Championship

BRENTFORD survived monsoon conditions to come from behind and beat Middlesbrough 4-1 to stretch their unbeaten run to 20 Championship matches.
Ivan Toney took his tally to 22 for the season and Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Janelt also got on the scoresheet – but it was David Raya who earned the plaudits from his boss.

Ivan Toney took his tally to 22 goals for the season in Brentford’s victory at MiddlesbroughCredit: Rex Features

Goalkeeper David Reya claimed man of the match after bouncing back from his early errorCredit: Rex Features

The goalkeeper scored an early own goal but went on to produce a string of saves to help the Bees into second and just a point off leaders Norwich.
Thomas Frank said: “David needs to do better on the first goal but look at his mentality after that, it shows a lot about him.
“There’s no team that goes through a season without needing a top goalkeeper and ours is one of, maybe even the best, in the division.
“He had a key save from Assombalonga in the first half – what a save.

“Then you had a double save at the beginning of the second half and a big one from Saville.
“In the last 19 games when we have been unbeaten we haven’t needed David to step up, but it’s fantastic that he did that today.”
Raya’s howler occurred in the third minute when he completely missed a cross as the ball bounced off team-mate Ethan Pinnock and then onto his back before ending up over the line.
Saman Ghoddos dragged a right-footed effort wide and thundered a free-kick straight at Marcus Bettinelli but Brentford’s pressure was building and they levelled in controversial fashion.

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Yannick Bolasie went down claiming a foul in the Bees half, but the ref waved play on, and within ten seconds the visitors were level.
Toney chested down a throughball for Tariqe Fosu to get the wrong side of Paddy McNair and he unselfishly rolled it sidewards as Bettinelli raced out for the onrushing top scorer to slot home.
Raya then produced a brilliant double stop to keep it level at the break when pushing Assombalonga’s drive onto the post then Saville on the rebound.
He was at it again after the restart, stopping Assombalonga from point-blank and Janelt from scoring another OG.
Brentford then took the lead just before the hour as Janelt met Toney’s knockdown to volley home from 18 yards.
And it was game over when McNair produced a Steven Gerrard-esque slip on half way that allowed Mathias Jensen to race through and round the keeper for the third.
Raya denied Saville again before Toney put the icing on the cake as he headed home from close-range after Boro failed to clear following Rico Henry’s thunderous drive cannoning back off the bar.
Jensen’s piledriver hit the outside of the post late on but it was Boro manager Neil Warnock left the most frustrated over missed chances as his team slipped five points outside the top six.
He said: “I don’t think I’ve seen a more obvious foul than that first goal and if we’d gone in ahead at the break we’d have won.
“Their keeper must be man of the match and I don’t think I’ve ever been as satisfied with a 4-1 defeat, it sounds silly I know.”

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CARDIFF CITY star Alex Smithies is being assessed after being carried off on a stretcher during his side’s clash with Bristol City.
The goalkeeper required medical treatment after going down in the ninth minute of the Championship fixture at Ashton Gate.

Cardiff City were forced to substitute keeper Alex Smithies early onCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The 30-year-old left the Bluebirds game against Bristol City on a stretcherCredit: PA:Press Association

Speaking after the match, boss Mick McCarthy said: “I’ve just been in to see him in the physio room, and he’s sitting up.
“He looked very ill at the time and was brought off on a stretcher which looked worrying, but I’ve been in to see him and he seems okay.
“We’re investigating it.”
Smithies, 30, was treated by members of Cardiff’s medical staff during a significant break in play.

He was carried off the pitch on a stretcher but encouragingly was sitting upright when he was substituted.
Smithies was replaced by Dillon Phillips while Cardiff posted on Twitter: “Alex Smithies receiving treatment. No involvement in play.”
The Bluebirds later added: “Dillon Phillips replaces Alex Smithies. Thinking of you, Alex!”
One fan responded: “Wishing Alex a speedy recovery. Sounded bad.”

Another said: “Hope he’s ok. Looked unsteady on his feet as he walked to the by-line. Wishing him well.”
A third added: “Hope Alex is going to be okay!”
A fourth wrote: “Speedy recovery Alex!”

However the loss of their first-team keeper seemed to spur Cardiff on as they broke the deadlock minutes later.
Curtis Nelson headed home from a Harry Wilson free-kick before Kieffer Moore scored a header as well to double the away sides lead.
The Welsh outfit have since moved up to 14th in the table, five points behind Bristol City. More

BOURNEMOUTH have announced Jonathan Woodgate as temporary manager after sacking Jason Tindall.
The long-serving Tindall was axed after a miserable run of form, with the final nail being Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Bournemouth have announced Jonathan Woodgate as temporary managerCredit: Rex Features

The Cherries sacked Jason Tindall after a miserable run of formCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Despite starting the season as one of the promotion favourites, a run of one win in Championship matches led to dropping to sixth in the table – which ‘fell well below expectations’ of the board.
Former assistant Tindall’s departure after 22 years of Cherries service was confirmed on Wednesday and Woodgate was placed in temporary charge hours later – just TWO days after he joined the club as first-team coach.
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A statement read: “AFC Bournemouth can confirm that Jonathan Woodgate will take temporary charge of the first team, following the departure of manager Jason Tindall.

“Woodgate, who has previous managerial experience at Middlesbrough, will oversee training and lead the team on Saturday for the Sky Bet Championship home fixture against Birmingham City.
“This decision has been taken while the club’s board of directors identify and conduct full and thorough due diligence on suitable external candidates ahead of an interview process, with the aim of confirming a new permanent manager as swiftly as possible.”
The 41-year-old was appointed manager of his hometown club Middlesbrough in the summer of 2019.
But the former Leeds United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Real Madrid and England defender was axed just 12 months into his first job as boss.

He had penned a three-year contract after the departure of Tony Pulis, who he worked under as coach for two years at The Riverside, but could only lead Boro to nine wins out of 38 in the Championship.

The Teessiders were just one place above the drop zone before Neil Warnock took over and rescued them last term.
The struggling Cherries lost the highly-rated Jones to Steve Bruce’s Newcastle last week and moved quickly to replace him with Woodgate.
Now he stands a chance of landing the job permanently if he can get the South Coast club firing again.
But he faces competition from two of his ex-international team-mates.

Both Frank Lampard and John Terry are in the running to become Bournemouth’s new boss.
Lampard, 42, was sacked by Chelsea last week but led Derby to the Championship play-off final before heading to Stamford Bridge in 2019.
And JT also has experience of the Championship promotion battle after joining Aston Villa as coach in 2018.

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FRANK LAMPARD and John Terry will always share a bond.
As vice-captain and captain, they were the generals that led Chelsea to the most successful period in their history.

How Frank Lampard and John Terry compare

Terry and Lampard could both be eyeing up the Bournemouth jobCredit: Reuters

But now as young coaches, they find themselves in direct competition.
They’ve already done battle, with Aston Villa assistant manager Terry, 40, having stared down the touchline at his old mate Lampard, 42, during the former midfielder’s stints with both Derby County and Chelsea.
But now that Lamps has been brutally axed by the Blues he finds himself back in the job market… potentially to JT’s detriment.
SunSport understands that both are in consideration for the vacant Bournemouth job, following Jason Tindall’s sacking this week.

Two years Terry’s senior, Lampard has more experience in the dugout to date, having managed 141 matches across his two jobs so far.
Terry did manage to get his hands on two further Premier League titles following Lampard’s 2014 Stamford Bridge exit, however, and may be helped by those experiences playing under Antonio Conte and working under Dean Smith.
Despite both being in their forties, each like to upload to Instagram – with JT’s account the marginally more popular.
The former England skipper boasts 5.4million followers, compared to Lampard’s 4.5m.

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The duo have met on the touchline on a number of occasionsCredit: AFP

Lampard and Terry inspired Chelsea to their most successful-ever periodCredit: PA:Press Association

Terry also helped Smith overcome Lampard in the 2019 Championship Play-Off final, when Villa edged out the Rams 2-1 under the Wembley arch.
Having recovered from that knock, however, Lamps can point to his top-four finish with Chelsea the following season, despite having to work under the restriction of a transfer ban.
He also guided the Blues to an FA Cup final.
Alternatively, perhaps neither of them will even want the job.
Any petty squabbles would be avoided, and other contender Tony Pulis would be left rubbing his hands together.
The Welshman has also been linked with the job, and could even work with the man that replaced him at Middlesbrough Jonathan Woodgate, after Terry and Lampard’s former Three Lions team-mate was brought onboard the Cherries’ coaching staff last week.
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The duo even played against each other during Lampard’s brief stint at Man CityCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun

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FRANK LAMPARD and John Terry are in the running to become Bournemouth’s new boss.
The Cherries have the former Chelsea and England pals on their list of contenders to replace Jason Tindall, who was axed as manager on Wednesday morning.

Frank Lampard (left) and John Terry (right) are both being considered for the Bournemouth jobCredit: Instagram / @johnterry.26

The pair experienced huge success at Chelsea and are embarking on careers in the dugoutCredit: PA:Press Association

Lampard, 42, was sacked by Chelsea last month but has experience of the Championship having previously led Derby to the play-offs before moving to Stamford Bridge in 2019.
Terry also knows the second-tier having been a coach at Aston Villa since 2018.
Lampard’s uncle and SunSport columnist Harry Redknapp – who used to manage Bournemouth, lives nearby and still has close ties with the club – told talkSPORT that Terry would be ideal for the vacancy.
He said: “‘Given the opportunity, he could be a really top-class manager.

“If I was a chairman looking for a manager now, John Terry would be top of my list.
“He’s at Aston Villa, he may not be interested, I wouldn’t know what his long-term ambitions are, but I’m sure he would want to get into management.

I couldn’t think of a better club to take over than Bournemouth.
Harry Redknapp

“If you’re going to get into management, I couldn’t think of a better club to take over than Bournemouth.
“It really is a good club, well-run club, good players. It’s all there really for somebody to come in and make a big success of it.”

Tindall, 43, was sacked by the Cherries after just six months in charge.
The former No2 took over from Eddie Howe following the club’s relegation from the Premier League and made a promising start.
But he was sacked after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat by strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, left the Cherries sixth in the table with just one win from their last eight matches.
Tony Pulis, who began his managerial career at Bournemouth from 1992-1994, has also been linked with a return to the club, working alongside Jonathan Woodgate, who joined last week as Tindall’s No2.
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The South Coast club are just two points away from dropping out of the play-off places despite a strong start to the season.
A club statement explained Tindall’s sacking and read: “It is a decision which has not been taken lightly, given Jason’s outstanding commitment to the club as a player, assistant manager and manager.
“However, recent performances and results have fallen well below the board’s expectations.
“We feel a change is needed now in order to give the club the best possible chance of achieving the goals that were clearly set out last summer.”

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