FOOTBALL LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND
IT’S A BIG MAC ATTACK
If Accrington chairman Andy Holt went to last night’s football League awards in London hoping for a slap-up meal, he had another thing coming. Holt caused unrest at the EfL when it was revealed he paid for his players to go to McDonald’s every time they won but he was allowed to carry on with the gesture. The EfL showed there was no hard feelings as chief executive Shaun Harvey personally served Holt his dinner at the annual awards — a Big Mac and fries!
FOREST DROUGHT OVER
NOTTINGHAM FOREST fans had started to wonder if their side would ever score again after six consecutive blanks. And when Aitor Karanka’s side surpassed the previous club-record drought of 636 minutes while 1-0 down to Ipswich on Saturday, there was ironic applause. Luckily, the run ended on 640 minutes when Ben Brereton equalised before Joe Lolley volleyed a winner.
JUNIOR THE MAIN MAN
If Cardiff do return to the Premier League, they will owe plenty to Junior Hoilett. His goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Norwich, a result that keeps Cardiff’s automatic promotion hopes in their own hands, was his ninth of the season. Add in the 11 assists he has contributed and the Canadian has been directly involved in 31 per cent of Cardiff’s 64 league goals this season. ‘We’ve been through a lot this season and the team have stuck together, we’re like a family,’ he said.
WHAM BAM!
MIDDLESBROUGH striker Patrick Bamford was knocked unconscious in a collision with Bristol City’s Aden Flint and ended the afternoon in hospital. Bamford needed oxygen before being carried off on a stretcher. Boro went on to win 2-1 and returned to the play-off places, and Bamford thankfully soon came round. ‘I just walked past him, had a few laughs and hammered him for being too soft,’ said boss Tony Pulis.
GOAL OF THE WEEK
PADDY McNAIR (Reading v SUNDERLAND) ErstwhilE defender Paddy McNair may play a little further forward nowadays, but still nobody expected him to do anything like this. winning the ball in midfield, the sunderland man took a couple of strides forward and unleashed a 40-yard screamer that left reading keeper Vito Mannone rooted to the spot. it was just the fifth goal of McNair’s career.
FEEL THE McBURN(IE) Swansea City may often struggle to put away chances, but one of their players is having no such trouble. Oli McBurnie, out on loan at Barnsley, now has eight goals in 12 games after a precious stoppage-time equaliser in a relegation showdown with Bolton. It came after McBurnie was involved in a flashpoint with Darren Pratley in which the Barnsley man fell to the floor after apparently being headbutted. Both players were booked.