BLUEBIRDS COULD WELL BE A O-KAY
BARROW caretaker-boss Rob Kelly believes Friday night’s win at Walsall showed his battling Bluebirds know how much league survival means to the town.
Josh Kay curled home a classy 87th-minute winner at the Banks’s Stadium to move Barrow three points clear of the relegation zone, with two games in hand on 23rd-placed Southend.
The victory – a third in five games since Kelly took over – was deserved, and much to Kelly’s liking.
“I know how hard people have worked to get in the league and we’ve got to do everything we can to maintain that. We know how important it is to the town,” he said.
“It means a lot to people in Barrow and I’ve made the players aware of that – it took 48 years to get here so we’ve got to make sure we do everything we possibly can.
“This win gives us a chance and that’s what we want – we’ve played better than that at times and we’ve also played worse, but all I ask is that they give that commitment and show that resilience.
“I thought it was a tough, tight game, but I think overall, even though it was a game of not a lot of chances, if one of the teams deserved to win, it was us.”
In the key moment of the game, substitute Kay latched on to Scott Quigley’s clever flick to stride into the Saddlers box and curl a fine finish beyond the reach of keeper Liam Roberts.
It was certainly a deserved win for the visitors who created the best chances throughout, with Quigley guilty of scuffing a tame early shot straight at Roberts when Jamie Devitt’s ball found him in space.
A back-pedalling Roberts later did well to tip over Tom Davies’ looping far-post header from a Devitt corner.
Roberts was called into action again shortly after the interval, saving smartly at his near post from Luke James’ shot on the turn.
Cameron Norman registered Walsall’s first real effort midway through the second half, but his well-struck 25-yarder was deflected wide.
Defeat for Walsall keeps them far from safe, just nine points above the bottom two, with interim boss Brian Dutton having collected just two points from seven games in charge.
Dutton said: “There’s a pattern – our good performances are against higher-echelon sides and the poor performances are against the strugglers.
“We didn’t win enough duels right across the pitch. Up top we were dominated, the midfielders were second to the duels and defensively we were being dominated as well.
“This form is concerning, but we’ve got enough quality in these lads to move things forward.”
WALSALL: Roberts 6, White 6, Scarr 7 (Norman 56, 6), Sadler 6, Melbourne 6, Perry 6, Bates 6, Kinsella 7, Wright 6, Gordon 6 (Osei Yaw 59,
5), Osadebe 5 (McDonald 58, 6). Subs not used: Sinclair, Lavery, Rose, Reid.
BARROW: Dixon 6, Jones 6 (Thomas 68, 6), Davies 8, Ntlhe 7, Barry 6 (Eardley 44, 7), Devitt 6 (Banks 83, 6), Taylor 6, Taylor 6, Brough 6, Quigley 7, James 6 (Kay 83, 7). Subs not used: Lillis, Sea.
IAN EVATT called his Bolton side’s hard-fought victory at Port Vale their “best win of the season”. A scrappy encounter was settled by defender Gethin Jones’ goal and the boss was delighted his team could grind out a win to take their unbeaten run to 11.
“That was the best win of the season for me, because that was everything we’re not,” said Evatt. “The pitch is awful, the weather conditions made it scrappy and a fight. In the first half we weren’t really at the races but, in the second half, we upped our game.
“We’ve got some fatigued bodies out there, there’s no two ways about it. We’ve had a really tough run, but now it starts to open out again. I asked for a big push in the second half, they gave it to me.”
With few chances created by either side it was right-back Jones who settled the game in the second half and Evatt was pleased they could capitalise on their standout move of the afternoon.
“That goal won’t be spoken about too much,” he added. “But the way we moved the ball around on this surface and in these conditions for a right-back to get into the box and score a goal is brilliant.
“The one bit of quality in the game saw 15 passes and Gethin arriving exactly where we want him to. It was a bit of a shanked finish, but we’ll take them.”
The in-form Wanderers came to Vale Park having taken 26 points from the previous 30 available. But against a Valiants team woefully short of goals they struggled to create anything in attack.
It took them more than an hour to make the breakthrough, when Jones capitalised on good work from Oladapo Afolayan to find the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Theo Robinson had almost put Vale ahead on the stroke of half-time, but his firm volley on the turn was wide.
In the second half, Vale’s goal-scoring problems continued and, after Jones had netted, they were unable to find a meaningful response, with Luke Joyce firing their best chance of rescuing a draw straight at goalkeeper Matt Gilks.
Vale boss Darrell Clarke, who continues to look for his first win since taking charge, said: “I keep stressing to the players that we’re in for a scrap.
“They’re well aware of that and if they’re not up for that they can come and knock on my door. I’m up for the fight.
“We’ve got more than enough here, but we’ve got to show that with results. It’s been a tough seven games for myself, but I knew what I was coming into, so we’ll try to get a result on Tuesday night.”
The defeat also saw fourth-bottom Vale register their fifth game in six without scoring, with Clarke insisting they need to put the work in to turn their fortunes around. “It wasn’t a great game,” he added. “We understand where we’re at and why we’re not producing to turn it around, it’s a case of keep working hard to try to do that.”
Best mate?
I’d probably say Simon Power, who, like me, hasn’t been at the club that long. We’re about the same age and we’ve both played out in the Netherlands, so we’ve had the same sort of experiences. I didn’t know him before he came in, but we’ve got quite a bit in common and he’s a good lad.
Last to buy dinner?
I think Lloyd Kerry is renowned for being pretty tight with his cash. I’m not sure if he drinks, but the word on the street is that he’s the one that goes missing when it’s his turn to cough up. Simon Power and Josh McPake owe me a coffee at the moment, so I need to mention them as well!
Worst dressed?
Aaron Martin is definitely the worst dressed! He wears baggy pants in training, but under his shorts. He’s only had them on a couple of times, but it’s very obvious when he does and he gets lots of stick for it. He can definitely take that one!
Dressing room DJ?
That’s the assistant manager, Thirs (Paul Thirlwell). He’s the go-to guy for the music, but I think he’s got the same playlist on repeat so we all know the songs off by heart now. He’s normally got a bit of house playing, but I don’t mind that before a game - if it’s turned up loud it gets you going.
Always late for training?
That’s Josh Andrews, who we call Zigic because he’s a big lad and he’s on loan from Birmingham. He wasn’t actually late but he cut it very fine the other day, so I’m going to have to throw him in there. I’m scared of him actually, so hopefully he doesn’t see this in print!
Teacher’s pet?
I’ll say Warren Burrell, but only really because he’s been at the club for years and years. He’s had a great career and he obviously knows Simon Weaver well, but it’s not like he’s following the gaffer around or anything like that. No-one does that, to be fair.
First on the dancefloor?
I’ll give that to the goalkeeper, James Belshaw – he’s got some moves. I can’t go into detail about what I’ve seen, but I’ve certainly had my eyes opened!
Most likely to disgrace themselves at the Christmas party?
That’ll have to be
Dan Jones, who’s on loan from Salford. I think he could be a bit of a loose cannon, but he’s great craic and a really good guy. He’s a big personality and I imagine he wouldn’t shy away from the dancefloor and things like that.
Best at FIFA?
I’d have to put myself down for that one. I used to play it seriously two or three years ago, and although I don’t play anymore really, I was very good back in the day. It’s like riding a bike so I’d back myself, for sure.
Worst tattoo?
I can’t say what it is or where, but that’s Ryan Fallowfield! I think he knows it’s bad, and everyone knows it’s there.
Best future manager?
I’d say Jon Stead. He’s been around for a long time and is very good tactically. He gives me a lot of good tips, so I can see him having a good go at management.
IF YOU can mix it with Graham Roberts and come out smiling, you’ve got something about you – so Northampton fans can rest assured they have the right man for a relegation battle in Jon Brady.
Appointed as caretaker-manager when Keith Curle was sacked just over a month ago, the 46-year-old Aussie has impressed sufficiently to have been handed the Sixfields reins until the end of the season.
He will give it his best shot to keep them in
League One and can draw on plenty of experiences from his playing career, predominantly spent in Non-League. It was in the mid-90s playing for Hayes that he crossed swords with former Tottenham hardman Roberts, then player-manager of Yeovil.
“One summer I was loaned to a Norwegian side Mjolner and played out there in their second division,” he recalled. “I then came back to England in October.
Respect
“I couldn’t get a game up front, where I played at the time, and I was on the bench away at Yeovil. The manager Terry Brown was playing 3-5-2 and he put me on at wing-back.
“My first contact was a 50-50 with Graham Roberts. I closed my eyes, got the ball and hurt him! It was the biggest fluke of my life, but it earned me instant respect.”
As someone covering Hayes for the local paper back in those days, it was clear Brady was perfectly suited to that wing-back role. He had energy to burn and could raid up and down the right flank all day long.
It was where he learnt what men’s football was all about after originally being brought over from Australia by Brentford at 17 and doing his apprenticeship with the Bees before being released. He recalls good times under former AFC Wimbledon boss Brown as Hayes won the Isthmian Premier on a dramatic final day of the season.
“I’ve got some brilliant memories of playing under Terry,” he said. “He was the type of manager that you hung off his every word. You would run through a brick wall for him.
“We won 3-0 at Carshalton to win the Isthmian League and it was quite incredible for a club like Hayes to be in the Conference. Jason Roberts came on board and it was great to play with someone that special. He went on to Wolves and had an illustrious career. It was a great grounding for me – I was introduced to real proper first team football.”
Brady moved on to ambitious Rushden & Diamonds in 1998 and helped them win the Conference three years later. At 26 he finally got his shot at the Football League, showing that perseverance and determination really do pay off.
“If you went to Rushden, you were probably one of the best players in your position in the Conference,” he said. “It didn’t quite click in the first two seasons, but it did in the third.
Ambition
“I always believed in my ability to get into the League. That was a big ambition and it was great to do it with Rushden because they’d shown faith in me.”
When his playing days came to an end, Brady managed Brackley Town for six years before joining Northampton in 2016 to manage the Under-16s. After one season, he stepped up to the Under-18s, helping to provide players for the first team.
Then came last month’s call to step into the hotseat and try to preserve Northampton’s third tier status along with the help of Marc Richards and Ian Sampson.
Whether or not he remains there past the end of this season remains to be seen but chairman Kelvin Thomas has already made it clear he wants
Brady and co to stay at the club in some capacity well into the future.
And Brady, who led the Cobblers to a 4-1 win against Portsmouth last weekend, is more than happy with that.
“Myself, Ian and Marc have a very strong affinity with the club with the work we have put in behind the scenes with the youth section,” he explained. “It’s good that the chairman has realised that he’s got exceptional people willing to give everything for the club.
“We have jumped up to the first team to help maintain League One status and we believe we can do it, but we also hope we are here to build the foundations for the club, to maybe create a DNA from the Under-9s to the first team. It’s what we would like to do, to leave a legacy for the future.”
RED-HOT Teemu Pukki is chuffed to have scooped the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award – but insists promotion is his only goal.
The Finnish ace notched seven goals in as many games in February as Norwich went into overdrive at the Championship summit.
“It was a great month,” said the 30-year-old. “There were a lot of Norwich City players who could have won this prize, but I was really happy on a personal level with how I performed.
“Ultimately, it’s about the collective. It’s nice to win an individual award, but there’s only one prize I’m focussed on this season and that is the Premier League.”
Norwich boss Daniel Farke said: “It isn’t just his goals, his workload for the team is top class. He’s a top player and we all should value that we have him playing in the yellow jersey.”
Peterborough striker Jonson Clarke-Harris claimed the League
One prize after scoring in every one of his six February games, notching eight goals in total to lift Posh to the top of League One.
The 26-year-old said: “I am delighted to win the award, but it’s more recognition for my team-mates and everyone at the club because we had a really good February as a collective.”
Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “Jonson thoroughly deserves the award. It wasn’t just his goals, it was his allround play that helped us have such a good month.” In League Two, Bolton’s Ricardo Santos, left, took the honours after helping his side keep four clean sheets.
The 25-year-old Portuguese defender said: “I am extremely honoured to win player of the month, it really does mean a lot to me.
“I’m just so happy to be here and to be part of such a big club and a great team.
“I feel so lucky as the club, the team and the fans really believe in me and continue to support me week in, week out.”
Bolton boss Ian Evatt added: “I’m delighted because Rico has been one of our most consistent players all season and, as a fellow centre-half, it’s good to see that centre-backs are getting awards like this because they normally go to strikers!”