Last Game of the Season
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Jeff Stelling: Hello and welcome to Gillette Soccer Saturday! Today you join us on the last day of the Football League were there is a tight battle between Rotherham, Middlesbrough and Wolves for the automatic play-off spot. Rotherham go into their match against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane knowing that a win is all they need to get promotion. However if they fail to win then Middlesbrough and Wolves will be looking to pip them to 2nd place by winning their games against Brighton and Birmingham respectively. No-one knows what will happen of course, but the one thing we know will happen is drama.
Matt Le Tissier: I'm watching the Middlesbrough match and Boro have really came out the blocks knowing they need to win. Karanka has set them up in his classic 4-2-3-1 formation that he has molded his team round Marvin Emness is looking particularly dangerous up-front but it's still 0-0.
Stelling: So Boro look like they have started lively in their game, what about Wolves? Paul Merson?
Paul Merson: No, Wolves just don't look into it at all at the minute, Birmingham have had all the possession in the opening ten minutes and Wolves just haven't been pressing to get it back. Still 0-0 but Birmingham look like the side more threatening.
Stelling: So Boro look good, however Wolves look sloppy. But will these games mean anything anyway? Well let's find out as there has been a goal at Bramall Lane, Chris Kamara.
Chris Kamara: Unbelievable Jeff. Sheffield United have took the lead through Ismail Miller and it really has went against the run of play. Rotherham have been pushing forward and may have over committed as United have picked up the ball Jose Baxter and he runs for what seemed like an age, down the pitch and finds Miller with a through-ball through the Rotherham defence and with the sweetest of touches the ball is in the back of the net. 1-0 Sheffield United.
Stelling: So the plot twists and i'm guessing it's not going to be for the first time. With scores as they are Rotherham would slip out of 2nd place and Middlesbrough will take their place. Let's join action that is getting pretty heated up at The Molineux. What's going on?
Merson: I don't know jeff. It's all kicking off right now. Birmingham have been given a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the Wolves box and all the Wolves players are crowding around the ref. It did look like a very nasty tackle by the captain Stearman on Spector, let's see what card the ref pulls out. Oh it's red! The referee has sent Wolves captain Richard Stearman off for a nasty tackle. Will Keane looks like he's almost ready to take the free-kick and the wall are being told to move back. Keane runs up and... Well that's how you score a free-kick. It was a lovely curling ball into the top corner, no way was Carl Ikeme saving that. Birmingham take the lead 1-0.
Stelling: So it's been a pretty hot start to the games and with only 30 minutes gone there has been 2 twists in the story. Any chance of Boro cementing their place more at the top?
Le Tissier: Not right now Jeff. Boro are just passing it around, they know that Rotherham are losing and they know that they don't really need to do anything so they're just passing it around.
Stelling: Middlesbrough don't need to do anything, of course, as the goal difference they do have means that they would go up if Rotherham fail to win.
Le Tissier: GOAL!!!! Middlesbrough have literally scored as soon as I said they're just passing it around. There was some lovely movement going round and the ball has fell to Marvin Emnes ,who has been brilliant this game, he runs into the box, get's one-on-one with the keeper and slots it beneath him. Middlesbrough lead 1-0
Stelling: Middlesbrough look good for 2nd place as we go into the second-half and we have had whispers of another goal for Boro, Matt?
Le Tissier: Yes there has been another goal and it comes in the shape of youngster Jordan Jones. Loanee Thomas Carroll has picked up the ball on the edge of the box and found a pass to Jones who smashes it into the bottom corner, far out of Kuszczak's reach. However, Brighton are attacking straight off the kick off. The ball is with Lua Lua and he's running down the wing. Finds Ulloa and.. OH MY DAYS!!! Brighton have pulled a goal back almost immediately through
Leonardo Ulloa. Boro still leading 2-1 though.
Stelling: Brighton look like they could be getting back into the game. However, Rotherham are still losing and if Brighton can come-back to draw then Rotherham need to find something. Someone's found something at Bramall Lane as a goal has just been scored! Chris Kamara!
Kamara: Ohh unbelievable Jeff. Rotherham are right back into it through striker Nigel
Hasselbaink. Nicky Adams has picked the ball up on the wing and cut inside, as he does a lot, and he has found Hasselbaink at the back post with a beautifully weighted pass. Hasselbaink has took one touch and then powered it into the bottom corner. Rotherham level and the scores are now 1-1
Stelling: And that goal could be oh so crucial, Matt.
Le Tissier: Brighton have equalised with 5 minutes to go of the game and it is a second for Leonardo Ulloa. There was some good team movement and the ball has fell to Ulloa outside the box. He advances inside and takes on the keeper before slotting it into the net to draw level. 2-2.
Stelling: And that changes everything. Brighton and Rotherham drawing level means that it's the Millers who are now holding onto that all important 2nd place. Going into the last few minutes now and...
Le Tissier: GOAL!!!!!!! Oh my word would you believe it the plot changes again! Middlesbrough have took the lead back through Marvin Emnes. A corner was put in by Thomas Carroll and there was a lot of fumbling around before Emnes managed to poke it past the line. You do not write stuff like this, you just don't!
Stelling: And so Middlesbrough taking the lead means they also take their place in The Premier League as full-time whistles blow. Oh I do love football. The Wolves game has ended 1-0 to Birmingham which means Wolves will be in the play-offs, joining them are Rotherham who could only muster a draw against Sheffield United. But moving on to the Premier League are Middlesbrough who have today beaten Brighton in the very last minute 3-2.
ARPIL
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SHEFF UNITED 1-1 ROTHERHAM
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NIGEL HASSELBAINK
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BLAIR ADAMS (SFU)
Championship
Managers Thoughts
So we couldn't go up automatically. I really am gutted for the lads, but they only have themselves to blame. We now have to forget about this and go into the play-offs with fresh minds. I know that we can do it, the lads just need to know now. I know that the fans will give us terrific support as they have all season and no matter what, I know, it has been a good season.