Paullow

I was hoping Birmingham would win, but it has kind of petered out as a contrast once Leicester got that 2nd goal - they've been all over them since.

A poll on here would actually be very interesting, I suspect it would be rather split. I'd personally rather rest players tomorrow than on Saturday.

Cracking start to the Birmingham vs Leicester match, 1-1 after 14 mins. Brum started really well, but Leicester hit them with a devastating counter attack just after Blues hit the post - a bit like that Deeney-Knockaert scenario a few years ago, but they've just equalised.

He did quite well at QPR. Appointed in June, had then top of the league towards the end of October, was linked with the Wolves job, eventually turned it down, but that then coincided with them only getting 1 point from their next 5 games and he then went off to Rangers at the end of November (and QPR continued a massive downward spiral). His record was 9 5 8 at QPR.

It was almost 50/50 when the draw was made with them a very slight favourite, but I guess it will mainly be the venue. Since the draw was made they did draw at home to Man City, beat Brighton, and then Sheff U (although obviously nothing special), whereas since then, away from home, we have lost 2-0 to Bournemouth (which could have been 5 or 6), lost 3-0 to Everton and 4-1 to Spurs, plus barely laying a glove on Dortmund. Our injury situation isn't getting much better, get a couple back, but lose 2 more straightaway. Then factor in fixture congestion in that this is our 9th match since Nov 11th with a small pool of players, I can see why we are that price. We're actually 7/2 at Unibet, so even longer, and I believe they are the longest odds we have been this season for a domestic match as we were only around 5/2 vs City at the start of the season.

A couple of regional clashes in the NPL East over the weekend. Stockton beat Hebburn 3-1 in front of over 600 people to pull 3 points clear of the visitors at the top of the league. Ashington lost 2-4 at home to Newton Aycliffe in a midtable battle in front of almost 500. NA have now won 3 games in a row to pull clear of the relegation zone, and have now leapfrogged Ashington in the table. Dunston won 2-0 to stay in playoff contention, and just saw Consett won away on Friday night. Didn't realise Alex Bruce was in charge of Macclesfield in the league above. I'll probably be keeping an eye on their results going forward and hoping they lose. They've got a few recognisable players, primarily Oumar Niasse who was still on Everton's books just over 3 years ago.

PSG look the outlier of the runners up, and Sociedad for those who topped the groups, so typical they'd be drawn together... Napoli vs Barcelona probably the stand out tie, Inter vs Atletico perhaps the closest on paper.

Aye, nice to see Dortmund get one of the easier options after topping the group, but not so much PSG (as in nice).

I'd be happy enough with a draw now. Man Utd kind of seem more likely to nick it on the break.

I was just going to say, she always does seem a bit of a character when the likes of Lee (NFTV) interviews her.

6-2 at half time. I guess it is harder to maintain and be completely switched on when you have such a lead, but Fylde have done pretty well to be 'winning the last 20 mins' 1-2.

Aye, two up automatically this year, one from each regional league, as KE says. Two drop from the 2nd tier. Forest won this northern third tier last year, but must have lost the regional playoff and not get promoted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023–24_Women's_Championship#Table The top of the Women's Championship is crazy this season. Almost half the teams are separated by just two points. Durham did beat Southampton earlier, so do close in a bit on that pack of 5. Sunderland currently losing 0-1 at home to in form Birmingham, who are jumping from 5th to 1st in the live table

It's obviously not nice for Fylde, but hopefully they don't take their foot off the gas. There's a few of these players that don't often start, so they'll be looking to impress and not ease off, but more importantly, we won the league on GD last year, and Forest won this league on GD, and with only 22 matches, more chance it will come down to GD. Fylde scored as I was typing that , a cracker, but hopefully we score a few more as the game progresses.

Looking forward to the East Anglian derby tomorrow at 12.30, especially with no PL match on TNT at the same time. The last one was was in Feb 2019, so less than 5 years, but to me it feels so much longer with Ipswich having a few years in the 3rd tier and Norwich yo-yo between the top leagues. I guess Ipswich doing so well adds a bit more intrigue and interest this season and if it was just day 17th vs 8th then it wouldn't feel as big to the casual viewer.

I'm getting Error 500 when I click the link, and see someone on Twitter has as well. Could someone please post the statement, if they can still access it?

I thought that might happen, so stuck £20 on Milan at 9/2 about 5 mins ago. Still hope we get at least a draw out of it.

Came off the bench and just equalised vs Celtic in their dead rubber.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023–24_UEFA_Youth_League#Group_F Dortmund beat PSG so we ended up finishing 3rd, which is a great return considering we lost our first game 4-0, and then the next two which were both at home. 7 points from 3 games is good going.

Sunderland coming on stronger now vs Leeds. That French keeper just made a really good save before, and they missed a glorious chance from a free kick just before that.

Quite confusing what I'd want from these Championship fixtures tonight . I'd ideally like Ipswich promoted, and Sunderland not in the playoffs, and probably Leeds not to go up as well, but if it ended up Leeds vs Sunderland in the payoff final, then I'd obviously want Leeds to go up. I reckon Leeds would be more of a threat than Ipswich in the playoffs, and Watford are probably one of the most likely to knock Sunderland out of the playoffs from those around 6th to 11th, but if Leeds and Watford won, then Leeds would only be 4 points off automatic. Watford currently a goal up on Ipswich. Edit, 1-1 now.

We could win 8-0 again tomorrow and still not qualify. If, hypothetically, Dortmund get a red card after 5 mins and give away a pen in the same incident and find themselves 0-2 or 0-3 down after 15 mins, then a draw will effectively be as good as a win as far as we are concerned. I of course want a win, and probably wouldn't take one if offered, but, especially when qualifying is not in our hands, and given our injuries and very recent form and a loss will be by no means a shock result, I could certainly understand those who say they would take a draw, and at least have something to look forward to in the new year outside of the usual calendar. It's not simply a case of win or bust, as the consolation prize is still one definitely worth having, if that's what we do end up with. Eddie isn't saying he would take a draw, and specifically mentions trying to win at the end of the same quote, but by saying 'European football is in our hands', he is at least acknowledging the Europa League as something to play for, and that's it's certainly not all or nothing as far as far as the Champions League and Europe is concerned.

Lens winner, 2-1. The place and manager look buzzing that they are staying in Europe after a 15 year exit, even if just in 3rd place. They of course couldn't qualify for the CL today. Sevilla out completely.

Drama in the Lens-Sevilla game. 1-0 Lens, Ramos has his pen saved for Sevilla by ex Forest keeper Samba, great save, but he was off his line. Retaken and scored with a risky chip, 1-1 with 11 mins to go - they need to find a winner to stay in Europe, and then potentially defend their title.

Just looking at the FA Cup last year, and there are no replays. In this equivalent round, Man Utd drew Sunderland away and won 1-2, and in the next round (the last 16), they were at home to Durham and won 5-0 at Leigh, but only in front of 1,700 despite it being a round further on, against a higher tier team than us, and I guess later in the year (Feb 26th) when it will generally be a bit less colder / Wintery than in mid January. That said, you'd think there'd be far more going down from Newcastle than Durham took, and it will also likely feel more higher profile for Man Utd fans as well against a big city team, so hopefully the crowd number will be more higher 4 figures.