Championship

STOKE defender Ben Wilmot was stretchered off receiving oxygen following a serious head injury.The 23-year-old went down on 36 minutes after a coming together while challenging for a bouncing ball with a West Brom player.
Ben Wilmot, pictured against Birmingham last week, suffered a horror head injury against West BromCredit: Getty
He was carried off on a stretcher as he received oxygenCredit: Richard Parkes
He was treated on the pitch for several minute and then placed on a stretcher by the medical team with his face in a breathing mask as his concerned Stoke team-mates watched on.
Wilmot was replaced at centre-back by 40-year-old veteran Phil Jagielka.
It is understood Wilmot was transported straight into an ambulance in the bet365 Stadium car park.
Stoke tweeted: “After a lengthy stoppage Wilmot leaves the field on a stretcher. Get well soon Wilmo ❤️ Jagielka replaces him.”
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West Brom added: “Ben Wilmot can’t continue and is stretchered off. Wishing you well, Ben.”
Potters fans took to social media to send their messages of support.
One said: “Ben Wilmot my heart is broken 💔 all the best.”
Another wrote: “That was a big miss by the referee there that was at least a yellow for the Albion lad. Ben Wilmot in all sorts of trouble, hopefully just concussion.”
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A third added: “Not looking good for him 😥”
And a final user commented: “Get well soon Ben!”
Wilmot came through the youth ranks at hometown club Stevenage and was picked up by Watford in 2018 despite interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.
After two Premier League appearances, he had loans at Udinese and Swansea before returning to Vicarage Road in 2020.
But with 33 Hornets matches under his belt, he joined Stoke in 2021 and has been a mainstay in the side ever since, proving a key player and fan favourite.
There were 11 minutes of injury time added to the end of the first half in the mid-table Championship match.
Deep into that first-half stoppage time, West Brom striker Daryl Dike also got injured and had to be taken off on a stretcher, too. More

ANDY CARROLL is adamant there was no major fall-out with Steve Bruce at West Brom as he revealed he has no plans to follow him into the dug-out just yet.The 34-year-old former England international is currently battling to keep Reading in the Championship.
Andy Carroll has no immediate plans to become a manager as he aims to play as long as possibleCredit: PA
He insists that he had no serious fall-out with former boss Steve BruceCredit: Getty
The ex-Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham forward scored twice in eight games for Reading last season before moving to West Brom in January 2022 on a six-month deal – only to return to the Royals last summer.
Carroll was recruited by ex-West Brom boss Valerien Ismael after an injury to striker Daryl Dike.
Just one game later, however, Ismael was sacked – forcing the towering frontman into a reunion with old Newcastle manager Bruce.
Carroll previously hit the headlines by revealing that “the second day I regretted being there” due to Bruce’s arrival.
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The Baggies then axed Bruce back in October before they were due to play Reading, which led to Carroll posting on social media: “It’s always sad to see people get the sack.
“Especially when we were guaranteed three points at the weekend. It is a shame but that’s football.
“You don’t get the results, it’s a business at the end of the day. That’s why you have to keep the lads together and work hard as a manager and get the lads working hard for you.”
That led to many believing that there was bad blood between the two – but speaking exclusively to Sun Sport on behalf of SkyBet, he explained: “I regret leaving Reading.
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“I did enjoy my time at West Brom – it’s a great club. I had Steve Bruce as manager for two years at Newcastle, and I didn’t get much game time.
“We didn’t have a falling out of sorts, but we didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of issues.
“So when I joined West Brom and he became their manager three days later, it was like ‘really? – but it is what it is.
“I still worked hard and tried at West Brom, but the situation was out of my hands after signing under a different manager – things like that happen in football.”
Carroll witnessed another managerial change this week when Reading, who have recently been docked six points, sacked boss Paul Ince.
The Royals are 22nd in the Championship, a point from safety, with already-promoted Burnley next and only four games left after that to try and beat the drop.
Noel Hunt has been placed in temporary charge, but despite his own playing career seemingly winding down, Carroll insists that he has no plans to become a manager himself at the moment.
Instead, he is adamant he still loves the battles on the pitch and plans to continue tormenting defenders for as long as possible.
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Carroll added: “My future is playing football right now – that’s all I’m thinking about. There’s no thought in my mind that I’m going anywhere else.
“I want to play football for as long as I can. I love the game and how physical it is.”
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WATFORD have confirmed manager Chris Wilder will remain in charge at the club until the end of the season.The Hornets have won just once since Wilder took charge on March 7 as their hopes of getting into the Championship play-offs look increasingly bleak.
Chris Wilder’s job at Watford is ‘under threat’Credit: Rex
However, they have now confirmed Wilder will stay in his role despite reports suggesting his job was “under threat”.
Technical director Ben Manga said: “The speculation is totally disrespectful to Chris and his staff.
“As Chris has said after recent games, we are all fully focused on ending the season strongly and pushing as hard as we can while there’s still a chance of making the play-offs.”
It comes amid a report from The Athletic claiming the club have held preliminary talks with Francesco Farioli about succeeding Wilder.
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Sports commentator Sam Matterface had claimed Wilder’s job was “under threat”.
Matterface added: “I think you’ll find he feels his job is under threat now.”

Former Sheffield United boss Wilder was handed the reins at Vicarage Road on a contract until the end of the season.
His first game in charge ended in a 1-0 defeat to QPR.
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He followed this up with a 3-0 win over Birmingham.
However, four frustrating games without victory have followed.
The matches against relegation battlers Wigan and Huddersfield were particularly disappointing considering the respective positions in the table.
Watford’s next game is against Bristol City on Saturday.
They currently sit six points off of the play-off spots.
Wilder is the third manager to have been in charge of games at Watford this season, following Ron Edwards and Slaven Bilic. More

A FUMING Blackpool fan has put his season ticket in manure with his club on verge of relegation.The Tangerines are on a run of six straight defeats, which leaves them eight points from safety with five games remaining.
Blackpool seem to be heading down to League OneCredit: Getty

Mick McCarthy resigned as manager with ex-player Stephen Dobbie now in charge with nearly all hope lost.
Fans have already had enough and are coming to terms with their relegation from the Championship.
One supporter took it as far as dumping his season ticket in poo.
The fan took a picture of it sticking out of manure on the floor and wrote: “Best place for it.”
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Many found it hilarious, one reacted: “Why have you stuck your season ticket in your club mate.”
Another said: “Turner prize 2023?”
A third joked that Blackpool’s ground Bloomfield Road should change it’s name to “Gloomfield” due to the upset supporters.
The Lancashire-based club have tough fixtures remaining with promotion-chasing West Brom, Millwall and Norwich still to play.
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They appear to be heading to League One alongside bottom of the table Wigan.
Then it is a five-way battle between Reading, Cardiff, QPR, Huddersfield and Rotherham to avoid the last relegation place. More

ANDY CARROLL had a heated argument with a Reading fan as the struggling Championship side endured a nightmare Bank Holiday weekend.Paul Ince’s side were hit with a six-point deduction this month for breaching spending rules.
Andy Carroll got into a heated argument with a Reading fanCredit: Getty
The bust-up came as Reading drew with Birmingham on FridayCredit: Getty
And they find themselves in the drop zone with just five matches left to play.
But it all got too much for one irate supporter who gave Reading a piece of his mind on Friday.
The Berkshire club through away a 1-0 home lead to draw 1-1 with Birmingham, leaving them without a win in seven matches.
The angry fan was seen shouting at Reading players throughout the game.
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But striker Carroll, who scored the opener, refused to back down.
Instead of ignoring the supporter, the ex-Newcastle and Liverpool star argued the toss at the final whistle in astonishing scenes.
The duo traded jibes back and forth in front of stunned onlookers.
And Carroll eventually walked away while being applauded by other fans.
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Online supporters also had their say, with one declaring: “Our best player.”
Another added: “He’s in the right there.”
But the heated argument did little to ignite a spark in results.
Reading’s next fixture saw them travel to Preston on Monday, looking to end the Easter weekend on a high.
But they were beaten 2-1 by the hosts, who netted a 92nd minute winner after being pegged back by Reading 10 minutes earlier.
The pressure is now truly on Ince to deliver a miracle and pull the club out of the danger zone.
Reading trail Cardiff by a point, having played one game more.
And things don’t get any easier, with the next game at home to leaders Burnley — who have already booked their return to the Premier League.
Third-place Luton Town are next, with Coventry, Wigan and Huddersfield also to come. More

QUEENS PARK RANGERS are interested in replacing Gareth Ainsworth with Ajax coach Michael Reiziger, according to reports.Reiziger, 49, worked as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at the Dutch club between 2019 and 2022.
Michael Reiziger, middle, worked with Erik ten Hag, left, at AjaxCredit: Getty
Rather than head to Manchester United with his friend Ten Hag, Reiziger opted to stay at Ajax.
But the former Barcelona, AC Milan and Middlesbrough star could be set to launch his own managerial career this summer, with a number of Championship clubs keen.
According to Football Insider, second-tier strugglers QPR want to axe club legend Ainsworth and replace him with Reiziger.
There is an understanding, however, that their target will not accept a new job until the end of the season.
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Ainsworth, 49, was appointed in February and has taken charge of just eight games as R’s boss.
He has been unable to halt QPR’s fall down the table, winning just one match thus far.
The ex-Wycombe boss has presided over six defeats – including a damaging 6-1 thumping at Blackpool and a 1-0 loss at crisis club Wigan.
He bizarrely had a man perform a “haka” in front of his players in an attempt at team bonding – with footage of the incident being likened to an episode of The Office.
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QPR sit 20th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.
They began the season under Michael Beale, before the 42-year-old left them for Rangers.
The R’s responded by appointing former Blackpool boss Neil Critchley, only to win just one of his 12 matches in charge.
Should QPR go down, they would likely miss out on Reiziger.
Ten Hag’s pal is said to be “excited” by the prospect of launching his managerial career in England.
And the R’s aren’t the only Championship club whose interest he is said to have attracted,
Reiziger began his coaching career within Sparta Rotterdam’s academy in 2013, before working as a No2 with their first team.
He then moved to Ajax in 2017, managing their academy side before moving onto Ten Hag’s staff.
Gareth Ainsworth has struggled to turn QPR’s fortunes aroundCredit: PA More