Rob Smyth's Blog

Liverpool 5-0 Huddersfield Town: Prem... Norwich 2-1 Blackburn: Canaries promo...

Fulham 1-0 Cardiff, Southampton 3-3 Bournemouth and more – as it happened

Ryan Babel’s late goal pushed Cardiff closer to the Championship, while Rotherham and Yeovil were relegated on a dramatic afternoon

5.26pm BST

That’s it for today’s blog. Squeaky-bum time never disappoints, and this afternoon’s fixtures were as dramatic as expected. Thanks for your company and emails. Bye!

5.26pm BST

5.25pm BST

5.15pm BST

5.13pm BST

Cardiff’s defeat means Brighton can effectively ensure survival with a win over Newcastle in the late game. Scott Murray will be watching that one.

5.12pm BST

5.03pm BST

5.02pm BST

Peep peep! The 3pm matches have all finished. I won’t type every single result, because my fingers are weeping, but you can see them all by clicking here. And here are all the live league tables.

5.00pm BST

“Full-time: Nuneaton Borough 0-3 Stockport County,” writes Phil Grey. “Stockport are promoted as champions.”

5.00pm BST

It’s over for Cardiff, who now need snookers if they are to stay up.

4.59pm BST

Fulham 1-0 Cardiff In the last few minutes, Cardiff have battered Fulham, with Sergio Rico making a series of vital saves. But it’s almost certainly too little, too late.

4.58pm BST

It’s finished Northampton 2-2 Yeovil after a frantic finale, and Yeovil are heading out of the EFL.

4.57pm BST

They lost 2-1 at West Brom, which means Millwall are safe.

4.57pm BST

League One

Luton’s promotion party has been postponed, and it might be cancelled if Portsmouth win their final two games.

4.55pm BST

Southampton will be safe unless Cardiff score twice in injury time.

4.54pm BST

A very good win for Wolves, who consolidate their place at the top of the Premier League second division.

4.52pm BST

League One Stevenage have scored an injury-time winner at Mansfield!

4.52pm BST

Fulham 1-0 Cardiff Hoilett has hit the bar for Cardiff!

4.51pm BST

File this one under ‘Two banks of four’.

4.49pm BST

Northampton 2-2 Yeovil Omar Sowunmi, who scored at the wrong end, has a header cleared off the line at the right end. Yeovil desperately need a winning goal.

4.48pm BST

Here’s more on the great Borussia Dortmund implosion

4.48pm BST

Sunderland 1-1 Portsmouth Will Grigg has hit the post for Sunderland! If they don’t get a late winner, they’ll be heading for the playoffs.

4.46pm BST

La Liga Atletico Madrid 1-0 Valladolid (Joaquin 67 og)

4.45pm BST

Callum Wilson gets his second goal to bring Bournemouth level again!

4.44pm BST

League One Scunthorpe have pulled another goal back at home to Bradford, who lead 3-2. In League Two, Tyler Walker has scored an important equaliser for promotion-sniffing Mansfield against Stevenage.

4.43pm BST

A peach from Ryan Babel has given Fulham a deserved lead. Cardiff are in serious trouble now, while Fulham must be wishing they gave Scott Parker the job a few months earlier.

4.42pm BST

Derby are so close to the play-offs. Jayden Bogle has completed a smash-and-grab victory over a thoroughly unfortunate Bristol City.

4.42pm BST

Rekeem Harper has ensured that Rotherham will play League One football next season.

4.40pm BST

Fulham 0-0 Cardiff A draw probably isn’t enough for Cardiff, although they do have a winnable game at home to Crystal Palace next weekend.

4.39pm BST

“Change the Mars bars to Snickers, and you have a deal, McMahon,” says Matt Dony. “I’ve pretty much conceded the league, but if Liverpool can pull a Dundee United and sweep Barcelona aside, I’ll be a happy man.”

So happy that you’ll be listening to this on loop.

4.38pm BST

Jay Rodriguez’s debatable penalty has shattered Rotherham, who will effectively be down unless they find a winner.

4.34pm BST

Wolves are back in front through the irrepressible Diogo Jota.

4.34pm BST

Goals goals goals!

League One Walsall 3-0 Peterborough

4.33pm BST

League One Burton have come from behind to lead Luton 2-1!

4.32pm BST

Oh my goodness! David Fitzpatrick’s drive has put Sol Campbell’s side ahead, and if it stays like they will only need a point next week to stay up.

4.31pm BST

Notts County are heading for a vital win. They are still in the relegation places on goal difference, with Macclesfield drawing at Port Vale, but they have hope.

4.28pm BST

League One Scunthorpe have pulled one back at home to Bradford, though they still trail 3-1.

4.28pm BST

The most miserable day imaginable for Dortmund - they had two men sent off, lost to their big rivals and almost certainly surrendered the title to Bayern Munich.

4.27pm BST

This sounds like a classic match. Valery’s superb cross is nutted into the net by Matt Targett to give Southampton the lead again.

4.24pm BST

Bristol City 0-1 Derby The substitute Antoine Semenyo has been controversially sent off for Bristol City, whose play-off hopes are fading.

4.23pm BST

League One It’s all change at the top. Barnsley have gone 2-1 up against Blackpool, while Burton have equalised against Luton. That means Barnsley are now a point behind Luton, but neither side would be guaranteed promotion. It’s all happening. Won’t somebody think of my fingers?

4.22pm BST

It’s over, you don’t need to tell me...

4.20pm BST

“Re: the action photo of Fulham-Cardiff,” says Peter Oh. “Was Junior Hoilett booked for that tackle on Ryan Babel? He’s showing more studs than Michael Owen’s stable.”

Erm. Erm, can I phone a friend?

4.20pm BST

League Two It’s been a miserable few minutes for Yeovil. They were 2-0 up at Northampton at half-time, but Daniel Powell’s goal has made it 2-2. Yeovil are now bottom of the as-it-stands table. I think.

4.19pm BST

League One Two very important goals at the bottom - Joe Pigott’s second goal has made it AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Wycombe, while a Daniel Lafferty own goal has put Walsall 2-0 up against Peterborough.

Make that three big goals at the bottom: Rochdale lead Southend 1-0 through Ian Henderson.

4.18pm BST

Nine-man Dortmund have got one back!

4.17pm BST

“Is it just me, or MBM updates recently have been trying to become some stand- up comedy?” asks Zoltan Hevesi. “Why is the urge for trying to be funny in each of the entries? Getting a bit tired of reading wannabe humorous posts. Thanks though for the articles nevertheless.”

It’s just you – MBMs have been trying and failing to be funny since the early 2000s.

4.16pm BST

“Hey Rob,” says Rob Lewis. “You are absolutely right that Wimbledon’s goal was a BIG goal. Their story is quite astonishing, as they seemed dead and buried after Christmas. With a win today and something next week against already down Bradford, they must stay up. Although I am a Wimbledon boy, I am not a Wimbledon fan, but I have no hard feelings towards them, even though they dumped West Ham out of the cup this season.”

4.15pm BST

Everyone’s favourite double-barrelled set-piece expert has equalised - this time from open play, and with his left foot as well.

4.14pm BST

League One It’s AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Wycombe. WILL PEOPLE PLEASE STOP SCORING GOALS FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS DECENT.

4.14pm BST

League Two A couple of important goals at the bottom. Yeovil’s Omar Sowunmi has scored an own goal; his side now lead 2-1 at Northampton. At Meadow Lane, Craig Mackail-Smith has put Notts County ahead against Grimsby. That means the bottom three clubs - County, Yeovil and Macclesfield - are all on 41 points. One of them will survive.

4.12pm BST

League One Sean McConville has completed a hat-trick: Accrington 4-0 Plymouth.

4.12pm BST

Oh my. Rotherham have taken a surprise lead at the Hawthorns through Clark Robertson. A victory would give them an outside chance of avoiding relegation.

4.10pm BST

League Two Frankie Kent has made it Colchester 2-0 MK Dons. That result would surely end MK Dons’ chances of automatic promotion.

4.08pm BST

La Liga It’s Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid at half time. If it stays like this, Barcelona could seal another title by beating Levante tonight.

4.07pm BST

It’s there!

4.06pm BST

Peep peep! The second halves are under way.

4.03pm BST

Serie A Bologna have beaten Empoli 3-1. It would be an insult to your intelligence to pretend I know anything about the match other than the scoreline.

4.00pm BST

Bundesliga Schalke are now two goals and two men up on Dortmund. Marius Wolf has been sent off to complete an immense implosion from the home side. Eight months of hard work has been undone in five minutes of pure noggingonery.

3.59pm BST

“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Dundee United 2-0 up at Tannadice at half time v Falkirk as they look to invite Maurice Mentum into the home dressing room ahead of the play offs. I’ll do a deal with Matt Dony - one trophy for Liverpool and promotion for United? Though I suspect Liverpool fans have rather more to lose. Maybe I could throw in a set of bibs and a box of Mars bars?”

How about another Andy Robertson?

3.58pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Phil Grey. “After the Guardian did a piece on Stockport County this week it’s defo worth mentioning that they’re two up at half-time at Nuneaton and looking like they’ll be champions of National League North this evening (Ashley Palmer and Matthew Warburton with the goals).”

I was going to mention that the moment my extra set of fingers arrived.

3.57pm BST

It’s all going wrong for Dortmund. Marco Reus gets a straight red card - how is that even possible - and moments later Daniel Caligiuri gets his second goal to put Schalke 3-1 ahead.

3.55pm BST

“Argh,” says Rachel Clifton. “Saints are going to screw this up aren’t they?!”

No. You’re welcome! They’re far too good; I wouldn’t worry.

3.54pm BST

These are the scores in some of this afternoon’s big games.

Premier League

3.49pm BST

Peep peep! It’s half time in all the 3pm games, which is my cue to give my beleaguered fingers a quick break. See you soon for all the second-half action.

3.49pm BST

Bundesliga Schalke 04 still lead 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund. There are 35 minutes remaining; Dortmund surely need to win if they are to have a realistic chance of winning the title.

3.47pm BST

“What do you think of it so far? Rubbish!” says Allison Siegenthaler. “Given that today’s match is Luton vs. [Richard] Burton, hopefully I can persuade you to post this picture.”

As I’ve received four emails all afternoon, it doesn’t require much persuasion.

3.47pm BST

League One Walsall this, Walsall that. Yep, Walsall are not down just yet - Andy Cook has given them a 1-0 lead over Peterborough in first half injury time.

3.44pm BST

League One Plymouth are being tonked 3-0 at Accrington, with Sean McConville getting his second goal.

3.43pm BST

League One Another

big
important goal. Cauley Woodrow has equalised for promotion-desiring Barnsley at home to Blackpool.

3.42pm BST

League One Joe Pigott, who missed a penalty early on, has scored to make it AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Wycombe. Big goal, that. STOP SAYING IT’S A BIG GOAL, SMYTH. THEY’RE ALL BIG GOALS, IT’S SQUEAKY BLOODY BUM TIME.

3.42pm BST

A devastating cross from Diogo Jota is headed in by Raul Jimenez, to the delight of thousands of Fantasy Football addicts.

3.40pm BST

Britt Assombalonga’s penalty gives Middlesbrough a deserved lead in a match they probably need to win to keep their play-off hopes alive.

3.39pm BST

“Hiya Rob,” says Adam Kline-Schoder. “I’ve been watching the Fulham vs Cardiff match and can confirm that Odoi did regain consciousness shortly after crumpling to the floor. He tried to get up and carry on, but props to the physios who came on very quickly and took the time to completely immobilise him before carrying him off. Never nice to see this type of injury, but heartwarming to see the Cardiff physios rushing to assist their Fulham counterparts in taking care of Odoi. Not that I expect him to read this MBM, but best wishes to Odoi for a full and speedy recovery.”

What the man said.

3.38pm BST

League One Accrington now lead Plymouth 2-0, thanks to Sean McConville’s free-kick. It looks like we’re heading for a relegation shoot-out between Plymouth and Scunthorpe next week, although it’s possible that both will go down.

3.33pm BST

The in-form James Collins has given Luton the lead. As things stand, they will be promoted to the Championship today.

3.33pm BST

Championship An important equaliser for Middlesbrough from Lewis Wing. It’s Middlesbrough 1-1 Reading.

3.32pm BST

Bournemouth have come from behind to lead at St Mary’s!

3.32pm BST

Fulham 0-0 Cardiff Denis Odoi has been taken off on a stretcher. It sounds like he was unconscious before he hit the floor, though I don’t know whether he was conscious by the time he was stretchered off.

3.30pm BST

League Two Jake Gray has put Yeovil 2-0 up at home to Northampton!

3.28pm BST

Here’s more on Celtic’s 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock

3.27pm BST

“Not sure I fully agree with Ian Copestake,” sniffs Matt Dony. “VAR is a flat track bully, and never shows up against the big teams. Maybe it should form a classic two-up-top partnership with Some Flipping Common Sense. (Disclaimer: I’m a big fan of VAR, but there’s so much work to do...)”

3.27pm BST

Jamal Lowe has equalised for Portsmouth in the big game at the Stadium of Light.

3.26pm BST

Fulham 0-0 Cardiff This is very worrying: Denis Odoi has been down for around five minutes after being accidentally kicked in the head by one of his team-mates.

3.25pm BST

Southampton 1-1 Bournemouth Shane Long reverts to type, missing an open goal to leave Phil Thompson open-mouthed with bewilderment on Soccer Saturday.

3.24pm BST

That’s a decent point for Millwall, who will be safe unless Rotherham win at West Brom.

3.23pm BST

League Two

Yeovil lead at Northampton through Tristan Abrahams’ penalty. That’s a huge goal; as things stand, they are out of the relegation places.

3.21pm BST

League One

Billy Kee’s penalty has given Accrington the lead at home to Plymouth, who are also fighting relegation to League Two.

3.20pm BST

Dan Gosling equalises for Bournemouth with a fine goal!

3.20pm BST

League One

A shock at Oakwell, where Barnsley are 1-0 down to Blackpool. So far, it’s been a very good afternoon for Sunderland.

3.19pm BST

Tom Lawrence has given Derby the lead in the potential play-off eliminator at Ashton Gate.

3.17pm BST

League One AFC Wimbledon, who are also scrapping to avoid relegation to League Two, have missed a penalty at home to Wycombe. It’s all happening!

3.16pm BST

Scunthorpe are now 2-0 down at home to Bradford, and could be relegated today.

3.14pm BST

“Good to see VAR contributing to a goal,” says Ian Copestake. “It’s got a good touch for a big arbitration system.”

3.14pm BST

Championship A couple of important goals - Jayden Stockley has given Preston the lead at home to Sheffield Wednesday, and Danny Loader has put Reading 1-0 up at Middlesbrough. Here’s what it means for the Championship table.

3.12pm BST

Shane Long has scored his fourth goal in five games!

3.10pm BST

Tom Flanagan’s emphatic header has given Sunderland an early lead at the Stadium of Light.

3.08pm BST

League One Billy Clarke has scored an early goal for relegated Bradford at Scunthorpe, who are hoping to avoid the same fate. At the other end of the table, Lewis Morgan has hit the post for Sunderland in their big match against Portsmouth.

3.05pm BST

League Two Sammie Szmodics have given Colchester an early lead against MK Dons, who are in the hunt for automatic promotion.

3.03pm BST

Well now. A thumping header from Salif Sane has given Schalke the lead at the Westfalenstadion!

3.01pm BST

Peep peep! It’s 3pm on Saturday, and thus it’s kicking off up and down the country. And some football matches are starting as well! Honk! Ho-honk! Ho-ho-ho-ho-honk!

3.00pm BST

Dortmund’s lead lasted precisely four minutes. Daniel Caliguiri has equalised for Schalke with the aid of VAR.

2.59pm BST

It’s still Millwall 0-0 Stoke City with 20 minutes remaining. A draw wouldn’t be the worst result for Millwall, although they know a win would effectively ensure they will play Championship football next season.

2.51pm BST

Here’s more on Leyton Orient’s emotional return to the Football League.

2.49pm BST

Mario Gotze has given Dortmund an early lead in the Revierderby. You’ll have deduced that from the above, of course, but I have to type something here.

2.46pm BST

Here’s more on West Ham’s victory at Spurs, which should give them bragging rights until forever

2.40pm BST

In the early Championship game, it’s Millwall 0-0 Stoke City after 47 minutes. It sounds like that scoreline flatters both teams. A win for Millwall would effectively ensure their avoid relegation, and send Rotherham down in the process.

2.34pm BST

The scenes in the Orient dressing-room are lovely. The classic celebratory combination of champagne and ‘championes’ will never get old.

2.30pm BST

Celtic have beaten Kilmarnock 1-0 at Celtic Park, which leaves them a point away from their eighth consecutive league title.

2.25pm BST

After two years in the National League, they have sealed promotion to League Two with a 0-0 draw at home to Braintree.

2.22pm BST

West Ham have done the double! They were the first team to win at the Emirates, and now they have become the first team to win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. And their victory was thoroughly deserved.

2.17pm BST

Watford (4-2-2-2) Foster; Kiko Femenia, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas; Doucoure, Capoue; Hughes, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Gray.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-5-2) Rui Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny; Raul Jimenez, Jota.

2.15pm BST

Southampton (4-4-2) Gunn; Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Redmond; Ings, Long.

Bournemouth (3-4-1-2) Boruc; Mepham, Cook, Simpson; Clyne, Lerma, Gosling, Ake; Brooks; King, Wilson.

2.10pm BST

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Rico; Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream, Bryan; Chambers, Anguissa; Sessegnon, Cairney, Babel; Mitrovic.

Cardiff (4-2-3-1) Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Bacuna; Hoilett, Camarasa, Mendez-Laing; Niasse.

2.08pm BST

Crystal Palace (4-4-2) Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Kelly, Dann, van Aanholt; McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyate, Meyer; Benteke, Zaha.

Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin.

1.59pm BST

Celtic 1-0 Kilmarnock Jozo Simunovic has finally given Celtic the lead at home to Kilmarnock. A win would put them 12 points clear of Rangers, who play Aberdeen tomorrow.

1.55pm BST

There’s finally been a goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I won’t give too much away - but West Ham have scored it.

1.45pm BST

Jadon Sancho starts for Borussia Dortmund in the Revierderby against Schalke. He scored a fine winner in the return fixture in December. Dortmund are a point behind the leaders Bayern Munich with four games remaining.

#BVB STARTING XI

THIS! IS! DORTMUND! ⚔️#BVBS04 pic.twitter.com/4l0FVAJdZc

Team news!

Here's our 1️⃣1️⃣ Royal Blues for the #Revierderby ⚪#s04 #BVBS04 pic.twitter.com/Jz25k9ymoF

1.41pm BST

It’s a particularly important day at the bottom of the Premier League. Cardiff, who are three points behind Brighton, go to relegated Fulham. Then Brighton host in-form Newcastle at 5.30pm. Normally a match against a relegated team would feel like a banker, but Fulham have played well under Scott Parker and are enjoying a run of two consecutive wins. There’s only one guarantee: Neil Warnock’s blood pressure will go through the roof at approximately 4.37pm.

1.32pm BST

The second half has just started in the early Premier League game between Spurs and West Ham. You won’t believe the score!

12.56pm BST

Hello. How’s it going? Right, that’s enough of the pleasantries - let’s proceed straight to a huge afternoon of association football. It’s the penultimate round of matches in the EFL, and the antepenultimate round in the Premier League. Everything is up for grabs: promotion, relegation, an extra few quid for finishing 11th rather than 12th.

And while it’s not quite Romania’s Divizia C, Seria VIII-a in 1983-84, there are permutations and possibilities galore. Thankfully, for the sake of my sanity, Niall McVeigh has produced a very handy guide to what’s at stake.

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on April 27, 2019 09:25

No comments have been added yet.

Rob Smyth's profile
4 followers

Rob Smyth isn't a Goodreads Author (yet), but they do have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from their feed.

delete edit this post