Bristol City 1 Blackpool 3

Thomas Ince set aside family friendships to put Blackpool firmly back in the promotion race.

Ince scored a second half brace against dad Paul's good pal, City keeper David James before revealing:

"I spoke to Jamo before the game and he wished me all the best. He's still rolling back the years. He played with my dad for England and it's good to see he's still doing it. My dad likes to think he could too of course.

Jamo's nephew was one of my good friends and we still get along and so it was nice to see him. He made one great save from me and kept out quite a lot of our shots which shows he's still got spring in his legs and what a good goalkeeper he is, however old he is. Mind you, our keeper made a few good saves as well."

Grafting midfielder Ince, 20, has picked up his old man's work ethic, but also has some silky skills and pace in his locker that must have had the former England skipper drooling with pride (and envy) as he watched from the stand.

Former Liverpool squad player Ince pegged back Jon Stead's 29th minute opener with a deflected free kick ten minutes after the break that left James wrong-footed and helpless.

Six minutes before the end, the youngster nodded in at the far post for his fifth goal of the campaign as James failed to reach a chipped cross from substitute Brett Ormerod.

Veteran hit man Kevin Phillips sealed the points three minutes later when he buried a five yard volley for his thirteenth goal of the season and Ince said:

"We've got a great blends of youth and experience at the club and the younger players like me are learning lots from players like Brett and the magic LuaLua. We attack teams, home and away, and when you've got the maestro Kev Phillips playing you know he's going to score goals."

Manager Ian Holloway made six changes to the team that suffered a 4-1 midweek mauling at home to West Ham - a performance that he described as the worst of the season, but he was delighted with his team's efforts at Ashton Gate and said:

"We bounced back after a terrible evening which my lads took a little bit personally. They should be really proud of themselves though. If you look at West Ham's budget and our budget, it's a quarter of theirs, but let's see where we are at the end of the season.

Even with injuries I can still produce attacking football that's hard to stop and we showed that by scoring three goals away from home."

As far as Ince was concerned Holloway enthused:

"He's got a fantastic pedigree and he's proving already he's got all sorts of abilities and if he can be a wide man who scores he might end up worth a fortune.

He was never a risk. Because of Liverpool's interest we managed to put him in the Charlie Adam deal and so you lose a very good player like Charlie, but I've managed to pick one up myself."

Bristolian Holloway was also moved by the reception he received from the home support and the former Bristol Rovers player and manager said:

"I was blown away really. I played for the enemy, their enemy. I played as hard as I could and tried as hard as I could. That hasn't always gone down well, but I'm proud of Bristol and at the moment they're the best team in this area and I wish them all the very best."

City have picked up only one point in the last six games and they are now firmly in a relegation scrap. Boss Derek McInnes banned his players from talking to the media after the game and groaned:

"We saw the best and the worst of us today. In the first half we defended with resolve and Blackpool didn't lay a glove on us.

There equaliser was the defining moment and the game started to suit them in the last twenty minutes and they ran out comfortable winners."

The turning point was Blackpool's equaliser and I felt the ref let us down with the award of the free-kick. But we should have defended it better.

A lot of things are going against us at the moment, but there is nothing to gain from feeling sorry for ourselves."

My clipping from the new Sunday paper

My clipping from the today's edition

Oxford United 2 Barnet 1

It was a hair-raising evening at the Kassam and Oxford eventually cut it close before brushing aside Barnet (I'll get my coat).

Ryan Clarke's late penalty save secured a win for promotion hopefuls Oxford.

Clarke, 29, shut out 21-goal hotshot Izale McLeod after defender Damian Batt had up-ended striker Ricky Holmes in the box in the 84th minute.

Scott Rendell, 25, claimed his first Oxford goal since his deadline day loan signing from Wycombe to trigger a fightback.

Southampton loanee winger Lee Holmes picked out Rendell with a pin point cross and the striker nodded in from five yards two minutes before the break.

James Constable sealed the win in the 56th minute.

Rendell's shot from eight yards was blocked in a crowded box, but co-striker Constable pounced on the rebound to prod in from one yard for his eleventh goal of the campaign.

Barnet defender Michael Hector opened the scoring with his second of the season in the 16th minute with a low 20 yard shot.

Oxford boss Chris Wilder was delighted with his team's win and said:

"It was down to the boys to get us out of a hole when we went behind and they did. 

We had enough of the play and enough opportunities to win the game comfortably. We had two or three chances in the first half when we should've been out of sight, but we weren't."

Wilder also paid tribute to keeper Ryan Clarke who made a late penalty save after shrugging off a stomach bug and dragging himself off his sick bed to play. Wilder said:

"I'm in debt to our keeper for making the save, but credit also goes to our scout who watched McLeod score a penalty recently and reported back to us. Mind you Ryan still had to stop it."

Disappointed Barnet manager Lawrie Sanchez said:

"I thought we did well early on and got the lead. It woke them up though and we were under the cosh for the next twenty minutes.

We started stroking the ball around well in the last twenty minutes and we should have got something from the game, but we didn't."

My clipping from this morning's paper alongside the League Two table which shows a handy five point gap between Oxford and the play-off 'chasers'.

N.B. Swindon and Cheltenham fans should note that their clubs were cut from the scan accidentally and - for those who are unaware - they are, respectively, first and second in the table :-)

Oxford v Barnet

I will be back at the Kassam this evening to watch Oxford take on Barnet and - after hearing Chris Wilder and Ryan Clarke talking on Saturday - I suspect that this is one of the fixtures they fully expect to win if they are to push for promotion.


Wilder has told the club's website that he has a full squad to choose from tonight and any concerns about a suspected broken nose picked up by Andy Whing against Rovers on Saturday. Wilder told http://www.oufc.co.uk:  "It won't affect his modelling career. He is a tough character and will be fine."


Whing was impressive as he took on the Gas in the mud bath that is the Memorial Ground. Following the game, Clarke even took time to reveal that he knew Whing would be the one player from both sides to come off the field dirtier than even the goalkeepers and put this down to his team mate's robust, all-action displays.


As Oxford edge towards the business end of the season, players of experience like Whing and Michael Duberry are going to be very important to Wilder's squad. If the Us continue their current form, they will find themselves in "squeaky bum" territory before too long and a few younger nerves may need settling.


When I spoke to Clarke, he called a play-off spot the "minimum expected", but Oxford fans will be pleased to hear his eyes told another story - this guy definitely wants an 'automatic' spot.


Barnet look to have done enough to secure their League Two status for another season, but don't look strong enough to gatecrash the promotion party. However, in Izale McLeod they have a very dangerous striker who has already plundered twenty goals this season, so Duberry and his colleagues in the defence might find himself tested by the former MK Dons hit man.

Football Hack TV - er, sort of!

I was fortunate enough to get an iPad2 recently (only days before Apple announced the launch of iPad3!), and on Saturday decided to test myself as a cameraman/TV interviewer. The results of a couple of brief exchanges with Chris Wilder and Mark McGhee follow below.

Setting aside the fact that my television career is never likely to go anywhere fast, that I’m no Paxman and I have the shakes (drink I suspect rather than nerves), I hope that these little clips add something to the blog.

Rovers manager Mark McGhee

Oxford boss Chris Wilder

Bristol Rovers 0 Oxford United 0

When I arrived at the Memorial Ground on Saturday one hour before kick-off, it was on the back of a morning of rain and the Rovers’ grounds men were using garden forks to try and drain the pitch. The referee had already inspected it once and even as he and his assists warmed up, you could see him checking out some of the more suspect patches. To be frank I didn't think the game would go ahead and so credit goes to the ground staff for all their hard work.

The home team find a 'green' patch on which to warm up

It was obvious from well before kick off that neither team would be doing a Barca impression!

Michael Poke earned Rovers a point and feels he is finally making up for lost time.

Man of the match Poke, 26, shut out Oxford with a couple of great saves before revealing:

"I was at Southampton from the age of nine and didn't figure much. I left about 18 months ago to join Brighton, but before the season started they signed Casper. Even though he became a good mate, I still wasn't getting any games.

Paul Buckle brought me here on January 1st this year for one month. When he was at Torquay he had taken me on loan so knew what I could do. When he got sacked the very next day I thought 'here we go'. I didn't know what it would mean and was half expecting to be sent back to Brighton.

But Mark McGhee extended the loan which gave me a lot of confidence. I think I'm allowed one more month after this if the club want me. I would definitely be interested."

Opposite number Ryan Clarke returned to his home town club for the first time since leaving in 2006 and he joked:

"I think they only gave Michael the man of the match award because I was here and they wanted to rub it in. He's a top keeper though. He came to get some games and it's a good club to come to. It's got a reputation for bringing some decent keepers through - obviously."

And Clarke feels Oxford are perfectly placed for a promotion charge. He said:

"We want to aim high and want to go up. We've got a run in that we'd like, but with the size and expectations of the club we've got to look at the play-offs at a minimum."

Both managers were content with a draw on a wet and muddy pitch and Rovers chief McGhee said:

"They are a decent team and it was a closely contested game. You felt if someone could nick a goal it would be the decisive goal. I can't say we should have won, but it would have been hard on us if we'd lost and so we'll take it."

Oxford boss Christ Wilder was delighted with the effort shown by his team and said:

"I thought it was a real good game and we shaded it. The performance was good and the desire to get something out of the game - whether it was a draw or a win - was top notch."

My clipping from this morning's paper

Bristol Rovers v Oxford

I'm off to the Mem again tomorrow, but I'll need to wear my neutral hat as another of the teams from my 'patch', Oxford, are the visitors.

And Rovers boss Marck McGhee has revealed that injured Aussie loan defender Aaron Downes did a scouting job on Oxford in their win over Dagenham this week and came back with a comprehensive report so there shouldn't be any surprises in store for the Gas.

Defender Gary Sawyer has joined Downes, Adam Virgo and Wayne Brown in the treatment room as Rovers plan to bounce back following a 1-0 reverse at Shreswbury on Tuesday evening.

Oxford will be without several key players themselves as they look to chase down bitter rivals Swindon who see to be on the march towards League One.

Forward threats Jon-Paul Pittman, Tom Craddock and Alfie Potter - who broke an ankle in training - will be missing along with defender Tony Capaldi, alkthough the latter has yet to make his debut since making a summer move to the Kassam from Morecambe.

However, Oxford's defence has served them fairly well this season when marshalled by former Chelsea player Michael Duberry - someone whose attitude and commitment to the cause has been quite refreshing to see and a lesson to any other top player dropping down the divisions with age. He has also managed to maintain fitness levels that are the envy of most bof his team mates (not to mention the old sweats in the Press Box like me!).

It's shaping up to be one hell of a battle for the automatic promotion places and the play-off places in League Two this season and if Rovers can shriug off the defeat against Shrewsbury, I wouldn't yet bet against them sneaking into the end-of-season knock out competition.

I'm sure that the Oxford fans would like to see the Us go straight up, but a play-off spot would represent yet another step forward under current manager Chris Wilder.

So this might not be the last time this season these two teams play each other and if they make it to Wembley I'll happily turn up as just a fan - of who though, I just don't know.

Rangers - A Wake Up Call

Even Celtic fans will agree that Rangers are a massive football club and so to see it go into administration is a real concern - and should be to the rest of football.

Of course Premier League, La Liga and Serie A clubs will point to the fact that TV money has all but dried up in Scotland and that the money continues to flow in England, Italy and Spain. Maybe ... for the moment.

The UK tax authorities are now looking at eight clubs in England and given the global financial climate at the moment, it's hard to believe that equivalent bodies in other countries aren't doing the same.

I wonder how many Arsenal fans are now looking at the situation at Ibrox and thinking: Maybe Wenger isn't so daft by not splashing the cash on over-priced stars after all. Better a top six finish and a team to follow in future season than total financial meltdown.

If the big clubs of Europe think that the TV money will always be there to bail them out, they are just kidding themselves. Anyone remember NTL?

Brett Pitman 2 Crystal Palace 2

Brett Pitman's late double last night reminded me that you should never get complacent when reporting on a football match!

The order wasn't a large one and - despite hoping City could kick start their season on a personal level - I had just about wrapped things up when Brett bounced off the bench in the 71st minute.

Six minutes later he buried a superb free kick, but even though he and his team mates starting battering the Crystal Palace defence, I still felt confident that I merely needed to press 'send' before ambling down to hear what the managers had to say.

Chris Woods and wingers Albert Adomah and Yannick Bolasie had been the pick of City's crop all night, but when Palace keeper Julian Speroni superbly palmed away a late Woods header, the Kiwi striker - and everyone else at Ashton Gate - must have thought it wasn't to be their night. I certainly did!

Cue Mr. Pitman's 93rd minute equalising volley, excessive use of the 'delete' button and beads of sweat on what was a chilly evening. Bugger!

My 1st Attempt ...

Wilfried Zaha showed he has what it takes to become Britain's GOALDEN boy.

Livewire Zaha is being tracked by a host of Premier League outfits, but tormented relegation candidates City last night in front of British Olympic Team Manager Stuart Pearce.

Ivory Coast-born Zaha, 19, grabbed his sixth goal of the season in the 14th minute.

City Midfielder Stephen Pearson was left flat-footed by Zaha on the left flank before the England U-19 winger cut into the box and lashed the ball past former England stopper David James from a tight angle.

And veteran James, 41, needed to be at his best to beat away three other goal bound shots from Zaha before winger Darren Ambrose converted from the spot in the 69th minute after City skipper Liam Fontaine had hauled down substitute Glenn Murray.

Sub Brett Pitman hauled City back into the game with a 77th minute 25 yard free kick, but it was too little, too late.

...became ...

My 'final' piece in this morning's paper

I eventually staggered into the press conference to listen to two fairly chuffed managers ...

Palace manager Dougie Freedman was happy with a point despite seeing his team concede an equaliser at the death. He said:

"Result wise, I'm disappointed, but overall it was a fantastic performance. We got the lead, but just couldn't hang on.

It was a good point away from home, but we just haven't got that killer instinct right now."

City boss Derek McInnes was delighted with substitute Brett Pitman's late brace and said:

"He's a great kid to work with. He's been frustrated, but kept working hard in training. He got both goals, but every one of the players gave their all in the second half.

When the second goal went in it was no more than we deserved. Another five minutes and we could have gone on and won it."

Bristol City v Crystal Palace

City manager Derek McInnes is making noises about bringing in new faces at Ashton Gate, but it looks as though he will have to make do with the same squad that have lost the last three games when Palace visit tonight.

It will be my visit to the red side of Bristol since November when McInnes seemed to be steadying the ship after an awful start to the season under Keith Millen, but now the Robins are threatening to drop back into the relegation mire after three defeats on the trot.

Palace aren't having a great run themselves (one win in eight) and so if McInnes is to get City firing again, this might be the perfect opportunity. With Forest only five points off the pace behind them and third from bottom of the table, the pressure is on.

McInnes welcomes back both James Wilson and Yannick Bolasie following their red cards (and subsequent suspensions) in the 3-0 reverse at Leeds, but it looks as though he will be without stalwart Louis Carey and midfielder Neil Kilkenny.

Palace boss Dougie Freedman will only be missing full back Dean Moxey who broke a leg last November. Freedman's main problem appears to be finding someone to put the ball in the net as the club's top scorer is Glenn Murray with just five goals.

Frankly, this one has scoreless draw written all over it ... so expect a ten goal thriller.

Let’s get rid of the handshake

If Luis Suárez is feeling hard done to at the moment, he could do worse than take note of PFA chief Gordon Taylor’s reaction. Taylor always appears to come out in defence of his members when they are under attack – but not this time. He has even criticised the Uruguayan.

Suárez’s refusal to shake Evra’s hand on Saturday (on the back of Wayne Bridge refusing to shake John Terry’s hand and the decision to scrap hand-shaking at the recent QPR v Chelsea game), makes we wonder what the point of it is anyway.

Surely it would be better to leave it until the end of the game and allow players to use their own discretion? Minutes before the game the players are about to go into ‘battle’ and aren’t in a bonhomie frame of mind anyway. They are more likely to be thinking of ways to kick the opposition up in the air at that point!

I may be wrong (I often am), but I seem to recall that this pre-match ritual was introduced and insisted on by a certain Sepp Blatter at FIFA.

You can’t force respect on anyone. It needs to be earned and so with the best will in the world, insisting that two grown men shake hands won’t bring about a sudden change of heart if they don’t feel that respect for each other anyway.