MAX POWER KEEPS RAMS LOOKING UP
Coldplay’s final face off... with Alan Carr and Shaq!
7.30pm
COLDPLAY’S Chris Martin is hoping to help Exeter City go on the Adventure of a Lifetime at Wembley today.
The superstar singer is a big fan of the club and will be among more than 1,700 cardboard cut-outs in the stands for the League Two play-off final.
Martin, who was born and raised in Exeter, will be joined by the likes of comedian Ade Edmondson and Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu, a former player, in a fan wall.
Marketing manager Scott Palfrey said: “We were delighted to hear from Chris Martin’s team and are looking forward to seeing his cut-out alongside our many, loyal fans and our stars from the past.
“This has been a great opportunity for fans to get behind the club, show their support for the team and also help support the club financially during this challenging time.
“We’re looking forward to seeing them all in place at Wembley.” Exeter launched its ‘Grecian in the Ground’ campaign after supporters were locked out of matches because coronavirus restrictions.
And 1,748 have paid for the opportunity to have their face in the stands at Wembley.
But promotion rivals Northampton Town have also got in on the act, and will have some famous fans of of their own among the crowd. NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal and ‘Chatty Man‘ Alan Carr will be on cut-outs as the sides bid for promotion to League One.
Cobblers skipper Charlie Goode says his side are out to give fans a day to remember – wherever they are.
Northampton reached the final despite losing the semi-final first leg 2-0 at home to Cheltenham.
But Callum Morton (left) struck twice in an epic 3-0 win at Cheltenham.
Goode said: “We are a close group, we all get on well on and off the pitch and we all work together and support each other.
“We have trained well and we are ready. We have a lot of experience in the squad. That is massive and that will be a big help to us. The real shame is the fans won’t be with us.
“We can feel their support and we are glad we put on a show for them at Cheltenham. We want to give them one more day to remember this season. The reason
I came here was to try to get promoted.
“We will give it everything.”
DERBY
READING
MAX BIRD admits Derby cannot stop thinking about the play-offs.
Phillip Cocu’s Rams are flying after four straight wins – and just three points off the top six despite being 17th on Christmas Day.
A play-off campaign seems a realistic possibility after Tom Lawrence’s effort and a Wayne Rooney penalty did for Reading.
Midfielder Bird, 19, has quickly become one of the stars of the revival. And the local lad said: “We have great quality in this squad and our only goal this season is to get into those play-off places.
“Do we talk about it constantly? Yeah. It is just that ambition in the changing room. Everyone has the same positive mindset that we can do it.
“If we finish this season well and beat these teams around us we have a great chance.”
Derby face a crazy set of fixtures, including matches against five of the top six.
They must start without key man Lawrence for Wednesday’s clash at Preston plus games against Nottingham Forest and West Brom after his red card.
Lawrence, who scored with a superb curling strike, was dismissed after the final whistle for fighting with Matt Miazga (above) who was also sent off.
Andy Rinomhota headed Reading back into contention after a tame punch from keeper Ben Hamer and stubbornly refuses to give up on what looks like mission impossible.
Mark Bowen’s Royals are now 11 points adrift of the play-offs – but Rinomhota said: “Until it is mathematically impossible we will keep pushing. We’ve been unfortunate to only get one point out of Stoke and Derby.”
DERBY:
READING:
Maxted, Sweeney, Martin, Moxey, Williams, Taylor, Collins, Richardson, Law, Bowman, Fisher
Arnold, Goode, Turnbull, Wharton, Harriman, McCormack, Watson, Hoskins, Adams, Morton, Oliver