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    Charlie Austin leaves Swindon crowd in stitches with hilarious comeback after confronting angry fan after Doncaster loss

    CHARLIE AUSTIN left the Swindon crowd in stitches after a hilarious comeback to an angry fan.Swindon were on the end of a 2-0 loss to Doncaster to leave Town with just one win in their last four games.

    Charlie Austin confronted a fan after Swindon’s 2-0 loss to DoncasterCredit: Twitter
    The fan was giving Austin stickCredit: Twitter
    But the former Premier League ace produced a brilliant comebackCredit: Twitter
    Following the match, former Premier League striker Austin went over to the fans after being beckoned over.
    The fan in question then proceeded to give Austin, who has scored three goals since arriving at the County Ground in January, some stick.
    However, not one to mince his words, Austin had a brilliant response for the fan.
    He said: “What you gonna do mate, is go home and in half an hour have a pint and a Chinese.”
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    The 33-year-old then walked off to cheers of: “Charlie, Charlie Austin.”
    Fans online were also backing Austin’s corner.
    One fan wrote: “Fair play to him, deserves to defend himself. Not every game can we dominate. Lots of unsteadiness with changing players and coaches.
    “Have a good evening @chazaustin10. Just shows you give two win or lose.”
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    A second said: “I saw this from the Don Rogers. @chazaustin10 stuck up for the squad, fair play to him.
    “Yes, we didn’t get a result, but our own fan base shouldn’t be turning on our team. Support through and through, good times and the bad.”
    A third commented: “Fair play to Charlie, i’d be calling out my team mates too if i were him. Too many didn’t look interested today, it looked an effort just to go through the motions.”
    Another added: “Well done Charlie for putting the fan in his place x.” More

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    Huddersfield want interim manager to replace Mark Fotheringham while owner Dean Hoyle looks to complete sale of club

    STRUGGLING Huddersfield want a short-term manager while owner Dean Hoyle tries to sell the club.The Championship side have told candidates the post is only for the rest of the season — as Hoyle hopes to do a deal with a US group.
    Huddersfield are keen to appoint an interim boss to replace Mark FotheringhamCredit: Getty
    Huddersfield sit 23rd in the second tier after just seven wins from 30 matches.
    Fotheringham was dismissed after just five months in the job following a 2-2 draw with Blackpool earlier this month – a game in which they conceded a 90th-minute equaliser.
    And the managerless Terriers were then beaten 1-0 by fellow relegation candidates Wigan on Saturday as their troubles worsened at the foot of the table.
    Fotheringham’s sacking came after he launched an astonishing rant against his players in the wake of the Blackpool draw.
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    He said: “We are absolutely gutted and devastated in there. There has been a lot of angry, harsh words that have been said and rightly so.
    “Because we got ourselves in a situation where we [were] in pole position and surrendered three points [which] was unacceptable. I am lost for words.
    “There is a real collective anger in there and a lot of harsh words said collectively as a group and we have let the club down there.
    “We started really well and there was real character there and we faced the challenge head on.
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    “We knew Blackpool were very direct and we played on the front foot and caused them problems, especially in the first half-hour and we were in a comfortable position and then the red card came.
    “But with the second half, we made clear that Blackpool would throw everything at it.
    “They are a very determined side under Mick [McCarthy]. But it was an unacceptable performance.
    “We should not have come away with anything other than three points.”
    Huddersfield are in danger of slipping down to League One for the first time since 2012, just four years after relegation from the Premier League. More

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    EFL set for streaming revolution as Swedish giant ViaPlay set to end Sky Sports monopoly with more games on offer

    SWEDISH streaming giant Viaplay is emerging as the leading player in the next EFL TV deal.The company boasts major cash to take some of the many packages going.
    EFL football could be set to appear on streaming servicesCredit: PA
    There is growing talk that future coverage — starting in the 2024-25 season — will be split between several TV stations and opens the door to streaming.
    Sky enjoyed the lion’s share of coverage for years but it is now under threat in the bidding process.
    And lower-division clubs are open to the idea of a separate deal for them, meaning more live games.
    The EFL’s commercial team will present some of the options at a meeting later this month.
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    But Viaplay is the new name on the lips of those doing the deals.
    And the Viaplay group has been picking up sports contracts all the time.
    It snapped up the UK-based Premier Sports for more than £30million last year.
    Viaplay also plans to launch in America soon and a football package would help its cause.
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    Back in October, SunSport revealed Sky Sports had been hit by poor Championship viewing figures and reported they may axe games in their new broadcast deal.
    Insiders said that numbers were low in the first part of the season, with the highest coming in the opening match between Huddersfield and Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
    The exact audience sizes are kept quiet but sources claim the largest was only around 600,000. More

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    Referee is hit in face by bottle thrown from stands during Charlton’s defeat to Fleetwood as Addicks face punishment

    CHARLTON could face punishment after referee Carl Boyeson was hit by a missile aimed from the stands at The Valley.He was hit in the face by a plastic drinks bottle as he left the pitch at the end of the home side’s 2-1 defeat by Fleetwood Town.
    Charlton could face a hefty punishmentCredit: Getty
    The official did not appear to be badly harmed and immediately headed down the stadium’s extendable tunnel. 
    But Addicks’ boss Dean Holden condemned the incident and expects it to be included in Boyeson’s post-match report to the FA.
    The home fans seemed to be angered by the 79th-minute straight red card dismissal of Charlton defender Ryan Inniss  – although it was his third sending off of the season.
    Holden said: “It’s disappointing.
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    “Obviously, as a football club, we can not condone this kind of behaviour at all.
    “It doesn’t matter what has gone on out on the pitch. This should never happen.
    “I assume it will be in the referee’s report.”
    Boyeson is a long-serving 53-year-old official from East Yorkshire who refereed the 2019-20 EFL Trophy final between Portsmouth and Salford.
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    Defender Inniss could now face a five-match ban after his third dismissal of the campaign.
    Charlton boss Holden added: “I will not condemn referees because it’s a tough job.
    “But it was never a sending off. It wasn’t a goalscoring opportunity.”
    Dean Holden was unhappy with the red card decisionCredit: PA More

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    Stevenage fan runs on pitch to confront Bradford striker Andy Cook causing League Two match to be delayed

    A STEVENAGE fan stormed the pitch to confront Bradford striker Andy Cook during their League Two clash on Saturday.Striker Cook, 32, scored Bradford’s second goal of the game as they led 3-2 heading into the final stages at the Lamex Stadium.
    Stevenage’s Alex Gilbey, centre, dragged the supporter away after he stormed the pitchCredit: PA

    The Bradford players were left furious after the intruder went for Andy CookCredit: PA
    Gilbey blocked off the fan before he was taken away by stewardsCredit: PA
    Cook scored a penalty in Bradford’s win over StevenageCredit: PA
    And one home supporter failed to take the defeat in a civilised manner as he sprinted onto the field in the 89th minute.
    He attempted to get at Cook before Stevenage player Alex Gilbey came over to defuse the situation.
    Bradford players were also quick to swarm around the fan as he was eventually ushered off the pitch by stewards.
    There was a brief delay to the game as the perpetrator was taken away.
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    And Bradford tweeted: “89′ | Delay in getting play restarted as a home supporter runs onto the field and looks to give Andy Cook a bit, only to be stopped by Stevenage’s Michael Bostwick. 🦌 2-3 🐓”.
    The match eventually resumed as Bradford attempted to prevent a late Stevenage equaliser.
    And they were successful in doing so as Jamie Walker’s 86th-minute strike proved to be the winning goal.
    The result sees Bradford move up to eighth in the League Two table, two points adrift of the play-off places.
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    Meanwhile, Stevenage’s defeat sees them remain in second as they fall eight points behind runaway league leaders Leyton Orient.
    They have a four-point buffer over Carlisle and two games in hand.
    But just one win in four league games leaves Steve Evans’ side in danger of dropping out of the automatic promotion places. More

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    ‘Best grub to ever appear on Footy Scran’ – Fans drooling over Grimsby Town’s mouthwatering brisket sandwich and waffles

    GRIMSBY fans have left fans drooling after a special item popped up on their food menu.The Mariners upset the odds by beating Luton in a replay to progress to the FA Cup fifth round.
    Grimsby offer a beef brisket sandwich with a scotch eggs and waffle friesCredit: Twitter / @FootyScran
    And while they are impressing on the pitch, some of their fans may be just as excited by the offerings around the ground.
    Fans online are certainly raving about the club thanks to their soy & honey beef brisket size seven sandwich.
    The name of the item is partly inspired by the fact it is the length of a size seven shoe.
    And it comes with a scotch egg and waffle fries – all for a modest £8.50.
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    Footy fans are in awe of the sandwich, with some claiming it is the best food they have seen on Footy Scran, a Twitter page dedicated to sharing the best and worst food offerings at football grounds.
    One said: “No offence to Grimsby Town FC but that’s gonna be better than the football. Incredible stuff.”
    Another added: “Might be the best grub to ever appear on here.”
    And a third wrote: “This is a shoe-in to win best footy scran of 2023 already.”
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    Another commented: “This looks absolutely scrumptious.”
    Grimsby regularly impress with their catering, though their fish finger and mushy peas hot dog left some confused. More

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    Supercomputer reveals final Championship table with Watford and Norwich facing heartbreak… but who makes play-offs?

    A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the final Championship table and it is bad news for Watford and Norwich.Both teams suffered Premier League relegation last season and have struggled in their efforts to secure an immediate return.
    Supercomputer BESTSiE has predicted the final Championship table
    Norwich hired David Wagner to try and boost their promotion chancesCredit: Getty
    Carlos Corberan agreed a new West Brom contract amid Leeds interestCredit: Reuters
    In fact, both teams have sacked their respective managers mid-campaign in a bid to boost their promotion chances.
    Yet a supercomputer still believes both clubs will miss out on the play-offs – by the slimmest of margins.
    The number-crunching BETSiE, run by betting expert, tip Watford to miss out on sixth place to rivals Luton by just one point.
    The Hatters made the play-offs last year but lost to Huddersfield in the semi-final.
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    However they are on course to repeat that achievement despite losing manager Nathan Jones to Southampton in November.
    Luton could be joined by three teams who failed to make the play-offs last season – West Brom, Millwall and Middlesbrough, who are predicted to finish third.
    The current top two, Burnley and Sheffield United, are expected to finish first and second respectively.
    West Brom have been resurgent under Carlos Corberan and were boosted yesterday after he penned a new contract amid speculation he was favourite for the Leeds job.
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    At the other end of the table Rotherham are predicted to finish bottom, despite not being in the relegation zone currently.
    Joining them in the drop zone are Wigan, Blackpool and Huddersfield. More

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    Peter Allen dead at 76: Leyton Orient’s record-breaking midfielder passes away as tributes pour in

    LEYTON ORIENT’S record appearance maker Peter Allen has died aged 76.The club legend played 490 times for the club between 1965 and 1978.
    Peter Allen made 490 appearances for Leyton OrientCredit: Rex
    The midfielder, who finished his career with a brief stint at Millwall, died on Monday.
    Allen played for Tottenham as a schoolboy but was picked up by former O’s boss Dave Sexton when he was 17.
    Known for his tough-but-fair tackling, he was a regular in the Orient midfield and turned down an offer from Everton to move to Goodison Park in 1970.
    Allen was a key player in the side that came within a point of promotion to the First Division in 1974 and then reached the FA Cup semi-final four years later.
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    The versatile ace, who filled in at the back and chipped in with 29 goals, broke Arthur Wood’s record for club appearances in 1976 and had a testimonial in the same year.
    His spell at Millwall, where he was reunited with manager George Petchey, was cut short by injury aged 32.
    After retiring, Allen qualified as a solicitor and set up his own firm in his hometown of Brighton & Hove.
    Tributes poured in on social media for the Orient stalwart.
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    The League Two outfit said: “Our deepest condolences go out to all that knew Peter at this terribly difficult time.
    “Peter will always have a place in the Leyton Orient history books.
    “However, he will just as fondly be remembered for his quiet, yet friendly personality, qualities Allen displayed at the 1969-70 reunion dinner held at Brisbane Road in October 2021′ his last visit to the club.
    “Rest in peace, Peter.”
    One fan wrote: “One of my all-time favourite Orient players. Without a doubt, one of the best and cleanest midfield tacklers I have ever seen.
    “Never met him but those who knew him, say he was a real gent.”
    Another supporter commented: “Absolutely gutted! Peter was a real gentleman as well as being a true Orient legend.” More