Championship

MOSES ODUBAJO has denied celebrating a goal scored against his own team after being blasted by Sheffield Wednesday fans.
Nottingham Forest beat the struggling Owls 2-0 on Tuesday night with the win sealed by Lewis Grabban in the 87th minute.

Moses Odubajo was first on the scene after Lewis Grabban’s goalCredit: Rex Features

The defender high-fived his opponent and claims to have thought the goal would be chalked off

After the forward left Tom Lees on the floor with a challenge to win the ball, he fired home and was met by a smiling Odubajo, who high-fived his opponent.
Baffled viewers quickly picked up on the incident and accused the defender of failing to care about his side’s result.
But Odubajo, 27, has denied those claims and insists the footage is taken out of context.
He tweeted: “The loss is frustrating for myself and the team.

“I would never high 5 another player for scoring against us.
“I said to Grabban no way is that a goal because of the foul and laughed it off thinking the goal wouldn’t stand.

Out of context, videos can be misconstrued.
Moses Odubajo

“We’re bottom of the league. No one at the club wants relegation and there’s no chance I would celebrate a goal that keeps us at the bottom.
“Out of context, videos can be misconstrued.

“I hope I’ve cleared it up with the fans who doubted my commitment to the team.”
However, a number of Owls supporters felt that, even if Grabban had fouled Lees, the reaction was sub-standard.
One fan account tweeted back: “You just saw Grabban foul Tom Lees (above the knee) and run through to score – and instead of smashing him into the back of the net you laughed and high fived him? Really??? REALLY???”
The episode comes amid a sorry run of form for Wednesday, who began the season on minus-six points due to a breach of financial regulations.
Tony Pulis was installed as manager in November but is yet to win a game.
Tuesday’s defeat to 21st-placed Forest left the bottom club with three points from their last eight games – making Pulis’ start the worst of any Wednesday manager ever.

Tom Lees was left hurt after Grabban’s challenge to create the chance

Odubajo joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2019 after spells with Hull and BrentfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Owls failed to fire off a shot in the second-half having fallen behind to Yuri Ribeiro’s fourth-minute strike.
And Pulis, 62, has promised to look into the Odubajo incident.
Speaking to reporters after the game, he stated: “I have been told about it and I will deal with it.”

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NEIL WARNOCK will hold crunch talks with Patrick Roberts over the Manchester City loanee’s Middlesbrough future.
The forward, 23, rejoined Boro in October after he impressed in helping them beat the drop last season.

Patrick Roberts will have talks over his Boro future next monthCredit: Getty

But he has struggled for game time in the Championship this term, starting just three times with a further four appearances off the bench.
Warnock admits the ex-Celtic starlet is frustrated with his lack of action.
The Boro boss is desperate to add to his squad once the transfer window re-opens, targeting at least two new forwards.
That could push Roberts, who Warnock has admitted he has doubts over his defensive duties, further down the pecking order.

But the 72-year-old insists he will not be pushed into sending the former Fulham ace back to City so he can head out elsewhere.
Warnock said: “I’ve got to have a talk (with Roberts). There’s two or three lads that have not really had an opportunity, and everybody wants to play.
“They all want to be involved, and I have to manage that as I see fit.
“I’ve got to speak to the players and see how they feel, but first and foremost, I’ve learned my lesson over the years, I’ve got to look after the club.”

The percentage of answers have been round up or down from their decimal points

He added: “I can’t be swayed just because an agent rings me up or a dad of one of the players says, ‘He’s got to leave or go out on loan’ – I can’t be working on that.
“I’ve got to look after the club first at this moment in time because it’s a difficult period.”
Roberts cut a frustrated figure on Saturday when he was handed just three minutes as a late substitute in the 3-0 win over Millwall.
And he is expected to be named on the bench tonight when Luton visit The Riverside Stadium.

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MILLWALL are reportedly trying to ban Sky Sports from screening their upcoming clash with Watford amid a row over the broadcaster’s coverage of last week’s game with QPR. That Championship match took place last Tuesday just days after the furore from their previous encounter against Derby that saw fans boo players who took the knee […] More

NEIL WARNOCK warned Duncan Watmore he needs Middlesbrough just as much as they need him.
The 26-year-old winger was rescued from wilderness after leaving Sunderland in the summer when he was handed a two-month contract by Boro in November.

Duncan Watmore is deciding on whether to sign long-term for Boro boss Neil WarnockCredit: Rex Features

The winger has four goals in six games since joining Boro last monthCredit: Getty

He has repaid that faith with four goals in six matches, his latest brace helping the Teessiders defeat Millwall 3-0.
Boro boss Warnock confirmed the in-form attacker has been offered a longer-term deal but revealed other clubs were circling.
However, after an injury-ravaged few years, the veteran told the in-demand star that he is the right man to help Watmore get even better.
Warnock said: “He needs me and us really as much as we need him.

“It’s a crucial time for him now and agents shouldn’t be thinking about money, they should be thinking about letting him have an injury-free season.
“We haven’t agreed financially but I’ve already told him I’m going to take him on, that’s if he wants to.
“I just think we fit each other really, he fits the club and the club fits him. 
“I think I can get the best out of him if I’m honest.

“Before the Preston game I told him it didn’t matter how bad he played, he had a deal there.
“I wanted to reassure him so today he is probably glad he hasn’t signed it before he scored two more goals and he’s probably got a bit more now.
“He will have other offers, but if he goes somewhere else it will not be the same, so it’s up to him.”
When asked whether he had any fears Watmore would go elsewhere, Warnock said: “I’ve no doubts but other people might put things in his head.
“So if he wants to go somewhere else he’s free to do that. 
“He’s got a great chance here, with a great manager, group of lads and club, and sometimes the grass is not always greener.”
A brilliant Marcus Tavernier strike was sandwiched between Watmore’s two goals as Boro went three up inside twenty minutes to condemn Millwall to a tenth match without a win.

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PRESSURE is mounting on Gary Rowett after Millwall were blown away by red-hot Middlesbrough.
His Lions were more like whimpering kittens at the Riverside as a first half blitz condemned them to a 3-0 defeat and stretched their winless run to ten.

Duncan Watmore and Marcus Tavernier fired Boro to a 3-0 win over Millwall

Gary Rowett’s Lions are now ten games without a winCredit: PA:Press Association

Rowett said: “It was pretty poor. It was very unlike a Millwall team and too soft.
“I’m the manager and I pick the team and it’s my responsibility, so I’m not sitting here and blaming anyone else.
“You always feel under-pressure if you are not winning games. But I don’t think about that.
“I don’t think today was close to turning it around.”

Boro flew out of the traps and secured the points inside twenty minutes. 
Duncan Watmore tapped home from close-range after being picked out in the centre by Marvin Johnson.
It was two within 120 seconds, and it was Marcus Tavernier who doubled the advantage in style.
Sam Morsy found the winger on the right-hand edge of the area, and he cut inside onto his left foot before curling a low strike inside the far post.

Millwall continued to crumble, conceding another after George Saville’s scuffed shot fell straight to Watmore, who controlled and clinically finished from ten yards for his second.

Rowett had seen enough as he dragged off defender Alex Pearce and replaced him with forward Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
But it made little difference as Paddy McNair was denied a fourth by goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski and Chuba Akpom headed wide from a set-piece as things threatened to get worse for the visitors before the break.
Akpom then raced clear of the defence, under-pressure for Jake Cooper, but blazed his effort high and wide as Boro continued to run riot.
The Boro striker had another opportunity moments after the restart, pouncing on a mistake but instead of shooting first time, he took a touch and went for the chip that allowed Bialkowski to palm wide.
Matt Smith dragged a shot wide midway through the second period with Ben Thompson at least forcing Marcus Bettinelli into a save, but it was an afternoon to forget as Millwall’s downwards slide continued.
Neil Warnock, whose Boro side bounced back from back-to-back defeats, said: “We are going to be up and down with the age of our squad.
“I was a bit worried how we’d start today and tried to concentrate on a quick start – but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be that quick.”

Neil Warnock’s Boro blew Millwall away inside twenty minutesCredit: Rex Features

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