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      Inside Sky Sports’ Access All Areas EFL coverage with dressing room cameras, ref chat and interview in BED

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      SKY SPORTS gave fans a revelatory behind-the-scenes insight in their first EFL Access All Areas live match – including dressing room cameras and interviews in bed.The broadcaster showed Wycombe’s League One clash with Portsmouth on Sunday lunchtime.
      Sky Sports EFL access all areas show included an interview with a fan watching from the stands in bedCredit: Rex
      Boss Ainsworth chatted to pundits during warm upsCredit: @SkyFootball

      Ever wondered what the match officials say to both managers before the match? 🧐Wycombe’s game against Portsmouth today will be Sky Sports’ first-ever ‘EFL Access All Areas’ with enhanced coverage throughout the game 🎥pic.twitter.com/uGfoeP4GMc— Sky Sports (@SkySports) December 4, 2022

      But rather than the usual coverage viewers may be used to, Sky were able to offer plenty more than just the thrills and spills on the pitch.
      Arguably the best part of the Access All Areas footage was being able to listen in to the referee meeting with the managers and captains on the pitch.
      Scott Oldham explained what he expected from his skippers – to help them manage their team-mates – and the gaffers – to allow the fourth official to do his job without having his ear chewed off.
      Cameras in the dressing room – think All or Nothing vibes – allowed Chairboys and Pompey supporters to watch Gareth Ainsworth and Danny Cowley remonstrate with his players and give out their final instructions.
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      🗣️ “I think this is a wonderful opportunity to show what really goes on behind the scenes” We are now in The Boardroom with Alan Parry discussing Sky Sports’ first-ever ‘EFL Access All Areas’ 🎥👀 pic.twitter.com/bMAvyJXTjk— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 4, 2022

      Wisely, though, the microphones were not switched on – preventing any fruity language being pumped through the speakers of sitting rooms across the nation on a Sunday lunchtime.
      But Sky needed the mics plugged in to talk to the managers and even some of the players during the match – with both bosses generous with their time to help the coverage succeed.
      The TV presenter and pundits did their opening analysis to preview the game not in a studio or pitchside – but in one of the Adams Park lounges as the VIP guests milled around before kick-off.
      That also enabled interviews with board members and directors in the boardroom.

      The strangest pre-match chat possibly ever conducted, though, featured long-serving Sky reporter David Craig suited and booted tucked into a pitchside bed, complete with a box of sweet treats and heated blankets.
      The lucky – or unlucky – fan had won a competition with Dreams to get the unique experience for his family to enjoy a game from the comfort and warmth of a giant duvet and pillows, while still enjoying all the sights, sounds and smells of live EFL football action.
      In the end it was the home fans and Ainsworth who came away happiest with Wycombe running out 2-0 winners.
      And the dugout cam ensured everyone watching on the telly got the perfect view of the Wycombe boss’ flowing locks, leather jacket and £200 lucky red snakeskin boots celebrating the second goal that sealed all three points.  More

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      Joey Barton tweets classy apology to referee Bobby Madden after being sent off in fiery Bristol Rovers Fleetwood clash

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      JOEY BARTON has issued an apology to Scottish referee Bobby Madden after being sent off for an X-rated rant in Bristol Rovers’ 2-2 draw with Fleetwood.Barton, 40, was given his marching orders in the 89th minute with Rovers leading 2-1 heading into added-time.
      Barton swore at referee Madden resulting in a red cardCredit: Rex
      Barton’s Rovers then conceded late on to drawCredit: Rex
      Barton has apologised to the referee on TwitterCredit: Rex
      The dismissal came after Barton overdid it when complaining about a challenge by Fleetwood midfielder Josh Vela on Rovers sub Luca Hoole.
      And disaster struck in 99th minute as Shaun Rooney grabbed the equaliser for visitors Fleetwood to share the points.
      Barton then returned to the pitch from the stands to clap the fans at full-time.
      He has also taken to Twitter to apologise to Madden, admitting he swore at the official.
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      Barton Tweeted: “Regardless of how much you disagree with an official’s decision making, you shouldn’t swear at them.
      “For that I apologise to yesterday’s match official, Robert Madden.”
      The late goal helped Fleetwood stay one place and one point above Rovers in League One.
      Both teams are running in the bottom half of the table after 18 games played.
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      While the Championship and the Premier League go on a mini break during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, England’s lower two professional divisions will carry on playing.
      The tournament gets underway on November 20, with host nations Qatar playing Ecuador.
      And the World Cup will come to a close on December 18. More

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      Everton ace Tom Cannon wanted by Fleetwood on loan transfer until end of year as he closes in on first-team breakthrough

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      YOUNG Everton star Tom Cannon is wanted by Fleetwood.The Ireland Under-21 forward, 19, is closing in on the Toffees team.
      Tom Cannon is a loan target for FleetwoodCredit: Getty
      But League One Cod Army are desperate to take him for the rest of the season.
      Fleetwood, managed by Scott Brown, are eyeing a loan move for the teenager.
      He joined the Everton Academy aged 10 and in the summer signed a new three-year deal with the club.
      Cannon has scored nine goals in 13 games for Everton’s U21 side this season.
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      Toffees boss Frank Lampard has taken notice and called him up to the first-team squad in the last week.
      Cannon was subbed on for the final 16 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
      He also came off the bench in the Carabao Cup loss against the same opposition in midweek.
      Lampard said he was “delighted” to be able to hand Cannon his debut on Tuesday.
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      The gaffer said: “I was delighted to get him on the pitch and if they deserve it for how they’re playing for the Under-21s, him and various others then it’s great to have them on the bench, coming on, and getting that first taster.”
      Everton’s second defeat to the Cherries in a matter of days was marred by ugly scenes at full-time.
      Lampard pulled his stars away from a furious away end as police were forced to intervene following the match at the Vitality Stadium. More

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      Joey Barton SENT OFF by Bobby Madden as ex-Celtic star Scott Brown reunion ends with ex-SPFL ace’s 99th minute equaliser

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      JOEY BARTON was SENT OFF in the dying minutes as he renewed acquaintances with former Old Firm rival Scott Brown.The Bristol Rovers boss was given his marching orders by Scottish referee Bobby Madden in the 89th minute of their hotly-contested League One tussle with Brown’s Fleetwood Town.
      Joey Barton returns to the field to clap off the fans
      Shaun Rooney celebratesCredit: Rex
      But it only gave the one-time Rangers star a view from the stands as former St Johnstone star Shaun Rooney grabbed an equaliser for Brown’s Fleetwood in the 99TH MINUTE as these two sides fought out a 2-2 draw.
      The ex Celtic man and one-time Rangers midfielder famously locked horns in a 5-1 Celtic win at Parkhead.
      Barton – an ex-Fleetwood manager himself – and Brown had both shrugged off their shared backstory pre-match as they insisted that episode was firmly in the past.
      But there was no shortage of drama as these two mid-table sides fought out a four-goal thriller.
      Ex St Johnstone man Rooney – a double cup winner during his time in Perth – fired the visitors into the lead in the 23rd minute before Josh Coburn levelled things for a Rovers side who featured another ex-Hoops man in Scott Sinclair.
      Aaron Collins then gave the home side the lead 10 minutes before the end of regulation.
      But there was plenty more drama in store as Barton was sent to the stands in the 89th minute by Madden.
      He overdid it when complaining about a challenge by Fleetwood midfielder Josh Vela on Rovers sub Luca Hoole – and the Scot gave him his marching orders.
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      The home fans didn’t like it, with some aiming chants of ‘cheat’ at the Scottish whistler.
      But it was Brown and assistant boss Steven Whittaker who got the last laugh when Rooney bagged his second of the game and Fleetwood’s equaliser in the NINTH minute of stoppage time.
      He nodded in a cross from Danny Andrew at the death to nick a share of the spoils for Broony’s men.
      Barton didn’t do press afterwards, with assistant Andy Mangan saying: “That second half performance was our best display of the season. 
      “The lads are gutted not to win, and the draw feels like a defeat, but there were so many positives to take from today.”
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Cocaine use at football matches leaves League One side’s stadium toilets like a ‘launderette’ full of powder, MPs told

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      COCAINE use at football is leaving stadium toilets like a “launderette” full of powder, MPs were told today.The DCMS committee watched what chairman and Tory MP Julian Knight said were “absolutely shocking” scenes of violence at games at all levels over the past six months.
      Shocking ‘scenes of violence’ in football grounds have been describedCredit: Getty
      And police and stewarding chiefs reinforced the message that the cocktail of drink and drugs was evoking memories of the dark days of the past.
      Peter Houghton, head of operations for the Football Safety Officers Association said: “It’s coming home from all aspects of sport that there has been an increase in cocaine use.
      “A friend of mine who works at Cambridge United said that when he checked the toilets after a match it looked like a launderette – there was so much powder there.
      “Violence at football has always been synonymous with alcohol but it is becoming abundantly clear it’s not just a football issue and affecting different sports.
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      “Now you are not just pointing the finger at alcohol users but are also able to point the finger at drug users.
      “It is clear that one or two of those people in the video have been using drugs and are not drunk.”
      That message was echoed by England and Wales’ top football cop, Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who added: “It is not just the UK – we are seeing considerable increase in disorder across Europe after the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
      “We are not anywhere near where we were in the 80s and we need to keep context on things. This is worrying but we are not back as bad as it was.
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      “Cocaine is certainly a contributing factor to violence in the night-time economy and football. Football is a reflection of wider society.
      “There is clearly an element of organised gangs who set out and wish to engage in violence. It is an unwelcome re-emergence.
      “The concern is that we have younger people involved in this. The concern is that if younger people become involved in it then it is a problem for the next 30 years until we take some remedial action.”
      Ch Con Roberts also pointed out that police forces were able to recoup only £7m of the £47m cost of officers attending matches last season.
      He added: “It’s unfair we only get £7m back when £7m couldn’t buy you a second division full back.”
      Drink and drugs have fuelled the an increase in violence at gamesCredit: Rex More

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      Fans all say the same thing as Joey Barton’s mad tactics board inspires Bristol Rovers to hard fought draw at Sheff Weds

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      BRISTOL ROVERS fans have expressed their delight after Joey Barton’s brilliant tactics board inspired a draw at Sheffield Wednesday.The highly-anticipated League One clash saw the Owls lead at half-time.
      Joey Barton’s tactics board has delighted Bristol Rovers fansCredit: Rex
      The amazing notes inspired a comeback draw at Sheffield WednesdayCredit: Twitter @@Joey7Barton
      Wednesday dominated possession and had over twice as many shots as Rovers.
      But the visitors battled hard in the second half and ended up grabbing an equaliser in the 60th minute through Joshua Coburn.
      Bristol Rovers dug deep to pick up a crucial point away from home.
      And after the match, boss Barton posted several snaps on Twitter hailing his team and their fans for the magnificent effort.
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      However, supporters were particularly drawn to one of Barton’s pictures showing his tactics board.
      The intricate piece of paper was scrawled with various plans, positive phrases and ideas on how to get the better of Wednesday.
      Barton’s main instructions on how to get the win involved a “big start” to “turn them early” and “play in their half.”
      Rovers players also needed to “squeeze space” and “lock them in their half”.
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      Barton also added notes saying “show the world tonight”, “decide to be victorious” and “psychedelic effects.”
      And with Bristol Rovers moving up to 14th in the table with their point, fans of the club went online to hail Barton’s mad tactics board.
      One supporter beamed: “Great to see the tactics board and good to see ‘attack is the best form of defence’, always agreed with that.”
      Another wrote: “That was pretty impressive, more than matched the Owls and kept their fans quiet.”
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      One declared: “I love a prop-inspired tactic board.”
      Another added: “Unbelievable performance from the lads, thank you.” More

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      Ex-Celtic ace Scott Sinclair finally finds new club as he joins up with former Rangers man Joey Barton at Bristol Rovers

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      SCOTT SINCLAIR has completed a career fairytale move by re-signing for his first club, Bristol Rovers.The ex-Celtic star, 33, has been without a club since being released by Preston North End at the end of last season.
      Scott Sinclair enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at CelticCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      Sinclair, who has been at 14 clubs throughout his career, will link up with two former Rangers flops at Rovers – and one of them will be his manager.
      Joey Barton is currently boss of the League One outfit while Jordan Rossiter is one of the team’s regular starters in midfield.
      Sinclair, who was part of Celtic’s Treble Treble-winning dynasty, left the Hoops in January 2020 as first team opportunities dried up under then-boss Neil Lennon.
      He scored 62 goals in 167 games for the Glasgow giants.
      Sinclair, whose glamorous Wag Helen Flanagan played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street, moved to Preston and spent the next 18 months with the Championship club, making 85 appearances and scoring 14 goals.
      After being let go by the Deepdale club in the summer he began training with former club Chelsea in a bid to maintain his fitness.
      Sinclair originally signed for the Blues in 2005, who spotted him as a teenager playing for Bristol Rovers.
      The winger had joined Rovers at the age of nine and became their second-youngest ever debutant at 15 years and 77 days old in a match against Leyton Orient in 2004.
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      He failed to crack the first team at Stamford Bridge and was loaned out numerous times, taking in spells at Plymouth Argyle, QPR, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic.
      He played 18 times in the Premier League for Wigan and that prompted promotion-chasing Swansea to swoop for him and he was a hit in the Championship, scoring 19 times in 43 games for the Swans.
      Sinclair was a regular for the Welsh side in the Prem and Manchester City paid £8million for him in 2012.
      But once again he found himself on the fringes of first-team action and he was loaned out again, to West Brom and Aston Villa.
      The Villans took him on permanently and it was after a year at Villa Park that he joined Celtic under Brendan Rodgers.

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Why are League One and League Two still playing during the World Cup?

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      THE EFL announced that League One and League Two are continuing their fixture schedules as normal while the World Cup takes place in Qatar.The European top leagues will be suspended as footballing stars travel to the Middle East to compete for the trophy.
      Qatar has been hit with World Cup feverCredit: Reuters
      England will be hoping to return home as champions despite falling to defeat in Euro 2020’s final and the semi-final of 2018’s World Cup.
      The break will see the Premier League and Championship pause their action, but League One and League Two will continue the season.
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      Why are League One and League Two still playing during the World Cup?
      The EFL released a statement, confirming that the Championship will be paused during the World Cup group stages, but revealed that League One and League Two fixtures will be unchanged for now.
      Plymouth have been impressive in League One this seasonCredit: Rex
      The statement wrote: “Match round 16 in the Championship, set to take place on Saturday, November 12, will be the final round of fixtures played ahead of the call-up period for the tournament, which begins on Monday, November 14.
      “The Championship will resume on December 10 2022 following the culmination of the World Cup group stages, whilst League One and League Two fixtures will continue as normal.”
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      This is due to the fact that teams in League One and League Two are less likely to be affected by the international tournament, with Championship and Premier League teams more likely to have players playing in Qatar, called up for international duty and absent for their clubs.
      However, it was also revealed that individual fixtures in League One and League Two could still be postponed, subject to international call-up criteria being met. More