born-to-win - Comments

6 December 2012
Last updated at 15:00


Ian Holloway has this afternoon left as manager of npower Championship side Blackpool, to take over Premier League side West Brom.

The Baggies are currently struggling in the Premier League, and sacked Steve Clarke as there manager over a week ago, with the club rock bottom of the Premier League, with just one victory all season in all competitions, which was a 3-0 win at home to Millwall.

In terms of the deal Holloway has signed at The Hawthorns, the Bristol-born manager has signed a deal until June 2016, which is £22,500 a week, and The Baggies board will be hoping he can keep them in the top flight this season, despite the club not winning a Premier League game so far.

Holloway, 49, has got a very tough start to life at The Hawthorns, they travel to Midlands rivals Aston Villa on Saturday, before travelling to Chelsea and Arsenal after that, before taking on Liverpool and Swansea City at home just before Christmas.

The rumours have started who will take over the reins at Bloomfield Road, the favourite seems to be ex-Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay, but other managers such as Stuart McCall, Danny Lennon and Craig Brown are also being linked.

Ian Holloway on the move to The Hawthorns. "I felt this challenge was too big to down am afraid, I do leave Bloomfield Road after more than three great years there a little sad, after all I have been through a lot with them, promotion to the Premier League against all odds but then relegation the season after, but it is time to look to the future and my new job with West Brom."

I AM DELIGHTED TO GET MY FIRST GOAL.

5 December 2012.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aidan White delighted to score his first goal for us.



Aidan White has today spoken of his delight to score his first ever goal for us, in the 3-2 defeat to Blackpool last night.

White, 21, scored his first goal in a shirt for us last night, since making his debut in 2008 for us, in a Carling Cup match against Crystal Palace, and has gone on to make 65 league appearances for us, including playing 14 times in the npower Championship this season.

The left sided player has taken time out to speak to us today, about his delight on scoring his first goal for us, but has also confirmed he would have preferred all three points.

Aidan White on his first goal for us. "Of course I am pleased to score my first goal for the club, but I would of preferred for it to be in a win for us, and I would of swapped my goal for all three points last night, but hopefully we can pick ourselves up and beat Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, when they come to Elland Road."

Cheers for the feedback Dan, glad your liking the updates

4 December 2012
Last updated at 23:50


Charlton Athletic have tonight confirmed who will become their new manager, and it is MK Dons boss Karl Robinson who has taken over at The Valley.

The Addicks have appointed Liverpool-born Robinson, 32, on a deal until June 2015, as the Charlton fans will be hoping that he can keep them in the npower Championship this season, and hope they are not relegated straight back to the npower League One, which they won last season.

The new Charlton Athletic manager is only in his second job in football management, he was appointed as manager at MK Dons in May 2010. During his time with The Dons he did not win anything, but he helped the club to two 5th place finishes, and leaves the club in 7th place in the league, with rumours that the financial status is insecure.

It will be a tough start for Robinson at the club, with Bristol City first up at The Valley on Saturday evening, then they travel to Nottingham Forest, before taking on Burnley and Wolves at home, and they then round the year off at Sheffield Wednesday.

It is rumoured that Charlton have paid £400,000 compensation to MK Dons, for the services of Robinson, and he will be unveiled to the press tomorrow morning.

Clark sacked by Birmingham City.

Geordie sacked after less than six months in charge of The Blues.

Last updated: December 4, 2012 11:15pm.





Birmingham City have made it two sackings in the npower Championship tonight, after they sacked manager Lee Clark.

Ex-Newcastle United midfield man Clark, 40, has been sacked less than two hours after the 4-1 defeat to Millwall, at St. Andrews. Clark was only appointed as boss of the Midland club in the summer, but after a poor campaign so far, which sees them in 18th place in the league, with only five wins so far this season, Birmingham City managing director Ian Furey has wielded the axe, hoping a change of manager will turn the clubs fortunes around.

The Blues had been tipped to be fighting for promotion this season, during the summer, especially with the likes of Peter Lovenkrands, Darren Ambrose, Hayden Mullins and Tal Ben-Haim arriving, but it has been a very disappointing campaign so far, with fans booing the side off the pitch, and the club also having the lowest attendance of the season tonight.

There have been a number of names being lined with the vacancy at the club, with the likes of Gary Megson, Gary Smith and Russell Slade being linked, but MK Dons manager Karl Robinson seems to be the one Birmingham City want, but whether they can appoint him is a different story.

Middlesbrough dismiss boss Mowbray.

Boro boss sacked after a poor start to the season.

Last updated: December 4, 2012 10:20pm.





Tony Mowbray has tonight been sacked by Middlesbrough, less than an hour after their 2-0 defeat to Everton, in the Capital One Cup last eight.

English-born Mowbray, 49, has been at The Riverside Stadium for over two years, after taking over in October 2010, after the departure of Gordon Strachan, but Mowbray has tonight been sacked by chairman Steve Gibson, with the club in 22nd place in the league, and having exited the Capital One Cup earlier tonight.

Boro fans had expected their side to have a decent start to the campaign in the summer, especially with the club signing players like Jonathan Woodgate to add to a strong squad, which includes Marvin Emnes, Jason Steele and Scott McDonald, but the season has been a poor one so far, with the club languishing in the bottom three of the npower Championship.

Speculation as to who will take over at The Riverside Stadium is certainly keeping people guessing, with the likes of Jimmy Calderwood, Graham Westley and Neale Cooper being linked, but it seems Gary Megson is the early favourite to take over.

It is and it is a good chance to maybe give the more important players a rest. Finding it tough at the minute with injuries, international duty and now a suspension, plus players are tired at the moment.

4 December 2012
Last updated at 22:10


Blackpool won a five goal thriller tonight at Elland Road, by beating Leeds United 3-2.

Leeds United made four changes from the defeat at Millwall on Saturday, out went Danny Pugh, Paul Green, Luciano Becchio and Michael Brown, with Adam Drury, El-Hadji Diouf, Aidan White and Ramon Nunez replacing them.

Blackpool made three changes from the 2-2 draw with Hull City, out went Alex John-Baptiste, Angel and Thomas Ince, with Craig Cathcart, Elliot Grandin and Ludovic Sylvestre replacing them.

The game took a while to get started, and the first chance came on 26 minutes, with David Norris firing the home side into the lead. The assist for the goal came from El-Hadji Diouf, he cut inside and found Norris on the edge of the box, and The Whites number 19 fired home a low drive, to put the home side into the lead.

The lead for the home side only last six first half minutes, as Nathan Delfouneso equalised for the visitors. The assist for the strike came from midfielder Marc Pugh, he received the ball from a Ludovic Sylvestre pass, before playing Delfouneso in on goal, and the striker slotted home past Paddy Kenny for 1-1.

The home side took the lead just four minutes after that Delfouneso goal, with Marc Pugh going from provider to scorer. The goal this time was created by Matt Phillips, he found a gap in the home sides defence and slotted it into the run of Pugh, who then curled it past Paddy Kenny and in off the post for 2-1.

The Seasiders wrapped up all three points less than a minute into the second period, with Nathan Delfouneso finding the net again for 3-1. The goal again was created by Marc Pugh, who was giving the defenders of the home team a torrid time, the Blackpool midfielder was found in the box by a Matt Phillips pass, and he put the ball into the six yard box to find Delfouneso, who turned and rifled home a half volley past Paddy Kenny.

The two goal lead lasted only three minutes for the away side, as Aidan White pulled one back for the home side, with his first ever strike for the club. The goal for The Whites was from a counter attack, Tom Lees won the ball from Elliot Grandin, and he hit the ball over the top into Luke Varney, who ran at the Blackpool defence before crossing into the far post, and that cross found White at the far post, who let the ball bounce before firing home into the net from a tight angle.

The night got worse for the hosts on 87 minutes, as El-Hadji Diouf was sent off, to round off a terrible night for them. The Whites attacker was already on a yellow card, which he picked up wrongly in the first half for diving, and his second booking of the game was for diving, but yet again the referee Chris Foy got the decision wrong.

Full time here at Elland Road on a disappointing night for the hosts, not only do they lose all three points to Blackpool, but they end the game with ten men, with El-Hadji Diouf being sent off for two yellow cards, both coming after wrong decisions by the referee, who claimed Diouf had dived. This win for Blackpool sends them level on points with the home side, but Leeds United stay above them on goal difference.

Leeds United manager, Phil Walker, on the defeat. "Well that was a very disappointing result for me, we took the lead but yet again could not keep a clean sheet, but it is the fans I feel sorry for having to watch that tonight, the players were not good enough tonight. I am also a little disappointed with the referee tonight, twice he wrongly booked (El-Hadji) Diouf, so we will now not have him to face Blackburn Rovers on Saturday"

Blackpool boss, Ian Holloway, on securing all three points. "A good win for us tonight, I feel we are in great form at the minute, only one defeat in ten games for us I believe, and that is down to a great bunch of lads, but we have to keep this run going until May."

Leeds United starting line-up (4-4-2). Kenny, Peltier (c), Lees, Pearce, Drury, Diouf, Nunez, Norris (Green 61), White, Varney (Byram 74), Somma (Becchio 61).
Subs not used. Ashdown (gk), Pugh, Thompson, Poleon.
Goals. Norris 26, White 49.
Booked. Peltier, Diouf.
Sent off. Diouf.

Blackpool starting line-up (4-2-3-1). Gilks, Eardley (John-Baptiste 86), Cathcart, Evatt (c), Crainey, Sylvestre, Ferguson (c) (Angel 81), Grandin, Pugh (Broadfoot 87), M. Phillips, Delfouneso.
Subs not used. Kettings (gk), Ince, Dicko, Harris.
Goals. Delfouneso 32, 46, Pugh 36.
Booked. Cathcart, Grandin.

Attendance. 21,493.
Referee. Chris Foy.
Man of the Match. Marc Pugh (Blackpool), rated at 9.1 over 87 minutes. The home side could not keep the Blackpool man quiet tonight, not only was he involved in all three goals, but he gave the hosts problems all night.

FA Cup Third Round draw is made.

Upsets could be made by lower league teams.

Last updated: December 2, 2012 3:30pm.





The FA Cup Third Round draw was made this afternoon, with a number of Premier League teams facing trips to lower league teams.

Holders of the FA Cup Chelsea, are one of those teams facing a trip to lower league opposition, they face a trip to St. James, where they will face Exeter City, who are rooted to the bottom of League Two.

Manchester City will face a short trip in their tie, they will travel to League One outfit Preston North End, in what could be a tough game for the Premier League holders.

Bristol City who are 14th in the npower Championship, will host Tottenham Hotspur at Ashton Gate, and will be hoping to knock the Premier League side out of the competition.

Premier League side Sunderland will face a trip to a League two side, but they are not sure who they face yet, as Northampton Town and Chesterfield face each other in a replay.

The runners up from last season Liverpool have been drawn at home, they will take on npower Championship side Blackpool, in what will be a tough test for the men from Anfield.

Leeds United look to have one foot in the Fourth Round after the draw today, they will face either Macclesfield Town or AFC Wimbledon, at Elland Road.

Other ties include Newcastle United v Manchester United, Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City v Walsall, Cardiff City v Alfreton Town, and Ipswich Town v Reading.

The FA Cup Third Round draw in full.
Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday.
Barnsley v Carlisle United.
Birmingham City v Walsall.
Burnley v Crystal Palace.
Bristol City v Tottenham Hotspur.
Bury v Stoke City.
Cardiff City v Alfreton Town.
Charlton Athletic v Plymouth Argyle.
Dagenham or Redbridge or Accrington Stanley v Port Vale or Aldershot Town.
Derby County v Wycombe Wanderers.
Everton v Hull City.
Exeter City v Chelsea.
Huddersfield Town v Portsmouth.
Ipswich Town v Reading.
Leeds United v Macclesfield Town or AFC Wimbledon.
Liverpool v Blackpool.
Newcastle United v Manchester United.
Northampton Town or Chesterfield v Sunderland.
Nottingham Forest v Bolton Wanderers.
Peterborough United v Leicester City.
Preston North End v Manchester City.
Rochdale v Norwich City.
Rotherham United v Queens Park Rangers.
Scunthorpe United v Millwall.
Sheffield United v Brentford.
Swansea City v Wigan Athletic.
Watford v Blackburn Rovers.
West Brom v Brighton and Hove Albion.
West Ham v Aston Villa.
Wolves v Fulham.
Yeovil Town or Stevenage v Southampton.
York City or Crewe Alexandra v Middlesbrough.

Ye to say who are missing at the minute but we will have to deal with it. Ye the season is going great so far, doing well above my expectations

Brown out for around four to five months.

Midfielder will be a big blow for The Whites.

Last updated: December 2, 2012 9:00am.





Leeds United will be without midfielder Michael Brown for four to five months, after he picked up an injury in the 1-0 defeat at Millwall yesterday.

Brown, 35, picked up a torn calf muscle in the defeat at The Den in front of the Sky Sports cameras yesterday evening, after stretching too far in a challenge to win a loose ball, in the middle of the park. This will be bad news for the Hartlepool-born midfielder, he is into the final year of his current contract, and manager Phil Walker is unsure as to whether he will hand Brown a new deal, so Brown was hoping to impress the boss into handing him a new deal, and will see this injury as a major setback.

This injury will come as a major blow for boss Phil Walker, he is currently without Patrick Kisnorbo and Rodolph Austin who are on international duty, while Ross McCormack is still out injured with an ankle injury, and the players looked very tired towards the end of the game yesterday, so Walker will look to bolster his squad in January, or use some of the younger players already at the club.

Yep we are having a great season so far, start of the campaign I would of been happy with a top half finish, so if we finished in the top six it would be a great achievement, especially with the little transfer budget I have at my disposal

1 December 2012
Last updated at 20:15


Millwall have begun the month of December with a victory, beating Leeds United 1-0 at The Den, thanks to a strike from Andrew Keogh.

Millwall made three changes from the 3-0 defeat to Cardiff City on Tuesday night, out went Jack Smith, John Marquis and Scott Malone, with Alan Dunne, Darius Henderson and Chris Taylor replacing them.

Leeds United made four changes from the 3-1 win at Hull City on Tuesday, out went Patrick Kisnorbo, El-Hadji Diouf, Aidan White and Rodolph Austin, with Jason Pearce, Paul Green, Luke Varney and Michael Brown replacing them.

Millwall had the first chance of the evening at The Den, with midfielder Liam Trotter going close. The chance for Trotter was created by Darius Henderson, he held the ball up on the edge of the box before crossing it into the far post, there was Danny Pugh to head the ball away, but Trotter fired in a shot, which went just over the goal of Paddy Kenny.

The visitors lost midfielder Michael Brown on 21 minutes, after he limped off with an injury. The injury to The Whites number 17 came from a rash tackle by Josh Wright, both players went to claim a loose ball, but it was Brown who came out of the challenge worse off, and limped off injured.

The final chance of the first half came in injury time, when Luciano Becchio hit the woodwork of the Millwall goal. The chance for The Whites came after a good tackle by Paul Green, he dispossessed Chris Taylor in his own half, before playing the ball into the run of Davide Somma, who hit a low drive at goal which was saved by Maik Taylor, the rebound then fell to Becchio, whose drive was hit through a crowd of players, but hit the foot of the post and did not go in.

The first chance of the second half did not come until the 64th minute, and Paddy Kenny made a great save to deny Darius Henderson. The chance for the hosts was created by Andrew Keogh, he picked the ball up from a Liam Feeney pass, before crossing the ball into the far post to find Henderson, and the Millwall striker thought he had scored with a powerful header, but somehow Kenny got there to tip the ball over the crossbar.

The home side won the match with just 15 minutes remaining, and it was Andrew Keogh who won the match, a player who has had two spells with Leeds United. The goal for Keogh was created by left-back Jack Robinson, the player who is at Millwall from Liverpool on loan drove a ball in, and there was Keogh to slot home, and put the home side into the lead.

The visitors thought they had equalised on the 89th minute, but a header from Luke Varney was disallowed for offside. The chance was created after great creative play from the visitors, Ramon Nunez laid the ball out to Sam Byram, and the midfielder pulled the ball back to Lee Peltier, who sent a cross into the far post to find Varney, who sent a powerful header at goal, which Maik Taylor could only push into the corner of the net, to send Leeds United into celebrations but they were short lived, as the linesman had his flag up to rule the goal out.

Full time here at The Den and Millwall take all three points here this evening, thanks to a strike from striker Andrew Keogh. This win for Millwall lifts them level on points with Blackburn Rovers in sixth, but Leeds United drop into third place, with Bolton Wanderers winning 2-1 in the derby against Burnley.

Millwall manager, Kenny Jackett, on the win. "A good win for us this evening, Leeds United have been going strong this season in the league, so to take all three points off them is a great feeling, but as always this game was battling match but a battle which we came out on top of."

Leeds United manager, Phil Walker, on losing. "Well these games between us and Millwall and always tough, and today was no different with just the one goal separating us, but I felt the game should have ended in a draw, which would have been the fairer result. We will have to wait to see how bad the injury is to Michael (Brown), it looked serious as he went off, but we will know more tomorrow."

Millwall starting line-up (4-4-2). M. Taylor, Dunne, P. Robinson (c), Shittu, J. Robinson, Feeney, Trotter, Wright (Mkandawire 56), C. Taylor (Malone 59), Henderson, Keogh.
Subs not used. Forde (gk), Smith, Marquis, Racon, Osbourne.
Goal. Keogh 75.

Leeds United starting line-up (4-4-2). Kenny, Peltier (c), Lees, Pearce, Pugh, Green, Brown (Byram 23), Norris (Nunez 68), Varney, Becchio, Somma (Diouf 57).
Subs not used. Ashdown (gk), Drury, White, Poleon.
Booked. Peltier, Pugh.

Attendance. 17,365.
Referee. Howard Webb.
Man of the Match. Paddy Kenny (Leeds United), rated at 8.1 over 90 minutes. The Leeds United goalkeeper was in great form this evening, and he was unlucky to concede the goal to Andrew Keogh, but he kept the score down with some great saves.

November awards handed out in the npower Championship.

Two awards go to players from Yorkshire clubs.

Last updated: December 1, 2012 10:40am.





The npower Championship awards for the month of November have been announced, with two of the awards going to teams from Yorkshire.

The Manager of the Month award has gone to Owen Coyle of Bolton Wanderers, after he led his team to four league victories in six games, including a victory over promotion rivals Nottingham Forest. The Player of the Month award has gone to Elland Road, and it is Luciano Becchio who has won the award after being in deadly form, which has seen him net on average more than a goal game this month. The Young Player of the Month has also gone to Yorkshire, but it is a South Yorkshire club it has gone to, with Jacob Mellis of Barnsley winning the award, following six impressive performances for the club. The final award is for Goal of the Month, and that has been won by Larnell Cole, for his strike for Crystal Palace against Huddersfield Town, a goal where he picks the ball up in his own half, dribbles past two defenders, before hitting a good effort from 15 yards out.

The top two starts this month like it did last month, with Wolves leading the way and Leeds United hot on their heels, and keeping the pressure on the Midland clubs. It is Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Blackburn Rovers, who make up the play-off places coming into the busy Christmas period. It has been another bad month for Nottingham Forest, back at the start of October the club was in 2nd place, but just two months later they find themselves down in 11th, with fans booing the players off after being unhappy with recent results. In the drop zone it is Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town, with two of those clubs sacking their manager since the beginning of the season, but The Addicks are yet to replace Chris Powell.

Manager of the Month. Owen Coyle (Bolton Wanderers).
Player of the Month. Luciano Becchio (Leeds United).
Young Player of the Month. Jacob Mellis (Barnsley).
Goal of the Month. Larnell Cole. Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town.

Ye great win to say we went behind, and Hull have come into good form in recent weeks.

27 November 2012
Last updated at 22:40


Leeds United ran out 3-1 winners over Hull City tonight at The KC Stadium, in a tight and nerve racking Yorkshire derby.

Hull City came into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw at home to Cardiff City, and manager Steve Bruce made just two changes from that draw, out went Abdoulaye Faye and Jay Simpson, with Corry Evans and Nick Proschwitz replacing them.

Leeds United travelled to The KC Stadium tonight without a win in two, so manager Phil Walker made a total of five changes from the 2-2 draw with Birmingham City, out went Adam Drury, Jason Pearce, Sam Byram, Paul Green and Luke Varney, with Danny Pugh, Patrick Kisnorbo, El-Hadji Diouf, Rodolph Austin and Davide Somma replacing them.

The first chance of the match came to Hull City, and it ended up in the back of the net, with Stephen Quinn scoring the goal. The assist came from fellow midfielder Robert Koren, he was found by a Matty Fryatt pass, he then slotted the ball into Quinn, who then smashed a shot across the face of Paddy Kenny and into the goal, via the far post.

The visitors had a great chance to equalise on 23 minutes, but El-Hadji Diouf headed across goal and wide. The chance for the number 21 was created by Aidan White, he beat Liam Rosenior and whipped a cross into the far post, and the cross found Diouf, but he could only send a looping header across goal and wide.

The visitors finally had the ball in the back of the net to equalise on 40 minutes, and it was Luciano Becchio with the goal. The move started for the visitors when Rodolph Austin tackled Robert Koren to win the ball in the middle of the park, he then slotted the ball into Davide Somma, who held the ball up and slotted it into the run of Becchio, who then rounded Ben Amos and slotted the ball home to equalise.

With the visitors gaining some momentum with that Becchio goal, the hosts sat back hoping to go in at the interval level, but El-Hadji Diouf had other ideas, and the attacker made it 2-1 on 44 minutes. The assist for the strike came from skipper Lee Peltier, he picked the ball up a David Norris square pass, before slipping it into the run of Diouf, and the Leeds United man somehow found space between Ben Amos and the near post, to fire United into the lead.

The home side had the chance to bring themselves level on 56 minutes, but Paddy Kenny made a great save to deny Matty Fryatt. The move for The Tigers started from a free kick in their own penalty area, goalkeeper Ben Amos laid the ball out to Jack Hobbs, he hit a long ball down field to striker Nick Proschwitz, who knocked the ball down to Fryatt, and he skipped past centre-back Tom Lees, before hitting a curling effort towards goal, and the effort looked to be going into the far corner, but somehow Kenny got there to save the shot.

The visitors wrapped the game up with nine minutes left in normal time, and it was Luciano Becchio with the goal. The move for the visitors started when Danny Pugh picked up a loose ball in The Tigers half, he then slipped the ball into Aidan White, who then slotted the ball into David Norris who was in the penalty box, and The Whites number 19 pulled the ball back for Luciano Becchio, who fired home a first time drive into the far corner, to kill the game off and make it 3-1 in front of the travelling supporters.

Full time here at The KC Stadium and it is Leeds United who have got all three points tonight, with a well-deserved 3-1 victory, thanks to two goals from Luciano Becchio and one from El-Hadji Diouf, but in all honesty it was a tight and nerve racking Yorkshire derby which could have gone either way. The home side remain in the top half of the table despite this defeat, but the visitors close the gap on top of the table Wolves, after they lost 3-0 at Leicester City.

Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, on the defeat. "This was one of those games that could of gone either way, it was a typical nervy derby played in a tense atmosphere, but I thought when we scored the first goal we was going to dominate, but that is why Leeds United are in the top two, because they fought back and scored three goals to win it, I just wish the game had finished after six minutes."

Leeds United manager, Phil Walker, on the victory. "Well a good result for us tonight, a lot of our players were still tired from the weekend, and Hull City have been in good form over the recent weeks, so when we went 1-0 down I feared for us, but I changed things around and we improved to take all three points, so that is very pleasing for me tonight."

Hull City starting line-up (4-4-2). Amos, Rosenior, McShane (c) (Hobbs (c) 51), Chester (Bruce 81), Dudgeon, Elmohamady, Evans, Koren, Quinn, Fryatt, Proschwitz (Simpson 81).
Subs not used. Jakupovic (gk), Hoff, Aluko, Cairney.
Goal. Quinn 6.
Booked. Elmohamady.

Leeds United starting line-up (4-4-2). Kenny, Peltier (c), Lees, Kisnorbo, Pugh (Pearce 81), Diouf, Austin, Norris (Green 81), White, Somma (Varney 75), Becchio.
Subs not used. Ashdown (gk), Drury, Byram, Poleon.
Goals. Becchio 40, 81, Diouf 44.

Attendance. 24,618.
Referee. Dean Whitestone.
Man of the Match. Luciano Becchio (Leeds United), rated at 9.1 over 90 minutes. Another brilliant performance from The Whites top scorer, taking his total to 13 strikes this season, and earning his fourth man of the match award this season.

UNITED DUO TO LEAVE ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY.

27 November 2012.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Austin and Kisnorbo called up for international duty.



We can this morning confirm that Rodolph Austin and Patrick Kisnorbo will leave soon, to join their respective countries on international duty.

Midfielder Austin, 27, has become a key member of our squad since joining in the summer and will be missed by us, with him being called up to play for Jamaica on the 1st, 3rd and 5th of December, in the Caribbean Championship, and he could stay longer if The Reggae Boyz progress from their group.

Meanwhile centre-back Kisnorbo, 31, has been called up by The Socceroos manager Holger Osleck, to help his country qualify for the East Asian Championships, which will be played next summer in South Korea, and he will feature for his country on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th of December.

I was shocked about the Powell sacking as their not doing too bad in my opinion, especially with their pre-season predictions, but the likes of Leicester and Cardiff have been shocking, so Pearson and Mackay being sacked did not shock me, but am glad you think my reports on them are good. A good point to say we had lost the game before, but disappointing to say we lost the lead twice.

Londoners sack Chris Powell.

The Addicks sack manager after 4-1 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Last updated: November 24, 2012 8:00pm.





Chris Powell has this evening been sacked by Charlton Athletic, less than an hour after a 4-1 defeat away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Powell, 43, is an ex-Charlton Athletic player, who played a total of 244 league games for the club, in three different spells, and he is regarded as an icon at The Valley, for his time spent at the club as a player.

London-born Powell, was in his first full-time managerial job in football at The Valley, after spending time as a caretaker boss at Leicester City, and got The Addicks promoted last season, which was his first full season in charge at the club.

The season has not started great for the South East London club, and after a poor start which sees them down in 23rd place in the table, club chairman Michael Slater has wielded the axe, despite the fact the club were tipped to finish just two places higher this season.

There are a number of names being thrown into the hat for the job at The Valley, with speculation suggesting MK Dons boss Karl Robinson is the favourite for the job, however Gary Megson, Gary Smith and Russell Slade are also in contention, should Robinson decide to stay with The Dons.

24 November 2012
Last updated at 18:00


Leeds United and Birmingham City played out an exciting 2-2 draw at Elland Road, with the visitors twice coming from behind.

Leeds United made three changes from the defeat at Nottingham Forest last weekend, out went Danny Pugh, Rodolph Austin and Davide Somma, with Adam Drury, Sam Byram and Aidan White replacing them in the starting line-up.

Birmingham City came into the trip to Elland Road on the back of a 1-0 defeat at home to Hull City, and manager Lee Clark made six changes from that defeat, out went Colin Doyle, Paul Caddis, Ben Gordon, Wade Elliott, Darren Ambrose and Peter Lovenkrands, with Jack Butland, Jonathan Spector, Steven Caldwell, Chris Burke, Keith Fahey and Nikola Zigic coming in.

Birmingham City had a great chance to take the lead inside the first minute, but Nikola Zigic headed wide of the goal. The chance came straight from the kick off, striker Marlon King found David Murphy out on the left, he took the ball past Lee Peltier, before crossing it into the box to find Zigic, but he put his header wide of the target, when he should have been putting the visitors in front.

The home side took the lead with their first real chance of the match on 15 minutes, and it was Luke Varney who got the goal, making it two goals in two games against The Blues this season. The assist for the goal was from left-back Adam Drury, he was found by a pass from Aidan White, and the Leeds United number three crossed the ball into the box to find Varney, who was unmarked and flicked the ball on past Jack Butland, to give the hosts the lead.

Leeds United could have doubled their lead just 11 minutes after that Varney header, but Jason Pearce put his free kick just over the crossbar. The free kick was won by striker Luciano Becchio, he was brought down by Hayden Mullins on the edge of the area, and Pearce stepped up to take the free kick, but his shot clipped the top of the crossbar as it went over, with Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland rooted to the spot.

The away team had a great chance to equalise on 35 minutes, but defender Tal Ben-Haim hit the inside of the post. The chance was created by a free kick out on the left flank, the free kick was taken by midfielder Keith Fahey, he crossed the ball into the near post to find Ben-Haim, and he looped a header towards goal which hit the inside of the post, but luckily for the home team it somehow did not end up in the back of the net.

The visitors found the back of the net five minutes before the end of the half, and it was David Murphy who scored the equaliser. The equaliser was created by Nikola Zigic, he brought a long ball from Curtis Davies down on his chest, before laying the ball out to Murphy, who then drove a first time shot past Paddy Kenny to bring the visitors level.

After a fast and furious first half, the second half was much more quiet with the first chance coming on 67 minutes, and that chance ended up in the back of the net, with Curtis Davies scoring a bizarre own goal. The goal came just a minute after manager Phil Walker had brought El-Hadji Diouf and Davide Somma off the bench, and both those substitutes played a part in the goal, it was Diouf who won the ball out on the right flank, before crossing the ball into the run of Somma, whose powerful header was pushed away by Jack Butland, the loose ball fell to Hayden Mullins who hurriedly cleared the ball, only for it to cannon back off Davies and end up in the back of the net.

The Leeds United lead did not last long though, and 12 minutes later Birmingham City equalised, thanks to a Nikola Zigic strike. The Serbian striker was found by a Darren Ambrose pass across goal, after the Birmingham City attacker had beaten Adam Drury to make the pass, and Zigic calmly slotted home to make it 2-2.

At the full time whistle a 2-2 draw was probably the fair result, twice the home side took the lead, but twice the visitors fought back to equalise. This result means The Whites stay in the top two, while The Blues remain in the wrong half of the table.

Leeds United manager, Phil Walker, on the draw. "After the defeat last weekend away at Nottingham Forest, this game was made all the more important to get a result, and to be fair they (Birmingham City) made it tough for us all day. I felt when we brought the two men on in the second half (El-Hadji Diouf and Davide Somma) we was going to win it, but it just was not our day."

Birmingham City boss, Lee Clark, on the point. "A great point for us here at Elland Road this afternoon, they are doing great up at the top of the table, so for us who are struggling in the bottom 12 of the league to draw here, is a great result in my opinion."

Leeds United starting line-up (4-4-2). Kenny, Peltier (c), Lees, Pearce, Drury, Byram (Diouf 66), Green, Norris (Austin 60), White, Becchio (Somma 66), Varney.
Subs not used. Ashdown (gk), Pugh, Thompson, Kisnorbo.
Goals. Varney 15, Davies o.g. 67.

Birmingham City starting line-up (4-4-2). Butland, Spector, Davies, Caldwell (c), Ben-Haim (Gordon 59), Burke (Ambrose 45), Mullins, Fahey, Murphy, Zigic, King (Caddis 67).
Subs not used. Doyle (gk), Elliott, Lovenkrands, Packwood.
Goals. Murphy 40, Zigic 79.
Booked. Fahey.

Attendance. 25,058.
Referee. Martin Atkinson.
Man of the Match. Nikola Zigic (Birmingham City), rated at 9.0 over 90 minutes. The striker put in another great display today at Elland Road, last season he hit four goals here, and this season he may have only scored one, but he created the other and was a nuisance for the home side all afternoon.

Ye it was a tough defeat but we still are doing well this season. Ye he has been linked with every job in championship and now he has finally got one.

22 November 2012
Last updated at 16:15


Gareth Southgate has today took over at Cardiff City as their new manager.

Ex-England centre-back Southgate, 42, pulled on the three lions jersey 57 times during his career, but has today moved to Wales for his new job in football management, taking over at Cardiff City, after over three years out of a job, after being sacked by Middlesbrough.

This is only the second job in football management for Southgate, and he will be hoping to be a success at the Cardiff City Stadium, especially with the club making such a poor start to the season, and will be calling on the experience of Craig Bellamy, Michel Salgado, Heidar Helgusson and Peter Whittingham, to help and lift the club up the league.

It will be a tough start to life at Cardiff City for Southgate, the former Aston Villa defender starts off with three away games at Hull City, Millwall and Barnsley, before Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town come to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Gareth Southgate on his new role at Cardiff City. "It is great to be back in football management today, I have spent over three years away and in the past few months I have been itching to get back into it, and it is great to come to a team with such a great playing squad. It is also good to be handed a three-year deal, it shows the club has faith in me as a manager, and I want to repay their faith as soon as possible."

17 November 2012
Last updated at 20:30


Nottingham Forest grabbed a 1-0 victory over a lacklustre Leeds United this evening, thanks to a Simon Cox penalty.

Nottingham Forest came into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw at home to Birmingham City last weekend, and manager Sean O'Driscoll made two changes from that game, out went Chris Herd and Henri Lansbury, to be replaced by Dustley Mulder and Adlene Guedioura.

Leeds United came into the game on the back of a 3-0 win at Cardiff City, and there was just the one change from that game, out went El-Hadji Diouf who was suspended after reaching five yellow cards, and in came Paul Green to replace him.

The first chance of what turned out to be a gritty clash at The City Ground went to Jason Pearce, and he put his header just wide from a corner. The corner was won after Luke Varney forced Dustley Mulder to put the ball into touch, the resulting corner was taken by Paul Green, and he whipped the ball into the near post to find Pearce, who headed the ball just wide of the goal.

The home side fired home the only goal of the match on 22 minutes, and that goal was scored by Simon Cox from the penalty spot. The penalty was won by attacker Lewis McGugan, he was pushed over in the box by Leeds United left-back Danny Pugh, and Cox put the ball on the spot, before smashing it home into the roof of the net.

The next chance of the game came to the home side, and this time it was midfielder Adlene Guedioura with the chance, but Paddy Kenny made a good save to deny him. The chance for the Algerian midfielder was created by James Coppinger, he pulled the ball back to Guedioura from the edge of the box, and the Forest number seven drove a shot towards goal, but Kenny was there to tip the shot over the top.

The next good chance of the game did not come until the hour mark, and it was Luke Varney who had a great chance for the visitors. The chance for the visitors came from great passing football, and the chance for Varney was created by Davide Somma, he was found in the box by David Norris, and with the angle too tight to shot from, he hit the ball across the box to find Varney at the far post, but he could only the crossbar with a first time shot.

The final incident of the match came six minutes from the end of normal time, and that saw Michael Brown sent off, for a second bookable offence. The Leeds United number 17 was already on thin ice, after picking up a yellow card earlier in the half, and after clattering into the back of Chris Cohen, referee Anthony Taylor booked him again and sent him for an early bath.

Full time and it is a big win for Nottingham Forest over a Leeds United team, who are riding high in the league, just the one goal settled the game this evening, and that was a penalty from Simon Cox in the first half. This result means Forest move from 10th place to 8th place in the table, while Leeds United remain in 2nd place, after results this afternoon went there way.

Nottingham Forest manager, Sean O'Driscoll, on the three points. "This was a good win for us this evening, Leeds United are going great at the top of the table and have won their past three games, so to beat them is a great feeling for us."

Leeds United boss, Phil Walker, on losing. "Disappointing result and performance from us for me tonight, we only made the one change from the Cardiff game, so it is disappointing we can go from a confident performance then to how we played tonight, but we will look to bounce back against Birmingham City in our next game."

Nottingham Forest starting line-up (4-2-3-1). Jalal, Mulder, Halford, Ayala, Collins (c), Guedioura, Moussi, McGugan (Lansbury 84), Coppinger (Ephraim 68), Cohen, Cox.
Subs not used. Evtimov (gk), Herd, Reid, Findley, Harding.
Goal. Cox pen 22.
Booked. Guedioura, Moussi.

Leeds United starting line-up (4-4-2). Kenny, Peltier (c), Lees, Pearce, Pugh (Drury 45), Green, Austin (Brown 45), Norris, Varney, Becchio, Somma (White 61).
Subs not used. Ashdown (gk), Kisnorbo, Byram, Poleon.
Booked. Brown.
Sent off. Brown.

Attendance. 28,967.
Referee. Anthony Taylor.
Man of the Match. Daniel Ayala (Nottingham Forest), rated at 7.7 over 90 minutes. A good performance from the Forest centre-back, a performance which helped Forest to a clean sheet and all three points this evening.

Yep we are picking up some crucial wins at the minute, and its good to be sorting new contracts out etc. Yep hopefully we can pick all three points up against him though when we face them.

great story something different and original and your doing great this season

16 November 2012
Last updated at 14:40


Leicester City have this afternoon appointed Roy Keane as their new manager.

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Keane, 41, has been out of football management for over a year, after he was sacked by Ipswich Town in January 2011, following a string of terrible results, after spending 20 months at Portman Road.

The Irishman is highly experienced at this level in football management, having managed both Sunderland and Ipswich Town at this level in the past, and fans of The Foxes will be hoping he can be as successful with their club, as he was at Sunderland, where he took the club into the Premier League in his first season in charge.

Keane has taken over from Nigel Pearson at the helm at the King Power Stadium, after he was dismissed 13 days ago, with the club just two points above the relegation zone, and with just four wins in the league this season, the new manager will be looking to climb up the league as soon as possible.

It is going to be a tough start for the new man at The Foxes, he starts away at fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow afternoon, before taking on Burnley, Wolves and Middlesbrough at home, and then faces a trip to Midlands rivals Derby County.

Roy Keane on his new job at the King Power Stadium. "It is great to be back in football management today and with a club like this, you only have to look at the players on the books to know we should not be where we are, so there are exciting times ahead for the fans of this club, as I look to guide us up the table and to safety."

Millwall v Leeds United to be shown on television.

Kick off pushed back to an evening match.

Last updated: November 13, 2012 2:45pm.





We can confirm that we will be showing Millwall versus Leeds United live on Sky Sports 1.

The match will still be played on Saturday the 1st of December, but instead of a 3:00pm kick off, the match will now kick off at 5:30pm, in what should be a crucial clash for both teams, especially with the way both teams have started the season.

Last season Leeds United took all three points at The Den, thanks to a strike from striker Ross McCormack, giving the West Yorkshire team a 1-0 victory in the capital.

FOUR MORE NEW DEALS HANDED OUT.

12 November 2012.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Three players and one member of staff sign new contracts.



We can confirm four more contracts have been handed out this week, with three players and one member of staff signing new deals.

The three players to sign new contracts with us are players yet to make their first team debuts, but will be looking to make the break into the first team soon, and they are Charlie Clamp, Alex Mowatt and Sanchez Payne. All three of those players play their football in the centre of midfield, and all of them have signed deals until 2014, but only Payne has made his senior debut in football, which has come away from Elland Road at AFC Wimbledon, where he has played 16 games for them this season, and finding the net once for them.

Meanwhile it is Richard Naylor who has been handed a new deal and job with us. Ex-defender Naylor, 35, was coaching our under 18s squad, but after Neil Redfearn was promoted to be manager of the reserve squad, we have been without a manager for the under 18s, but today that has changed with Naylor being named as the manager of the under 18s, with him signing a deal until June 2015.

Mackay sacked by Cardiff City.

The Bluebirds sack boss after just one win in ten.

Last updated: November 10, 2012 6:30pm.





Cardiff City have this evening sacked manager Malky Mackay, less than two hours after their 3-0 defeat to Leeds United.

Ex-Scotland international Mackay, 40, has been with the Welsh club since June of last year, after replacing Dave Jones as manager at the Cardiff City Stadium, but he has been dismissed tonight by chairman Datuk Chan Tien Ghee, after the club have won just one game in ten in all competitions, which includes a 3-1 defeat to Swansea City, in the Capital One Cup.

After quite a successful campaign for The Bluebirds last season, which saw the club reach the Carling Cup final, only to lose to Liverpool on penalties, and reach the play-offs where they lost to West Ham in the semi-finals, who eventually won the play-off final at Wembley, the Cardiff supporters had high hopes coming into the new campaign, especially with the likes of Craig Bellamy, Joe Lewis, Nicky Maynard and Heidar Helguson join the club, but a disappointing start to the season has seen them languish at the wrong end of the table, after being tipped to finish in the top six at the start of the season.

There have been a number of names flying around the internet as to who will replace Mackay at the club, with ex-Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane the favourite for the job, but Jimmy Calderwood, Gareth Southgate and Jimmy Calderwood are also being tipped for the job.

10 November 2012
Last updated at 17:55


Leeds United cruised to a 3-0 victory away at Cardiff City today, a result which piles the pressure on The Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay, but sends The Whites top for at least 24 hours.

Cardiff City came into the game against high flying Leeds United on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham City, and they made two changes, out went Jordan Mutch and Nicky Maynard, to be replaced by Filip Kiss and Joe Mason.

Leeds United made five changes from the 2-1 win over Watford on Tuesday night, in came Danny Pugh, Jason Pearce, El-Hadji Diouf, Rodolph Austin and David Norris, they replaced Adam Drury, Patrick Kisnorbo, Paul Green, Michael Brown and Ramon Nunez.

The first incident of the match was a red card on four minutes, and that went to Michel Salgado for a two footed tackle. The foul from the ex-Real Madrid right-back came after a tangle with Luke Varney, the Leeds attacked nicked the ball off the Spaniard, but as he brought the ball under control, Salgado lunged in with a two footed tackle, and that saw Stuart Attwell produce a straight red card.

The visitors took advantage of the hosts losing a man so early on, and they made it 1-0 after just 12 minutes, with Luciano Becchio firing home a penalty. The penalty was won after El-Hadji Diouf was brought down in the box, he was fouled by Cardiff City defender Matthew Connolly, up stepped Becchio to take the spot kick, and he fired home into the roof of the net to make it 1-0, to take his goal tally in the league to ten for the season.

The Whites did not sit back and kept the pressure on the home side, and Davide Somma drove home a strike to make it 2-0 to the high flying Yorkshire men. The assist for the goal this time went to Luciano Becchio, the striker went from goal scorer to goal provider on 18 minutes, he slipped a lovely weighted pass into Somma, and the South African striker smashed home his shot.

Luciano Becchio wrapped the game up for The Whites on 28 minutes, as he tapped the ball home into an unguarded goal. The assist for the goal this time came from winger Luke Varney, he was found by a pass from David Norris, the Leeds number 11 then ran into the box before hitting a drive across goal, which found Becchio at the far post, and he tapped home to make it 3-0.

It took until the 37th minute for Cardiff City to have their first real chance of the game, and that chance fell to midfielder Peter Whittingham, who nearly caught Paddy Kenny out with his shot. The ball came to the Cardiff City number seven from a Kevin McNaughton pass, he took one touch before hitting a low shot at the Leeds goal, and the ball was swerving with Kenny committed, but luckily for Leeds he managed to stop the shot with his foot.

The first chance of the second half fell to the visitors, and it was Luciano Becchio who went close with a header. The chance for the striker who was looking for his hat-trick goal was created by Lee Peltier, he had got forward from right-back and picked the ball up from a David Norris pass, before whipping the ball into the box to find Becchio, and he put a header just wide of the goal.

The hosts could have got themselves back into the game on 71 minutes, but Paddy Kenny made a fine save to deny Craig Bellamy. The chance for Cardiff City was created from a corner, the ball fell to Bellamy after a poor headed clearance from Jason Pearce, the Welsh striker then hit a curling shot at goal, and it was creeping into the top left hand corner, until Kenny got across and tipped the shot wide.

The Bluebirds had an effort ruled out on 87 minutes, after Stuart Attwell spotted a foul from Etien Velikonja, on Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. The ball was put in the back of the net by Velikonja, that was after he was found in the box from a Matthew Connolly cross, which Velikonja headed home into the net, but Attwell had spotted Kenny being backed into and ruled the goal out.

Full time in an exciting game here at the Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon, and Leeds United have run out 3-0 winners today, thanks to a brace from Luciano Becchio and a strike from Davide Somma. This result keeps the pressure on Malky Mackay, whose Cardiff City team drop to 20th place, while Leeds United move top of the table for at least 24 hours, with Wolves hosting Blackburn Rovers tomorrow.

Cardiff City manager, Malky Mackay, on the loss. "We deserved to lose this afternoon that is all I can say, we was second best all afternoon and we got taught a lesson, but it was made especially hard for us after losing Michel (Salgado) after just four minutes."

Leeds United manager, Phil Walker, on the victory. "I am delighted with our victory this afternoon, we was the better side all afternoon and deserved all three points, but it is also nice to keep a clean sheet, they have been rare this season but we got one today, I just hope Blackburn can do us a favour tomorrow at Wolves."

Cardiff City starting line-up (4-4-2). Marshall, Salgado, Connolly, Hudson (c), McNaughton, Mason, Whittingham, Kiss (Mutch 45), Bo-Kyung, Bellamy (Velikonja 73), Smith (Turner 45).
Subs not used. Lewis (gk), Noone, Conway, Clarke.
Booked. Hudson.
Sent off. Salgado.

Leeds United starting line-up (4-4-2). Kenny, Peltier (c), Lees, Pearce, Pugh, Diouf, Austin, Norris, Varney, Becchio (Green 59), Somma (Poleon 65).
Subs not used. Ashdown (gk), Kisnorbo, Drury, White, Brown.
Goals. Becchio pen 12, 28, Somma 18.
Booked. Somma, Austin, Diouf.

Attendance. 22,470.
Referee. Stuart Attwell.
Man of the Match. Luciano Becchio (Leeds United), rated at 8.6 over 59 minutes. What a performance by Becchio this afternoon, he scored two goals this afternoon to become the top scorer this season for The Whites, and set up the other goal for the visitors.