Championship

PATRICK VIEIRA and David Wagner are among the candidates vying to be Bournemouth’s new boss.
The Cherries started conducting Zoom interviews on Wednesday and will continue them until Thursday.

Arsenal legend, and ex-New York City and Nice manager, Patrick Vieira is on the shortlist for the Bournemouth jobCredit: AFP or licensors

Candidate David Wagner took Huddersfield up to the Premier League but was sacked by his last club Schalke in September 2020Credit: AFP

Arsenal legend Vieira has been out of work since leaving French side Nice in December and would be keen on the role, as would ex-Huddersfield chief Wagner.
Bournemouth, who axed Jason Tindall last week, are eager for a quick appointment as they look to get their promotion bid back on track.
The Cherries are understood to be keen on a manager with previous experience, which seems to have ruled out Aston Villa No2 John Terry.
They would love Frank Lampard or Scott Parker, but both are a no-go with Lampard taking a break after his Chelsea axing and Parker in situ at Fulham.

First-team coach Jonathan Woodgate has won both his games in caretaker charge, including Tuesday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory at Burnley.
He could continue on a temporary basis away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but is not thought to be in the running full-time with the club preferring an external appointment.
Woodgate called in his ex-Spurs manager Harry Redknapp to return to Bournemouth last week.

Redknapp, 73, helped out in training, having bossed the Cherries from 1983 to 1992.

And he has claimed Terry would be ideal for the permanent role.
The SunSport columnist told talkSPORT: “‘Given the opportunity, he could be a really top-class manager.

Chelsea legend John Terry, now on Aston Villa’s coaching staff, appears to be out of contention for the role of Cherries’ chiefCredit: AFP or licensors
“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.”

Bournemouth confirm Jonathan Woodgate as temporary manager after Jason Tindall was axed More

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.”

Neil Warnock leaves fans in hysterics as Cardiff boss stares into TV camera More

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.

Jonathan Woodgate had an infamous debut for Real Madrid against Bilbao More