Championship

CHED EVANS produced a Goal of the Season contender and sent Twitter wild last night.
The veteran striker, 32, returned to the Championship in January after leaving Fleetwood Town for Preston.

Ched Evans scored a worldie for Preston against Millwall and sent Twitter wildCredit: Getty

And he showed he still possesses all of the finishing ability that made him a Welsh international with a thunderous strike against Millwall.
The moment of magic arrived in the 12-minute at The Den as Evans beautifully volleyed Preston ahead.
Scott Sinclair’s cross was headed clear by the Millwall defence, but it fell perfectly to Evans just outside the area to smash a left-foot volley straight into the top corner.
That was his third goal in nine appearances since his arrival but unfortunately things soon went downhill for him and his team-mates.

Scott Malone matched Evans’ quality with a ferocious 20-yard equaliser after cutting in from the left.
And Millwall seized control in the second period and claimed a 2-1 win in the dying stages courtesy of Mason Bennett.
That result severely dented Preston’s hopes of making the play-offs.
Alex Neil’s men have now dropped down to 14th in the table, with Millwall climbing to tenth and three points clear of the Lilywhites.

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Preston are ten points adrift of sixth-placed Cardiff with only 12 games remaining.
But despite Evans’ sensational strike counting for nothing in the end, many believe it could land him an award come the end of the season.
And the clip of the goal sparked a wild response as it went viral on Twitter:

Ched Evans’ goal tonight. Thing of beauty 😍
— Bolland (@Jordsufc_) March 2, 2021

Ched Evans, banger! Well deserved
— Pablo (@pablomcfc83) March 2, 2021

That Ched Evans goal last night is a must watch 🚀.
— Greg Pearce (@gregpearce1990) March 3, 2021

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NEIL WARNOCK’S Boro put a stop to old pal Mick McCarthy’s winning run at Cardiff.
An inspired – or desperate – last throw of the dice from the bench ensured his Boro side claimed a 1-1 draw to prevent the Bluebirds from making it seven straight victories.

Paddy McNair rescued a point for Middlesbrough against CardiffCredit: Rex Features

After a miserable 3-1 home defeat to Bristol City in midweek, Warnock’s in-form ex-team were arguably the last side the veteran wanted to face next.
But it was Boro who completely dominated the first period only to fail victim to the rope-a-dope tactic moments before the break.
Paddy McNair forced Dillon Phillips to tip over at the back post directly from an inswinging corner.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who had his contract terminated at Cardiff in September after testing positive for cocaine, was let down by his touch after Will Vaulks’ short headed backpass almost proved costly.

Britt Assombalonga was denied at the near post by Phillips after being slipped in by Jonny Howson as Boro desperately tried to make their advantage count.
But they suffered a knockout blow when Vaulks hurled a long throw from the right into a melee of players, only for Sean Morrison to connect last to head home his fifth of the campaign.
It continued to be one-way traffic after the restart with Cardiff happy to sit back as the hosts struggled to find a way through their land of the giants defensive wall.
Warnock was growing more frustrated as his men struggled to lay a glove – but the crafty old-timer showed his former Barnsley boot boy there’s magic left in that old brain.

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Within seconds of introducing Djed Spence and Chuba Akpom off the bench, the former slipped in fellow sub Neeskens Kebano down the right.
Marcus Tavernier blocked a defensive clearance from the winger’s cross as the ball looped up and was flicked on by Akpom for McNair to slide home an equaliser at the back post to Boro’s play-off hopes alive.
Warnock, whose side are five points off the top six, said: “I was ever so pleased with the substitutes, all of them, and we needed that.
“They had a couple of yellow cards so we wanted to put them under pressure. I thought Kebano was really sharp, you don’t want to come up against him in the last 10 minutes.
“Chuba won a couple of great headers.”
McCarthy, unbeaten in nine and two off sixth, said: “I could say their goal was bad luck, but I’d say credit to them They were pressing, they made it happen. 
“It’s not the best game I’ve ever seen. In fact, it was probably one of the worst. But I’m not bothered.
“We’ve come away with a point and that’s what matters in the end – how many points you’ve got.”
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RAFA BENITEZ reportedly turned down the Bournemouth job after quitting China for family reasons.
The Mail claims Benitez, 60, was approached by the Cherries this month after they sacked Jason Tindall.

Rafa Benitez turned down Bournemouth after quitting ChinaCredit: Reuters

The Spaniard was available having just quit Super League side Dalian Pro to be with his England-based family.
Benitez is no stranger to a brutal Championship season, having guided Newcastle to the title in 2017.
But the former Liverpool and Chelsea gaffer turned down Bournemouth’s offer, claiming he did not want to make an immediate return to the dugout.
The Cherries have since made interim boss Jonathan Woodgate their manager until the end of the season.

But Benitez continues to be linked with posts elsewhere.
Reports in January claimed he is wanted by Celtic, who saw Neil Lennon resign from his position this week.
Benitez has also been linked with a return to Napoli, who are running out of patience with Gennaro Gattuso.
However, Benitez is believed to favour a Premier League return – but that does not include former side Newcastle, who are still fighting for survival under Steve Bruce.

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Reflecting on his decision to leave China last month, Benitez explained: “Unfortunately, like so many things in the last year, Covid-19 has changed our lives and our projects.
“From today, both my coaching staff and I will sadly no longer be coaching the Dalian Professional F.C.
“It has been an incredible experience and for this I would like to thank all my staff, coaches, medical and club staff as well as our players.
“Their commitment to us in the first place, their support during the time we were there, and their effort has been magnificent.
“The pandemic is still here, for all of us, and supporting our families has been a priority when making this decision.”

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BOURNEMOUTH’S clash with Watford descended into a chaotic brawl involving two red cards as the Cherries grabbed a narrow win on the South Coast.
Hornets striker Joao Pedro was sent off for a second yellow card after a challenge on Jefferson Lerma deep into stoppage time at the Vitality Stadium.

Both teams were incensed even after the final whistleCredit: PA:Press Association

A number of stars steamed in to get involvedCredit: PA:Press Association

The Colombian then aimed a little shove at Tom Cleverley, with the former Manchester United midfielder not taking too kindly to his antics, with incensed former Cherry Dan Gosling also getting right into the thick of things.
Philip Billing didn’t help the Watford players’ moods, by seemingly laughing at their anguish.
Things swiftly escalated, with pushing and shoving matches breaking out between a number of players on both teams.
And just as things seemed to have calmed down slightly following Pedro’s exit, the handbags flared up yet again, with Jack Wilshere also being shown a second yellow card for his role in the ruckus.

The former Arsenal star had seen the red mist, steaming in from nowhere to get involved with Cleverley.
Suddenly Gosling was having to play the mediator, as team-mate Ismaila Sarr appeared determined to get to Bournemouth full-back Adam Smith amid the unsavoury scenes.
The bad blood started earlier in the match, when Lerma made a meal of a Nathaniel Chalobah challenge that resulted in the former Chelsea player being booked.
But the midfielder, having since been substituted, appeared to see the funny side of the late events, captured on camera laughing at Lerma’s actions.

Wilshere stormed in to get involvedCredit: Rex Features

There was no thought for social distancing here as players got up close and personalCredit: Rex Features

Jack Wilshere was red carded for his role in the actionCredit: PA:Press Association

Adam Smith was also in the thick of thingsCredit: Rex Features

Joao Pedro’s second yellow sparked the bad blood

Wilshere tweeted after the gameCredit: Jack Wilshere twitter

Among the chaos, Sarr was also shown a yellow card for his role in the drama.
After the game, Wilshere tweeted: “Big 3 points. Sometimes it’s not pretty but we will fight together for every single point from now until the end of season! Well done lads 🍒🍒@afcbournemouth”.
The late madness overshadows what is a huge victory for new Bournemouth boss Jonathan Woodgate.
Appointed until the end of the season this week following an interim spell, the former England defender was desperate to get his side’s promotion aspirations back on track following a turbulent run of form.
The Cherries had fallen 11 points behind the third-placed Hornets going into their meeting, and had fallen out of the play-off spots altogether.
But Arnaut Danjuma’s tight near-post finish in the 61st minute earned a huge three points, seeing them leapfrog Cardiff City and Reading into fifth.

Route 1⃣Bournemouth have the lead as Arnaut Danjuma gets in behind to coolly finish!📺 Watch Bournemouth v Watford live on Sky Sports Football pic.twitter.com/FokPSMz38P
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 27, 2021

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