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      Championship clash between Ipswich vs QPR stopped after medical emergency in crowd

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      IPSWICH TOWN’S Championship clash with QPR was stopped after a medical emergency in the crowd.The second-tier rivals met at Portman Road on Friday and played out a 0-0 draw.
      Ipswich vs QPR was stopped after a fan suffered a medical emergency in the standsCredit: Getty
      Players from both teams were unable to return to the field for the second half after a fan suffered a medical issue in the stands.
      The incident occurred in the Sir Alf Ramsey stand.
      And a blue blanket was placed to cover the area as Portman Road’s PA system announced that the start of the second half would be delayed.
      A stretcher was then brought to the front of the stand to help treat the reported female fan.
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      Ipswich’s official X account posted: “There will be a delay to the start of the second half due to a medical emergency in the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.”
      Nearly 20 minutes later, the stretcher was taken along the area behind the goal with several ambulance personnel, some of whom were holding up a plastic sheet to prevent spectators from seeing who was on the stretcher.
      The hosts issued an update which read: “The players have emerged from the tunnel and will warm up for six minutes before the start of the second half.
      “The paramedics have assisted the supporter in the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand and our thoughts are with everyone involved.”
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      And 35 minutes after the game was delayed, play resumed.
      They released a final statement after full-time, reading: “Ipswich Town Football Club can confirm a medical emergency occurred in the lower tier of the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, during half-time of this evening’s game with Queens Park Rangers at Portman Road.
      “Our thoughts are firmly with the family and friends of the supporter, with the Club offering full support to all those affected.
      “There will be no further comment at this time.”
      Ipswich are second in the Championship after an incredible few months under Kieran McKenna and are hoping to seal a stunning promotion to the Premier League.
      As for QPR, they find themselves deep in the relegation mire and are third from bottom after just five wins this term.
      Meanwhile, several League One fixtures were affected by delays on Friday night.
      Stevenage vs Cambridge United was called off after a power cut caused a floodlight failure, leaving fans sat in darkness for half an hour.
      And Leyton Orient vs Wycombe was suspended after an assistant ref suffered a freak muscle injury to “cause chaos.” More

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      Ex-Man Utd coach Kieran McKenna lined up for first Premier League job after taking Championship by storm with Ipswich

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      IPSWICH boss Kieran McKenna has taken the Championship by storm but could now be in line for his first role in the Premier League.The former Manchester United coach got the Tractor Boys promoted from League One last season.
      Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna is admired at Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
      Palace are on the hunt for a Roy Hodgson replacement as they have not won their last eight gamesCredit: Getty
      And Ipswich are now flying in the Championship, sitting second after their Boxing Day draw with leaders Leicester – five points clear of third place Southampton.
      And McKenna’s work has not gone unnoticed, with a move to Crystal Palace to replace Roy Hodgson reportedly on the cards.
      Things have not been so bright for 76-year-old Hodgson, with the Eagles failing to win in their last eight games.
      And, according to the Telegraph, McKenna is admired at the South London club and is one of the top targets to replace their veteran boss.
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      Palace hoped to keep Hodgson until the end of the season before they hired a younger boss to implement a new vision at Selhurst Park.
      But McKenna’s ability, coupled with the team’s poor form, may force Palace into accelerating their vision, though that will depend on whether he is open to a move.
      With Hodgson’s contract not up until the end of term the club would have to pay the former England boss off.
      And McKenna will not come cheap as Palace would have to pay compensation for him.
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      The report claims McKenna may not be open to leaving Ipswich mid-season, having built a strong relationship with the club’s fans, players, and board.
      But a crack at the Premier League would be difficult to turn down.
      Palace are just three points above third-from-bottom Luton Town and with a tough fixture list ahead a sacking may be imminent.
      Hodgson did a superb job to save Palace from relegation last season and his team has managed to score just 19 goals in their 19 games so far this season.
      Newly unemployed Steve Cooper also features on Palace’s list of candidates to replace Hodgson.
      However, it may be too soon for the Welshman to return to the dugout as he was only sacked by Nottingham Forest 11 days ago. More

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      I’m an ex-Premier League star who was wanted by Barcelona but joined Hull – now I’m going for the Ballon d’Or

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      JADEN PHILOGENE has been linked in his career with moves to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.But the skilful winger, 21, pitched up at Hull!
      Jaden Philogene has been a revelation for Hull this seasonCredit: Rex
      The 21-year-old has been tracked by some of the biggest clubs in the worldCredit: Alamy
      Philogene has set his sights on winning the Ballon d’OrCredit: SKY BET
      Philogene arrived in the summer for £5million from Aston Villa.
      And despite finding himself in the Championship rather than on Europe’s top stage, he has huge ambitions. He told SunSport: “I want to win the Ballon d’Or.”
      That is in a different stratosphere from the accolade he picked up recently — the Sky Bet Championship goal of the month for his sublime back-heel against Rotherham — but Philogene exudes confidence.
      After revealing he plays basketball, when asked if he was any good, he replied: “Yes, of course!”
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      So why did he move to the Tigers despite getting rave reviews on Villa’s pre-season US tour?
      He said: “I needed game time. At my age I can’t just sit on the bench, I need to keep playing and thought this was the best opportunity.
      “Obviously you must be doing something well to get linked with the sort of clubs I have.
      “But you can’t let that get to your head because that’s when the focus drops.
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      Jaden Philogene is set to play a pivotal role in Hull’s promotion pushCredit: ALAMY
      “You must keep working hard and stay in your game — and everything will come from that.”
      Climbing from the Championship to the European elite is not without precedent. Jude Bellingham moved from Birmingham to Dortmund after his incredible breakthrough season.
      Philogene grew up loving Spanish football, supporting Real Madrid and idolising Cristiano Ronaldo — as well as former Barcelona greats Neymar and Ronaldinho.
      He revealed: “When I was younger, I would play striker.
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      “I’d get the ball and just dribble and then the game changed as I got older, so I started playing winger.”
      Philogene, who played youth football for Brentford, found himself out of the game and joined the independent Pro Academy in North London before being signed by Villa at 16 after a year.
      He explained: “I didn’t lose hope. I had to keep working hard because those opportunities are going to come.
      “So my advice to anyone who wants to get into football is always be yourself, don’t change for anyone, always work hard, even when no one’s watching, it’ll pay off no matter what.”
      And he firmly believes Hull can achieve something special under boss Liam Rosenior.
      He insisted: “The Championship is unpredictable.
      “Anyone can beat anyone but as long as we stay focused and stay as a team, we’ve got an opportunity to get in the play-offs.
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      “The gaffer has helped me a lot here.
      “He tells me to be myself and play my own game, be confident — and it’s working.”
      Jaden Philogene has also shone for England’s Under-21sCredit: Getty More

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      Fans left with jaws on the floor after Sky Sports presenter’s X-rated slip of the tongue when talking about Wayne Rooney

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      SHOCKED fans doubted their own ears when a Sky Sports presenter turned a brutal jibe from Wayne Rooney into an X-rated slip of the tongue on live TV.Broadcaster Rob Wotton’s mispronunciation was even more startling than Rooney’s verdict on the latest defeat for his Birmingham team.
      Wayne Rooney looks as if he’s heard Rob Wotton’s words but he was reflecting on Birmingham’s 3-1 home defeat to StokeCredit: Rex
      Wotton made a controversial pronunciation as he relayed Rooney’s viewsCredit: Sky Sports News
      The Manchester United legend claimed his side were so bad in Tuesday’s 3-1 home loss against Stoke City he would have subbed them all at half-time if he had been allowed to.
      And as Wotton rounded up the Boxing Day games, he said Rooney “admitted he would have sacked his entire team off”.
      Unfortunately, for many viewers, his pronunciation gave a dramatic new meaning to the ex-England skipper’s comments
      “Sacked” was instead heard as a word implying a sexual act, with fans asking: “Did I really hear that?”
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      One viewer posted on X: “I had to have it pointed out to me what he actually said. My mind is in the gutter.”
      Other fans suggested the mishap summed up Birmingham’s plight since Rooney replaced John Eustace in October when the Blues were sixth in the Championship.
      Stoke’s victory left Brum in 19th spot with just nine points from 13 matches under the 38-year-old.
      One X user wrote: “We are the laughing stock of football, man…. everyone’s taking the p*** out of us.”
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      So what did Rooney actually say after the game?
      The Everton icon hit out: “Ideally, you wish you could have 11 subs as I could have changed all 11 players at half-time.
      “We just weren’t doing the right things – the basics. It wasn’t lack of effort, that would be unfair to say. It was lack of game knowledge.
      “I didn’t see that performance coming. I didn’t recognise the team out there on the pitch.
      “It’s frustrating because over the last few games we’d made some real strides, so this was difficult to take.” More

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      Premier League manager’s throwback red card goes viral as fans say ‘he looks exactly the same today’

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      A VIDEO of Sean Dyche receiving a red card has gone viral, leaving fans stunned.Before becoming a manager, Dyche played as a centre-back for several EFL clubs.
      Sean Dyche was sent off for a reckless challenge while playing for NorthamptonCredit: https://twitter.com/FootballRemind
      He almost broke Steve Scoffham’s legCredit: https://twitter.com/FootballRemind

      He kicked off his professional career at Chesterfield and went on to play for Bristol City, Luton Town, Millwall, Watford and Northampton.
      But during his penultimate season he was shown a straight red card for a horrific tackle.
      While playing for Northampton in a League Two match against Notts County, Dyche lunged in on Steve Scoffham and nearly broke his leg.
      Despite going down to 10 men, Northampton went on to win 2-0.
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      Although that match took place over 17 years ago, the clip of Dyche’s challenge re-emerged on social media this week.
      And fans found it hilarious, with one person claiming that it was the “most Sean Dyche tackle ever”.
      Another wrote: “He looks exactly the same today.”
      While a third added: “Him looking basically the exact same as he does now is killing me.”
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      Fans believe Dyche looks exactly the same in the videoCredit: https://twitter.com/FootballRemind
      After retiring in 2007, Dyche joined Watford to become coach of the Under-18’s.
      He was promoted to manager in 2011 and spent a season in charge before being dismissed.
      Dyche was then appointed as Burnley manager and spent 10 years at Turf Moor.
      The 52-year-old was sacked in April 2022 but joined Everton at the beginning of 2023 following the dismissal of Frank Lampard. More

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      Millwall facing FA probe after linesman is hit on head by object thrown from crowd during QPR clash

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      MILLWALL face an FA probe after assistant ref Matthew Wilkes was hit on the head by an object thrown from the crowd during the game with QPR.Wilkes made referee Thomas Bramall aware of the incident at The Den on 55 minutes.
      Assistant referee Matthew Wilkes was struck by an object from the crowdCredit: Alamy
      Millwall hosted QPR at The Den for the Boxing Day Championship clashCredit: Getty
      Lions boss Joe Edwards condemned it but said his keeper Matija Sarkic was also targeted in a 2-0 win.
      Home medical staff took a quick look at Wilkes before he continued.
      Edwards said: “We don’t want to see that behaviour.
      “Matija Sarkic had objects thrown at him as well. So there are issues that the club will have to look into. These things can’t happen.”
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      Tom Bradshaw’s poacher’s strike put Millwall on course to end their dismal run of seven games without a win.
      The Welsh striker slid in at the back post to score just before the break and Murray Wallace made sure when he fired home from close range in the 91st minute from George Honeyman’s corner.
      It delivered a much-needed lift for new Den manager Edwards.
      He said: “There is definite relief after the run we have been on.
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      “We want more quality and to play football. But you need a foundation to build on after that run and this was about the team’s spirit.
      “We were difficult to play against and were aggressive.”
      But the mini-revival sparked by QPR boss Marti Cifuentes is now over after their third straight defeat.
      He said: “That was the worst performance since I came to the club.
      “We can’t blame anyone else. We didn’t start well and they were more aggressive.”
      Lions boss Joe Edwards condemned the behaviourCredit: Getty
      Tom Bradshaw celebrates scoring in the 2-0 Millwall winCredit: Getty More

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      Fans call for Man Utd icon Wayne Rooney to be SACKED by Birmingham after just TWO MONTHS following Stoke ’embarrassment’

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      FANS have called for Wayne Rooney to be SACKED just two months into his job as Birmingham City manager.The Manchester United icon was appointed manager in October on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
      Fans have called for Wayne Rooney to be sacked at BirminghamCredit: Rex
      Rooney, 38, took over when the club was fifth in the Championship with an eye on promotion.
      He replaced John Eustace but instead of pushing the team on, he has overseen a huge drop-off.
      Rooney has lost eight of his 13 matches in charge of the Blues, who have subsequently dropped all the way down to 19th in the league.
      The most recent defeat came at the hands of Stoke City at St Andrew’s.
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      The Blues were 3-0 down before the hour mark as the Potters leapfrogged them in the table.
      Jay Stansfield managed to net a consolation for the hosts, but fans are already demanding that Rooney get the axe after just 76 days.
      One fan posted: “Laters Rooney, its an embarrassment.”
      A second wrote: “Wayne Rooney needs to be sacked. He has made Birmingham worse.”
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      A third commented: “Rooney to be the first manager sacked in England in 2024.”
      A fourth said: “Rooney stinking it up at Birmingham.”
      A fifth added: “Sack Wayne Rooney
      Another joked: “Birmingham City would beat Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham City.”
      Rooney has only managed to collect nine points during his time as Blues boss.
      The club has won twice and draw three games and lost every other one since his arrival. More

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      Fans say it’s the ‘worst thing I’ve ever seen’ after calamity own-goal during Plymouth against Cardiff

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      FANS have called Plymouth Arglye’s own-goal against Cardiff City the “worst thing they have ever seen”.The Pilgrims travelled to the Welsh club for their Championship Boxing Day fixture.

      Plymouth scored a horrific own-goalCredit: Sky Sports News
      The goal cost Plymouth the lead against Cardiff CityCredit: Sky Sports News
      Conor Hazard tried his best to keep the ball outCredit: Alamy
      Morgan Whitaker had given the visitors the lead in the 18th minute as he poked the ball past goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
      Plymouth’s lead would be eradicated just 13 minutes later in the most unfortunate of circumstances.
      Defender Matt Butcher was trying to reduce pressure on the ball as he passed back to goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
      However the pass was misplaced and was just out of reach of Hazard as it zipped past him.
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      Despite the stopper’s best efforts to try and stop the ball, it found its way into the goal.
      Fans have seen the error and flocked to social media.
      One supporter fumed: “Oh my god, we are s**t. That is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”
      A second posted: “When we go down. We have no one but ourselves to blame. A walking calamity.”
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      A third wrote: “Worst own goal I’ve seen this season.”
      A fourth commented: “Lord have mercy, it’s Christmas for god sake.”
      A fifth said: “Christmas presents ruined.”
      Another joked: “Class finish that tbf.”
      It got worse for Plymouth as Karlan Grnat gave the hosts the lead shortly after half-time.
      There was some relief as Whittaker netted his second of the game to earn a point for the visitors.
      The former Swansea City star has impressed this season at Plymouth having scored 12 goals in 24 Championship appearances. More