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      Notts County keeper hit in head by ‘vape’ and left bleeding at Gillingham clash as police launch investigation

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      POLICE are investigating after Notts County goalkeeper Sam Slocombe was left with a cut head after being struck by an object thrown by a yob in the crowd.The Magpies impressed to claim the points — but the gripping contest was marred by the late drama which left their shot-stopper needing medical attention from the club’s physio.
      Notts County goalkeeper Sam Slocombe was struck by an object thrown from the crowd at PriestfieldCredit: AHPIX.com
      Slocombe, 35, carried on after a brief delay and Gillingham issued an appeal to find the moron.
      Gills’ director of operations Joe Comper admitted: “Once again, we find ourselves investigating an incident which reflects poorly on the football club and will likely land us in trouble with the authorities.
      “Quite clearly, any right-minded person can understand that this is not acceptable and it won’t be accepted at Priestfield.
      “We are working closely with Kent Police to identify the culprit or culprits, in order for us to impose any necessary bans, as well as pursuing criminal prosecutions.
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      “You are passionate, loyal and devoted to the team and those that represent your shirt.
      “It is a shame that the actions of a very small minority risk damaging your club in the form of heavy fines and potentially points deductions.”
      The incident spoilt an otherwise enjoyable League Two contest in which forward Macaulay Langstaff’s 38th-minute strike fired the visitors ahead.
      Scott Malone levelled on 57 minutes after Langstaff had been denied a second, before substitute Lewis Macari’s stunner — on his debut — won it for the visitors 12 minutes from time.
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      But Slocombe’s injury left Magpies boss Luke Williams wanting answers.
      Williams said: “It’s a shame because in general the atmosphere was brilliant. This is just one person making a really terrible decision.
      “Unfortunately something was thrown, I think it was a vape, and hit him on the back of the head and he has a cut.
      “It’s upsetting, anyone who has met him wouldn’t want to throw anything at him, he’s a great guy and I don’t think he’s done anything to wind anyone up or anything like that.”
      Langstaff notched his ninth goal of the campaign as he turned home Tobi Adebayo’s pin-point 38th-minute cross.
      Malone then found the bottom corner with a well-taken strike for caretaker boss Keith Millen, before Jake Turner produced a good save to keep out Jodi Jones’ drive.
      But there was nothing the keeper could do to stop Macari’s rocket.
      Gills defender Max Clark was “gutted” and admitted: “It’s a tough one to take because they weren’t causing us many problems.
      “We were a different team in the second half but they stood strong.”
      Lewis Macari scored a stunning winner on his EFL debutCredit: Rex More

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      Man Utd legend’s grandson scores screamer on debut for EFL club to win match sparking wild scenes in stands

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      LEWIS MACARI followed in the footsteps of his famous grandad to score a screamer on his EFL debut – winning the game and sparking wild scenes.The 21-year-old is on the books of Stoke, having come through the Potters’ academy.
      Lewis Macari scored a belter on his debut in the EFL for Notts CountyCredit: Rex
      Macari let fly from outside the areaCredit: Twitter / @SkyBetLeagueTwo

      But after loans at non-league Market Drayton Town and Dundalk, he has now joined Notts County in League Two.
      And he delivered the goods on his senior debut for the Magpies.
      After replacing Richard Brindley as an early sub away at Gillingham on Saturday, Macari decided the game with a superb strike 12 minutes from time.
      The right-back latched on to a pass just outside the area and thundered the ball into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
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      That put County 2-1 up at Priestfield and prompted huge celebrations among the players and travelling fans as Luke Williams’ men clinched all three points.
      The result keeps Notts County’s promotion charge in full swing, with the newly-promoted side second after 14 games, two points adrift of leaders Stockport.
      Macari has no shortage of sporting pedigree.
      The youngster’s dad Paul was a professional footballer and uncle Mike was at Stoke.
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      But it is grandad Lou who enjoyed the most success in the game.
      The former midfielder starred for Celtic and Swindon either side of 11 years at Manchester United.
      The 24-cap Scotland international arrived at Old Trafford for £200,000 in 1973.
      He racked up 97 goals in 404 appearances for the Red Devils and won the FA Cup and Second Division.
      Macari Sr went on to have seven managerial jobs, including a spell at Celtic sandwiched by two stints with Stoke in the 1990s.
      Away from football, he also set up a homeless shelter after being inspired to help people sleeping rough in the winter.
      The ball flew into the top cornerCredit: Twitter / @SkyBetLeagueTwo
      The travelling Magpies fans celebrated the stunning winner wildlyCredit: Twitter / @SkyBetLeagueTwo
      The win keeps Notts County’s promotion tilt on the right pathCredit: Rex
      Lou Macari spent 11 years at Manchester United and won the FA CupCredit: PA More

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      Forgotten Newcastle star retires from playing aged 39 FOUR YEARS after starting management career having landed top job

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      EX-PREMIER LEAGUE star Mike Williamson has been appointed MK Dons boss.The former Newcastle star has now officially retired from playing to focus on his career as a manager.
      Mike Williamson has been unveiled as the new MK Dons bossCredit: Twitter @footballdaily
      He played for Newcastle from 2010 to 2015Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Williamson has spent the last four seasons in charge of Gateshead.
      The 39-year-old was initially appointed as a player-manager but has only made a handful of appearances over recent campaigns.
      Williamson guided Gateshead to promotion from the National League North two seasons ago and leaves them sitting sixth in the fifth tier.
      He replaces the sacked Graham Alexander with the club 16th in League Two.
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      On his appointment, Williamson said: “It’s been a quick turnaround and it was a tough decision to leave Gateshead but when a club like this comes in, it’s a no brainer.
      “We have a talented squad, with strength in depth, and we’ll come in and start getting to know the group.
      “They’ve got to trust us and buy into what we stand for – we have a lot of ideas that we want to implement, but it will be one thing at a time. It is going to be an evolution.”
      Club chairman Pete Winkelman added: “We believe we have found someone who is clearly aligned with what we want to see from an MK Dons team and I am very excited to welcome him.
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      “Mike is a winner. He has achieved promotions throughout his playing career and already as a manager.”
      Gateshead coaches Ian Watson and Chris Bell follow him to Stadium MK.
      Williamson most notably played for Wycombe, Watford, Newcastle and Wolves during his career.
      He was a regular for the Toon from 2010 to 2015, making 169 appearances. More

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      Fans joke ‘he went for the ball’ as ‘unprofessional’ Gillingham manager sent off for moment of madness

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      FOOTBALL fans were left in hysterics after Gillingham manager Keith Millen was sent off for TRIPPING Walsall winger Tom Knowles.Walsall beat Gillingham 4-1 in their League Two clash on Saturday afternoon.
      Gillingham boss Keith Millen was sent off for tripping Walsall winger Tom KnowlesCredit: X @skyfootball
      Gillingham interim manager Keith Millen sees red for bizarrely tripping Walsall winger Tom Knowles as he attempted to take a throw-in 😲 pic.twitter.com/kqb6mrr6vb— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 14, 2023

      The referee had no choice but to send Millen off for his ridiculous actCredit: X @SkyFootball
      But the most eye-catching moment of the game came in the 28th minute when the score was still goalless.
      After Gillingham put the ball out of play, Knowles looked to take a quick throw-in.
      But he was prevented from doing so by Gillingham boss Millen as he walked out of his technical area and stuck his foot out to send Knowles tumbling to the ground.
      Referee Charles Breakspear had no choice but to send Millen off for his bizarre actions.
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      And social media was left in stitches at the remarkable episode.
      One person said: “The spirit of Pardew lives on.”
      This is in reference to Alan Pardew headbutting Hull’s David Meyler while he was Newcastle manager back in 2014.
      Another added: “Nothing wrong with this 🤣.”
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      While a third joked: “Not a denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Yellow at best.”
      A fourth brilliant added: “He went for the ball.”
      And a fifth said: “This is unprofessional.”
      Walsall’s Isaac Hutchinson went on to give the hosts the lead just six minutes after the incident.
      And Hutchinson bagged a hat-trick with two more in the second half as Walsall climb to 13th, with Gillingham dropping to seventh. More

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      League Two club sack manager with stunned fans left saying ‘didn’t see that happening’ after mixed start to season

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      GILLINGHAM have sacked manager Neil Harris.The League Two side fell to eighth in the table following their 2-0 defeat at Crewe on Tuesday night.
      Gillingham have sacked manager Neil HarrisCredit: PA
      Harris, 46, joined Gillingham in January 2022 having previously managed Millwall and Cardiff.
      The former striker couldn’t prevent the Gills from League One relegation during his first half-season in charge.
      He subsequently guided them to a 17th finish in League Two amid a takeover last term.
      In a club statement, the Gills confirmed: “Gillingham Football Club has today decided to part company with Manager Neil Harris, who has been in charge at Priestfield for just over 20 months.
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      “Having joined the Club in February of 2022, Neil nearly kept the team in League One, getting relegated on the last day of the season on goal difference, making up a 10-point deficit in the process.
      “The Club has decided it now wishes to go in a different direction and will begin the process of identifying a Head Coach to take the team forward.”
      Harris’ assistant David Livermore has also departed Priestfield.
      Gillingham have confirmed that Keith Millen will step in as interim boss while they conduct their new manager search.
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      Millen, 57, has previously managed Bristol City and Carlisle United, as well as Swedish side Orgryte IS.
      He also had three spells as Crystal Palace’s caretaker boss.

      Fans have had a mixed reaction to Harris’ dismissal.
      One tweeted: “Never saw that coming.”
      While a second wrote: “Bit of a dip in form and sacked? Seems a strange one.”
      Another fan replied, however: “Bit of a dip of form? We’ve not played well even when winning.”
      A further social media user commented: “Do feel for Neil but was never going to be anything but a mid table side watching a defensive minded team I do feel he has created a brilliant team that can really achieve in this league but hasn’t been able to execute it I wish him all the best thank you for everything!”
      And a fourth added: “That’s come out of the blue! Not too sad about it though, hopefully a new manager will get the best out of what is a very talented squad.”
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      Harris won 31 of his 90 games in charge of Gillingham, drawing 25 and losing 34.
      The Gills are set to host MK Dons on Saturday.
      Keith Millen has stepped in as caretaker bossCredit: Rex More

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      Fans say ‘hang it in the Louvre’ as Swindon Town pull off ‘worst kick off of all time’ ahead of crushing defeat

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      FANS have said “hang it in the Louvre” after Swindon Town took “the worst kick off of all time”.Swindon kicked off their away clash at Notts County with a routine that had clearly been worked on on the training ground.
      Swindon had worked on the kick off on the training groundCredit: EFL Ifollow
      Kemp rolled the ball back nonchalantly….Credit: EFL Ifollow
      … To no oneCredit: EFL Ifollow

      But it went horribly wrong, with Swindon number 10 Dan Kemp rolling the ball behind him to no one.
      Kemp’s pass was clearly meant for one of Swindon’s on-running wingers but didn’t find its target.
      Notts County quickly swooped in and took possession before passing the ball around the back.
      One fan tweeted: “Swindon have just taken the worst kick off of all time fair play.”
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      They then added: “not including it in your ‘extended highlights’? cowards.” Before tagging Swindon on Twitter.
      One fan sarcastically added: “Masterful.”
      Another wrote: “Hang it in the Louvre”
      Notts County went on to win the game comfortably 3-1 thanks to goals from Ireland and Premier League veteran David McGoldrick, Macauley Langstaff and Daniel Crowley.
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      Tyrese Shade netted Swindon’s only goal of the game.
      The victory continues County’s excellent start to the season following their promotion from the Conference last year.
      The Magpies are top of the table, three points ahead of AFC Wimbledon, who are in second.
      Swindon sit in the play-off places in sixth, ahead of Mansfield and Gillingham on goal difference. More

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      Under-fire Man Utd legend has one game to save his job after horror run of form sees them edge toward relegation zone

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      UNDER-FIRE Bradford boss Mark Hughes looks to have one game to save his job.The ex-Premier League outfit have only won three of their first 10 contests in the EFL’s basement division this term and were booed off following a 3-1 home defeat to Walsall.
      Mark Hughes is on the brink of being sacked by BradfordCredit: Getty
      The League Two side have endured a nightmare start to the seasonCredit: Getty
      Bantams fans also joined in a chorus of “You’re Getting Sacked in the Morning” with mocking Saddlers fans, who saw their team win on the road for only the second time in 19 fixtures.
      Ex-Walsall striker Andy Cook gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot but Liam Gordon and Aramide Oteh had turned the tables by half-time before Freddie Draper completed the scoring on 56 minutes.
      An hour-long inquest was staged in the home dressing room after the final whistle and a loss at second-bottom Tranmere on Tuesday night would almost certainly spell the end of Hughes’ 20-month tenure at Valley Parade.
      Centre-back Sam Stubbs argued, however, that it was the players who should have shouldered 100 per cent of the responsibility for the woeful Walsall display, adding that he did not blame the fans for venting their fury.
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      The former Exeter defender said: “The supporters should be frustrated, because there’s a standard they want to see and we have to take responsibility because every player needs to improve by 10 per cent after that.
      “There’s no excuses and the performance was 100 per cent down to the players.”
      Oteh netted his second Saddlers goal since a summer move from Crawley, having previously scored four times during a loan spell with Bradford back in 2019/20.
      The 25-year-old attacker benefited from a spot of fortune when the ball ricocheted off him after striking home midfielder Kevin McDonald following a Ross Tierney corner.
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      But Oteh argued that his goal owed more to set-piece practice than luck.
      He said: “It was just instinctive really.
      “We’d been working all week on corners and a similar situation happened then as well.” More

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      Unemployed former Premier League star plays match for League Two club after being handed career lifeline

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      A FORMER Premier League stalwart who is now unemployed has been offered a career lifeline in League Two.Not many will have paid too much attention to the Cheshire Senior Cup showdown between Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers this week.
      A Premier League veteran appeared for Stockport County on trial this weekCredit: Getty
      But for one ex-Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Burnley ace it was a hugely important night.
      The 34-year-old Matt Lowton was released by Burnley during the summer after eight years at Turf Moor.
      Following his arrival from Villa in 2015, he became a key man under Sean Dyche and helped them to the Championship title in his first season there.
      The right-back went on to make 203 appearances for the club and scored three times but last term he began to fall out of favour after Vincent Kompany took charge.
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      He moved to Huddersfield Town on loan in January as Kompany led Burnley to the title and back to the Premier League.
      Then Lowton, who helped the Terriers beat relegation, began pre-season on trial at Birmingham.
      However, Brum boss John Eustace opted against offering the veteran a contract, leaving him jobless going into the campaign.
      Despite the transfer window now being closed, free agents are able to sign for a new club outside of it.
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      Matt Lowton is on trial with a League Two clubCredit: Getty
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      And it has now emerged that he has been offered an opportunity elsewhere in the Football League.
      Lowton is currently on trial with League Two outfit Stockport as he looks to earn himself a contract.
      And that led to him being handed a start for them on Tuesday in their 2-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the Cheshire Senior Cup. More