Glenn Murray missed a late chance to all but secure Brighton & Hove Albino's Premier League status as Chris Hughton's side earned a point against this blogger's beloved (though unsellable) Newcastle. For much of the match the Albinos struggled to test a Magpies side that took a first-half lead through Ayoze Pérez's brilliant strike. The home side had not produced an effort on target until the seventy fifth minute when Pascal Groß headed in the equaliser after Murray had nodded Bruno's cross into his path. Hughton - still a very popular figure on Tyneside after his dignified time as manager of United between 2009 and 2010 - had a look of despair on the touchline after Murray's last-gasp miss, but it is debatable whether his side would have deserved to take all three points. Once again they were devoid of invention in attack and broke a club record of eleven hours and thirteen minutes without a goal, which had been held since 1970. At the other end, his defence struggled in the first half against attacking duo Pérez and Salomón Rondón, who combined again for Newcastle's opener. Paul Dummett delivered the ball into the area for the Venezuelan target-man, whose chested knock-down was lashed home by Pérez, his fifth goal in the last three games. The introduction of Solly March in the second half improved Brighton as an attacking force. How Hughton would love to be if Rafa The Gaffer's position. Both managers have spent relatively modest sums in transfer windows, but the Spaniard always seems to get the best out of what has been at his disposal. For a second successive season Benitez's defence and attack have peaked in the second half of the campaign having been as low as eighteenth in the Premiership back in early January. Rondón and Pérez - together with the arrival of record signing Miguel Almirón - have been key to this revival and the duo now combined for seven Premier League goals this season - the most by a Newcastle pair in one season since 1999-2000 when Alan Shearer and Nolberto Solano managed it eight times. And, bar The Seagulls' two second-half chances, The Magpies' defence - currently the seventh tightest in the league - looked untroubled and compact.
Elsewhere, West Hamsters United became the first away team to win at Stottingtot Hotshot's new ground, Cardiff City edged nearer to relegation, while Southampton and Bournemouth shared six goals in a pulsating South coast derby. Michail Antonio's brilliant second-half goal was enough to give the Hamsters what was only their third away win of the season, with Fabian Balbuena clearing Vincent Janssen's header off the line in stoppage time to ensure their three points. Hotshot's boss, Mauricio Pochettino, claimed that his side were suffering from 'stress and fatigue.' Which, if you Google 'lame excuses for hugely under-performing, grossly over-paid prima donnas losing a football match,' you'll find that one pretty near to the top of the list. Already relegated Fulham's Ryan Babel fired in a superb goal from twenty five yards out to condemn Whinging Neil Wazzcock's Cardiff to defeat at Craven Cottage. The result leaves The Bluebirds third bottom with two games left, three points adrift of Brighton and clinging to survival by their fingertips. Wolves stay in seventh place after a two-one win at Watford. Diogo Jota grabbed the winning goal thirteen minutes from time to send Watford down to ninth in the table. Everton lost ground in the race to possibly take a place in the Europa League next season with a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace. In the Championship, Sheffield United effectively sealed promotion to the Premier League by beating relegated Ipswich at Bramall Lane. Goals from Scott Hogan and Jack O'Connell put The Blades six points clear of third-placed Dirty Leeds. Norwich City also subsequently clinched promotion with a two-one win over Blackburn Vindaloos. At the other end of the table, Rotherham United were relegated from the Championship after West Bromwich Albinos came from behind to beat them at The Hawthorns. Following Millwall's goalless draw with Dirty Stoke in Saturday's early kick-off, Rotherham needed to at least avoid defeat by The Albinos to have any chance of survival. But their two-one defeat means they will join already relegated Ipswich and Notlob Wanderings in League One next season. The top two teams in League One will be promoted to the Championship, with the next four entering the play-offs. Promotion is between Luton Town, Barnsley, Portsmouth and Blunderland who are all assured of at least a play-off place. Two of those teams will join Charlton Not Very Athletic in the play-offs - as will one from Doncaster, Peterborough and Coventry. The bottom four teams will be relegated to League Two. Bradford City were relegated on 19 April after they lost at Coventry and other results went against them later that day. The remaining three places are between seven teams going into the final day of the season. Lincoln City became the first EFL team to be promoted from League Two when they drew with Cheltenham on 13 April and they clinched the title on 22 April. Bury, Mansfield, Milton Keynes and Forest Green are assured of at least a play-off place. All five are still able to claim one of the two remaining automatic promotion spots. Bury will be promoted if they win their game in hand at Tranmere on Tuesday. The bottom two teams will be relegated to the National League. Yeovil Town's relegation was confirmed after a two-two draw at Northampton. They will go down with either Notts County or Macclesfield. Goal difference means County are likely to go down unless they win their final game and Macclesfield lose theirs. Leyton Orient were promoted to League Two from the National League after a goalless draw with Braintree on the final day of the National League season to clinch the title. Six teams - AFC Fylde, Harrogate Town, Wrexham, Eastleigh, Solihull Moors and Salford City now go into a two-tier round of play-offs to decide the second promotion place. Maidstone United, Havant & Waterlooville, Braintree Town and Aldershot Town have been relegated and will be replaced by the champions and play-off winners of the National League North and South divisions. Torquay United clinched the National League South title on 13 April, with Stockport County making sure of the North title this weekend. In the North play-offs, Altrincham, Blyth Spartans, Chorley, Spennymoor Town, Bradford Park Avenue and Brackley Town are involved. The South play-offs involve Bath City, Wealdstone, Woking, Welling United and Chelmsford City.
Notlob Wanderings have been told that they must complete their two remaining Championship fixtures this season by the English Football League Board. The EFL called off Saturday's match with Brentford after Notlob's players said that they would not play for the club again until they received outstanding wages. Notlob have been told to rearrange that game 'at the earliest opportunity.' An EFL statement said the 'ownership difficulties' at the relegated club 'remain a significant concern.' Former Watford owner Laurence Bassini has reportedly agreed a deal to take over the club from Ken Anderson, which remains subject to EFL approval. When it was announced on 17 April, Notlob said 'significant funds' would be made available to pay outstanding wages and a number of long-term creditors. However, a club statement on Saturday said that Anderson is receiving 'independent advice from his professional advisors' regarding the takeover, with claims that Bassini had promised to 'arrange payment for players and coaching staff' and had 'failed to make the funds available.' In his own statement, Anderson claimed that he was giving Bassini 'until close of play on Monday to complete the outstanding matters' and that 'the ball is now firmly in Mister Bassini's court. Unfortunately, we never really know what Mister Bassini's true intentions are,' he added. Before the Brentford postponement, Bassini told Sky Sports News that he would pay the players and had transferred a million knicker to 'settle the bill' so that the game could go ahead, but he 'did not have control' to pay them and he was still awaiting a share certificate from Anderson. The EFL statement added: 'We will look to work with both parties over the next week to bring all outstanding matters to a speedy conclusion. It should be recognised that the resolution is not in our hands but we will assist where possible, with the long-term interests of Bolton Wanderers and its supporters our priority.' Wanderings' players and members of the coaching staff are still awaiting wage payments for March and this month's salaries are due on Tuesday. On Friday, the first-team squad issued a joint statement saying that the financial situation was 'creating mental, emotional and financial burdens for people through no fault of their own.' They added that it was 'placing great strain on ourselves and our families.' The players also apologised to supporters for what 'may be seen as drastic action' but stressed that the decision to go on strike had 'not been taken lightly' and that they had taken the stance 'with deep regret.' In their statement on Saturday morning, the EFL said it was 'satisfied that a team can be selected from the players they have registered and available to them' for their remaining two league fixtures, even if first-team players do not make themselves available for selection. The EFL would have forced Notlob to play Saturday's fixture had their under-eighteen team not been involved in a match on Thursday, bringing concerns about 'potential player welfare issues.' The EFL statement read: 'This same issue will not reoccur as the club is able to plan the players' preparation and recovery time accordingly.' BBC Sport claims the the Professional Footballers' Association believes it is 'up to the EFL' to reach a solution which protects the integrity of the Championship - but that it is 'not keen' on the idea of youth-team players being used en-masse to fulfil Notlob's remaining games.
Montenegro have been ordered to play their next home match behind closed doors following the sick and wicked racist abuse of England players by some of their supporters in a Euro 2020 qualifier in Podgorica in March. England won five-one but the match was overshadowed by racist chanting from some home 'fans' directed at several England players, including Danny Rose. Montenegro will also reportedly have to display a UEFA banner with the wording 'Equal Game' at their next game and have been fined twenty thousand Euros. That fine was for different charges of setting off fireworks, throwing objects, crowd disturbances and blocking stairways. In a statement the Football Association said: 'We hope that their next home match being played behind closed doors sends out a message that racism has no place in football or in wider society.' But, sadly, it probably won't because racist numbskulls generally can't be reasoned with. A pity, dear blog reader, but if history has taught us anything it's that when it comes to rational thought, racist numbskulls are as thick as pig's shite and twice as nasty. Rose later said he 'can't wait to see the back of football' and suggested he was 'frustrated' at the lack of action taken against fans' racism. The left-back said: 'When countries get fined what I probably spend on a night out in London, what do you expect?' Although, if Rose really does spend twenty grand on a night out in London then that, in and of itself, is a pretty shocking indictment of how overpaid many modern footballers are when twenty grand is probably the annual salary of some of the Stottingtot Hotshots fans who watch Rose on a weekly basis. Anyway, that's an entirely separate matter and one that, really, should be left for another day. UEFA's disciplinary committee announced a number of punishments on Friday. They included Slovakia being fined forty three thousand Euros for a number of charges including illicit chants during their Euro 2020 qualifier against Hungary; Hungary themselves given a partial stadium closure for a number of charges including racist behaviour and fined twenty three thousand Euros from the same match; Dynamo Kiev fined sixty thousand Euros (following a Europa League game against Moscow Chelski FC; Fußball-Club Bayern München fined twelve thousand Euros for blocking stairways during a Champions League tie against Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws; The Republic of Ireland fined ten thousand Euros after some of their fans threw tennis ball onto the pitch during a recent Euro 2020 qualifier against Georgia. Raheem Sterling scored England's fifth goal against Montenegro in the eighty first minute and celebrated by putting his hands to his ears, a gesture he later said was 'a response' to the sick racist abuse, which was also aimed at Callum Hudson-Odoi. In injury time Rose was booked following a strong challenge on Aleksandar Boljevic, with more racist chants aimed at the twenty eight-year-old. Montenegro coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic subsequently claimed that he did not 'hear or notice' any racist abuse - one or two people even believed him - but England manager Gareth Southgate said 'there's no doubt in my mind it happened - it's unacceptable.' The minimum punishment from UEFA for an incident of racism is a partial stadium closure, while a second offence results in one match being played behind closed doors and a fine of fifty thousand Euros. Montenegro's next home match is a qualifier against Kosovo on 7 June.
Paris St-Germain forward Neymar has been banned by UEFA for three European games for insulting match officials on Instagram after the Champions League defeat by The Scum. The Brazilian called referee Damir Skomina's late penalty decision made using the video assistant referee system, 'a disgrace' on social media. Neymar, who was injured, watched The Scum overturn a two-nil first-leg deficit. He will now miss half of next season's Champions League group stage. Neymar said that the penalty, which was scored by Marcus Rashford, 'doesn't exist.' The twenty seven-year-old went on to add: 'It's a disgrace. Four guys who know nothing about football watch a slow-motion replay in front of the television.' The referee reviewed footage of the ball striking the hand of PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe before awarding the visitors an injury-time penalty that gave them a three-one win in the second leg on 6 March, enabling them to progress on the away goals rule. 'What can he do with his hand while his back is turned?' whinged Neymar, who missed both legs with a broken metatarsal. Neymar returned to action after a three-month injury absence as a half-time substitute as PSG celebrated winning Ligue Un by beating Monaco on Sunday.
Police are investigating after a referee was forced to abandon a match in the Republic of Ireland after allegedly being wrestled to the ground. Sunday's game in County Wexford was called off during the second-half with visitors Gorey Celtic winning five-nil at Ballagh United. 'It is alleged that a man in his fifties was assaulted by a player while refereeing a match,' said a police spokesman. Irish referee Daniel Sweeney suffered a broken jaw in a separate attack in November. The latest incident occurred as the sides played in an end-of-season match refereed by Michael Comiskey in division four of the Wexford League. 'A complaint of minor assault was reported to Gardaí following a soccer match at the Ballagh, Enniscorthy,' said a police spokesman. 'The injured party did not require medical attention. Enquires are ongoing.' Wexford Football League Secretary Gertrude Rowlands told BBC Sport: 'We await the referee's report and a full investigation will take place by the WFL.' John Lavery, secretary of Gorey Celtic, said that the player involved was not from his club, while the home side declined to comment further. The Irish Soccer Referees' Society expressed its concern about assaults on officials in November after the attack on Sweeney in a car park following Mullingar Town's match at Horseleap in County Offaly. 'Without referees there is no game. We, as referees, should be viewed as a resource and in turn we should be given the protection and respect we deserve,' said president Paul O'Brien. Three Mullingar players were banned for forty years each by the Combined Counties League over the incident. Another ex-Mullingar player had his lifetime playing ban extended to include all football activities.
