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      League Two clash SUSPENDED after power cut as pitch is plunged into darkness mid-match and away fans sing cheeky chant

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      GILLINGHAM’S clash with Wimbledon was temporarily SUSPENDED due to a floodlight failure.The power outage occurred in the 64th minute when the League Two game was goalless.
      The lights went out during the game between Gillingham and Wimbledon
      The players were forced off the pitch during the darkness before they returned to complete the gameCredit: X
      Both sets of players made their way off the field, before Gillingham confirmed the cause of the issue was a power cut in the area.
      They tweeted: “Well, we’ve been here before….
      “Floodlights have gone out! Players heading back to the dressing room area.
      “We understand there is a power cut in the local area. We will keep you updated, may well be a short wait.”
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      The disruption led the travelling Wimbledon fans to mock Gillingham as they waited for play to resume inside Priestfield.
      They could be heard chanting: “You can’t pay your bills.”
      And Wimbledon’s social media acknowledged the singing as they posted: “The players are leaving the field for the time being and heading to the dressing rooms. These weren’t the updates we had planned! 😅
      “The Dons fans are enjoying themselves in the dark by the sound of it 👏.”
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      The lights came back on after 16 minutes.
      The players were then given a five-minute warm-up before the action resumed.
      And Gillingham went on to win the match 1-0 thanks to an 85th-minute strike from Conor Masterson. More

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      Man Utd legend’s grandson set to call time on Stoke career and complete permanent transfer to League Two

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      STOKE’S Lewis Macari is set to move to Notts County full-time in the next transfer window.He is hopeful the move will help his Scotland chances.
      Lewis Macari is ready to join Notts County permanentlyCredit: Rex
      Lou Macari is a Man Utd icon and Lewis’ grandfatherCredit: Getty
      Manchester United legend Lou’s grandson is on loan with the League Two side.
      The 21-year-old has made five appearances for Notts County this season with the club sixth in the table.
      Macari was wanted by Scotland’s Under-21s for their last double-header against Belgium and Hungary.
      However, the Magpies needed him to play for them.
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      The centre-back came through the ranks at Stoke and played once for their first-team.
      Macari spent the previous two seasons out on loan with Market Drayton Town and Dundalk.
      His granddad Lou began his career at Celtic before becoming an Old Trafford great.
      He featured 404 times for United as he helped the club get back to the top-flight and establish themselves in the First Division following relegation in 1974.
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      The Scot also played a huge role in their FA Cup win three years later and in several European campaigns in the 1970s and 80s.
      Lou, 71, went on to manage the likes of West Ham, Stoke and Celtic.
      The Macaris are a football family with young Lewis’ father Paul previously on the books of Huddersfield and uncle Mike another with history at the Potters. More

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      Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham slammed for ‘stupid mistimed statements’ by League Two rivals Accrington Stanley amid ticket row

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      RYAN REYNOLDS’ Wrexham have been slammed for a “stupid mistimed statement” by Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt.The two sides face off in League Two action today.
      Wrexham announced they would reduce ticket prices for the visit of Accrington Stanley in March after their fans were charged extra for the return fixtureCredit: Getty
      Accrington owner Andy Holt slammed a Wrexham statementCredit: Rex
      Accrington announced they have increased ticket prices by £5 for the visit of Wrexham, who are expected to take a large following to the Wham stadium.
      They did the same for the visit of Bolton and Derby last season, with Holt stating more away fans means increased costs in stewarding and policing.
      In response Wrexham announced they would reduce match prices by £5 for the return fixture in March.
      A short statement read: “In response to Accrington Stanley’s decision to increase the matchday price by £5 from that previously charged at Wham Stadium for league games this season, we have decided to reduce the price of matchday tickets by £5 for the return game at the STōK Cae Ras on 02/03/2023.”
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      Holt hit out, slamming the statement as “stupid” before explaining the reason behind the hike in prices.
      He wrote on Twitter: “When costs are already high @Wrexham_AFCthe last thing football needs is stupid mistimed statements.
      “It’s surprising how stupid given a former CEO of @EFL is employed by you.
      “Let’s have a great day for all fans safely, whatever the outcome on the pitch. Welcome to @ASFCofficial.
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      “Unfortunately costs are very high for this game. Big policing bills and stewarding big stewarding costs.
      “I appreciate what @Wrexham_AFC are doing for our fans though 👍” More

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      Manager bans his football team from CELEBRATING and tells them to give handshake or pat on the head instead

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      NIGEL CLOUGH has banned his Mansfield Town players from CELEBRATING goals.The son of Nottingham Forest legend Brian laid down the law to stars following their unbeaten start to the League Two season.
      Nigel Clough has put his foot down on Mansfield Town players celebrating goalCredit: Alamy
      Clough wants his stars to remain focused and ‘save energy’ with a handshake or pat on backCredit: PA
      Mansfield have won eight of their 16 games so far and sit third in the table.
      Fans are starting to dream of promotion to League One, especially with their side boasting the meanest defence so far.
      But Clough, 57, reckons his players can do even more to help their chances.
      He believes too much energy is wasted on celebrations after a goal is scored.
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      The ex-Derby County and Burton Albion boss believes stars should instead settle for a handshake or pat on the back if there’s still all to play for.
      However, Clough concedes he won’t deny his team a jubilant celebration should they score a decisive goal in the last minute.
      He told BBC Radio Nottingham: “I don’t really see the point of celebrating goals when the game is still in the balance.
      “If you score a last-minute winner and you know it’s almost the last kick of the game, then by all means. But do your celebrating at the end of the game, which is why we [Mansfield] always go over to the supporters.”
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      Explaining that the only appropriate time to celebrate is after an achievement, he continued: “Yes, you have that individual moment when you do score, but I think it goes a bit over the top.
      “Be a bit more reserved about it, save your energy certainly – because when they kick off, you have to go get the ball back.
      “At the end of the game, if you have been lucky enough to have won, then that’s the time to celebrate.
      “Even the end of the season, because yes you celebrate each win, each unbeaten game, but then if you don’t achieve anything it’s a little bit wasted.
      “But the individual games are important to recognise when we have this great record. We have just won for the first time at Salford when we haven’t been brilliant – we dug in and won, scored two good goals and that in itself is worth a little celebration, but nothing over the top.”
      Clough has drawn up his new rules after his own experience as a player at Forest and Abion.
      He added: “You got a little pat on the back, a pat on the head or someone shook your hand – people like Ian Bowyer or Garry Birtles, who have won European Cups.
      “And even when you see them scoring in semi-finals of the European Cup, or even the final, there was no everyone running into the corner flag and everything because they knew then that once they kicked off, you need all the energy you have got to get the ball back to try to preserve your lead, or increase it or whatever.” More

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      Southampton chasing Man City starlet Jadel Katongo with teenager impressing after switching to new position

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      MANCHESTER CITY’S latest hot prospect Jadel Katongo is being chased by Southampton.England Under-20 cap Katongo is starring on loan at Peterborough, where he is emerging as a versatile talent.
      Jadel Katongo is on loan at Peterborough from Manchester CityCredit: Alamy
      The 19-year-old was known as a centre-half as a kid but is now being tried as a midfielder and looks impressive.
      Manchester-born Katongo has been at City since he was nine and is well known to Saints transfer supremo Jason Wilcox.
      Southampton have raided Man City’s academy in the recent past with four stars making a switch last summer.
      Katongo was also watched by Burnley last week as a possible long-term project.
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      The Clarets could trump Southampton’s pursuit by offering the teenager Premier League football.
      However, it remains to be seen how long that will be the case as they sit bottom of the table with just four points from their opening 12 games.
      Meanwhile, Saints are beginning to mount a promotion charge under manager Russell Martin having been relegated last season.
      Unbeaten since September, the South Coast side have won six and drawn two of their last eight matches.
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      That run has seen them leap up to fourth in the Championship table.
      But they are still eight points adrift of the automatic promotion places as Leicester and Ipswich have opened up a substantial gap.
      It is Saints’ first season outside of the Premier League since the 2011/12 campaign. More

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      Awkward moment football fan falls asleep during match before being woken up by rival supporters singing about him

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      A WEST Brom fan who FELL ASLEEP during his side’s clash with Southampton was woken up after opposition fans teased him with hilarious chanting.The Baggies were beaten 2-1 by Saints at St Mary’s in the Championship on Saturday afternoon – their first defeat in five games.
      The West Brom fan, at the end of the row in a grey beanie hat, was caught asleep in the away end by Southampton supportersCredit: X @MenInBlazers

      He woke up after the home fans began mocking him with a hilarious chantCredit: X @MenInBlazers
      And one away fan failed to keep himself awake for the entirety of the game as he nodded off mid-match.
      A section of Southampton supporters noticed the gentleman was having a kip in his seat.
      And they proceeded to loudly sing: “He’s still asleep,” over and over again.
      Eventually, the man woke up much to the home fans delight as they cheered him opening his eyes.
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      They then began chanting: “He’s woken up.”
      The clip went viral on social media, exceeding two million views on Twitter.
      England legend Gary Lineker was one person who reacted to the brilliant clip as he simply replied with two laughing emojis.
      Meanwhile, another fan added: “This is gold, I was there today 🤣🤣.”
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      While someone else said: “Classic 🤣🤣🤣🤣.”
      And a third responded: “Best leagues with the best chants. 😅🙌🏻”
      Southampton have gone on an eight-match unbeaten run which leaves them fourth in the Championship table.
      West Brom sit seventh, outside the play-off places on goal difference. More

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      ‘I’m angry and I’m disgusted’ – Wycombe boss responds to claims he tried to get match ABANDONED over sickening injury

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      WYCOMBE boss Matt Bloomfield is “disgusted” after hearing claims he tried to get Saturday’s defeat against Stevenage abandoned following a sickening injury.Brandon Hanlan and then Wanderers’ team-mate Luke Leahy were taken to hospital after being carried off, meaning 26 minutes were added on.
      Matt Bloomfield was unhappy at ‘a lot of what happened’ but above all delighted that Luke Leahy was ‘responsive’ before going to hospitalCredit: Rex
      Players showed their concern as Leahy was treated after a collisionCredit: Prime Media
      Hanlan landed awkwardly on his shoulder following an aerial challenge with Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni late in the first half.
      And Leahy was seriously hurt near the end of the League One match after what appeared to be a clash of heads with team-mate Josh Scowen.
      Stevenage were leading at that stage thanks to Jamie Reid hitting the only goal of the game 14 minutes into time added on in the opening half.
      Bloomfield said afterwards he was “angry” at many things during the match and “categorically denied” attempting to get it called off.
      Stevenage manager Steve Evans had commented: “My players were telling our bench that Wycombe wanted the game abandoned – the staff, the players wanted the game stopped 1-0 down, 8 minutes to go.”
      But Bloomfield responded: “I’ve been told I’ve been accused of trying to get the game called off but I can categorically deny, 100% at no point was I trying to get the game called off.
      “We were preparing our players to restart the game – the referee came across to speak because he realised the severity of the situation more than what I did.
      “I was asked how I was, how my players were – and I replied to the questions I was being asked so at no point did I try to put pressure on the referee to call it off.” 
      Bloomfield added: “I’m angry and I’m disgusted by a lot of what’s happened today.
      “Luke’s gone straight in an ambulance to hospital but the pleasing thing to report is he was responsive by the time he left Adams’ Park.
      “It was a pretty scary moment there in terms of his health.
      “Luke’s gone down, he’s unresponsive – a couple of their players told me they thought something might have been going on with his body on the pitch.
      “He was unresponsive for a while and our doctor was extremely concerned for Luke.”
      Meanwhile, Evans added: “I’ll be the first to message Matty [Matt Bloomfield] to make sure Luke is okay.”
      And of referee Ben Speedie opting to continue the match, he added: “I instructed my staff and players to stay away just before the referee made the decision.
      “I told them if the match official determines this game is going to be stopped we will be respectful as it’s a tough call.” More

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      I won Champions League with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, now I’m making my own way in the EFL

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      JOE EDWARDS worked with Thomas Tuchel and Frank Lampard and helped Chelsea win the Champions League.Today he starts another chapter as new Millwall boss as they travel to bottom club Sheffield Wednesday.
      Joe Edwards takes charge of Millwall for the first time today against Sheffield WednesdayCredit: MILLWALL FC
      He was assistant to Frank Lampard at both Chelsea and EvertonCredit: Getty
      Edwards, 37, was assistant to both bosses at Stamford Bridge and followed Lampard to work under him at Everton.
      He recalls when Lampard was replaced at the Blues in January 2021 by Tuchel, who led the team to Euro glory.
      He said: “When Thomas inherited the team, it was abrupt. We’d been top of the league in December and had a 17-game unbeaten run.
      “The team and squad Frank built was very strong and it was also definitely fit.
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      “We had some poor results and, as is the case with Chelsea, that can prove costly for the manager.
      “Thomas came in and respected what had been built, particularly the physical condition of the team and how we could work without the ball. He picked a system that suited the senior players.

      “He kept the plan and approach to each game simple, respecting the experience of the players and where they had come from under Frank.
      “From there he kept a lot of continuity in training, the message and consistency, and built a lot of momentum.”
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      Ex-Lions boss Gary Rowett led them to eighth, 11th, ninth and eighth positions during his four seasons in charge and they just missed out on a play-off spot last season.
      He left by mutual consent last month, with the club hoping to move into a more fluid, possession-based approach.
      Edwards said: “My whole purpose and plan is to move in a slightly different direction in terms of playing style and the identity on the pitch. We must be mindful of that.
      “You can look at the fact they just missed out on play-offs and say, ‘Build on that’.
      “But often it is not that simple where we go again and to build from the top half of the table.
      “The reality is we’ve had a slow start to the season so I see it as a process.  There has been a steady way of working for a number of years under Gary, which has served the players well because they have played to their strengths.
      “As a group, they’ve been a tough team to play against.
      “I want to enhance some of that — it won’t be a case of ripping everything up and starting from new.
      “It’ll be an example of what happened at Chelsea when Thomas took over a team put into a good position by Frank.
      “It’ll be a case of looking at what’s working well and what makes this team tick.”
      The Championship is like the Prem now in terms of many clubs playing a more possession-based game rather than the up-and-at-’em style the division was famous for.
      Edwards added: “Football has always been heavily influenced by the arrival of different nationalities of coaches.
      “They bring many different playing styles and as a coach you get influenced by seeing so much and having access.
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      “It’s now an era where teams want possession and to dominate games that way.
      “It gets to a point where if you don’t move forward then you can get left behind.”
      Edwards has been in charge of England’s U20 teamCredit: Getty More