Championship: Wigan hold West Brom, Swansea's Cooper rages at referee
2 DAYS AGO - • Austin rescues point but Albion miss chance to retake top spot• Steve Cooper hits out at referee Expand
2 DAYS AGO - • Austin rescues point but Albion miss chance to retake top spot• Steve Cooper hits out at referee after 1-1 draw with BlackburnWest Brom missed a chance to return to the top of the Championship when they could only draw at struggling Wigan. Sam Johnstone’s own goal five minutes into the second half put the home side ahead but Albion equalised when Charlie Austin struck from close range following an indirect free-kick. The 1-1 draw means Leeds stay top on goal difference, although both teams boast an 11-point lead over Fulham in third.“We have to be honest enough to admit we weren’t as good tonight as we’ve been so far,” the West Brom manager, Slaven Bilic, said afterwards. “We started slowly, and we have to admit we didn’t deserve anything more than a point … but we have to take this as a blessing, because we know we can’t be like this again.” Related: Charlton recall dark times as they prepare to bid farewell to Duchâtelet Continue reading... Collapse
Ten of the best transfers by Championship clubs this summer
31/07/2019 - A few new (and familiar) faces will be hoping to impress when the Championship season kicks off on Expand
31/07/2019 - A few new (and familiar) faces will be hoping to impress when the Championship season kicks off on Friday nightBy Martin Laurence for WhoScoredFollowing their relegation from the Premier League and the departures of both Aron Gunnarsson and Victor Camarasa, Cardiff City were in desperate need of midfield reinforcements. Will Vaulks is an excellent addition. He chipped in with seven goals and seven assists last season while captaining Rotherham and should prove to be a real asset with and without the ball. Strong in the tackle and great in the air, with a cannon of a throw-in to boot, he’ll be a key player. Related: Charlton's academy keeps producing young players who make the grade Related: Championship 2019-20 season preview Continue reading... Collapse
Who makes our Football League teams of the season for 2018-19?
29/05/2019 - We select an XI from the Championship and Leagues One and Two, plus a manager for eachGoalkeeper: Expand
29/05/2019 - We select an XI from the Championship and Leagues One and Two, plus a manager for eachGoalkeeper: Dean Henderson (Sheffield United) The Manchester United loanee is on Gareth Southgate’s radar after a league-high 21 clean sheets. Another outstanding season away from his parent club after shining at Shrewsbury. Related: Aston Villa’s John Terry plans future in management ‘in the long run’ Related: Bury financial crisis deepens amid pressure over £4.2m loan Continue reading... Collapse
Brentford 2-0 Leeds United: Championship - as it happened
22/04/2019 - Neal Maupay and Sergi Canos scored lovely goals as Brentford all but ended Leeds’ hopes of Expand
22/04/2019 - Neal Maupay and Sergi Canos scored lovely goals as Brentford all but ended Leeds’ hopes of automatic promotion with a ruthless display of counter-attacking 7.17pm BST That’s it for today’s blog. Thanks for your company - goodnight. Related: Football League: Sheffield United brush Hull aside, Derby climb into top six 7.16pm BST Pablo Hernandez wipes the tears as he walks off the field. Leeds’ players look pretty devastated, and you wonder how this will affect their morale going into the play-offs. 7.14pm BST Sergi Canos speaks“We enjoyed that game, it was a pleasure to play. We were confident that we could create chances and we did that really well. I had some messages from my old team-mates at Norwich telling me to score, so I’m pleased for them as well. 7.12pm BST Still want more? Related: Football League: Sheffield United brush Hull aside, Derby climb into top six Related: Chelsea v Burnley: Premier League – live! 7.12pm BST Peep peep! It’s far from mathematically certain, but Collapse
Championship roundup: Leeds miss chance to go top as QPR edge shock win
26/02/2019 - • Luke Freeman scores winner for QPR on return from injury• Birmingham beat Bristol City; Hull Expand
26/02/2019 - • Luke Freeman scores winner for QPR on return from injury• Birmingham beat Bristol City; Hull beat MillwallLeeds missed the chance to return to the top of the Championship as they were surprisingly beaten by QPR at Loftus Road.Marcelo Bielsa’s side were playing their game in hand over Norwich and Sheffield United but remain in third after Luke Freeman scored the only goal of a 1-0 win in the 49th minute on his return from injury. The win ended a run of seven straight defeats for QPR. Continue reading... Collapse
Swansea’s George Byers completes FA Cup battering of Brentford
17/02/2019 - It will remembered as the day when Dan James stated his claim to be part of Great Britain’s Expand
17/02/2019 - It will remembered as the day when Dan James stated his claim to be part of Great Britain’s sprinting team for the 2020 Olympics. The 21-year-old was unplayable as his breathtaking pace turned this FA Cup tie on its head and took Swansea into the quarter-finals for only the fifth time in their history.How incredible to think that Swansea were close to allowing James to join Leeds on loan on deadline day. Swansea pulled the plug on that deal at the last moment and, on this evidence, James will have plenty more suitors than Leeds come the summer. He ran 80 yards with the ball to score Swansea’s second, after Bersant Celina’s free-kick cannoned off Luke Daniels and into the back of the Brentford net to bring parity, and James may well have added another had Ezri Konsa not brought him down to earn a straight red card. Continue reading... Collapse
Barnet 3-3 Brentford: FA Cup fourth round – as it happened
28/01/2019 - Two goals from Shaq Coulthirst and a wonderful Dan Sparkes free-kick earned non-league Barnet a Expand
28/01/2019 - Two goals from Shaq Coulthirst and a wonderful Dan Sparkes free-kick earned non-league Barnet a replay from a thrilling FA Cup tie 10.14pm GMT Right, that’s it from me. Here’s Paul Doyle’s match report from a buzzing Hive: Related: Barnet earn replay with Brentford thanks to Dan Sparkes’ free-kick 9.44pm GMT Here’s Dan Sparkes: “I’m known for a set piece but they’re hard to get right. I did what I could.” Nice line in understatement from the matchwinner there. 9.41pm GMT Peep! PEEP!! PEEEEEP!!! All over. What a terrific Cup tie. Pretty much a fair result I’d say. These two will have to do it all over again in a week or two. 9.40pm GMT 90+6 min: Sawyers beautifully picks out the run of Dalsgaard who is in behind the Barnet backline … but he’s there because he’s offside. And that should be that. 9.39pm GMT 90+5 min: Into the final minutes of minimum added time … 9.38pm GMT 90+4 min: … poked goalwards by Konsa but the effort drifts wide. 9.37pm GMT 90+3 min: Odubajo forces a corner … Collapse
Transfer roundup: Everton’s Oumar Niasse to join Cardiff on loan
16/01/2019 - • Bournemouth target Brentford’s Chris Mepham• Crystal Palace’s Jaïro Riedewald set for Celta Vigo Expand
16/01/2019 - • Bournemouth target Brentford’s Chris Mepham• Crystal Palace’s Jaïro Riedewald set for Celta Vigo loanOumar Niasse has agreed to join Cardiff City on loan from Everton until the end of the season, when the Welsh club would have the option to make the deal permanent.If they chose to take it, the total cost of the package would be £10m – including the loan fee. The 28-year-old striker, whose Everton contract runs until June 2020, will undergo his Cardiff medical on Thursday. Related: Transfer window January 2019 – every deal from Europe's top five leagues Continue reading... Collapse
London Irish to leave Madejski and share with Brentford at new stadium
18/12/2018 - • Brentford’s new west London ground will open in 2020• London Irish have played at Reading’s Expand
18/12/2018 - • Brentford’s new west London ground will open in 2020• London Irish have played at Reading’s stadium for 18 yearsLondon Irish have confirmed they will move to the new Brentford Community Stadium for the 2020-21 season.The rugby union Championship leaders have reached an agreement with Brentford Football Club to play at the west London stadium, which is currently under construction and will have a capacity of 17,250. It is due to open in 2020. Related: 'He doesn’t play in a dinner suit': the 25 best rugby union quotes of 2018 | Robert Kitson Continue reading... Collapse
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Championship: West Brom back on top as lowly Middlesbrough get rare win
27/11/2019 - • Kieran Gibbs opens scoring for WBA in 4-1 win over Bristol City• Jonathan Woodgate’s Expand
27/11/2019 - • Kieran Gibbs opens scoring for WBA in 4-1 win over Bristol City• Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough out of relegation zoneWest Brom moved back to the top of the Championship with a 4-1 victory over Bristol City at The Hawthorns. Grady Diangana was the key man for Slaven Bilic’s side, setting up Kieran Gibbs to open the scoring on 10 minutes with a smart back-heel and then being brought down on the edge of the area five minutes from half-time.Matheus Pereira took full advantage of the free-kick, curling a left-footed strike over the wall and into the top corner. Famara Diédhiou pulled a goal back for the visitors 10 minutes from time after West Brom failed to clear a corner, but Hal Robson-Kanu made it 3-1 just two minutes later and the substitute Charlie Austin completed the scoring in the 87th minute. Related: Dejan Lovren’s header rescues point for Liverpool against Napoli Related: Daniel Wass’s freak goal earns Valencia deserved draw with Chelsea Continue reading... Collapse
Championship 2019-20 season preview
31/07/2019 - Fulham could bounce straight back with their four-man attack while Leeds are sure to be in the Expand
31/07/2019 - Fulham could bounce straight back with their four-man attack while Leeds are sure to be in the promotion mix and Neil Warnock’s Cardiff are not to be ignoredThere may not be an overwhelming favourite for automatic promotion but certain teams appear streets ahead in the firepower stakes. None more so than Fulham, who will likely start with an attacking diamond of Aleksandar Mitrovic, a Premier League striker in all but name, Anthony Knockaert, Ivan Cavaleiro and Tom Cairney, a player capable of running games in this division. Fulham deservedly took flak for their lavish and directionless spending last summer but it is impossible to ignore their latest business. They were, though, a soft touch in defence last season, so Scott Parker still has plenty to address, and the expectation will prove a test of his credentials. Related: Quick thinking and calm: what Phillip Cocu will bring to Derby Continue reading... Collapse
Laurence Bassini's Bolton takeover deadline extended amid fixture impasse
30/04/2019 - Bassini will pull out if EFL not satisfied with funding plansDoubts still surround Bolton’s Expand
30/04/2019 - Bassini will pull out if EFL not satisfied with funding plansDoubts still surround Bolton’s remaining fixturesThe deadline for Laurence Bassini to complete a takeover of Bolton Wanderers has been extended, with the English Football League confirming the club’s postponed fixture against Brentford will not be played this week. Wanderers, already relegated to League One, were originally scheduled to face Brentford in the last home league game of the season last Saturday but the game was called off after the squad refused to play in protest at unpaid wages. Related: Why a former bankrupt Watford owner is in position to buy Bolton Wanderers | David Conn Continue reading... Collapse
‘People get judged’ – meet Britain’s only deaf full-time football coach
26/03/2019 - Ben Lampert, who works with Brentford and England’s deaf team, wants a place for deaf players and Expand
26/03/2019 - Ben Lampert, who works with Brentford and England’s deaf team, wants a place for deaf players and coaches in the professional gameBen Lampert props up an iPad on a table in a Griffin Park lounge and loads FaceTime. At the other end of the call is a British sign language (BSL) interpreter who enables Lampert, born profoundly deaf, to conduct this interview about his work as the only deaf full-time football coach in Britain.Lampert’s primary role is at Brentford FC Community Trust but he also took a job as the England deaf football team’s assistant coach recently. After a 15-year playing career during which he represented England and Great Britain across the world, winning gold at the Deaflympics in Melbourne, he is helping inspire the next generation before the European Championship in Crete this summer. Continue reading... Collapse
FA Cup fifth round: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action
18/02/2019 - Imperilled Millwall deliver a breath of fresh air, Yves Bissouma shines and Wolves’ old boys offer Expand
18/02/2019 - Imperilled Millwall deliver a breath of fresh air, Yves Bissouma shines and Wolves’ old boys offer a platform for the revamp Related: The Dozen: the best FA Cup fifth round pictures Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Continue reading... Collapse
Brentford’s Thomas Frank: ‘No dickheads. We want people who care’
13/02/2019 - The Brentford head coach on the meeting that helped turn his team’s fortunes and dealing with Expand
13/02/2019 - The Brentford head coach on the meeting that helped turn his team’s fortunes and dealing with tragedy at Griffin ParkIt’s been quite a few months for Thomas Frank since he took over as Brentford head coach. After being elevated to the top job in October after two years as Dean Smith’s assistant, he has overseen a run of eight defeats in 10 games, immediately followed by 10 unbeaten, in the middle of which came personal and professional bereavement.Frank had been in the job only a month when, as he was waiting at a leadership conference to meet his friend Rob Rowan, Brentford’s technical director, he got a call from the club’s co-director of football Phil Giles. Rowan had died in his sleep of what turned out to be heart failure. Related: Paul Scholes gets off to a flyer at Oldham with 4-1 win over Yeovil I want to create a beautiful game, but I’m very focused on how you can create a fantastic culture Continue reading... Collapse
Barnet earn replay with Brentford thanks to Dan Sparkes’ free-kick
28/01/2019 - Barnet, the last non-league side in the FA Cup, refuse to leave the competition without a fight Expand
28/01/2019 - Barnet, the last non-league side in the FA Cup, refuse to leave the competition without a fight and may yet advance to the fifth round for the first time in their history. Brentford will certainly not expect an easy ride in next week’s replay at Griffin Park after this see-sawing draw at the Hive.Apparently several Barnet players groaned and clasped their heads in disappointment when they heard that they would face Brentford, as they had hoped to be paired with more prestigious opponents after pulling off a shock win at Sheffield United in the third round. Related: Manchester United plot FA Cup revenge after being drawn against Chelsea Continue reading... Collapse
The best young players in the Championship this season
10/01/2019 - Tammy Abraham turned down a move to the Premier League this week. He is not the only youngster who Expand
10/01/2019 - Tammy Abraham turned down a move to the Premier League this week. He is not the only youngster who could step upBy Martin Laurence for WhoScoredTammy Abraham has already been offered a chance to play in the Premier League in this transfer window. He rejected a loan move to Wolves earlier this week in favour of staying with Aston Villa to help with their push for promotion. Not every player would turn down a Premier League club but his decision may prove wise. There’s little doubt the 21-year-old striker will be a Premier League player next season, wherever that may be, so his choice to stick with a side and system that play to his strengths is admirable. Abraham, who has two England caps, is the joint top scorer in the Championship this season with 16 goals in 20 appearances – and 12 of those goals have come in his last 10 games. Rating: 7.40 Related: Tammy Abraham snubs Wolves to stay and help Aston Villa’s promotion push Related: Swansea’s Oli McBurnie: ‘I wear toddlers’ shin Collapse
Robert Rowan, Brentford’s technical director, dies aged 28
13/11/2018 - • Club confirms sudden death of key staff member• Rowan was appointed to new role in Expand
13/11/2018 - • Club confirms sudden death of key staff member• Rowan was appointed to new role in FebruaryBrentford have announced the death of Robert Rowan, the club’s technical director, at the age of 28.Rowan, who was born in Fife and started his career as a scout for Celtic, had been with Brentford since late 2014 and was appointed as the head of football operations in the summer of 2015. He oversaw the establishment of the club’s ‘B’ side following the decision to close their youth academy as a response to the restrictions imposed on them by the Premier League’s elite player performance plan. The Scot was appointed technical director in February.So sad to hear the news earlier this morning of Rob’s death anyone who knew this man would agree that he was a kind,genuine and well respected man in football,who gave me the platform to grow as a footballer and also as a person ... will be deeply missed by everyone pic.twitter.com/N7oSHFJOg0 Continue reading... Collapse
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From Bellingham to Watkins: 10 young Championship stars shining this season
13/11/2019 - Birmingham’s youngest scorer and a player likened to Callum Wilson make our selection of Expand
13/11/2019 - Birmingham’s youngest scorer and a player likened to Callum Wilson make our selection of second-tier players aged 23 or underBellingham was born in June 2003, when a ponytailed David Beckham joined Real Madrid and Gareth Southgate was in the England defence, but the teenage midfielder has displayed a maturity that belies his years. In August Bellingham, who has shone in the crux of the Birmingham midfield alongside the former Arsenal prospect Daniel Crowley, became the club’s youngest goalscorer at 16 days and 63 days, eclipsing Trevor Francis’s record. The son of Mark, a prolific striker at non-league level, Bellingham is the latest Birmingham academy graduate to make a splash in the first team, as Demarai Gray and Nathan Redmond did previously. Related: Neil Warnock leaves Cardiff City by mutual consent Continue reading... Collapse
‘They needed the money’: Pontus Jansson explains Leeds exit
09/07/2019 - Defender has joined Brentford on three-year contractJansson says language affected relationship Expand
09/07/2019 - Defender has joined Brentford on three-year contractJansson says language affected relationship with BielsaPontus Jansson has said he was sold to Brentford because Leeds “saw they could make some money” and hinted that his relationship with Marcelo Bielsa was not optimal because of language issues.The defender joined Brentford late on Monday on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. His performances last season earned him a place in the Championship team of the year and his campaign was notable also for attempts to ignore Bielsa’s call for Leeds to allow Aston Villa to equalise against them. Related: Joy for Rapinoe and co, a 'nonsense' loss for England and Lionel Messi – Football Weekly Continue reading... Collapse
Brentford’s win leaves Leeds’ top-two hopes hanging by a thread
22/04/2019 - Leeds United have spent 32 weeks in the automatic promotion places this season, but unless Expand
22/04/2019 - Leeds United have spent 32 weeks in the automatic promotion places this season, but unless something remarkable happens in the last two, they will spend the most important week just outside.This 2-0 defeat to Brentford was their second loss in four days, putting them three points behind second-placed Sheffield United and, because of a significant goal difference gap, realistically means they need the Blades to slip up in both of their remaining games. Given one of those is against Ipswich, it doesn’t look good. It also let Norwich off the hook a little: the Canaries now require just a point from their remaining two games to go up, after disappointingly drawing their last four. Related: Football League: Sheffield United brush Hull aside, Derby climb into top six Related: Norwich nerves continue after Tom Edwards earns Stoke a draw Continue reading... Collapse
Championship roundup: Hernández strikes twice as Leeds return to the top
12/03/2019 - • Reading 0-3 Leeds (Klich 14; Hernández 22 43)• 10-man Sheffield United stay third with winPablo Expand
12/03/2019 - • Reading 0-3 Leeds (Klich 14; Hernández 22 43)• 10-man Sheffield United stay third with winPablo Hernández scored twice in the first half to help Leeds cruise past Reading and return to the top of the Championship with a 3-0 win at the Madejski Stadium. Mateusz Klich got the first for Marcelo Bielsa’s men after 14 minutes but it was the former Spain international, with his double strike, who guaranteed the points as Leeds overhauled Norwich, who play at home tonight against Hull. That win meant Sheffield United could not go top, despite their rather more hard-fought 2-0 win at home against Brentford. Oliver Norwood put them in front from the penalty spot after 26 minutes but Gary Madine was sent off nine minutes later. Chris Wilder’s men held on until David McGoldrick scored their second with six minutes remaining, heading home from close range. Related: Juventus 3-0 Atlético Madrid (agg: 3-2): Champions League last 16, second leg – as it happened Continue reading... Collapse
The Dozen: the best FA Cup fifth round pictures
17/02/2019 - Images from around the grounds as teams vie for a place in the quarter-finals Continue reading...
Neal Maupay strikes to ensure Brentford hold off Barnet’s challenge
05/02/2019 - Barnet’s chairman had promised a party whatever the result and while their escapades are over Expand
05/02/2019 - Barnet’s chairman had promised a party whatever the result and while their escapades are over following this bad-tempered encounter in west London, Darren Currie will certainly always remember this unlikeliest of FA Cup runs.In the end, the Barnet manager’s team, the lowest-ranked left in the competition, succumbed to the quality of Saïd Benrahma as the playmaker helped Brentford book a trip to Swansea for the fifth round with assists for the opening two goals. But having seen his players progress all the way from beating fellow National League side Braintree Town in the fourth qualifying round back in October to beating Sheffield United in round three, Currie could still afford to smile at the final whistle after a spirited performance from his team that could easily have yielded a shock on another night. Related: Newport sink Middlesbrough to earn dream reward with Manchester City Related: Wolves’ Ivan Cavaleiro on target to end Shrewsbury’s brave FA Cup fight Continue reading... Collapse
‘I missed my brother’s wedding’: the Barnet fan who has seen 2,020 straight games
27/01/2019 - Steve Percy, who has seen every Barnet home match for over 50 years, on the highs, lows and facing Expand
27/01/2019 - Steve Percy, who has seen every Barnet home match for over 50 years, on the highs, lows and facing Brentford in the FA CupIt was October 12, 1968 and Steve Percy was on Wood Green High Street. This wasn’t unusual in itself. North London born-and-bred, Percy would often go there with his family. The problem was with the timing. It was a Saturday afternoon and, while Percy was shopping, Barnet were playing at home.“For some reason we were in Wood Green and before we knew it, it was about half past three,” says Percy, recollecting the experience of his 13-year-old self. “I thought: ‘Oh God, I’m not going to get to Barnet now.’ I made it home round about the time the game would have finished and managed to find the result. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, it was a 5-1 win against Worcester City.” Continue reading... Collapse
The Dozen: the weekend’s best FA Cup photos
06/01/2019 - Your weekend round-up of the best photography from the FA Cup third roundView the Dozen archive Expand
06/01/2019 - Your weekend round-up of the best photography from the FA Cup third roundView the Dozen archive Continue reading... Collapse
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