the pace at the start of the second half but Derby seemed to be creating more in midfield through the impressive West Bromwich Albion loanee Ben Thorne. On 56 minutes, Rangers’ boss Harry Redknapp brought on Zamora in place of Kevin Doyle to increase his side’s attacking impetus but three minutes later the veteran striker was forced into immediate defensive work when Johnny Russell was played through on the right hand side of the penalty area only to be brought down by O’Neil. Referee Mason took his time to decide which card to pull out and after consulting his linesman he reached for red and the 31 year old defender walked off.

The Derby fans sensed the match had turned in their favour and felt it was only a matter of time before they scored. But despite their 67% possession on the ball the Rams created very few chances with every shot or cross blocked by a solid wall led by Dunne and Green.

Football is a cruel game and with extra-time looming, the Rangers players managed a rare attack into the Derby half which ended in what seemed like a harmless throw-in close to the right hand corner flag. Junior Hoillett slipped as he picked up the ball but still managed to regain his feet to deliver an innocuous cross straight to the feet of Derby captain Keogh. However, as the defender stretched to clear, he played the ball straight to Zamora who tucked the ball home from 15 yards out.

Derby attacked again from the restart but couldn’t find a way through the stubborn Rangers’ defence and as referee Mason blew his whistle, Rams fans and players could not hide their heartbreak. Keogh was understandably inconsolable and had to be helped by his manager and team-mates.

At the other end the QPR fans and players were delirious with Harry Redknapp showing his relief at an unlikely victory.

After the game, the QPR boss admitted he was praying his team could hold out for extra-time and penalties. “I’d be lying if I said I saw us scoring. We were hanging on at the end,” he said. “I am delighted for everyone at the club. They are all fantastic.”

Disappointed Derby manager Steve McClaren paid tribute to his young side and vowed that they would be back even stronger next season.

“We didn’t deserve to lose. It was such a cruel way to end a game. I could only see one winner,” he said. “I am so proud of all the lads. They will grow from this experience.”

  

Aston Villa v Hull City match report Saturday 3rd May 2014

Aston Villa eased their relegation worries with a comfortable 3-1 win over a lacklustre Hull City side which had one eye on the FA Cup Final later this month.

Two goals from Andreas Weimman and an Ashley Westwood strike were enough to cancel out a Jordan Bowery own goal to earn The Villans all three vital points.

The atmosphere inside Villa Park was electric as fans held their breath but early nerves were allayed when the home team went ahead within 58 seconds. A ball down the left hand touch line by Ryan Bertrand was collected by Gabby Agbonlahor who appeared to physically push his defender to the ground. Despite protests from the Hull players, referee Mike Dean allowed play to go on and Agbonlahor cut the ball from back to the edge of the box where Weimann swung and missed but luckily Westwood was there to slot the ball home into the bottom left corner past keeper Steve Harper.

The Tigers offered little but  found themselves level on 19 minutes thanks to a clever free kick from Tom Huddlestone. Everyone in the ground - including the Villa players - expected the midfielder to strike the ball from a central position 30 yards from goal but he cleverly played a pass to the left hand corner of the box where midfielder David Meyler cut the ball back and his low cross took a deflection off substitute Jordan Bowery and rolled into the back of the net to silence the home crowd.

Villa responded positively and with four minutes to go to half time, they were ahead again. A corner from the right hand side was swung in by Fabian Delph and a header from Ciaran Clarke was headed up into the air by striker Nikica Jelavic. A goalmouth scramble ensued and Weimann pounced at the far post to head his side in front.

Bowery redeemed himself two minutes into first half stoppage time when he picked the ball up on the left hand corner and delivered an inch perfect cross. Weimann got in front of his marker to glance home to put the game beyond doubt.

The second half saw few chances and the 3-1 final scoreline put Villa on 38 points and ensured Premier League football at Villa Park next season; much to the relief of manager Paul Lambert, his players and the thousands of Villa fans who have supported their team throughout a difficult season.

After the game Lambert praised the fans for sticking with his team. "I thought the crowd were fantastic. They came to support the lads and they were right behind us from the kick-off."
  
Hull manager Steve Bruce described his teams defending as "lackadaisical" and when told his team is two hours away from European football next season he joked , "with defending like that we wouldn't last very long in Europe."

West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Stoke City match report Sunday 11th May 2014

Stoke City capped off an excellent season with a 2 - 1 victory over struggling West Bromwich Albion in what could well be Baggies' boss Pepe Mel's last game in charge at The Hawthorns.

An own goal from Gareth McCauley and a fine strike from Charlie Adam cancelled out an equaliser from Stephane Sessegnon and give the Potter's only their third away win of the season.

Stoke took control of the match from the first whistle with former Baggies' man and pantomime villain Peter Odemwingie intent on scoring against his old side despite the hostile reception he received from the home fans.

West Brom had the first clear chance when an in-swinging corner from the left hand side by Graham Dorrans resulted in a goalmouth scramble which saw the ball fired onto the underside of the crossbar and appear to cross the line but goal line technology correctly suggested otherwise.

The away side responded by creating numerous opportunities from both flanks through Marko Arnautovic and Odemwingie and were finally rewarded for their dominance after 22 minutes.

Arnautovic picked the ball up on the left hand corner of the six yard box and his cross along the six yard line was turned into his own net by defender Gareth McCauley.

With the home team safe from relegation, some of the players appeared to have their towels already on the beach but in the second half they finally kicked into gear.

With 56 minutes gone Graham Dorrans was able to exploit some space in front of the Potters' defence and his pass to full back Craig Dawson on the right touch line was cut back to the penalty spot where Sessegnon finished impeccably with his left foot past keeper Thomas Sorensen.

The away side were almost back in front after the restart when a long ball from defence was collected on the left hand side by Arnautovic and the Austrian curled a shot with his right foot that hit the outside of the post. 

England keeper Ben Foster typified the calamitous performance of West Brom's defence when a throw-out and a sky-shot both ended in gifting corners to Stoke, much to the delight of the jeering away fans.

At the other end Baggies midfielder Yousouff Mulumbu almost won the match when he met a chipped pass over the defence by Saido Berahino on the right hand side of the box but his venomous shot across Sorensen’s goal came off the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes brought on former Liverpool players Peter Crouch and Charlie Adam to try and finish off their season with a win and with a few minutes to go it was Adam who struck the winner in some style. The Scotsman picked the ball up 40 yards out and drove at the West Brom defence through the middle of the pitch before firing a superb finish past Foster to send the away fans home happy and Baggies boss Pepe Mel facing the exit door. 

After the game Mel said he would like to stay in charge at The Hawthorns but added that his fate will be decided early next week.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes praised his team for buying into his way of thinking and successully changing the way they play which saw them end the season in ninth position with 50 points - their best since 1975.