NEIL WON’T FEEL BLUE FOR MONK
‘Our season has already been big success’
PRESTON BIRMINGHAM 1 0 BIRMINGHAM face the added grief of a possible 12-point deduction for breaking spending rules – but there’s no sympathy from Preston’s Alex Neil.
As Blues wait for the English Football League’s punishment for breaching regulations, Neil was uncompromising.
After his side grabbed a vital three points with their last-gasp winner that sees them level-pegging with promotion-chasing Aston Villa, boss Neil said: “If you don’t want to be upset, don’t break the rules.
“They are there for a reason. Whether it’s Birmingham or not, you have to abide by the rules.
“All teams need a level playing field.”
Sean Maguire (above, left) nodded the winner with just 12 seconds to go in added time, to break the hearts of the visitors.
Striker Maguire then met up with the Ireland squad in Dublin yesterday, ready for their games against Gibraltar and Georgia.
Blues chief Garry Monk felt “hurt and frustrated” after his side’s fourth consecutive defeat, coming on top of a fan’s attack on Villa’s Jack Grealish during the Midlands’ derby, then their midweek home defeat by Millwall, and now the prospect of a 12-point deduction.
But Monk revealed: “I’m not stressing about the EFL hearing. It will be as it is. I have no control over it.”
Rudd 7, FIsher 6, Storey 7, Davies 8, Hughes 6 (Earl 69, 6), Pearson 6, Nmecha 6, Potts 7 (Robinson 60, 7), Johnson 6, Maguire 7, Stockley 7 (Barker 72, 6)
Camp 6, Harding 7 (Jota 80, 5), Dean 6, Morrison 7, Pederson 6, Mahoney 7, Kieftenbeld 6, Gardner 6, Maghoma 7, Adams 7, Jutkiewicz 6
Scott Duncan 17,509
MATCH STATS
DANIEL FARKE has already delivered his verdict on Norwich’s campaign – and declared it a massive success.
It’s not that the Canaries chief is being overconfident or taking automatic promotion for granted, though he could be forgiven for doing so, with this sixth straight win opening up a four-point lead at the top of the Championship.
The German believes the best way to take the pressure off his players is by reminding them how far they’ve come.
“Whatever happens now, this season has been an outstanding success,” he said. “We have already overachieved because no one expected us to be in this position.
“This club has had so many problems in recent years – financial pressure, mid-table finishes and losing some of our best players.
“Now, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. With this attitude, we can win the lottery.”
Farke’s upbeat approach is certainly paying off. The visitors had to dig deep at times against a Rotherham side who belied their lowly position.
But after Semi Ajayi cancelled out Kenny McLean’s 45th-minute opener with his sixth goal in 10 outings, the Canaries dusted themselves down and were ahead again within five minutes, when defender Ben Godfrey headed in McLean’s cross.
Godfrey looks an outstanding prospect with excellent reading of the game, natural pace and ability to take the ball out of defence.
“The sky is the limit for him,” added Farke. “He can achieve many things in his career.
“He started out as a holding midfielder, but I was always convinced he’d be a centre-half because he is very much the REF: ATT: modern-day defender.” Norwich can see the finishing line ahead and celebrated wildly with their 2,600 travelling fans after the final whistle in the knowledge promotion is within their grasp.
“We have the momentum,” said McLean (celebrating with Marco Stiepermann, below). “The closer it gets towards the end of the season, the bigger it feels, and you could see that afterwards.
“We’re in a brilliant position and, while people talk of pressure, we’ll take it in our stride and keep enjoying it.”
Millers boss Paul Warne was overwhelmed by his own team’s gritty display.
“I’m an emotional guy and, when I was speaking to the lads, I broke down a little bit,” he said.
“I know fans would want us to have 75 points but, unfortunately, that’s not the case.
“We have eight cup finals ahead and, before that, I’ll give them four days off because they deserve it.” ROTHERHAM: NORWICH: MOTM BEN GODFREY (NORWICH)