Championship

ST ANDREW’S, the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club, was the first place where I was allowed to swear.It was the first place I tasted beer — at the age of eight — and the first place I tasted Bovril. It was also where I placed my first bet.Birmingham are set to leave St Andrew’sCredit: GettyTroy Deeney has had his say on Blues’ St Andrew’s exitCredit: APIt was where I’d go with my dad to watch the Blues from the Tilton Road Stand and, when I was old enough to go without him, me and my mates would travel there on the No 93 bus from Chelmsley Wood for a fare of 50p and go on the Kop.That place holds so many memories for me. So many rites of passage.But despite all that nostalgia, I was delighted to hear this week that St Andrew’s is going to be bulldozed to make way for a new stadium less than a mile away, which may hold up to 60,000 fans.That’s bigger than Villa Park, by the way, and that sort of thing always matters.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLI’m very nervous that the club I supported, and then captained for two seasons until last summer, are going to be relegated to League One this season.But the fact that the club’s American owners, Knighthead, are determined to go ahead with a new stadium whatever happens on the pitch, proves they will drag Blues into the 21st Century.At times like this, with Blues next to bottom in the Championship and in a desperate relegation battle, hope for the future is crucial.The owners are talking about a £2billion investment and intend to hold NFL matches and concerts at the new ground, along the lines of the impressive Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERIt will be the sort of stadium where Blues fan Jude Bellingham might want to return later in his career.More importantly, if a new Jude Bellingham comes along, he might not be in a hurry to leave.Heartwarming moment Jude Bellingham reunites with ex-Birmingham boss on Bernabeu pitch before Champions League clash The scale of the planned redevelopment of the Bordesley Park area is similar to what Manchester City have achieved with the Etihad campus.Blues chief executive Garry Cook was at City in the early years after the Abu Dhabi takeover, so he knows what he is doing. I love the ambition of chairman Tom Wagner — even if his plans mean the end for St Andrew’s.I’m a football historian, a traditionalist. I loved playing at atmospheric old stadiums like St James’ Park and Anfield more than new grounds.Although Anfield was never the same after they changed the tunnel area.But St Andrew’s has been dilapidated for some time now. While I was playing for Blues, two of the stands were completely closed for a while.People will miss the old place for a couple of years, particularly older fans.But I don’t hear too many Arsenal supporters pining for Highbury any more.West Ham supporters miss the old Upton Park but that’s because the London Stadium is not a purpose-built football ground, so a lot of them struggle to call it home.That won’t be the case for Blues. The club needs a fresh start and if I was still a player there, I’d want to prove myself so I could stick around and be part of the brave new world.It probably helps that the new stadium, which they hope to open within five years, is so close to St Andrew’s in a place that also holds memories for me.It will be on the site of the Birmingham Wheels Park — what us Brummies call the Wheelie Park — which closed in 2021.We used to have school trips there. As a primary-school kid, I’d be having 30mph crashes on the go-kart track.It was a dangerous, dirty old place. Let’s say it was not really in line with modern health and safety or environmental measures. But I loved it, as a couple of generations of Brummies did.When I was growing up watching Blues, we were a Premier League club.In the era under Steve Bruce’s management we had some fine players like Christophe Dugarry and Mikael Forssell, who were brilliant to watch.The night we thrashed Aston Villa 3-0 at St Andrew’s, with a horrible mistake by keeper Peter Enckelman, is part of our folklore.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe chances of recapturing those days, even bettering them, will be significantly boosted by a new stadium.And I actually never liked the taste of beer or Bovril anyway.Tom Brady’s effect on BirminghamA lot has changed at Birmingham since Tom Brady became an investor in August.

John Eustace sacked in October with club sixth in the Championship
Replacement Wayne Rooney sacked in January after winning two of 15 matches as club slip to 20th
Stadium renamed St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park as part of commercial agreement
Gary Rowett returns to club as interim boss in March after Tony Mowbray steps back for medical treatment
Land purchased for £2-3billion Sports Quarter project including new stadium
Plans revealed for new fan parks at St. Andrew’s for 2024/25 season More

STOKE were left furious after their freak goal against Swansea was ruled out.The bonkers incident saw keeper Carl Rushworth accidentally bounce the ball off Niall Ennis’ head.”He’s very lucky…” Gareth Ainsworth and Ashley Williams analyse Liam Cullen’s goal for Swansea and the controversial DISALLOWED goal for Stoke 🔎 pic.twitter.com/XGmNFoxdjb— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 10, 2024

Keeper Carl Rushworth had the ball in his hands as Niall Ennis got back to his feetCredit: X @SkyFootballIn the motion of trying to throw the ball, Rushworth ended up bouncing it off Ennis’ headCredit: X @SkyFootballEnnis reacted quickly to poked the ball home from seven yards outCredit: X @SkyFootballRushworth protested the goal before it was ruled outCredit: X @SkyFootballSwansea claimed a 3-0 victory over Stoke in a Championship relegation six-pointer in Wales on Wednesday night.But after Liam Cullen had given the hosts the lead, Stoke thought they had equalised in the most unlikely fashion.Swansea keeper Rushworth gathered the ball after Stoke striker Ennis failed to latch onto a pass over the top.But as Rushworth then went to throw the ball, he ended up bouncing it off the head of Ennis – who was just getting back to his feet.The Stoke man reacted first to poke home, but referee Keith Stroud decided to disallow the goal.This was because the law states “a goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hand”.However, former Swansea captain turned Sky Sports pundit Ashley Williams still questioned the decision after the game.He said: “Carl Rushworth’s very lucky. I understand by the letter of the law it’s the correct decision, but I don’t understand how it can be when he’s kind of just bounced the ball off his head.Most read in ChampionshipCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”He’s a lucky man, a very lucky man.”Former Wycombe and QPR manager Gareth Ainsworth then added: “In the law there’s something about a challenge by the forward, the forward’s not challenging there, he’s just standing up.I snapped Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas with worst tackle of my life – I had to get his number and apologise afterwards”[Referee] Keith Stroud is in a great position and fair play he’s going to have to think quick and think ‘What is the law? What happens there?'”He’s explaining [to the Stoke players] that the keeper had two hands on it. In a challenge situation I understand that but there’s no challenge, the keeper has actually instigated the challenge. The keeper has made the mistake.”I think Stoke can feel very aggrieved there.”And Stoke manager Steven Schumacher was also confused by the outcome of the incident.He said: “I didn’t think it’s a foul. I don’t think Niall Ennis knows [Carl] Rushworth is there. He just stands up. He’s allowed to stand where he stood.”Carl Rushworth has just collided with him trying to throw the ball fast and the ball’s popped out because it’s difficult conditions in the rain and Niall taps it in.”At that moment that would have got us back to 1-1, back into the game. We would have been still alive.”READ MORE SUN STORIESThe result sees 15th-place Swansea move seven points clear of the bottom three with just four games remaining.Stoke sit 19th, just three points above the drop zone with crunch games against relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth coming up. More

FOOTBALL fans were left baffled by Abdul Fatawu’s incredible reaction to a match-winning goalline clearance.The Leicester winger, 20, came off the bench for Enzo Maresca’s side during Tuesday night’s trip to Millwall.Kelechi Iheanacho looked to have rescued a point for Leicester at Millwall before Billy Mitchell’s incredible clearanceCredit: RexAbdul Fatawu could not believe his cross did not lead to a goalCredit: RexFatawu launched himself into the air in a bizarre reactionCredit: Sky SportsThe once-runaway Championship leaders fell behind just before the hour mark thanks to Ryan Longman’s stunning strike from outside the area – although there were strong claims of a foul on Foxes defender Wout Faes in the build-up to the goal.Maresca sent on exciting loanee Fatawu straight after the goal to try and create something for Leicester, who have gone off the boil in recent weeks after a surging start to the campaign.And the substitution nearly proved a masterstroke when Fatawu thought he had set up an equaliser deep into injury time at The Den.The Ghanaian breezed past flailing full-back Danny McNamara and then Jake Cooper as he got to the byline and scooped up an unconventional but superbly-effective close cross.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLIt was the perfect delivery for fellow sub Kelechi Iheanacho who jumped up and headed goalwards from the five yards out.However, Millwall midfielder Billy Mitchell somehow made an extraordinary covering header to flick the ball over the bar as he fell into the net.The incredible defending prompted wild celebrations from the relegation-battling Lions – and a bizarre response from Fatawu.The 17-cap Black Stars international could not believe what he had witnessed and waved his arms in frustration before inexplicably launching himself into the air and falling down on his back – with no one around him.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAfter lying prone on the pitch inside the penalty area for a couple of moments, he then sat up and slammed his body down again.The clip of the incident was shared on social media – and led to a wave of hilarious replies from fans.Five EFL Championship stars destined for the Premier LeagueOne said: “Who choke-slammed the player who crossed it in? Incredible reaction.”Another wrote: “I’m expecting to see a Randy Orton edit by morning,” in reference to the WWE star famous for the RKO move. A third added: “Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu LOST HIS HEAD after losing to Millwall.”A fourth commented: “Can someone please check in on matey boy? That’s quite an overreaction there!!!”A fifth asked: “Billy Mitchell’s goalline clearance was as good as Longman’s goal, but what on earth is Fatawu doing here?”A sixth typed: “Fatawu man, he just knew it had to be that one.”And a final user observed: “Mitchell has robbed Fatawu of an all-time assist here.”Millwall clung on for the 1-0 win – a crucial result at both ends of the Championship table.READ MORE SUN STORIESLeicester stayed top because Leeds could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland on Sky, although Ipswich can overtake the Foxes with a win against Watford at Portman Road tonight.Millwall’s win saw them leap up to 17th – level on 47 points with Swansea and QPR and four clear of the drop zone with four games remaining. Mitchell did incredibly to turn the ball over the barCredit: RexFans flooded social media with reaction to the GhanaianCredit: Sky SportsThe result had huge ramifications at both ends of the ChampionshipCredit: Sky Sports More