Month: April 2023

Andy Crosby has warned Port Vale’s players that they are facing heading out the exit door this summer if they cannot cut out defensive mistakes.

Vale lost 3-2 at Charlton but other results ensured that they retained their League One status.

But Crosby, in interim charge since Darrell Clarke was sacked on April 17, could not help but be critical of the ease in which their opponents beat keeper Aidan Stone.

Tyreece Campbell and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi put Charlton 2-0 ahead and, although James Plant pulled a goal back, Miles Leaburn added a third to make Matty Taylor’s late penalty nothing more than a consolation.

“That was the remit, taking over before the Ipswich game, making sure we secured League One football,” said Crosby.

“Credit to everyone concerned that we’ve done that. It was our primary goal at the start of the season. We have done that.

“But I’m really disappointed with the first half in a number of ways. I changed things at half-time and second half we were the better team.

“I’ve just said in there (the dressing room) for us to develop as a football club you can’t continue to concede a goal-and-a-half a game – you’re going to end up in real trouble doing that.

“Individuals have to learn very quickly that won’t be acceptable going forward. If they are not capable of doing that they won’t be at the football club for very long.

“The way we handled the ball in the first half wasn’t good enough, which created too much space when they got the ball back. Our pressing shape didn’t work – we weren’t connected as a team or compact. There was too much space for them to play through us.

“The goals we concede are handed to Charlton. You can’t move forward and win games on a consistent basis if you are going to concede goals like that.”

Charlton’s vibrant young front three of Campbell, Rak-Sakyi and Leaburn all got on the scoresheet.

Crystal Palace loanee Rak-Sakyi, 20, has been too hot to handle for League One defences and took his goal tally to 15 for the campaign.

He also produced his 10th assist, teeing up frontman Leaburn, 19, for his 12th league goal.

Campbell, also 19, put Charlton ahead with a low strike in the 14th minute.

Addicks manager Dean Holden said: “It was really important that we got a win, to give the supporters something to cheer about. We’ve gone through a lot of pain this season, but we’ve had some good times as well.

“Tyreece and Jes have really helped each other. They have become really close off the pitch.

“Every time we speak to an opposition manager after the game they talk about our front three whether that was Corey (Blackett-Taylor), earlier in the season, Miles and Jes. Now TC has been added to that conversation – I just loving watching him play. He is gaining more and more confidence.

“The potential of Tyreece and Miles is huge.

“Fair play to Jes for coming out and playing men’s football. I said to him after the game that I’ve been so lucky I got to work with him for four months. He is one hell of a player.”

Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore admits he has regrets over his side’s automatic promotion near-miss.

The Owls won 3-0 at Shrewsbury but the result was rendered irrelevant after wins for Plymouth and Ipswich, the top two in Sky Bet League One.

The pair both sealed the victories that they needed to confirm their places in the Championship next term, while Wednesday will now have to navigate the play-offs if they are to join them.

Moore, who watched striker Michael Smith score a hat-trick in the taming of the Shrews, admitted: “There’s always regrets that you can’t go one better.

“But this is football, sometimes when you feel you should get the rub of the green, you haven’t (got it). But what we have got is another wonderful opportunity and that’s what we have got to be looking at.

“The points tally this season, we know over the course of any other season where we would be. But we are in 2022-23 and we have plenty to look forward to.

“Don’t look back as it costs unspent energy. 93 points, credit to the players and we have a full house next week (against Derby).”

Smith opened the scoring with a fine finish early on after a smart team move.

His second came just after the restart when he nodded home Marvin Johnson’s precise cross.

And he completed his first treble since achieving the feat for Portsmouth against Yeovil in 2016 when he slid home after a through-ball from captain Barry Bannan.

Moore added: “I thought the first goal was exceptional from our point of view. A really good team goal and it was a really cultured finisher from Smudger.

“That was the pick of the bunch and I was really pleased for Smudger as he works really tirelessly for the team and strikers judge themselves on their goals.

“Fr him to get the three goals today was really, really good. It was a special moment for him and he will get all the headlines.

“But I thought all of the team here came and put on a resounding performance and controlled the game.”

Shrews boss Steve Cotterill acknowledged his side were put to the sword by a far superior outfit.

His team have now lost seven of their last eight matches, although they are well clear of danger.

Cotterill said: “We gave plenty of effort but we’ve given away two poor goals and came up against a squad that is full of quality, that’s it.

“The subs they make later on in the game shows that quality. That’s why they were on 90-plus points.

“We were 1-0 down and then they, to be fair to them, put in four great blocks and showed their character.

“And that’s another reason why they’re on 93 points. We always knew it would be a difficult game. The bottom line is they were too good for us.”

Wigan were relegated from the Sky Bet Championship after they could only manage a 1-1 draw at relegation rivals Reading.

The visitors had given themselves a glimmer of hope of avoiding the drop when defender Charlie Hughes headed home from close range nine minutes from the end.

But Reading – still favourites to accompany Wigan into League One – levelled in the third minute of stoppage time through Yakou Meite.

The Royals had not won in 11 games and were without joint nine-goal leading marksmen Tom Ince and Andy Carroll – Ince injured and Carroll suspended.

Wigan had been making a late bid to avoid relegation, winning their previous games against Stoke and Millwall, but had to win at the SCL Stadium to stand a chance of retaining their Championship status.

Blackpool went down after their 3-2 home defeat to Millwall on Friday night and Wigan needed a fast start in Berkshire if they were to avoid joining them.

That did not transpire, however, with Reading making most of the early running.

Tom McIntyre tested Wigan goalkeeper Jamie Jones with a long-range effort, which Jones gathered comfortably, and Lucas Joao narrowly failed to latch on to a searching pass from Andy Yiadom.

Latics stayed solid at the back and were almost rewarded from their first foray forward.

Reading failed to clear their area properly and Hughes, up from the back, volleyed narrowly wide.

It was an isolated attack, though, with Reading soon back in command. Jones had to save smartly with his legs to keep out Jeff Hendrick’s attempt from a tight angle.

Reading then almost snatched the lead shortly before the interval but Jones superbly clawed away a goalbound header from Joao at the last moment.

Wigan upped the tempo at the start of the second period, with Max Power crossing from the right and James McClean volleying wildly over at the far post.

Christ Tiehi then made a mazy run from deep inside his own half – only to waste all his good work with a wayward final shot.

Reading responded positively and, following a scramble in the Wigan area, Yiadom cut inside but saw his firm effort blocked.

And as the game became increasingly open, with both sides needing the victory, it was Reading who nearly made the breakthrough – Tom Holmes heading weakly at Jones from a Naby Sarr cross.

But Wigan gave themselves a glimmer of a chance of avoiding the drop in the first minute of time added on following a clever free-kick routine on the left.

McClean crossed to the far post and Hughes rose high to nod downwards and past home goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

But Reading hit back shortly afterwards when, after a frenzied goalmouth scramble, substitute Meite slammed in from close range.

Steven Schumacher’s Plymouth clinched promotion to the Championship with a 1-0 home win over Burton.

Once again Niall Ennis made the decisive breakthrough just before the interview with a superb piece of individual skill to finish off a superb passing move started by Callum Wright.

Playmaker Danny Mayor threaded the ball to Ennis, who beat central defender Sam Hughes before curling the ball past defender Jasper Moon and goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray and into the net.

It was no more than Argyle deserved for a dominant first-half display, in which Mayor twice had efforts cleared off the goal-line.

His 25th-minute deflected looping shot was headed off the line by Moon and then visiting skipper John Brayford did the same with Mayor’s goalbound effort eight minutes later.

Macaulay Gillesphey’s 43rd-minute header crashed off the bar from a Matt Butcher corner, before Ennis finally broke the deadlock.

Callum Wright had a 76th-minute goalbound shot blocked after being teed up by substitute Ryan Hardie and fired wide when the ball rebounded to him.

Burton’s Mark Helm cleared an 86th-minute Dan Scarr header off the line as Argyle pressed for a second goal – but one proved enough.

Steven Schumacher’s Plymouth clinched promotion to the Championship with a 1-0 home win over Burton.

Once again Niall Ennis made the decisive breakthrough just before the interview with a superb piece of individual skill to finish off a superb passing move started by Callum Wright.

Playmaker Danny Mayor threaded the ball to Ennis, who beat central defender Sam Hughes before curling the ball past defender Jasper Moon and goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray and into the net.

It was no more than Argyle deserved for a dominant first-half display, in which Mayor twice had efforts cleared off the goal-line.

His 25th-minute deflected looping shot was headed off the line by Moon and then visiting skipper John Brayford did the same with Mayor’s goalbound effort eight minutes later.

Macaulay Gillesphey’s 43rd-minute header crashed off the bar from a Matt Butcher corner, before Ennis finally broke the deadlock.

Callum Wright had a 76th-minute goalbound shot blocked after being teed up by substitute Ryan Hardie and fired wide when the ball rebounded to him.

Burton’s Mark Helm cleared an 86th-minute Dan Scarr header off the line as Argyle pressed for a second goal – but one proved enough.

Port Vale were able to celebrate retaining their League One status for next season despite a 3-2 defeat at Charlton.

The loss left Vale five points above the relegation zone with one match remaining.

The Addicks took the lead in the 14th minute, Tyreece Campbell drilling a low shot home after Albie Morgan’s cross dropped to him inside the penalty area.

Steven Sessegnon went close to adding to Charlton’s advantage but his 25-yard effort dropped narrowly wide of the right upright.

Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi made it 2-0 after 58 minutes, winning a 50-50 duel and then bending the ball emphatically past Vale keeper Aidan Stone.

James Plant cut the deficit soon after, lashing in from six yards from a Mal Benning corner.

Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer denied the visitors an equaliser, pushing away Tom Conlon’s free-kick.

Miles Leaburn restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage in the 77th minute after the striker was cued up from close range by Rak-Sakyi.

Port Vale cut the deficit just before the end of seven minutes of stoppage time, Matty Taylor converting from the spot after Terell Thomas handled Dennis Politic’s shot.

Wigan were relegated from the Sky Bet Championship after they could only manage a 1-1 draw at relegation rivals Reading.

The visitors had given themselves a glimmer of hope of avoiding the drop when defender Charlie Hughes headed home from close range nine minutes from the end.

But Reading – still favourites to accompany Wigan into League One – levelled in the third minute of stoppage time through Yakou Meite.

The Royals had not won in 11 games and were without joint nine-goal leading marksmen Tom Ince and Andy Carroll – Ince injured and Carroll suspended.

Wigan had been making a late bid to avoid relegation, winning their previous games against Stoke and Millwall, but had to win at the SCL Stadium to stand a chance of retaining their Championship status.

Blackpool went down after their 3-2 home defeat to Millwall on Friday night and Wigan needed a fast start in Berkshire if they were to avoid joining them.

That did not transpire, however, with Reading making most of the early running.

Tom McIntyre tested Wigan goalkeeper Jamie Jones with a long-range effort, which Jones gathered comfortably, and Lucas Joao narrowly failed to latch on to a searching pass from Andy Yiadom.

Latics stayed solid at the back and were almost rewarded from their first foray forward.

Reading failed to clear their area properly and Hughes, up from the back, volleyed narrowly wide.

It was an isolated attack, though, with Reading soon back in command. Jones had to save smartly with his legs to keep out Jeff Hendrick’s attempt from a tight angle.

Reading then almost snatched the lead shortly before the interval but Jones superbly clawed away a goalbound header from Joao at the last moment.

Wigan upped the tempo at the start of the second period, with Max Power crossing from the right and James McClean volleying wildly over at the far post.

Christ Tiehi then made a mazy run from deep inside his own half – only to waste all his good work with a wayward final shot.

Reading responded positively and, following a scramble in the Wigan area, Yiadom cut inside but saw his firm effort blocked.

And as the game became increasingly open, with both sides needing the victory, it was Reading who nearly made the breakthrough – Tom Holmes heading weakly at Jones from a Naby Sarr cross.

But Wigan gave themselves a glimmer of a chance of avoiding the drop in the first minute of time added on following a clever free-kick routine on the left.

McClean crossed to the far post and Hughes rose high to nod downwards and past home goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

But Reading hit back shortly afterwards when, after a frenzied goalmouth scramble, substitute Meite slammed in from close range.

Port Vale were able to celebrate retaining their League One status for next season despite a 3-2 defeat at Charlton.

The loss left Vale five points above the relegation zone with one match remaining.

The Addicks took the lead in the 14th minute, Tyreece Campbell drilling a low shot home after Albie Morgan’s cross dropped to him inside the penalty area.

Steven Sessegnon went close to adding to Charlton’s advantage but his 25-yard effort dropped narrowly wide of the right upright.

Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi made it 2-0 after 58 minutes, winning a 50-50 duel and then bending the ball emphatically past Vale keeper Aidan Stone.

James Plant cut the deficit soon after, lashing in from six yards from a Mal Benning corner.

Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer denied the visitors an equaliser, pushing away Tom Conlon’s free-kick.

Miles Leaburn restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage in the 77th minute after the striker was cued up from close range by Rak-Sakyi.

Port Vale cut the deficit just before the end of seven minutes of stoppage time, Matty Taylor converting from the spot after Terell Thomas handled Dennis Politic’s shot.

Roy Hodgson admitted his relief after Crystal Palace beat West Ham 4-3 to move to 40 points and all but assure themselves of Premier League safety.

When the 75-year-old stepped back into the Selhurst Park dugout at the beginning of this month he had inherited a side entrenched in a relegation battle and significantly struggling in attack.

Palace have been transformed under him since and the win over David Moyes’ men lifted them into 11th place and ahead of Chelsea, who have played two fewer matches.

Palace were unnerved when Tomas Soucek fired the Hammers into an early lead and goals from Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha and Jeffrey Schlupp made it 3-1.

Michail Antonio pulled a goal back before the break but Eberechi Eze restored Palace’s two-goal advantage from the penalty spot and, although Nayef Aguerd kept the Hammers’ hopes alive with a third for the visitors, Palace held firm for the win.

Hodgson is hopeful that Palace will push on for the remaining four games despite looking clear of the menace of relegation.

“It is up to the players,” said Hodgson. “I don’t often share what I say to the players in the dressing room but I can share this. I said ‘it’s up to you’. Nothing is going to change as far as Ray [Lewington], Paddy McCarthy and I are concerned.

“We will all work exactly the same way, but only you can get that fire, that desire to make the extra run, to win the challenge, only you can do that. I think you could take this as far as you want.

“I’m not going to say we’re going to win four more games, but I don’t think we’re incapable of winning them.

“At the same time the sword has been removed from my head, it’s been removed from the players’ heads.

“We will keep the sword where it is as far as we’re concerned, because we like to win games and we like to come away from every performance, even if it is a defeat thinking ‘well done, boys. You did well, you played the right football, not dissatisfying in any way. Didn’t work out this time, onto the next one’.

“That’s our attitude. I can’t guarantee what the players’ attitude will be, but I would think they would share that belief.”

Patrick Roberts scored a stunning stoppage-time equaliser as Sunderland mounted a brilliant late fightback to draw 2-2 with Watford and keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Black Cats were heading for a home defeat to the out-of-form Hornets, who were without Joao Pedro as he closes in on a move to Premier League side Brighton.

Christian Kabasele and Ryan Porteous headed Watford into a two-goal lead but Sunderland came fighting back, with Luke O’Nien halving the deficit before Roberts’ moment of brilliance deep into stoppage time.

The draw extends Sunderland’s unbeaten run to eight games and leaves them two points behind sixth-placed Millwall.

Had Sunderland lost, then their play-off hopes would have disappeared if Blackburn beat Luton on Monday night, but now Tony Mowbray’s men know they will head to Preston on the final day still in with a chance of making the top six. Watford remain 13th.

On the back of their impressive win at West Brom last time out, Sunderland started well, with Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo flashing a free-kick just wide after 10 minutes.

Against the run of play, Watford took the lead with their first effort through a thumping Kabasele header from an Imran Louza corner on 17 minutes.

Sunderland probed as they looked for a leveller and Roberts went close when he cut in from the right and fired just wide 10 minutes before the interval.

But the visitors were dangerous on the break and almost doubled their lead in the final stages of the first half when a cross from the right was only cleared as far as Ken Sema, whose shot from the edge of the box was well blocked by Pierre Ekwah.

Anthony Patterson made a brilliant reaction save to keep out a deflected Ismaila Sarr cross in the early stages of the second half.

Then, at the other end, it was Daniel Bachmann’s turn, the Watford keeper denying Trai Hume a headed leveller.

Sunderland dominated possession but Watford were happy to put men behind the ball and defend their lead. And the visitors looked to have put the game out of Sunderland’s reach when Porteous headed in a corner on 69 minutes to double Watford’s lead.

Sunderland gave themselves hope just a minute later when O’Nien poked home substitute Alex Pritchard’s volley from close range, and the home side threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser.

And with their 23rd shot on goal in the fifth minute of added time, they salvaged a draw when Jack Clarke teed up ex-Manchester City forward Roberts and he found the top corner from the edge of the box.