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      Cardiff star Sean Morrison shows off gruesome ankle injury with BONE showing after fierce derby against Swansea

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      CARDIFF captain Sean Morrison has left fans stunned after playing through the pain barrier in the 1-0 derby win away at Swansea.The Bluebirds skipper somehow made it through the 90 minutes despite pulling a calf muscle AND dealing with an ankle blister that left his bone exposed.
      Sean Morrison starred during Cardiff’s 1-0 win against Swansea on Saturday at the Liberty StadiumCredit: Getty
      Morrison’s partner shared this horrific blister Morrison played with in the derby clash
      Cardiff are now just four points off the play-off places in the Championship thanks to Aden Flint’s eighth minute winner at the Liberty Stadium.
      And Bluebirds fans can have Morrison to thank for a clean sheet as his man of the match performance included four blocks, two interceptions and nine clearances – all despite his injury problems.
      His partner Stacey Amber Ward posted a gruesome picture of Morrison’s heavily-blistered ankle on her Instagram story following the match.
      Captioning the image, she said: “And to think you’ve just played 90 minutes with that on your ankle. How you do it I’ll never know.”
      Fans were left in shock by the picture, as one supporter commented: “Oooh that must hurt! Superb defensive display though to keep the Jack’s out! Well done!!”
      Another remarked: “F****** warrior, 40 mins with a pulled calf and all.”
      A third added: “Sean Morrison played with half his f****** ankle missing and pulled his calf 50 mins in. What a captain.”
      One simply stated: “Captain, Leader and Legend.”
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      Speaking after his monstrous display, Morrison revealed to Sky Sports: “I think I pulled my calf after about 50 minutes. So I popped a few painkillers and got on with it.
      “But look the young lad who came in at right-back Tom Sang, Browny (Ciaron Brown) next to Flinty (Aden Flint).
      “Joe Ralls out of position in left wing-back. We dug in today. This is what Cardiff City is all about.”
      Morrison – who has missed just one out of 38 Championship games this term – added: “We owe the fans this one. The last three derbies, we’ve been way off it. Way, way off it. Lost two, drew one.
      “We know how much this means to the fans. So that was for all the fans that couldn’t be here today. All of them at home watching on the tele. That was for them.”
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      Birmingham fans fly plane demanding chief exec Xuandong Ren ‘must go’ during game at Watford

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      BIRMINGHAM CITY fans flew a plane over Watford and declared chief executive Xuandong Ren ‘MUST GO’.Ren has come under heavy criticism from Blues fans since the appointment of Aitor Karanka last summer.
      Birmingham City fans flew this message during the game at WatfordCredit: PA
      Xuandong Ren is coming under increasing pressure as chief exec of BirminghamCredit: Rex

      The Spanish coach, who was sacked last week, has left Birmingham loitering in 21st place in the Championship, just three points above the relegation zone.
      And Ren is now taking the brunt of the abuse from Birmingham fans as they bid to have their voice heard while grounds remain empty.
      The banner flown over the stadium read: “By order of Blues fans Dong must go.”
      It was the manner of Karanka’s dismissal which has seen Ren receive negative press.
      Charlton announced manager Lee Bowyer was departing for Birmingham before Karanka’s sacking had even been publicly announced.
      The mess off the pitch resembles what is happening on the field, with Birmingham winning just one of their last five matches.
      Bowyer’s first game in charge did see him have something of an impact as they beat Reading 2-1 at St Andrews.
      But on Saturday the Blues were again struggling as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Watford.

      Birmingham fans are hoping their voice will be heard while they remain unable to attend matchesCredit: PA
      Blues have not been in the third tier of English football since the 1994-95 campaign.
      Since then they have been promoted to the Premier League on three occasions, spending a total of six seasons in the top flight.
      But now their future in the Championship looks precarious as the fans and bosses at the club begin to turn on each other.
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      Norwich star Teemu Pukki may have cocktails named after him – but won’t celebrate until Canaries are back in the Prem

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      TEEMU PUKKI is such a star in Finland he has a cocktail named after him — and parties held in his honour.And the striker is surely going to be responsible for quite a few hangovers over the coming months.
      Teemu Pukki is hoping to be responsible for a few hangovers over the coming monthsCredit: Rex
      The Norwich star has cocktails named after him back in FinlandCredit: Supplied
      First, he looks certain to help shoot Norwich back into the Premier League and then lead the hopes of his nation in this summer’s Euros.
      So cocktails all round.
      ‘The Pukki’ consists of Finnish vodka, sour apple liqueur, apple puree and lemonade — while ‘The Canary’ is vodka, peach liqueur and orange juice.
      And Norwich were selling them for ten Euros at a ‘Pukki Party’ they staged in Helsinki to celebrate Finland’s qualification to the Euros for the first time in their history.
      Pukki laughed: “I bet it was great to drink that day and they sold loads.”
      So the burning question is what would the Canaries striker drink at a ‘Pukki Party’?
      He said: “Well, now isn’t the time for drinks — but I prefer Finnish beer.”
      And no Canaries fan will begrudge him a few pints at the end of the season where he has rediscovered his scoring boots.
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      Liverpool boast the most-valuable squad in the Premier League

      Pukki has 24 goals so far this season and will today hope to help Norwich set a club-record TEN  league wins in a row when they host Blackburn.
      In the nine straight wins,  a club-record for all competitions, he has fired 11 goals, which is a big contrast from the end of last season where he failed to net in his final 15 games as the Canaries were relegated from the Prem.
      And the striker, 30, admits the postponement of the Euros from last summer is  a blessing in disguise as he is in far better form.
      He said: “It’s been my biggest dream to play in a major tournament so I want to be the best possible me for that.
      “Last January in the Premier League I converted a couple of penalties against Bournemouth and Tottenham but after that didn’t score.
      “At the time, the target was to stay in the Premier League and be the best I could be, but neither was happening.
      “I wouldn’t say I felt good when the Euros were cancelled but actually now, looking back, it’s worked out well because I feel more ready for those games than I was last year.
      “When you don’t score goals as a striker, it’s never easy. So I have had that extra year to get better and improve my confidence level.”
      Pukki has hit peak form at the right time in a season that has parallels with Norwich’s historic 1985-86 season when they won the old second division title and promotion to the top flight.
      Pukki is hoping to fire Norwich back into the Premier LeagueCredit: PA
      City have done things slightly differently in the Championship this season to two years ago when they last went up.
      For starters, they have netted 55 goals this season after 37 matches — 20 fewer than in 2019.
      But, on the flip side, they had conceded 47 goals in those games while this time they have let in a miserly 26 and are seven points better off.
      After conceding 75 goals in the Prem last season, Pukki admits that area had to be improved upon — and lessons must be learned if the Canaries are to be more successful in the top flight.
      He said: “We need to be more balanced between attack and defence. In the Premier League, if you make even a small mistake, the teams are that good they will punish you.
      “So that is what I learned most last year.
      “But also if you don’t take your chances, it’s hard to win games because the level is so good. So we’ve this season found more balance in our way of playing.”
      Pukki believes the difference to the defending and scoring stats this season compared to the last time in the Championship is also down to the way opponents play Norwich now.
      He said: “We want to score as many goals as we can but the teams prepare to play a different way against us than last time.
      “There are many sides that just try to defend so it’s been a different season based on that.”
      Norwich fans will be hoping for a huge Pukki Party this summerCredit: Norwich FC
      Pukki believes the loan signings of Burnley’s Ben Gibson, 28, and Spurs midfielder Oliver Skipp, 20, were huge.
      He said: “Having the right balance has come naturally for us. We’ve had good additions to our team — people like Ben Gibson have been unbelievably good in the midfield so that has helped.
      “Him and Skipp have kept a lot of opponents quiet. When you watch Skipp play, you don’t realise how young he is. He looks like he’s been around for a long time. He is an unbelievable talent.”
      Pukki has enjoyed how Norwich have exploited his fame in Finland to reach out to new fans.
      The party held at the Apollo Live Club sold cocktails AND club merchandise.
      And the Finn said: “It’s remarkable what Norwich have done in Finland. They were quite big in selling shirts and all the  Norwich stuff.
      “It was good for Norwich — they have a lot of Finnish fans.
      “The day we qualified for the Euros will stay with me for the rest of my life and it’s great what Norwich did that day because it was such a big day for Finnish football.
      “When the club opened a small shop selling shirts, the queues were huge. It meant a lot. These kinds of things help increase the profile of football in my country.”
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      EFL discover 25 positive coronavirus tests in latest round of results… ALL of them at Championship side Rotherham

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      THE EFL have revealed they discovered 25 positive results in the latest round of Covid-19 – ALL of them at Rotherham.The Championship strugglers had already produced three positive results the previous week, forcing the cancellation of their matches against Brentford and Luton.
      Rotherham United returned all 25 of the EFl’s latest positive Covid testsCredit: Rex
      Paul Warne’s side are embroiled in a relegation dog fightCredit: PA
      At the time they informed league bosses others had been ordered to self-isolate because of potential close contact – but the next round of testing produced numbers which staggered officials.
      For the further 25 players and staff were all confirmed to have contracted coronavirus leading to their clash with Coventry also being postponed.
      To make matters worse, it is the second time this season the Millers have been forced to cancel matches after suffering an outbreak within the club.
      Now the EFL are investigating just how well Rotherham followed the strict protocols in place throughout the professional game aimed at minimising risk of spreading the virus.
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      The latest outbreak is now known to have infected 28 people in total, leading to the close of their Roundwood training ground for a second time.
      Paul Warne’s side, scrapping to avoid relegation to League One, were back in action for the first time in a fortnight on Tuesday when they were thrashed 4-1 at home by Watford.
      The Millers were due to return to action on Saturday against Bristol City.
      The latest outbreak in their camp, however, will almost certainly lead to the postponement of the fixture.
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      Neil Warnock charged by FA for explosive post-match blast at officials after Middlesbrough’s loss to Swansea

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      NEIL WARNOCK has been charged by the FA for his explosive post-match blast at officials.The Middlesbrough manager slammed referee Gavin Ward for a number of decisions in the 2-1 Championship loss to Swansea earlier this month.
      Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock has been charged by the FA for his post-match rant about officials after Boro lost to SwanseaCredit: PA
      SunSport revealed last week the FA had launched an investigation into Warnock’s comments and he now has until March 22 to respond to the charge.
      An FA statement read: “Neil Warnock has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to Middlesbrough FC’s match against Swansea City FC in the EFL Championship on Saturday 6 March 2021.
      “It is alleged that comments made by the manager during a post-match interview constitute improper conduct as they questioned the integrity of the match official and/or implied bias and/or were personally offensive and/or bring the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1.
      “Neil Warnock has until 22 March 2021 to provide a response to this charge.”
      Warnock also accused Swansea of benefiting from decisions in the match at the Liberty Stadium on March 6 because manager Steve Cooper’s dad Keith was a former top-flight official.
      His attack on Ward came after he disallowed Marc Bola’s strike, with Yannick Bolasie adjudged to have fouled Jay Fulton in the build-up.
      After Boro levelled, Ward then awarded the Welsh side a penalty deep in injury-time for a George Saville foul on Jake Bidwell, which Andre Ayew converted from the spot.
      Warnock, 72, said: “They are all heroes, they all want the celebrity status.
      “It’s wrong. My lads have been let down by a team of officials who weren’t good enough today. It’s not right.”
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      Warnock added: “I don’t know if it’s Cooper’s dad whose influencing this?
      “He must have all the numbers. But, joking apart, they can’t keep having decisions like that.”
      Boro are eighth in the Championship – just five points off the play-offs.
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      Lee Bowyer confirmed as Birmingham manager as ex-Charlton chief looks to beat drop after sacking Aitor Karanka

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      LEE BOWYER has been confirmed as the new boss of Championship strugglers Birmingham City.Brum sacked Aitor Karanka after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Bristol City left them 23rd in the second tier.
      Lee Bowyer has been appointed new manager of Birmingham City after leaving CharltonCredit: PA
      Now they have turned to their former midfielder, who quit his job at Charlton over the weekend, to save them from the drop.
      The 44-year-old, who has agreed a deal with Birmingham until June 2023, said: “I’m absolutely delighted and it’s great to be back.
      “I’ve already seen some of the old faces from when I was here last and I’m just really looking forward to getting to work.
      “My priority is to lift everybody. Not just the players, the staff as well. It seems like it’s not been in a very good place, so I’ve got to lift them.
      “I’ve got to try and implement what I want very quickly. The team will improve, I have no doubt about that but we already have a good base to work with.
      “I’m gutted the fans aren’t here because I know the part they would play.
      “When I was here as a player it was an unreal atmosphere. I know how important they are but unfortunately we can’t change that.
      “We have to pull together as a club to make sure we are in this division next season so the fans can come back and appreciate what we do in this short space of time.”
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      Bowyer took charge of training on Tuesday and will be in the dug-out for Wednesday’s home match against Reading.
      Birmingham said details of his backroom team will be confirmed shortly, but CEO Dong Ren is delighted to get his man.
      He said: “I would like to welcome Lee to Birmingham City Football Club.
      “He is a coach who has been on our radar for some time now and as a former player he knows exactly what it means to be a part of this Football Club.
      “We believe he is the man to take us forward, initially in achieving our short-term goal of staying in the Championship and then further into the future as well.
      “We are delighted that Lee has joined us at this important stage of the season and we are all committed to ensuring that he and the team are a success.”
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      Banned ref Darren Drysdale given low-key return as fourth official at Scunthorpe vs Southend after squaring up to Judge

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      BANNED ref Darren Drysdale is being handed a low-key return to action as fourth official at Scunthorpe on Saturday.Drysdale was suspended after being found guilty of improper conduct during a heated clash with Ipswich midfielder Alan Judge last month.
      Darren Drysdale will return to action as fourth official this SaturdayCredit: Getty
      He is free to start work again but is being sent to Scunthorpe’s League Two relegation home game against Southend United where he won’t even be on the pitch.
      An FA disciplinary panel heard that Judge called Drysdale a ‘cheating bald c***’ as they locked heads during Ipswich’s match against Northampton on February 16.
      Judge disputes that account strongly and says his club has audio footage to prove his did not swear or label Drysdale a cheat.
      Drysdale, 49, admitted losing his composure in the incident but maintained the abuse he received that night was ‘the worst ever’ in his officiating career.
      He still received a ban that was backdated to February 19 and ran until March 10.
      The trip to Scunthorpe will be his first game since the episode in the 90th minute of a goalless draw at Portman Road.
      The two men squared up after Drysdale booked Judge for simulation instead of awarding him a penalty.
      The Football Association have warned Drysdale about his future conduct.
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      He returns from suspension for squaring up to Ipswich’s Alan JudgeCredit: MatchDay Images Limited

      And a visit to Glanford Park where he will be kept out of direct contact with players as much as possible is seen as the best way of easing the controversial official back into the fold.
      Both teams have plenty on the line Saturday with Essex side Southend desperate for points as they look to avoid relegation to the National League.
      Scunthorpe are also at risk of being dragged in as they sit 18th.
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      Warnock hopes Mendez-Laing can be Boro’s play-off wildcard after Dalglish-esque finish helps keep them in promotion hunt

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      NEIL WARNOCK hopes Nathaniel Mendez-Laing can be Middlesbrough’s promotion wildcard – even without a promise of a contract extension.
      The winger, 28, came off the bench to grab his first goal for the club to add to Grant Hall and Paddy McNair’s earlier strikes against Stoke.

      Boro are hoping Nathaniel Mendez-Laing could be their promotion wildcardCredit: Rex Features

      The star’s strike was compared to Kenny Dalglish by his boss Neil WarnockCredit: Getty

      Warnock handed his former Cardiff a career lifeline with a short-term contract last month after he had been axed by the Bluebirds and banned for three months by the FA after testing positive for cocaine.
      The Boro boss has been easing the attacker in slowly, but after he confidently finished off a late counter-attack with a ‘Kenny Dalglish-eque chip’, he is adamant Mendez-Laing can play a huge role in their play-off hunt.
       Warnock said: “He can win games. That’s what you need at this level. 
      “We haven’t had enough goals this season and that’s why we are where we are really.

      “I thought it was a team performance to create the goal and Mendez can score at any level.
      “I can show you his two goals at Old Trafford on the final day of the Premier League and he terrorised the full-back that day.
      “He has plenty of potential but he’s been out a while. I don’t want him to try too hard.
      “He’s just got to do what he’s doing, things like now, training after the game and get some mileage in and hopefully he’ll get some starts in before the end of the season.”

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      He continued: “When you’ve been through what he’s been through it’s a relief, and I’m sure he wanted to show the lads what he can do.
      “It’s no good me saying where he’ll fit in, it’s on the pitch where you show the lads.
      “It was nice though, and you’re not going to see a better finish than that. It reminded me of a Kenny Dalglish finish!”
      When quizzed about keeping Mendez-Laing next season, Warnock said: “There’s a long way to go yet, he knows that. I’ve only just sorted myself out!
      “He knows he doesn’t have to prove anything to me. I know what he can do.”
      A fourth defeat in five leaves Stoke facing up to another year of Championship football.
      Boss Michael O’Neill said: “We are in a more comfortable position than we were last year but we want to be a team that can challenge at the top end of this league and at the moment we are not that.”
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