BIELSA PLAYING IT BY THE BOOK
Lamouchi warns Forest about Luton danger
MARCELO BIELSA has told Leeds’ critics to lay off because they abide by the rules – unlike some Championship clubs.
Derby have joined Sheffield Wednesday in being charged by the EFL over breaches of their financial rules.
Bielsa (above) claims Leeds conform to the EFL’S profitability and sustainability regulations and sold £30million worth of players to meet them. Leeds’ coach is annoyed at criticism that the club should spend more when they cannot.
Leeds have won just one of their last six league games going into today’s clash with QPR at Loftus Road, but Bielsa said: “Leeds accept the rules and other teams don’t, they do whatever they want.
“I’m not demanding punishment for clubs that don’t accept the rules.
“What I am demanding is that you recognise people who do accept the rules, and who work in line with them as it’s easy to say the club doesn’t invest.”
vChampionship: 3pm
GARY ROWETT has hailed new boy Ryan Woods as the perfect Millwall signing.
Woods, 26, links up with his old Stoke boss after arriving on loan from the Potters ahead of a home debut against Reading today.
And Lions boss Rowett reckons the fans will like what they see of the midfielder (left).
He said: “He’s a top midfielder and he’s very flexible. I think he’s a fantastic signing for us.” Reading manager Mark Bowen has signed an extended contract with the club until the end of the
2020-21 season.
Championship: 3pm
Championship: Monday, 8pm
STOKE CITY boss Michael O’neill says the struggling club has learned its lesson over reckless transfer deals.
O’neill prepares his side for Monday night’s trip to table-topping West Brom admitting that he can’t throw the cash around.
Stoke’s slide out of the Premier League has seen them left with expensive players nowhere near the team.
O’neill (above) said: “We’re not low on numbers and it’s important we don’t just collect players. We have had players go out of the building and that’s meant we’re working with a tighter knit squad. We’re trying to be busy, without being reckless.”
Championship: 3pm
SABRI LAMOUCHI has warned Nottingham Forest that the visit of bottom club Luton is “a trap”.
The Hatters have lost their last nine games away from Kenilworth Road and sit rooted to the bottom of the Championship.
But ahead of tomorrow’s clash at the City Ground, Forest manager Lamouchi warned his promotion hopefuls by saying: “It is a trap game so we have to be careful.
“We need to focus on our performance. It is not easy to play a team that is fighting to stay in the league, so we need to play our football and produce a big performance.
“They will come to defend and to try and play on the counter-attack and disturb us on set-pieces.”
With Lewis Grabban left as the only recognised forward in the squad after Rafa Mir’s loan spell from Wolves was cut short, Lamouchi is desperate to bolster his attack.
Watford striker Andre Gray and Crystal Palace front-man Connor Wickham are on Forest’s radar after Eddie Nketiah stayed put at Arsenal.
Lamouchi (below) added: “It is not only Nottingham Forest looking. Many clubs are looking for a striker and to do a deal. But it is not easy so I am waiting, too.
“There are a lot of clubs looking for strikers, wingers and quality players. I said at the start of the window that January is difficult. It is so, so difficult.”
On Gray and Wickham, he added: “I can talk only about my players. They are great players, but they are not my players.”
Luton boss Graeme Jones is also desperate for reinforcements to boost a squad that is battling to beat the drop, four points from safety.
Jones has come under pressure to keep his job after a poor run that has seen Hatters sink to the foot of the table. He said: “Everybody’s working really hard behind the scenes to improve things, but we’ve got nothing imminent.
“Everybody knows I wanted to get a couple through the door because I feel like the group needed a real lift, some help and energy, but so far it hasn’t happened for us.
“It hasn’t been for the want of trying, and that doesn’t mean to say it’s not going to happen. We’re still trying.”
Championship: 3pm
DANNY COWLEY claims he has no regrets over record £18million signing Terence Kongolo’s loan exit from Huddersfield.
Kongolo has joined Fulham for the rest of the season with Cowley claiming the defender had to go because he was not committed to Town.
The Dutchman last featured for Huddersfield in November and the Terriers boss said: “I don’t think there’s any regret on my part – it’s a good move for everybody concerned.
“It’s always disappointing and a frustration when players aren’t in the right place to be at their best.”