SIX of the Best from QPR & Fuchs in Trouble with Newport County?

On DAB Plus online, buy the Talksport app and on your smart speaker, UFL All Access. On Talksport 2. Hello and welcome to EFL All Access here on Talksport 2. With me, Hugh Wiesencroft. This weekend was full of goals including Queen's Park Rangers, producing six of the best to take down Portsmouth 61 at Loftus Road. Pumpy were cut to ribbons, Pumpy remained bang and troubled but still a point above the bottom three. After that draw for Leicester, QPR with a first win in the league over Portsmouth since 2011 under Neil Warnock. QPR 6, Portsmouth 1. One team that now find themselves in the playoff places are Southampton, baby relegations threatened Oxford United 2-0 to overtake Rexham on goal difference. After the break we need to make sure that we are focused again with the same sharpness that we have at the very moment and we'll make sure that we have a proper run up to the games coming up and then we need to fight for every point. And after a good win away to Bristol City, can this be the turning point for James Morrison and Wes Bromers? They attempt to avoid the drop to league one. We know we can't get carried away, it's one part of the job done and it will keep working hard after a few days off and we'll go again and again. So much to discuss over the next hour in the company of the former Ipswich and Luton striker, Sam Parking, who's alongside me on EFL All Access here on Talksport 2. Hello, hope you're all well, hope as ever you got the result you are hoping for this weekend and hello. Back in the studio, face to face, this is how it's meant to be. Sam Parking, how are you? Fair where the player are on ice, as soon as the sun's come out. The sun's, as soon as the sun comes out, little walk down the South Bank, everything feels a little bit better, even a football. And it gets around to Easter brilliant, love it. I still have thermals on the Ipswich at the weekend, just because where you sit behind the dugouts stays in shadow for the whole game. Early kickoff did get a bit chilly, but good game. Let's touch on the, let's start really by touching it on the top of the championship table because you watch Coventry get a three-nil win at Swansea, all of the goals coming in 11 first half minutes. It's the seventh victory in their past eight games. It means the sky blues. And now nine points clear of Middlesbrough at the top of the table. 11 points ahead of third place Ipswich with seven games remaining this season. But I couldn't get the victory held to a goal is draw away at Blackburn. As I mentioned, Mill will win to Portman Road where I was came from behind to earn a point. It could have been more as well with Mahalo and Vanavitch smashing the crossbar right at the death. But really the big takeaways, a feeling that Coventry have got their mojo back and they're really almost home and host. Yeah, I think a defining weekend, not only because of the convincing nature of their result, but also earlier in the in the day. Middlesbrough. Ipswich and Mill will obviously play in each other. So there was drop points all round going into that fixture and I think just encapsulated the goal power that Coventry have had throughout the season. What 22 more goals than Middlesbrough. I know that's in keeping with everyone else in the table. But if I'm comparing those two quickly goals all around the team and I think it emphasized that at the weekend. Swansea played well for 45 minutes. They spend a couple of good opportunities. I think that it's obvious where they need to improve Swansea ahead of next year. They're a two over a line on him. So I think it's an attacking area as where they need to improve. But yeah, blown away in that 11 minutes spell and fan singing. We're going to win the league. I think when that starts ringing around stadiums, something's kind of happened. I think and they've probably been a little bit reluctant to go that far. But here in that after the final whistle at the weekend, they're very nearly there now. Yeah, it was a missed opportunity for Middlesbrough to take a step closer to promotion with obviously Ipswich and Millwall just beneath them sharing the swirls at Portman Road. They had a lot of chart. Well, they really should have scored in the game at some stage, but they didn't really deliver in front of goal this weekend. That was a big takeaway. And they haven't have late three games without a win as well for them. Huge clash at home to Millwall on Good Friday. That game's going to be live here on Talksport too. They need to take all three points in that game, but are for sure. Yeah, they're going to have to show their resolve now. Because I think we've all been really impressed when they've got it right, especially in some high profile away games in the last couple of months and put on some brilliant attacking performances. But it's in front of their own fans and obviously going to Blackburn at the weekend where I think they've just been a little bit limp in attack, whether that's the nerves just starting to really affect them at the time of the season at this crunch time or whether there's just a little bit of a lack of quality maybe in those front positions. That was my sentiment a few months ago and then they've put some teams and very good teams to the sword on their travels. But I just think maybe that's going to be what ultimately cost them that second automatic position. Look, it's still there for them, but I just still favor it, which I think in this hunt for second. And of course, Millwall went to Portman Road at the weekend and very nearly won it late on. So we've been foolish to discount Millwall. Were they been there so long? I was impressed by Millwall very disappointed with Ipswich at the weekend. Ipswich played this style. They got this kind of ultra level of control over the game. You remember a few seasons ago where Man City were winning the title, but people were calling them boring. I'm not saying Ipswich are a boring team, but they have this element where they really want to control things. And don't take too many risks. It's all left up to the two wingers to kind of have a go at their man and get it into the box or get a shot of. And I felt like it was a game where they needed to risk it a little bit more. The change is pretty much like for like ultimately it's probably the reason they didn't win the game because they've really none of the substitutions delivered on the afternoon. You're sitting there, you're looking at the two benches, you think, you know, the players waiting instead of for Ipswich. If they come on, they can definitely make an impact and they just didn't. They were flat. The big change that didn't work was bringing Jane Phillagine onto the left. I know he's been out for a long time. It's not a negative per se against Phillagine. It's that Jack Clark was playing so well. Really was a threat in that second half playing on the left hand side. They moved him over to the right. He played another 10 or so minutes and barely saw the ball. And that's maybe something that Curie McKenna is going to have to reflect on. We did ask him afterwards about the, you know, him trying to get them both onto the pitch at the same time. Whether that can have an effect, I think as Phillagine works his way back from injury, you just have to give it to Jack Clark and say, you're the man informed and you're the man that's going to get us to the Premier League. Maybe that's something he'll do moving forward. It's been a slightly different dynamic, I think, in terms of the system at Ipswich this year because Leaf Davis was so prevalent during their last championship promotion season and obviously in the Premier League. But because of that left hand side that you referenced there Phillagine in Clark, probably been there two players with the best output and Mometis come into the club during the window as well. It just means that he's not more ordinary in Leaf Davis as he was kind of in their previous guys. The other thing I think psychologically and you know, this was certainly a relevant point early part of the season when they drew a few games out of the traps. But they're everyone's big game now Ipswich and they had zero to slight pressure a few years ago when they were going for promotion. So it's very, very different now you're out there to be to be hit at, to be struck down. Everyone go into Portman Road, everyone's taking on Ipswich at their home ground. It's their big game or one of their biggest games of the season. So the players have got to deal with that pressure. It means that more teams sit in. It means the expectation is greater for Ipswich from their own supporters. And I think that's been a little bit of a factor. Coventry haven't necessarily had that same expectation given that there wasn't much change at their club in the summer and yeah, Frank Lampard's obviously only 18 months or whatever into the job now. So yeah, it's not been perfect for Ipswich, but they're still there and you know, they've got that ability to overturn middle. But I'm sure at some stage because they they meet that they're not. They absolutely. Yeah, and that will be a huge, huge game and it could be a decider for that second automatic promotion spot. But as you mentioned, things going very smoothly for Coventry right now. Got another victory at the weekend, but maybe the results of the weekend came for Queen's part Rangers, a ruthless display to thrash struggling ports with six goals to one at Loftus Road. But six touches in the opposition area and six goals scored, which is absolutely unbelievable from the arts. The manager Julian Stephane spoke after the game about how clinical his side were. I wanted us well to give the opportunity for the other players to like Benny because that is always really positive for the group and during the all the session. I wanted to see Poku as well during 30 minutes. And this means he had a little issues on her so I don't want to take any risk. Yeah, so sometimes you can score two times and it's not perfect. 60 minutes, 60 minutes. 70 minutes, 70 minutes. It's not because you score two times that you have to stay on the pitch until the last season. No, it's not like this. You gave everything for the teammates, for the team. It's perfect and now we have a new player of fresh. We have to continue and to finish a job. So incredible. result for Stephans men back to back wins for Queen's part Rangers, which is important because that's as many as they secured in their previous 11 championship games. But really the story was just about how clinical they were and clinical and Queen's part Rangers not something we can usually put in the same sentence this season. So how good were they for you, Sam? Oh, it was light years away from, you know, two or three weeks ago. You can put that lester result in there as well. I mean, two weeks ago, I thought they were going to get dragged into a fight. I think they still required at least another victory. So I didn't know where the next goal was coming from. Let alone the next victory. So I was very taken aback. I thought that would probably be a draw or maybe sportsman because of their predicament. Yeah. Go away from home. They've been to London twice recently and one well at Charlton and Mill. I think their last victories actually six games ago. So I'm visiting it being a really difficult afternoon for QPR, but yeah, you summed up very, very clinical and Pompey, the one big tactical decision that John the C no made. I think he's come out and and held his hands up. He got wrong. He would be was playing higher as a 10, which is done before at Derby. And I can understand it because he's obviously all action. He can press. He can get in the box and get on the end of things. But to deploy John Swift slightly deeper, obviously QPR found gaps and and hugely expose them. So it's about how they react now. Portsmouth there engulfed in a hell of a battle down there at the foot of the table. But yeah, QPR much needed and they can look forward the supporters as well to next season with a few additions, possibly having a better campaign where they make a fist of the playoffs. Only one point taken from the last 18 available for Portsmouth. This isn't the moment of the season to lose your form. And I just wonder whether we're seeing now that things have turned for them in a really negative direction and how they get themselves back from it. I know you mentioned the tactical switch, but the thing that's kind of outlined John Maceños. If you're like underdog Pompey side is the organization defensively making it difficult for others to score against them. The ability to nick a goal. Colby Bishop, when he has been available, obviously, has been a big part of just being a figurehead, whether he scores or not, someone to play off the same in Murphy, nicking goals from the from the left hand side. They just don't seem to have that rhythm at the moment. Those two are really anyone else in an attacking sense. So how does John Maceño get more from his side? Very difficult, because I think you presented a lot of the reasons there. And I think throughout the course of this season, when you felt they're in a negative spot in decline, they've put together a run of results to pull themselves away. And that most recent run, the two games I referenced a minute ago in London, six points from two really tricky away games. That was almost them safe and secure. You would have felt so all of a sudden to lose the frat and park fear factor as well. Four straight defeats there. I think by all by the odd goal. And you hit the nail on the head. Colby Bishop is a big part of it. They couldn't persevere with him any longer. He had to come out because his confidence is shot and they made that decision. And it's not reaped the rewards as of yet. So what do you do? You rely on having some pretty good defenders in there, making yourselves hard to beat and hope that some goals come from elsewhere. Maybe sure to see back. Maybe Regan Paul, Chaplin, can he come to life? Obviously Murphy is a huge loss. I mean, you have to factor that into their current predicament. But I saw them a few weeks ago. And I came away from the game thinking that Zach Johnson looked their most threatening player. He's their fallback. And yeah, he does go high and into midfield. But I thought that surmises it quite well. They are really struggling in the attacking areas. I even looked at it and thought, is this a squad that really should have let Calum Lang go? You know, they need something a little bit of an impetus some goals from in and around the penalty area. Just not coming for them at the moment in a big few weeks ahead for sports. Of course, you're listening to EFL access on Talks ball to impartial. We've been done all the delivery on the McDonald's at from 11 a.m. It's 18 plus fees applied to delivery orders subject to availability and prices may vary coming up. We're going to look into the championship relegation battle as well. Incredibly tight down there. We spoke a little bit about portsmith. We'll take a look at the other teams in trouble next on EFL all access. We have to talk about a sign that we spoke about a lot during the Eric Ramsey era. Maybe haven't touched on too much during James Morrison's time in charge of course in charge until the end of the season. And it feels like his side and now beginning to turn a corner. George Campbell scoring the only goal as West Bromwich, Javi and Edge pass Bristol city by a goal to Neil to clinch a second consecutive victory in their bid to secure their championship status. Let's hear from James Morrison who says his side will keep fighting till the very end. Well, I think the belief has been there from Sheffield and we've been building that week to week day to day. So we should take that into the next mini season. And then that the belief should just go through the roof. But we know we can't get carried away. It's one part of the job done. And we'll keep working hard after a few days off and we'll go again and again. Right, let's get some more on the victory for West Brom and the progress they're making the line to say. And he's kept us right up to date throughout the season, Lewis Cox, West Bromwich, Javi and reporter for the express and stars with us now. Good evening. You good to be with you, Sam. Hi. Thanks for being with us. Firstly, tell us about the game at the weekend and just what you really made of West Brom's performance for the 90 minutes. Do you know, it was we've done a lot of away games this season for very little reward is a long long time coming that way. Win and the 3,200 travelling baggies in the away and didn't mind too much the manner of the performance to be honest. It was it was good. It was strong. It was deserved only one. They should have won the game by a great margin. And it perhaps says a lot for Bristol City struggles at the moment as they sort of slump down to mid table. But Albin are revitalised, rejuvenated under Mars. And long may it continue because ending that sort of bar in a way drought has been a big priority, you know, high priority. They made it back to back wins also incredibly for the first time since the first two weekends of the season. So they've finally found a bit of form, a bit of momentum, the belief really confidence that it's just been lacking all season under under every manager of the prize. I know the performance Lewis against Charlton at home was was pretty good if memory serves, but the line in the sand seems to be the Oxford defeat where I read kind of scathing reports from all the supporters about the manner of that or the level of that performance. So it's been pretty consistent. Would you agree with that since that day? And what's he done James Morrison? Because I'm reading a lot about just putting players in their their right positions defending properly a bit more threat. It's got to be more to that hasn't it? It's interesting. You mentioned Oxford away. So that was that was James Morrison's first game as caretaker. So obviously Eric Ramsey who came in to replace Ryan Mason in January lasted just weeks, you know, it was it was nine winless, I think nine and it didn't manage to pick up that that crucial victory needed just to turn things around to get his regime up and running, you know. So so Marthoroo was first in coach. Obviously people will know him as a as a former midfield and much absolutely adored at the Hawthorns, you know rightly so for his time in the Premier League and he he takes on as caretaker for the third time actually in about a year such as been the revolving door really at the Hawthorns. And go to Oxford as you mentioned it was second bottom at the time Oxford at the Kassam then born in 2026 if memory serves Oxford. This is the very end of February. I don't think it even scored a goal and and and I'll be when and lost and and they were desperate. Not not for the first time the away and gave the players pelters at full times and it was you know it was it was deserved really the level of performance the manner of performance was was so low and for someone the Helm as caretaker like James Morrison, I think you know he's really respected character as coach and I think he really he was really hurt by it. He took it really personally and those comments you reference there we were down in the bowels of the Kassam Stadium in the little press conference room and you know Mazza rightly so he just let rip yeah he just unleashed on his players publicly he called out where's where's my big centre off where's my goal keeper you know the goal second seeded he he called out the character in personality of the side that day which has been reference before this season and so it was a strange one really we were sort of left thinking after that you know given Oxford a sort of shot in the arm thinking where where do West Bronco next really okay two permanent managers gone James Morrison as caretaker is is injured an awful day is his first game of caretaker and then a couple of days later the club a little surprised and he gave Morrison confirm Morrison the job until the end of the season and I have to say the four games since have been nothing but a recovery step by step you know the first was a creditable deserved hard work and draw up at Brownle Lane whether a good value for the point and they returned to the Hawthorne's for a midweek or against them against that Vampton and it would it look finally like it was going to be that way that he's done wouldn't I'll be in in 2026 and they did everything right that night but conceded the stoppage time level or any thinking off you still can't get over the line and then Hawke came to the Hawthorne's a couple of sat days ago and Hawke with about the best of way record in the championship and they were absolutely swept outside I'll be in with brilliant one of the best formances I've put in for a couple of years and and yes superb you know that really kickstarted it all and got people's thinking, right, yeah, Mars is the man, yeah, he's the one that's going to do this. And they backed it up at Ashton Gate that weekend, when and when, back to the back for the first times in ages, I think you asked me how they did it. I mean, 442s have got a lot to be praised for because I think we're seeing a bit of it back in the game a bit more now, aren't we? Which is wonderful to see. And Mars has absolutely credit to him. He's got on the phone to some of his old bosses. He's got on the blower to Tony Pula, who's been speaking to Steve Clark, Tony Mogray. Who bought into the, bought into the club about 20 years ago. They've taken their advice, but credit to him. Yeah, got a bit of back to basics, bit of simplicity, bit of tight solid compact, but he's got a metal and he's got the defending as well at the same time. It's been credit to him. It's incredibly tight down there at four points separating Blackburn in 19th, then Westbrook, Portsmouth, Leicester and Oxford. Sam, when you're looking at what James Morrison has done over the past couple of games, it's a small sample size. Obviously, as we've heard, it's going very well indeed. Do you see them pulling through that? Well, I thought it was a hell of a risk. If I'm being completely honest a few weeks ago, given the predicament they found themselves in the way they were losing games and the manner of that Oxford defeat, you, you would have said probably that Leicester had maybe more in their armory, that Portsmouth at that stage were in in better form. Obviously, not one in six now. So all of a sudden Westbrook are the ones with a little bit of momentum. So all credit to him. Absolutely. I think really important getting the four players scoring that whole game, that Lewis reference as well. They've been a little bit quite a lot of indifference in their performance in the front front areas. So yeah, they are the ones now that you would say have the rhythm. Oxford as well, probably about the rhythm until the weekend. So they've given themselves a great opportunity getting out. If he can keep them up, does James Morrison deserve the job permanently because this ownership group since coming in, their decisions around the managerial position haven't gone very smoothly. Is it a case of the fans loving things going well? So given the job, will do they need someone with, you know, with a bigger picture at hand if they do stay in the championship, do they need someone that can get them right to the top end of the table? Some million dollar question, isn't it? I mean, I think first of all, let's get there to say people. I do think, I do think under James Morrison, it's going to, going to happen. I think he's leading the way. And by the way, until that whole victory, that won in 2026. And I'm happy to say, and I think most baggies listening, certainly our readers, thought they'd gone to be honest. I know it was tight, but that won in the calendar year. That won since the first day of October and won back to back since start of August. I thought they were done for really. So that's the job he's done. I think if he gets them over the line and they keep forming like this, even in differently and he gets them over the line, I think the achievement the job he's done, I think he deserves it to be honest. And that's not to say you don't take stuff. There will be interested candidates out there, I'm sure. But I just think, you know, I'm not, I was told me before previously, it's an ambition of his, you know, to be a head coach. This is obviously his club. If he keeps going the way he's going, I think he absolutely deserves a shot. Obviously it will be a very popular call. But I don't just think you do it unsentiment. You do it on feeling. You do it on the body of work. James Morrison will have then put through for the two months, for the three months. This isn't just somebody that, you know, that was sort of destined to just be a coach and didn't ever fancy a crack at it. Who knows what route James Morrison would have had to, you know, take him to get into into head coaching. But it looks like through the, the sort of the shambles that the season has been, it looks like an opportunity's sort of open dot for him. And he's certainly taking it. And I, yeah, I think it would be a big call for the club not to give it in really if he gets them over the line. Okay, that's a big gift. Let's see if he can do it. Lewis Cox, West from a border for the Expressing Star. Thank you very much for being with us. Thanks, Shows. Well, just a quick look at the other teams, Sam, fighting for the drop. We mentioned Oxford United. They were beaten two nil by Southampton. We'll talk about the Saints later in the show. It was a goal this draw this weekend for Leicester away at Watford, Pat and Daccom, Mr Penelty to help bring three points back to the King power. Leicester, when they had that six point deduction and dropped into the relegation zone, I think people thought, well, they shouldn't really be there. And over the course of time, they'll just pull themselves out of it. Won't they? They don't deserve to be in the bottom three. But as the weeks go by and the lack of wins at the moment, how concerned are you getting for Leicester City? Maybe being a league one side next season? Well, you have to be. I think I think when Gary Rout went in there, you immediately think that he's going to have a bounce off the bat. And you think that some of those more talented players, the lights of Mavadidi and Fataloo, what we got to skip, Wink's in midfield. Jordan James is at a great season, despite their, their plight. You think these guys are going to find enough goals to get them enough points to rise up the table? But I think that the reality of the situation is they're in a tough spot. They're in a tough spot. There's a lack of confidence there. And you know, a bit like episode to the other end of the table, Leicester here. Some of these guys may never have experienced this type of situation. These guys are international footballers. Some of them have been playing in the Premier League in many cases. If you compare their dressing room to that of Charlton, Port Smith, Oxford, these guys would have been knowing exactly what they were going into this season. That's, I think, a really valid point. Oxford would have known if they finished 21st and the likelihood was it was going to go down to the last knock into the season. That's a huge successful season for them. Leicester, anything really, despite the points penalty hanging over anything but a playoff position would have been perceived as a, as a failure. And the reality is now that it's been such a desperate season. They're in, they're in a real position where they could drop out of the table. I think they've improved, but it's been marginal. They're harder to beat and you're still waiting for them to put both sides of the game together. Should have won at Watford. Obviously, that's two points that would have seen them out of the drop zone today as we as we speak with optimism that could rise. Okay. All right. We're going to go from the bottom of the table back up to the playoff's next and that race to make the top six. And just how good are the Saints looking right now? That is all coming up next. This is the FL all access. I'm Hugh Wasncroft. The former Swindon Luton striker San Parking is alongside me. Let's take a look at the race for the playoff spots then. Hall of Lost three of their last five, but they did be already relegated at Sheffield Wednesday of the weekend. They stay fifth. Rex and one away at Sheffield United. They stay level on points with sixth place Southampton and Derby County. A further three points back off their win over Birmingham City. So the sides in around the playoffs going well at this weekend, but maybe the informed side amongst them is Southampton. And it was a wonder goal from Shay Charles to win it. They came past Oxford United with a two-nil victory. Their ninth win in 12 championship games. Karl Larrin also on target as the Saints extended their and beaten run to 14 games in all competitions consolidating their place in the top six. Let's hear from manager Tonda Eckert who says he's proud of what his team has shown in the last four months. We need to make sure that we are focused again with the same sharpness that we have at the very moment. And we'll make sure that we have a proper run up to the games coming up and then we need to fight for every point. And we'll see him hopefully back after the break. One of the most exciting players in this league. That gives you another strength to your bow, so to speak. Yeah, it's uh, was closed for today. I think that for him, the break comes at the right time now and then I hope you're back even stronger. So Tonda Eckert feeling very good indeed and he's right too. Let's get more on it. Without the house Southampton reporter for the daily echo. Good evening. How are you? I am not too bad. Like you said, 14 games and beaten not a lot to complain about. Absolutely. And sunshine on the South Coast. I'm sure as well. Um, looks like Southampton have started to hit form at the perfect time. Um, but it's interesting. Isn't it? Tonda Eckert. We've had so many this season, you know, managers who are really given their first opportunity. Maybe in the FL, maybe in the championship, maybe first opportunity, full stop to manage a side. And we all have question marks in that regard because we just don't know what to expect. And it started so well. There was a little bit of a wobble and everyone went, uh-oh, Southampton have made another gaff with their manager. But it has been brilliant since I think it was four defeats in a row. Was it? It has been absolutely fantastic. The big word for me is confidence because there was quality there. There's talent in the squad. They now are really performing as a unit and feeling good about themselves. Yeah, they are. And I think if we're going to use another sort of manager term, I think his clarity as well. Yeah, when they sacked Will still, uh, the likely at 33 year old manager never managed in England before. The last thing we all thought they needed was a 32 year old manager who's never managed anywhere before. Um, let alone in England. But the clarity I think that he gives the players. Um, you look at the last few games. I'm sure you've watched bits of them. Maybe, uh, Coventry, obviously Norwich and then Oxford, who's spoken about in the space of eight days. They used three different, uh, formations, three different tactical systems in each of those games. And you think, all right, maybe a manager should probably just play the same 11 and winning team every week. But they seem to have so much sort of detail and understanding about what he's asking them to do the players. And they can make those changes. They can, you know, bring players in now and they still seem to look cohesive. And, you know, we went into Oxford in the weekend thinking, this is a tricky one. They're four games unbeaten. They were, you know, a couple of minutes away from four. wins in a row, if not for a penalty at the weekend. And yet he's 40 minutes into the game, the two goals up and all of a sudden it's a completely different context. There's no danger, there's no low block, there's no fear and they can just coast their way through to the end. Now they've got an international break for two weeks and it's Arsenal and the FA Cup quarter final. And I think maybe some fans will be watching that car about Cup Final and thinking why not give them a go? Maybe I spit too much, but we'll see. Yeah, I would totally agree with that sentiment. The flexibility that he shows from game to game is what's really impressed me about the manager. I remember them going very direct at Portmouth in the in the Derby. Obviously a very difficult, different, sorry, tactical set up to win at Coventry last week. And in some of the home games, they've really wilded me with some, some beautiful football, Alfie. So would you echo that, I suppose? And I think losing at a Armstrong, I know he'd maybe not been having as fruitful a season, but that could have disrupted any side. So how are Rocht Stewart and Karl Larrin doing in his absence and have they got the goal power, do you think to make it up or be it if it's via the playoffs? Yeah, like you said, Adam Armstrong must have been on 10, 11 goals at the time he left and he always hits 20 in the Champions League. So it's a big one to let walk out the door. But I think it was a decision made, all right, yes, for financial reasons. I think the, you know, the figures are going to come out for the last year soon. And, you know, I don't think they're going to look great because you lose a lot of money coming down from the Premier League. But also that squad feeling that, you know, feeling he'd been in maybe a year too long. You know, he'd seen too much in a St. shirt to really go again. Karl Larrin and Rocht Stewart are very similar profiles of player. Adam Armstrong's five foot seven and, you know, good with his feet, but it doesn't win a ball in the air. Tom the record wants the ability to go along. Like you said, Rocht Stewart and Karl Larrin can both bring the ball down. Rocht is more of a ranger player. I mean, I think Rocht Stewart's so unlucky of injuries, by the way. And the last couple of years that how many games he's missed, I think the he'd be a Premier League player if he hadn't missed those games. But to find that rhythm again, it must be so difficult. Karl Larrin's a bit less mobile, maybe, but very clever, very experienced. I think he's 30 years old, a father of three. You know, he's got life experience. He's mean. He backs into defenders. I've always wanted to win the ball in the air. And he's got a couple of goals to his name now. Two headers, I think, winning games and then scored with his feet for the first time in a week. But to be a centre for who's a dead Sam Parkie. And running around the back guard. I do believe it gives you perspective. And I didn't have my family until after I stopped playing. But yeah, I used to look on Envious, I think, at some of the guys, the more experienced lads used to come in and, you know, they've got bigger things going on in their lives. So that gave them a degree of freedom when I was playing and single. It's everything to you, which can can eat you up a little bit. So I do buy into that. And yeah, a lot of lads do have families early and it probably gives you a better focus. Well, there was a goal at the weekend that came from a man who clearly has a lot of freedom. Shay Charles, scoring an absolute wonder goal at the weekend. Was it a pleasure to be there to see that one and tell us about this and a player who we know has such high potential and a lot of people have been keeping a close eye on. He's been given a chance to start every single week this season pretty much. How is he developing? Yeah, well, you know what, he started every week for the first half of the season. And he picked up a big hamstring injury in October in one of Will Still's final games. And to be fair, I think he's only started two or three games since then, and, you know, coming that team got a lot of competition with fling downs, obviously, or a male, a little bit of cam brag is a player they like and Kasper Yander. But Shay Charles has got some big games of Northern Ireland this week. Cops are going to Italy, playing in Bergamo in a World Cup playoff. He's a man city academy, so you know he's in the good of his feet. He's a bit of a character, a bit of a leader, I think. Certainly was captain of the city of youth teams. But it has been a bit stop and start for him. And, you know, he scored an unbelievable goal at Leicester to win it for free in the 93rd minute a couple of weeks ago. It was nominated for gold in the month. And what a moment for him, you know, sub-emptened for the first time in their history coming from free goals down to winner league game. And then he's followed up with what will surely be gold of the season, you know, maybe even the championship, but certainly for Saints on the weekend. I mean, it's a shame, obviously, we're sat on the halfway line where we're sitting the press box. The best view of the goal is the one from the end right behind him. You can just see how far the ball starts outside of the post. And, you know, before it comes in, it leaves the keeper with absolutely no chance. And might think, why is he even shooting from there? Anybody who's watched the goal will think that, but Tom the record said, actually, you know, he was one against two at the time. If he loses the ball, there's a counter attack on the safest thing to do was just to well it and, you know, put it behind for a goal kick. So he's done exactly that and fair play has paid off. You think saying to going up? So the ultimate question isn't it? They've got some big games. You know, they've got Rex and Derby and it's still to play. Those will be the games that ultimately decide where they finish. And that 14 and beaten like Sam says, flexible, intact. They've got a lot of quality in the squad confidence. Why not? The only worry is if they do somehow be Arsenal in the FA Cup, where all these games going to go because the only free midweek has already been used up. They're going to play it switch midweek and the last day of the season. You know, if they have to, if they beat Arsenal that goes the FA Cup semi final, they're going to have to play Tuesday and Thursday one week. And that's obviously going to be a big ask. But I'm not sure that's going to happen. Great though that we're saying if they be Arsenal because who knows, it can happen. It's the magic of the FA Cup and Southampton are playing absolutely fantastically. So we shall see what lies ahead. That's Alfie House. Southampton reporter for the daily echo. Really appreciate you being with us. Thank you. No, Sam. Let's very quickly look at the other teams competing for that playoff spot. A one all draw with who in between Ipswich and Mill, all that I mentioned a little bit earlier on. All coming from behind to beat the already relegated chef of Wednesday, three, one, Derby County sneaky team in eighth place, not going away. They beat Birmingham City one, they'll at Pride Park on on Derby. And they may be being a little bit underrated in this playoff race because at the moment they're getting the job done. Yeah, quite possibly. I think a lot of kind of neutrals casual observers to the championship would probably still have, you know, Watford in there. Maybe it's too much of a shot to have Norwich and Birmingham now given their points for turns. And just the fact that Norwich have been motoring pretty much since, since December, it would be incredible if they could accumulate the points to get anywhere near it, really given their problems of the early season. I'm kind of stopping at eighth. That's been my feeling for about a week now. I wouldn't have Watford having enough to get in the mix. Derby, back to back, one-neil wins wasn't particularly pretty, um, uh, Fraton Park, but back to up at the weekend again, hard to beat. Very robust. And you know what, accumulated all of a sudden, a really formidable front line. And I wouldn't say they've actually been firing, you know, probably in, in Unison, you've had smodics popped up with the goal last week. Adjermeng's had some fine games. Morris had a great start to the season. If they can get a little bit more out of those guys, why not? But I think as we sit here today, I mean, everyone's still anticipating the whole drop in out, but they've been there for the entirety. Um, obviously they've been a bit of an outlier sometimes in terms of statistics, but, um, there are hard team to beat similar to Derby. I'd have to say Samaptain getting now the way that they're going. The Arsenal game is a problem, um, when you factor in those games, because I think Rex and we're really affected in the aftermath of their Chelsea game in the Cup. They looked exhausted, uh, in their defeat to whole city at home at the race course. So I think it can have an effect still on a championship squad, despite Samaptain being pretty blessed in terms of quality and numbers. But the way they're playing, I've really enjoyed watching them. I think they're in a great place right now, probably the four team in the division. They get in for me. So maybe it's whole Rex and Derby for the other position. It's going to be really intriguing, I think, to see how things go. You mentioned Rex and who of course got a, a good win away at Sheffield United. It's going to be back to the drawing board for them in the summer, but Rex and still fighting away. There was a little bit of drama, not too, uh, long ago, uh, with the Swansea game and how it was broadcast, uh, with our friends, uh, on Sky Sports, we had a, we had a show, didn't we, you know, Rob McElenny, Ryan Reynolds, big Hollywood stars, who own, um, who own, uh, Rex and of course, but there are reports in the papers at Swansea. They're going to raise concerns over that coverage because they were given a, I think a commentary spot on it and an hour long buildup show as well. Normal commentary was still available on the red button, but some fans maybe didn't realise it and they felt like they were given priority at every opportunity. Um, is that just a bit of Welsh rivalry coming through? You know, I'm going to sit on the fence here with my freelance, I hat on the, um, when I saw it, yeah, I wasn't too sure that I agree with that. I think, you know, it's, it's all good fun. Um, I'd like to hear the Snoop Dogg commentary. If that becomes a thing next season, that's for sure. He did it with NBC for the Olympics. Didn't he hear him in Kevin Hart? Yeah. And they've had plenty of headlines about that. And I'm not saying that the club has seat that by any stretch, but, you know, I think sometimes we can get annoyed about things when I think it was there if people wanted to tune in. Um, and if you wanted to watch the normal broadcast, you know, Ashley Williams was, was the Swansea representative there. So listen, you didn't have to tune in. Did you? If you weren't, um, to caring about their rexamonus. Uh, I don't work for Sky Sports, um, I am available if they want me. But the, the point for me is while rexamon here, they might be a premier league side very, very soon. And you've got such a level of stardom, the ability to add something extra to the NFL. I do think we have to grip it at every opportunity. Obviously sad for the Swansea fans that they felt like they were kind of the team that was put to one side. But actually, I think for all clubs in the year fell take a step back. Let's use this to raise the profile of all of our clubs. And there would have been a lot of teams. I look sorry a lot of people around the world watching that Swansea team for the first time who knows actually saying I like these guys playing in white. Let's hope that we can build the product over the coming years so that all the clubs have more money better players and you can watch a better product on the Saturday afternoon. That's all I'll say on it anyway. Sky you know my number. You're listening to EFL all access on Talksport 2 in partnership with McDonalds order delivery on the McDonalds app from 11 a.m. It's 18 plus fees applied to delivery orders subject to availability. Price this May vary will delve into lead to next with Newport County and Crawley Town deep in trouble stay with us on EFL all access. You're listening to EFL all access on Talksport 2 formaluten and Swindon striker Sam Parking is alongside myself Hugh Woosencroft. Let's talk Newport struggles Crawley Town as well. Big news there they parted company with manager Scott Lindsay after a run of 10 games without a win Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town left the club 1 point and 2 places above the lead to relegation zone. He was reappointed a year ago 6 months after he left the club to take charge at MK Don's. The club has made no announcement on who's going to take charge of the side in the interim. They next play on Saturday at home to 16th place. Jilling and Sam very firstly you understand the thinking here. You know they need to do everything they can to stay in the EFL and results weren't going their way. Yeah I understand it I think when you get down to the business end of the season you're in this predicament you only have to look at some of the other teams in that area of league 2 that have changed managers and had in some cases a little bit of a positive upturn. Quite a few have done so in recent weeks obviously Tramir and Barrow they're waiting to have that uplift but they've rolled the dice as well. So I understand it I feel sad for Scott Lindsay someone that I've come across and I've got quite a lot of time for and he obviously achieved something miraculous by getting Crawley promoted but the second spell has not gone to plan and even during the window he kind of got the band back together from that promotion season and the likes of Dan Orlsey and Kellan Gordon, Ronan Darcy, Lollos who went off to Bolton they've not been able to recapture that form and obviously the results especially at home have been desperately poor so it's a last throw the dice to try and find salvation. Who do they bring in a what type of manager and turn things around to try and keep them in the position. Yeah well if it was someone younger or a bit of a first time manager someone like Scott Lindsay he's got that pedigree of doing it before there knowing the club having success there would be someone you'd look at so having tried that and failed. Yeah I don't know where they turn I would be very surprised if it isn't kind of a hardened EFL manager who's got a couple of hundred games or all more under his belt to try and come in and perform a little bit of an escape act. Okay alright we'll see if they can make it happen after the dismissal of Scott Lindsay let's move on to Newport. Their boss Christian Foukes says his side need to be smarter after they missed an opportunity to inch away from the lead to relegation zone with a two under feet at Warsaw Warsaw 10th in the table. They're two points off the playoffs while Newport are a point and one place above the relegation zone fellow struggles Barrow Harrogat Crawley and Tranmeer all lost as well. Let's speak to Jamie Harris from the 1912 exiles Newport County podcast. Good evening. How are you? Very well. How are you doing? Well yeah very well indeed. I wonder how you're feeling after the weekend and the performance. What do you make of it? Yeah it's one of those frustrating ones you know ever since Christian Foukes has come in since November I think he's been in charge. A lot of the post-match press conferences have been you know we we deserved a bit more or you know we we showed glimpses of good performance but you know I mean a bit of a sucker punch defeat at the weekend 97th minute this happened all too often for us and yeah my frustrations are showing a bit because you know these these pleasantries of you know we might have had a decent performance but at this stage it's all about results isn't it we need points on the board. Yeah absolutely you do and it feels like I don't know how you saw it but whether Christian Foukes was right to call it a missed opportunity to talk about the players as well on a weekend like this was that fair? I think it was you know I think the last three games that we've had we won at Barnett last weekend which was a great performance and a much needed three points and then we narrowly lost to Bromley again a late winner in midweek and then losing to Warsaw you know these are two sides to it you know in the top half of the table and perhaps they're not the the games that we want to be you know we've got games against teams you know below below or around us in the table and they're the games you want to focus on but it was a missed opportunity you know we put in a decent performance but we just seem to be finding those moments in games where we can just concede a very soft goal and then the momentum shifts entirely against us and at this stage you know in league 2 I still feel anyone can be anyone even you know the sides around the bottom around us you know can go to Bromley or go to Warsaw and get three points so for sure it's a missed opportunity because it is so so tight down the bottom of them in at the any point is a point gained I would say Jamie there's still a little bit of green alongside Newport and and Harrogate Town in contrast to the form that tram here cruelly and indeed barrow have shown over the last few months has your optimism levels risen in the last month or so given the plight of some of those other sides around you yeah certainly in the last month it has risen I think we we've managed to get ourselves out of the bottom two for the first time since September and I'll be honest with you from the start of the season through to about early February I was already you know looking at the the National League away matches that I would have to be looking forward to but you know for sure three wins in in the last I think it's eight games which doesn't sound fantastic but when you're down the bottom any win is a is a good win so and there have been some good performances there so I think there's you know the side are showing a bit of fight and a bit of character but in my view it needs to be shown a little bit more often a little bit more lead to nice I it was interesting what you're saying about cruelly and the sort of hunt for a new manager for them and you know you're looking for a hardened EFL manager I think you know in November we were looking for exactly that and we ended up with a man in Christian foods who I mean to be honest has very little if any management experience at all let alone in the EFL so it's yeah I think now it's a fight and and just sort of yeah just knowing exactly how to sort of scrape a win or scrape a point away from home is just so so important in this in this league and we're starting to show a little bit of that but it's you know we've got a lot of six pointers in our last seven games and I think it'll be whoever whoever shows that more will be the teams that survive. Sorry to do this but if it if it was to be the national league next season what would it mean for that for the club and and Hugh Jenkins and Christian Foux himself I mean I've got an idea from the outside and seeing you a few times what the plan seems to be or has been under these guys tenure but it's become probably a little bit convoluted the trouble that you're in how do you see the overall picture if the worst was to happen. I'm very worried if the worst if the worst happens we've got one of the smallest budgets in the league if you look at our finances over the last few years you know the reason you know Hugh Jenkins came in was because despite the the various cup runs we'd had over the years and getting to play our finals yeah we just don't have the money and I do really fear you know in the national league against side to you know don't have the same financial restraints that you do have in the airfell and considering it's two up I don't see how we would survive. I you know I I have visions of us going straight down again into into the the national league south it's such a tough lead to get out of and financially we're not really in a position to sort of fight our way back up into the football league so yeah very very worried and you know the future as well of the club you know we we play at Rodney Crade in the centre of Newport you know Newport C centre whether that's a viable you know ground for us in the national league I'm not sure there's a whole load of other reasons why including the rugby teams as well but yeah and if you take us out of the city centre then where does that leave us it's it is a really really concerning time for the club and that's why survival is so so important. Jamie we wish you all the best of luck for the rest of the season hopefully things go well for the club that's Jamie Harish from the 1912 XR's Newport County podcast okay Sam before we go just time for our pundits picks with McDonald's pundits picks on Talks more to with McDonald's got big McDonald's hunger the big arch is here to stay available from 11 am subject to availability price and participation may vary okay Sam who have you gone for okay two words go to the week uh Shay Charles we already spoke about him earlier one district yeah uh I'm going to go for Barnett as my team of the week I'm just looking up you know whether in the table MK don's flying I'm beating run did not see Barnett getting into there so keeps their faint hopes of playoffs alive and player Doreek sorry Swansea I love Snoop Dogg Mark Gow has a good good friend of mine. I love Lee Trondle, but it's going to have to be Mac Grimes. Go in there with the microscope on him, all the booze and to put in a top captain's performance and to get a goal to add extra gloss. I thought it was a fantastic performance from him. Okay, brilliant. Sam, thank you very much indeed for being with us. And that was all. Thanks to Mac Donalds. Pundits picks on Talksport 2 with Mac Donalds. Got big Mac Donalds hunger. The big arch is here to stay available from 11 AM subject to availability, price and participation may vary. Okay, just time to tell you about the upcoming football. Remember, international break now will be back with a double exclusive commentary on Talksport on Good Friday. That's a third of April. Lunchtime kickoff between Middlesbrough and Mill will huge game in terms of the automatic promotion. And at 8pm at Coventry Hostarby County, Darby looking to get into the top six. Coventry looking to run away to the Premier League as well. So make sure you're with us for that. And remember, EFL All Access is available as a podcast. You can get it wherever you get your podcast from. Just search EFL All Access will be back next Monday from 6pm rounding up all the big stories. We'll see you then.