EFL

PAUL CHUCKLE had the last laugh as Rotherham came from behind to win the Papa John’s Trophy.Chuckle, one-half of the comedy act, the Chuckle Brothers, delivered the trophy on a moped before kick-off in a toe-curling PR stunt.
Paul Chuckle arrived at the Papa John’s trophy final on the back of a pizza delivery motorcycleCredit: Rex
Chuckle took in applause from the crowd as he delivered the trophy before the gameCredit: PA
And the Millers’ fan was all smiles at full-time as the outcome of the pizza cup was decided by a huge SLICE of luck.
It came in the form of a 96th minute equaliser for the Championship-chasers after ref Seb Stockbridge had conjured up seven minutes of stoppage time.
Sutton looked to have done the unthinkable – winning at Wembley in their first season in the Football League in their 124 year history – until Jordi Osei-Tutu scored with an effort that deflected off U’s keeper Dean Bouzanis to make it 2-2.
It broke Sutton’s hearts as Matt Gray’s League Two side had out-played and out-muscled Rotherham, but in extra time they simply ran out of gas.
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Chiedozie Ogbene thundered in from 20 yards and Michael Ihiekwe wrapped things up when he headed home from a corner in the second-half of extra time.
Millers’ boss Paul Warne said he was already preparing his post-match media conference when Osei-Tutu brought them back from the death.
He said: “I was quite calm. I was working out how I would speak to the press after the defeat.
“I was going to shake Matt [Gray]’s hand. I did not think it was going to be our day.
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GRAND NATIONAL BETTING SPECIAL – LATEST OFFERS AND DEALS
Osei-Tutu (left) scored in the 96th minute to send the game to extra timeCredit: PA
“In the first half we looked rusty and nervy and we did perform better in the second half. But in extra time, I felt we looked like we had healthier players on the pitch.
“Fair play to Sutton, they were better than us today, especially in the first half.”
Warne, who admitted he was expecting penalties rather than going to extra time, is now hoping his side now go on to secure promotion to the Championship.
He added: “I will be devastated to come back to Wembley this season. It would be amazing to win automatic promotion and hopefully the lads can take it from here.”
Sutton should have taken the lead on 13 minutes when Will Randall fired wide.
Chiedozie Ogbene put Rotherham 3-2 up in extra timeCredit: Getty
Michael Ihiekwe headed home a fourth for the Millers to make the game safeCredit: Alamy
David Ajiboye had made a surging run from inside his own half and beat four Rotherham defenders before slotting the ball through to Randall.
He cut the ball back but somehow managed to put his effort wide of Viktor Johansson’s near-side post.
But Randall did go some way to making up for his shocking miss when he teed up Sutton’s 29th minute opener.
Ajiboye’s cross into the box was picked up by Michael Smith, but he was too casual and dispossessed by Randall, who set up Donovan Wilson.
He had time to control the ball with the sole of his boot before calmly firing it past Johansson.
Despite the gap in divisions, Sutton were looking comfortable as Rotherham’s fans started to get anxious.
But they were handed a way back into this final when Ben Wiles fired in three minutes before half time.
A long kick up field from Johansson was helped on its way by Smith and then Joshua Kayode before falling for Wiles.
Rotherham lifted the Papa John’s trophy after a dramatic win over Sutton UnitedCredit: PA
Millers boss Paul Warne will now be hoping to guide his side to promotion to the ChampionshipCredit: PA
He took a touch and curled it past Bouzanis from 20 yards in what was a fine finish.
After the break, Wiles came close to adding his second of the game but fired straight into Bouzanis’s arms as Sutton took full advantage.
Straight back down the other end and the impressive Ajiboye was again at the centre of things.
His ball into the box found Craig Eastmond, whose first effort was blocked.
But the former Arsenal man was quickest to react and toe-poked his second attempt past Johansson to restore Sutton’s lead.
Sutton were looking safe and enjoying themselves, right up until the SIXTH minute of stoppage time and just when the PA announcer was confirming Eastmond as Man of the Match.
A long punt up field saw the ball fall to Osei-Tutu, who curled in with a fine finish that took a touch off Bouzanis on its way into the back of the net.
Sutton were done and without Ben Goodliffe, who had limped off injured, they lacked the same composure at the back.
A good strike from Ogbene gave Rotherham the lead for the first time of the game in extra time while Ihiekwe wrapped up proceedings late on heading home from a corner.
U’s boss Gray added: “I am gutted because we were whiskers away from a great 90-minute performance and walking up steps as winners.
“Extra time was a step too far for us. We have played a lot of games and been hit by injuries and some of the players out there who had not played many minutes for us.
“It has been a great week and I could tell the players had the focus to get the job done, that’s why I am so gutted because we were so close.” More

RICHARD WOOD hopes to create more happy Wembley memories for his two kids today.The Rotherham captain was the hero as his two goals in the 2018 League One play-off final fired them into the Championship.
Rotherham captain Richard Wood was a hero at Wembley four years ago
His youngest son Graye has watched over and again the video of the 2-1 win over Shrewsbury after extra-time.
Today League One Millers face League Two Sutton in the Papa John’s Trophy Final.
And defender Wood, 36, told SunSport: “The main thing that sticks in my mind and a lot of it is a blur looking back.
“I remember the two goals the most.
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“The second one, in extra-time which won us the game, sticks out the most and seeing my children’s faces when I scored.
“It was irreplaceable. It’s a memory that’ll stay with me and my family for the rest of our lives. It was some day.
“My youngest lad Graye, who is 11, watches the game at home and at his nan’s house as well. He has literally learned the entire commentary of both my goals — he can say it word for word. 
“And he and his older brother Jenson, who is 13, are so excited to be going back. Because they’re both a little older and have had a taste of it, they are even more excited this time round.”
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Wood’s experience of playing at Wembley will be invaluable in the dressing room where he is only one of three players that featured in the game that are still at the club.
Striker Michael Smith and defender Joe Mattock are the other two.
And he said: “When you look at the pitch, as you arrive there or are warming up, it takes your breath away. 
“I try to explain to the lads not to be too nervous. Don’t spend too much nervous energy. Too much is bad. Enjoy it for what it is. 
“Not too many people get to play at Wembley. So you must take advantage of that feeling and enjoy it.
“But after the warm up and you do all the bits before, I just focus on the game then.
“You must put your heart and soul into it and give everything you’ve got.
“You visualise what you want to happen on the day and for me it was just to get promoted. I never thought about scoring, let alone getting two!”
Sharing those special moments with loved ones are a huge motivation for Wood when he steps out onto the pitch every week.
And he said: “It’s why I want my family and children to watch me play right to the end of my career and create new memories.
Proud dad Richard Wood with his two boys Graye and Jenson
Richard Wood’s two goals fired Rotherham into the Championship
Rotherham team-mates celebrate with Richard Wood after his second goal
“Football is of course rewarding and well paid. But for me it’s about scoring goals, winning matches, playing at Wembley, getting promoted. To play there is something I will treasure and it’s a moment I know they will all remember for the rest of their lives too.”
Standing in his and Rotherham’s way today is League Two club Sutton, who only won promotion from the National League this summer.
A bit like Rotherham, they are a club that feels it is punching above its weight but continue to be well run and are progressing while more glamorous clubs are faltering.
Wood said: “They are a good side and deserve to be here. They’ve been the underdogs and I admire any team like that which clearly have a real togetherness. 
“Even though we’re in different leagues, that doesn’t come into my thought process.
“We’ve been watching them and how they play — and it’s irrelevant what league they’re in, we’ll be treating them exactly the same as we would any other team, higher division, same division or lower.
“It’s a football match and whoever turns up on the day usually wins.” More

ALL aboard on yet another leg of Sutton United’s incredible journey.Fresh from entering the Football League last summer for the first time in their 123-year history, not only are they competing for yet another promotion to League One but on Sunday will be playing in the Papa John’s Trophy final at Wembley.
Sutton get on the road to Wembley for this weekend’s Papa John’s Trophy final
Chairman Bruce Elliott talks to Justin Allen about Sutton’s epic journey
But chairman Bruce Elliott says manager Matt Gray has FAILED to meet his objectives.
Gray, 40, is only in his third season in management and Elliott told SunSport: “Last year we asked him to keep us in the National League because we thought we were punching above our weight — but instead he got us promoted into the EFL.
“And this season, we asked him to just get us to 50 points so we can have a second year as members of the Football League.
“But not only did we reach that target in February, we’ve still got another chance of promotion and he’s got us to Wembley. So he has failed again!
“Yet, joking aside, you couldn’t make this sort of stuff up. We’re still pinching ourselves.”
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A vintage London bus — hired by the trophy’s sponsors — rolled into Sutton town centre this week as the team met fans ahead of Sunday’s big game.
Sutton, who have sold nearly 14,000 tickets, will be hoping its fourth time lucky at Wembley after losing all three of their previous trips — but it will be their first appearance under the arch and first at our national stadium since 1981.
And Eliott has been to all THREE — watching the club in the FA Amateur Cup final in 1963 and 1969 as well as the FA Trophy final in 1981.
He said: “When I went in 1963 I was a teenager and the first time I’d ever been to Wembley. We lost 4-2 to Wimbledon with Eddie Reynolds scoring four headed goals.
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“I’ve been chairman since 1996 and in that time we’ve won promotions, had our best-ever FA Cup run where we reached the fifth round against Arsenal in 2017 and become Football League members for the first time in our history. 
“But the one last thing I still had to tick off was getting to a Wembley final and we’ve done it.”
Having been a Tottenham youth team-mate of Peter Crouch and Ledley King, Gray had to retire as a player aged 25 due to injuries after a short non-league career playing for Barnet, Hayes and Havant & Waterlooville.
And he spent 12 years serving as an assistant at Eastleigh as well as in League Two with Aldershot and Crawley before becoming a coach under Paul Doswell and then replacing him when he stepped down.
The Sutton boss said: “I always wanted to go into coaching and management. 
“It was engrained into me from childhood by my dad and grandfather from the age of 10. We’d be watching games and they’d be quizing me about what formations different teams were playing. I always had that eye for it and passion for coaching.
“I didn’t expect to be in it so young though after having six operations in six years — three back, three knee.
“I gained a lot of experience. I wanted to become a manager but it had to be at the right club because I wasn’t a household name.”
TOUGH START
And — although what Gray has achieved at Sutton is nothing short of miraculous — he admits his start to management was tough.
He said: “I won two and drew three of my first five games in charge but then went on a run of one win in 14. For that to happen so early in my managerial career was a baptism of fire.
“But not once did I have any concerns about the board sticking by me. They’ve always been supportive and I know how well we had been playing in that run. We just weren’t getting the results or the rub of the green.
“I knew it would change with a couple of tweaks here and there and Bruce and the board have forever been supportive. We’ve not looked back since.”
Captain Ben Goodliffe returns to the stadium almost a year after he watched England in the Euro 2021 Final against Italy with team-mate Dean Bouzanis.
The former personal trainer, 22, said: “I’d never have thought beyond my wildest dreams I’d be playing there myself less than a year later!
“I’ve snapped up 60 tickets for family and friends. I can’t wait to play in front of them and all the fans.
“Joining Sutton after I was released by Wolves three years ago has been the best thing to happen to me. I’ve played more than 100 games for the club and we’ve evolved from a non-league side to one that is trying to get into League One.
“The recruitment of players here has been brilliant and the gaffer likes us all to have banter away from football but when it’s time to work we all knuckle down.”

Boss Matt Gray has brought some huge colour to the story of Sutton United More