Championship

STOKE CITY have sacked manager Steven Schumacher – with a Premier League icon now in caretaker charge.He has been axed following a 1-0 defeat to Oxford on Saturday that leaves the Potters 13th in the Championship. Stoke have axed boss Steven SchumacherCredit: RexClub legend Ryan Shawcross is now in temporary chargeCredit: PAThe club have started the season in decent form, winning two of their opening five league games.They also remain in the Carabao Cup after beating Carlisle and Middlesbrough.Schumacher’s shock sacking comes on the eve of Stoke’s third round cup tie against Fleetwood Town.They welcome the League Two side tomorrow with Alex Morris and Ryan Shawcross in temporary charge of the team.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLShawcross, 36, is a Stoke legend, who played 453 times for the club from 2007 to 2020 and has one England cap.He came through the youth ranks at Manchester United and played twice for their first-team. Another Stoke cult hero, Jon Walters, is the club’s sporting director and he explained the decision to axe Schumacher.Walters said: “My role as is to make tough decisions that serve the long-term interests of Stoke City.Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“After ongoing discussions with [chairman] John Coates, we feel the time is right for a change in direction to bring success to the club.“We have a young, dynamic squad that is eager to develop and a clear vision of how to achieve success, and we hope to announce a new appointment shortly.Bromley boss Andy Woodman shares craziest EFL memories including players’ full on fight in club shop I What the EFL?!”We will need the fans, staff, and players united in support to achieve our goals.“As always in football, these decisions are difficult, and we wish Steven and his staff all the best for the future.”Jon Walters decided to axe Steven SchumacherCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun More

SATURDAY’S Championship clash between QPR and Sheffield Wednesday produced a goalmouth scramble for the ages.The incredible drama wasn’t just entertaining, but also had a huge bearing on the result.Di’Shon Bernard cleared a header off the line from a last minute cornerCredit: x @itvfootballThe ball came back out and QPR tried to put it back towards goalCredit: x @itvfootballBodies were all over the place in the box trying to get hold of the ball, including QPR keeper Paul NardiCredit: x @itvfootballThe ball finally popped up to Alfie LloydCredit: x @itvfootballHe poked the ball home to grab a late equaliserCredit: x @itvfootballIt was bedlam as QPR’s players ran off to celebrateCredit: x @itvfootballThe match, being played at Hillsborough, had been goalless throughout until Sheffield Wednesday grabbed what they thought was a late winner through Barry Bannan in the 93rd minute.That should have been it but visiting side QPR had other ideas, sending up every single player into the Wednesday box for a 96th minute corner.The last roll of the dice included QPR keeper Paul Nardi who had made the decision to ditch his own box and head into the opposition’s.The in-swinging corner produced utter chaos with 21 players scrambling to get on the end of the ball.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAn initial header was cleared off the line by Wednesday defender Di’Shon Bernard before the ball returned into the heart of the box where bodies were diving in front of it to prevent a late equaliser.QPR captain Steve Cook had a couple bites at the cherry to try and poke home a goal for his side but saw a sea of limbs block each effort.Gloveman Nardi even tried to help by closing down a loose ball and trying to take a swing goalwards. After a few more seconds of pinball inside the box, the ball finally dropped into the path of QPR substitute Alfie Lloyd who poked home to grab his side a point at the death.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSPure elation followed as all 11 QPR players ran off to celebrate their dramatic ending.Fans at home were absolutely loving the goalmouth scramble, chuffed that the Championship was offering up some vintage football.Bromley boss Andy Woodman shares craziest EFL memories including players’ full on fight in club shop I What the EFL?!On social media, one fan wrote: “This 96th minute equaliser from QPR might be the greatest goalmouth scramble I’ve ever seen. Magnificent.”While another added: “Looks like something that would happen in the playground at break”.A third joked: “That’s the Puskas Award sorted then”.A fourth posted: “That is a thing of beauty”.And a fifth teased: “It’s like when someone shouts ‘next goal wins’ in a game of Knock Out Wembley.”Alfie Lloyd may have been the happiest person out of them all though as the forward described his last gasp goal as the “best moment of my life”.Speaking to QPR’s official outlets after the game, he said: “That is the best moment of my life. That is the best moment of my life, factually. “When I came on I just thought ‘do what you can do and show what you can do’.”Then when the ball was scrambling I thought ‘maybe I can get something’.”It just came to me and I’ve quickly poked it and I was like ‘no way have I just scored!’READ MORE SUN STORIES”The celebration was crazy, there’s no better feeling than that. I’m just on top of the world right now.”It’s a shame we couldn’t get the win. If it was the winner it would have been even more perfect but a point away from home in a big stadium is a good feeling.”Alfie Lloyd was delighted with his late contributionCredit: PA More

EBOU ADAMS had a nightmare of epic proportions when facing his old team on Saturday.Adams, 28, was taking on former club Cardiff for the first time since making a permanent switch to Derby.Ebou Adams produced a horror miss against his former club Cardiff CityCredit: RexThe Derby star set himself up for an open goal after winning a header against Cardiff keeper Jak Alnwick in the middle of the pitchCredit: RexAdams was through on goal with Alnwick left face down in the centre circleCredit: x @skyfootballHe shot at the open goal from inside the boxCredit: x @skyfootballUnbelievably, his effort went wideCredit: x @skyfootballAnd he marked the occasion by missing a WIDE-OPEN goal.The English midfielder found himself through on goal with just seconds left to play and a chance to put a cherry on top of Derby’s 1-0 lead.But rather than doubling Derby’s lead and coming back to haunt his old side, he give himself a moment that will likely haunt him for the rest of his career.With Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick laying facedown in the centre-circle after a failed attempt to come well off his line and win a header, Adams was handed a golden opportunity.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe had the WHOLE goal to aim for after winning the long-ball by Curtis Nelson and the nearest Cardiff defender was nowhere near him as be broke through.But in a moment of sheer panic, Adams couldn’t get his feet right and somehow poked his effort WIDE from inside the box.The shocking moment ultimately had no bearing on the result with Derby still seeing out their 1-0 lead and taking all three points.Fans online labelled the miss as the “worst miss in football history”.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhile another joked that Adams was “showing respect” for his former team by missing the target on purpose.Rams manager Paul Warne was able to see the funny side of the whole situation, most likely because his side still managed to win the game.Top 10 highest-paid Premier League starsBoss Paul Warne admitted he found the miss ‘hilarious’Credit: BBCWarne described the situation as “hilarious”, suggesting that the game would go down in history as “Ebou’s game”.While joking that the moment could become as famous as former Liverpool hero Ronnie Rosenthal’s miss against Aston Villa in 1992.He said: “I thought it was hilarious. My memory is so bad, in years to come people will remember it as the Ebou game, it was like a Ronnie Rosenthal moment.”In fairness to him, he’s the only player on the pitch who would have got that opportunity, no one would have been brave enough to go for the header and no one had any energy left.”I would have been buzzing for him if he had scored because he thoroughly deserved it, but I have a sick sense of humour so it made me smile as well, but it will go down as Ebou’s game.” More

HANNIBAL MEJBRI was dubbed an “epic s***house” for his outrageous taunting of Leeds fans.The Tunisia star, 21, spent five years on the books at Manchester United.Hannibal Mejbri wound up the Leeds fans with some ‘epic s***housing’Credit: ReutersHe then celebrated with the following Burnley supporters at Elland RoadCredit: XHe left Old Trafford for Burnley in a permanent transfer this summer, announced with a brilliant Oasis-themed video. But that did not stop the ex-Red Devils man from causing more misery for his old rivals.The midfielder started for the Clarets as they secured a crucial 1-0 win away at Elland Road.And as he was subbed off in the 73rd minute, Hannibal made sure to give it large to the passionate home fans, deliberately winding them up.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLA video filmed from the away end shows the youngster going full Jamie Vardy by goading the home supporters, pointing at them lapping up their hostility and then appearing to show the 1-0 scoreline with his fingers. That sent the two sets of fans wild for very different reasons – prompting cheers from the Burnley followers and furious anger from the home fans behind the goal. Hannibal – flanked by three members of staff ushering him towards the dugouts – then turned towards his Burnley faithful to applaud them.And he rounded off the rustling by gearing up for a massive fist pump, prompting more cheers, before one final dig at the infuriated Leeds supporters. Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOne fan can be overheard in the video saying “what a f***ing legend” and the “class” behaviour went down a storm on social media, too.The video was posted with the caption: “Hannibal is rent free in every Leeds fans’ head.”Forgotten Premier League star scores Puskas contender in training as baffled fans say ‘didn’t know he was still playing’Another wrote: “Absolutely love to see him giving it large to Leeds.”A bitter Leeds supporter sarcastically said: “Oh wow what an epic cool s***house!! Totally not just a p***k.”A third added: “He just gets it.”A fourth typed: “New Burnley legend incoming.”And a United fan responded: “Take care of him lads.”Plenty of other angry Leeds vented at Hannibal in the replies – while the Burnley fan insisted their new hero’s antics continued all the way around the pitch. On the field, Leeds dominated the stats with 72 per cent possession and 17 shots to Burnley’s seven.But it was Luca Koleosho’s 18th-minute goal that proved the difference in front of Will Ferrell.The Italian winger capitalised on Manor Solomon’s slip and sprinted all the way from his own half before blasting in.READ MORE SUN STORIESBurnley were reduced to ten men for the final seconds when Bashir Humphreys was shown a second yellow card for a forceful challenge in the 98th minute.Scott Parker’s side sit third after five games while the defeat was Leeds’ first of the season and they are ninth. The midfielder was flanked by three stewards as he made his way offCredit: XHannibal spent five years at United and faced LeedsCredit: Getty More

BURNLEY ripped up the script to spoil Will Ferrell’s first visit to Elland Road to watch Leeds.It was anything but a Hollywood spectacular for the world famous silverscreen actor, who along with a raft of other celebrity and sporting stars, is a minority shareholder of the club as part of the 49ers Enterprises.Will Ferrell’s first trip to Leeds ended in defeatCredit: PALuca Koleosho scored the only goal as Burnley won 1-0 at Elland RoadCredit: ReutersBut it was Luca Koleosho that stole show as he kicked off his birthday weekend by securing the three points for the Clarets in a match ex-Manchester United man Hannibal revelled in his role as the villain.It should have been a blockbuster start – only Mateo Joseph blew his lines.The Spaniard, 20, suffered a huge case of stage fright inside the opening minute after dispossessing Maxime Esteve on the halfway line but he could only fire wide after racing clean through.Ilia Gruev tried his luck from distance but Leeds did look suspect to the counter and Zian Flemming had already beaten the offside trap in a warning sign before the breakthrough.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLManor Solomon slipped on the ball, and that resulted in Italian U21 winger Koleosho racing forward 60 yards on a long-busting run.He then kept his composure to round it off with a clinical finish 24 hours before he turned 20.Leeds, who saw Wilfried Gnonto denied by James Trafford, were screaming for a penalty when Manor Solomon went down from Joe Worrall’s challenge, but the Burnley defender’s brave tackle from behind paid off.Amid the appeals, the linesman spotted Hannibal going face-first into Leeds star Ethan Ampadu head, but the act was only deemed worthy of a yellow.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThat made him public enemy No.1 with the locals, especially when Ampadu then required treatment after winning a hefty challenge on his nemesis.It was all going Downhill for Leeds as Scott Parker’s boys acted like the Wedding Crashers on Ferrell’s big day.Hollywood superstar Will Ferrell has made a “serious investment” in Leeds UnitedBut if Daniel Farke’s men were going down, they were determined to do it in a Blades of Glory and they flew out of the traps at the restart.Joseph tried again, this time forcing Trafford into a diving save to push out his 25-yard effort.With an hour on the clock the hosts had enjoyed 75 per cent of possession but just could not turn that dominance into a goal.It was going to take a moment of magic, and it was Ampadu who nearly produced it.However, Trafford did brilliantly to tip over the captain’s 20-yard effort.Hannibal was not quite ready to let his team-mate take the limelight, and he could not resist winding up the south stand as he exited the stage.The 21-year-old Tunisian threw up his hand and a single finger to signal the scoreline in reaction to the chorus of jeers, and then he threw in a fist-pump to the away fans for good measure.READ MORE SUN STORIESSpeaking of fists, Leeds were struggling to lay one on their opponents as the clock ticked down, and any momentum they had was sucked away when both Joe Rodon and Clarets captain Josh Brownhill received lengthy treatment following a clash of heads.That meant they had eight minutes added time to make a comeback – but there was to be no grand finale despite the Clarets having defender Bashir Humphreys sent off for a second caution at the death. More

STEVE COOK has football double vision.QPR’s captain wants to help the West Londoners compete for a return to the Premier League AND take non-league side Westfield up the pyramid.Steve Cook is balancing Championship football with owning a non-league clubThe defender owns a majority stake in 11th tier WestfieldCredit: x / @WestfieldFC9Defender Cook, 33, owns a majority stake in the club based near his home town of Hastings that plays in the Mid-Sussex League Premier Division, the 11th TIER of English football.He bought into the outfit two years ago and has contributed to the building of a 50-seat stand as well as making plans to install floodlights.And his old Bournemouth team-mates Charlie Daniels, 38, and Dan Gosling, 34, have signed up for the team.Cook said:  “I try to get down there as much as I can. We had a new stand delivered the other day — it’s only 50 seats but our gates aren’t huge.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“We average around 100 but we did get 150 for a pre-season friendly this summer against Hastings.“We have planning permission for floodlights so we can go up the leagues.“We’re trying to grow it, it’s a nice village community club. We wanted to try to give something back to the community and see where we can take it.“There’s three of us that run it. We bounce off each other really well. My friend Jack Stapley was the reason why I got involved.Most read in ChampionshipCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“I wanted to help him out and we have Graham Knight who has come back to the club too. So the three of us run it. Jack is very hands on — while I am doing it from afar.”Cook is a massive non-league fan and routinely checks results down the pyramid.Bromley boss Andy Woodman shares craziest EFL memories including players’ full on fight in club shop I What the EFL?!The centre-back — who had five seasons playing in the Premier League during his ten years at the Cherries — has never forgotten his roots.While on the books at Brighton, Cook had loan spells in non-league with Havant & Waterlooville, Eastleigh, Eastbourne Borough and Mansfield when they were in the National League.He said: “I love non-league. There are a lot of players in those divisions that can play EFL football so I’m a big advocate of it.“I look at the majority of the leagues results every Saturday and Tuesday. I have friends that play in the National South, Isthmian and other leagues, too — so yes, I like to stay involved.“I’m a football lover in general, so I always want to keep up to date. You never know where you are going to find yourself.”But, right now, Cook hopes to have a number of seasons left on a career that has seen him play in the National League South all the way to the Prem.Cook signed former Bournemouth team-mate Charlie Daniels for his clubCredit: X/WestfieldFC9He also recruited fellow ex-Cherries star Dan GoslingAnd he has been mightily impressed with how Spanish boss Marti Cifuentes has changed the narrative at Loftus Road from fighting relegation to daring to look towards the play-offs.They travel to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday still buoyed by a first Championship win of the season, 2-1 at Luton, last time out and face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.Cook said: “We don’t want a relegation fight again. This is a league where you string a few results together and you can go from the bottom to the top and be challenging.“There are not any initial targets yet. We want to put ourselves into a position midway through the season and see where it takes us.I love non-league. There are a lot of players in those divisions that can play EFL football so I’m a big advocate of it.Steve Cook“Hopefully we can kick on and produce a successful season.“The difference between being a side fighting relegation and challenging for the play-offs is consistency and how you bounce back from a defeat. Leicester last season are one of the best teams to ever play in the Championship and they went a few games without winning.“But they had done a lot of amazing work to get ahead and that is the biggest thing — going on a run of results and when there is a bit of adversity you bounce back quickly.“This group here have faced adversity and managed to swing that in our favour this year.“We’re using those experiences to move ourselves forward. It’s a good place to come into work every day and we’re all singing off the same hymn sheet. So I’m hoping we can now achieve some great things.”Cook made 168 Premier League appearances for BournemouthCredit: Rex FeaturesThe 33-year-old is now into his second season with QPR in the ChampionshipCredit: PACook enjoyed his first season at Rangers and he was rewarded for some impressive performances by taking the club’s player-of-the-season honours. Not bad for a veteran.He said: “Yeah, the other side of 30 in football makes you seem old. It’s a concept I’m not enjoying right now but I’m enjoying my football.“I do love it here. I’m playing as regularly as I can, keeping fit and as long as I am doing that and contributing I’m happy and it was an extremely proud moment getting the player of the year.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But this year I need to back it up and produce more and give more on the pitch and around the club and, hopefully, not have a season like we did last year.“As good as it was getting player of the year, it was player of the year at a team that just stayed up.  I want to be at the top of the league — and hopefully I can do it with this club.” More