Wrexham Match Day Live – Wrexham vs Blackburn Rovers

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[music] [music] [music] Oo, woohoo. [music] >> [music] [music] >> feel. [music] [music] [music] Every deep >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Panound thar. A very good afternoon one and all and welcome to match day live. Rexom up against Blackburn Rovers this afternoon. We’re back at the Stoke Kyrass just three days after that excellent victory over Bristol City as Rexom try and do something they haven’t yet achieved this season and that’s pull off back-to back league victories. Well, the man with the opportunity to mastermind that is alongside me, Phil Parkinson, Rex manager. Thanks for joining us on match day live this afternoon. Very quick turnaround from midweek. Phil, what are your thoughts looking ahead to this one? Yeah, you know, it’s great to be here at home and uh yeah, quick turnaround, but I feel we’ve recovered well. Had a good day Thursday, particularly for the lads who hadn’t played on Wednesday and uh yeah, decent day yesterday as well. >> Now, when we chatted postmatch against Bristol City, Phil, we talked about the possibility of you rotating a bit today because of the short turnound. Matty James comes back into midfield for George Dobson. Lewis O’Brien in for George Thomasson, otherwise the same team who played midweek. Just talk us through that. Yeah, I just felt that um you know do and Tommo had gave us so much the other night and and we’ve got two really good players in Lewis and Matty to come in. Obviously we brought Sheffy off in both the last two games so he hasn’t quite got as many minutes in the legs as those two. Um yeah and just a little bit changing the dynamic really. >> Blackman Rover is very good away from home this season. They’ve struggled at Ewood Park. What sort of specific challenges are you expecting them to present? >> I think they’ll be 532. Um, similar to what they’ve done on the travels. Um, I don’t think it’s been a major tactical shift away from home. I think what you’ve seen happen is they’ve gone into away games on the back of a home defeat, responded. Maybe teams have taken them lightly. We certainly won’t be doing that today. They got some good players and they work very hard. you know, particularly on the travels, they’ve almost caught teams out with with their energy and and the work rate. And we’ve got to be ready for that to match that. You know, today’s about matching the work rate, being physical and all the jewels and and coming out on top in those and and then letting the football take care of itself. I know you’ll always be ruthlessly focused on the next match, Phil, but coming into this one and sitting in the top half for the first time this season, it must give you and the staff and the squad a terrific feeling that you’re really finding your feet now at this level. Yeah, there’s a there’s a a good air of confidence about the lads and uh which is great to see. Uh we’re building. Um yeah, and we’re enjoying it. You know, it’s great to to be back here today and uh you know, can’t wait for a cracking atmosphere and you know, it’s a it’s a good opportunity to to go now into a free week and it’s nothing left out there today, boys. Come on, we need everything. >> Phil, thanks so much for joining us. Hopefully we’ll catch you post match as well. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Cheers. Cheers. Brexit manager Phil Parkinson giving us his team news for this afternoon’s match against visitors Blackburn Rovers. Two changes then from the team deployed in midweek against Bristol City. Matty James returning in midfield in for George Dobson and Lewis O’Brien steps back in for George Thomasson. Otherwise, all those who started in midweek retain the jersey. Josh Windas has had a bit of illness but he is fit enough to take his place on the bench. And Ollie Wthbone continuing his return from injury again is a substitute. No substitutes here on match day live this afternoon. We’ve still got our favored front two of Andy Morell and Mia Roberts. Good to see you both. >> And you Chris, good to be here. >> It’s nice, Mir, isn’t it? Coming off the back of four home wins on the bounce. The first few weeks of the season were a bit testing here, but now this is starting to feel a little bit like the last two seasons in terms of a real fortress for teams to come and play in. It certainly is and I think you know now everyone’s sort of looking at that table and and you’re looking you know above above at the other teams around us and and sort of looking at those sides who who have managed to get more points than us at the moment. I think it’s only Stoke that that have actually you know beaten us out out of that top sort of 10 or so at the moment as it stands. So it’s quite exciting and I think people are sort of saying it a little bit quietly at the moment but I think you know there’s there’s certainly an excitement and you know suddenly a bit more confidence starting to starting to grow. Andy, we thought there’ll be changes in the center of the park from midweek and two of the central midfield three stepping out today. How much disruption will that cause do you think in terms of some of the rhythms that have been starting to build in certain pockets of the pitch? Or will it be the case that the players are used to each other enough from training and different combinations this season that we shouldn’t see too much difference? >> Well, I think in my day if you got left out after you’, you know, won one, drawn one or, you know, you’d be really disappointed. But football’s different these days and this rotation and energizing your midfield and keeping everybody fresh is certainly something new to to me when I you know rather than when I used to play. But I think the players are used to it and I think it’s looking at the midfield the three that played over the last two games. I think he has just looked at it. They’ve got O’Brien to come in and freshen it up. They’ve got Matty James ready to go. Let’s just put them in and it doesn’t change anything. The the the tactics will be the same. The the messages will be the same. It’s just two different players that have got an abundance of energy and desperate to to do well, which is which is what you want. >> And Lewis O’Brien, of course, a couple of years ago was perilously close to being a Blackburn Rovers player. Almost signed on transfer deadline day, photographed in the Blackburn kit, and then a bit of admin didn’t get done by midnight. He never walked through the door as a Blackburn player in the end and ended up going out to America to get a bit of football. So, he might have unfinished business, you’d think, running out against Blackburn. >> Yeah. Well, mentally that that hurts, I think, because when you get to that situation, your mind’s already there. You’re moving. You’re looking at houses and all that type of thing. You think it’s done and ready. When it doesn’t happen, it must be so difficult mentally to do it. Yes, Colorado probably helps for for 6 months in in your life. I don’t think that’s a bad place to end up. Um, but you talk about sliding door moments in careers and things that do go and don’t go. That’s one that maybe didn’t go his way, but it’s opened the door to here and he’s certainly taken that those chances and I’m looking forward to him being in that midfield again because I love the way he gets forward and creates himself a chance. I just like him maybe to take a couple more than he has done. And Mia, this Blackburn side this season, a bit of a cure its egg. They’ve really struggled at home, but have been good on their travels. But eight players from the Rover’s first team squad, either ill or injured today. A very young bench. Looking at that lineup, Rexom, despite Blackburn’s away form, will surely fancy their chances. >> Yeah, I think it’s a great time to play them. Obviously, we know their away record is superb. You know, second best in the league, uh, away from Ewood Park. But, like you say, that they’re missing, you know, quality first team players. All the ones that are injured would go straight into the starting 11. And, you know, that’s a huge blow. And they’re also, you know, big characters and and leaders as well in this team. So, they’ve certainly missed that over the last few weeks. You can see that in the form how they’ve, you know, maybe managed to pick up a point or three and then just not been able to follow that up. So, you know, that’s clear for all to see. But it’s it’s certainly an interesting side still. And I think me and Andy were talking about it before. You know, when you you’ve had this many knockbacks, I think it it builds you as a team and you want to prove people wrong. So, I think they’ll be coming here today, you know, with something to prove. >> Well, a man who retains his place in the Rexom starting 11 today is Dan Scar. He’s come in in that central center back position over the last few weeks and helped to achieve four consecutive clean sheets. We’re going to have a look at Dan up against Andre Good Jansson in today’s head-to-head because Good Johnson is the Blackburn center forward with four goals to his name already. The son of Ida Goodjansson who starred of course for Chelsea and Barcelona. He’s been in decent form this season, but Andy Morell, the form of Dan Scar since he’s come back into this side, nothing short of sensational. >> Yeah, absolutely. And I spoke about him on on Wednesday night after the game about how it just showed huge professionalism and a great mentality to to the situation he was in at the start of the season preseason coming into the season and then the opportunity has arisen that he’s got into the middle of this back back three and he has just grabbed it with both hands. He’s thrown his body in the way of footballs when when they’re flying at his goal. He’s brave and he’s and he’s actually his distribution has been really good as well when he’s got the ball. He’s just kept his game simple. probably passes it either side of him and he’s done his job and great credit to him because he’s probably looking at the start of the season and seeing a lot of six or seven lads ahead of him in those positions and he’s just taken his opportunity and long may it continue because I love seeing that type of story where you’ve dug in, trained hard and got your opportunity and taken it. I remember last season and it might have been at Blackpool and we were talking about the players you hadn’t met had many chances last season and you said you’d seen it in your own career where teams had a player who they didn’t pick very often got promoted and then that player plays more the level up. We’re starting to see that. >> Yeah, absolutely. And it’s sort of coming to fruition as well. He played the last few games of the last season where he was really important and the pressure was on and he coped with that no problems. And again, it’s that mentality of I’m going in and I’m staying in. And he’s and he’s he’s had a setback again this season with the three or four new boys coming in. But he gone again and and like we said, you you step up that level and it’s the other ones, the fringe players that that take these opportunities. And you can’t if Phil Park if he dropped him, it would be madness. Do you know what I mean? The way that he’s playing and so you just run with it and good luck to him. >> Yeah. Callum Doyle having to be patient to get his opportunity to come back into the side. He’s on the bench again. the man signed from Manchester City this afternoon. Well, we talk of Dan Scar and Rexom’s defensive solidity that was on show again in midweek when Bristol City came to the Stoke Kai sitting in sixth position, but they returned on the long trip to the Southwest with nothing. Let’s have a reminder of how this one went. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey, [music] [music] hey, hey. >> [music] [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. [music] >> [music] >> Hey, [music] hey, hey. >> [music] [music] >> Here we go. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Hey, Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Four straight wins then for Rexom after that two-nil victory over Bristol City in midweek. Nathan Broadhead’s fifth of the season and a second that was finally credited as a Radic Vtech own goal. Although George Thomasson played a major part with that wicked inswinging corner. Mia, would you say the first half an hour on Wednesday night was perhaps the best Rexom have played all season? >> Yeah, I think it’s definitely up there. I think obviously the Coventry game is going to get the headlines for for a long period of time if they continue how how they’re going just because of how well they’re doing and you know, no one really expected Rexom to to put up much against them on that night. But I thought that first h first half an hour on on Wednesday was fantastic. I thought the intensity they started the game with, you know, considering you’re coming up against the Bristol City side who are known for starting games quickly, you know, to suddenly turn that on them really and and do it here as well as we know we can do and the I thought the atmosphere was brilliant as well from minute one and and obviously pre-match as well and that that helps helps his team so much. But yeah, I thought they were brilliant. Played some really good stuff. Obviously had a number of chances. You know, Nathan Broadhead started the game brilliantly. I thought that was a real sort of real good look into his potential in a Rexom shirt as well. And Andy, in terms of reflecting on the run that Rexom are on, we talked about this win draw, win draw run with winning the home games, getting the draws away. You made the point in your program notes today, the one thing they haven’t managed to do is put backto back wins together. Will that be a psychological aspect for the players or is it not something that really lingers for them? >> I don’t think it’ll be an aspect, but I think it’s certainly something that the players and the management will have looked at and gone right that’s our next step if you like. You know, we’re drawing away, which is good at times when you go into places like Ipsswitch, you’re getting results there. If we can win our home games, great, but can we go back to back? Because you’ve seen how tight the table is. You’re looking up two points to the playoffs, but if you look over your shoulder, your two points from 16th as well. So, we’re right in that mix of of a load of teams and if you can go back to back and we’ve seen it with Sheffield United, they’ve won three games on a spin and they they’re right in there with a shout now. >> And Southampton >> and Southampton the same. So that’s what I think if you can go back to back with a couple of those wins, it catapults you up the league and it certainly looks a little bit different. >> Well, the man in the dugout from Blackburn Rovers trying to stop Rexom go going back to back with home wins today is Valerie Ismmail. And let’s have a little look at how Phil Parkinson and Frenchman Ismail square up from their managerial records. Both managers with lots of experience. Ismail has managed a number of clubs at this level. Came into Blackburn last February when John Eustus surprisingly moved on to Derby County leaving Blackburn in fifth spot. Parkinson’s career record of course there are,045 games across all his clubs. Ismail [snorts] with actually a better win percentage over a career but two managers with certainly a fair amount of experience. Parkinson though with the greater quantity. What’s been your reflections mere on Ismael’s career because he’s moved about a bit around the championship. >> Yeah. And you sort of feel a bit silly saying how experienced he he he is when you look at you know Phil Parkinson’s 1000 games. I think this sort of makes that look quite >> seem like he’s an apprentice. >> Absolutely. But no he he’s certainly been around the block. You know he’s managed some really big clubs in Barnsley, West Brom, Watford and you know had some real good successes and I think like you say coming in for Eustace at the time he did that’s not easy. And you look at this Blackburn squad now, like we say, he hasn’t got an easy job on his hands. Obviously really struggling at Ewood Park, struggling to to sell, get bums on seats at at home. And you know, it’s a really tough ask really for a club that, you know, many people probably surprised to see in in the situation they are in. But, you know, I think he he’s got some good players there. He’s just really been very unlucky with injuries. I think he’s obviously adapted that sort of style so far this season, going from that preferred uh 42-31 to now that that sort of back five. So that’s had to change things, you know, to try and facilitate the the injuries he’s got in that squad. But but yeah, he’s got a tough ask, but he’s he’s a top manager and I think, you know, they should get through it. Andy, we’re going to hear from Kevin Gallagher, Blackman Rover’s legend, shortly in the show. But as Mia mentions, bums on seats, hard to find at Ewood Park. Only 11,000 there for their defeat to QPR recently, which we’ll get here today and would get many more, I’m sure, if the capacity was more. But it must be difficult for Blackburn fans to get a sense of perspective because having won the Premier League 30 years ago and been Premier League main stays for years, they now look like a side that are struggling to maintain it in the Championship. >> Yeah. And they they’re a club that are trying to find a way of sustaining their championship status, if you like, and then kicking on. And how do you go about it? It was it’s probably your recruitment and where you’re looking and they’ve got a fair few uh players from Norway and there’s a couple of Japanese lads in there as well and so they’re looking further a field with their recruitment which is probably the only way that they can sustain where they are at the moment and hope that a couple of those come off and maybe catapults them some up the league. They are a championship team now it looks like and and they’re fighting against a lot of teams that are heading and coming and charging up the leagues as well. So um it’s a difficult thing to get them going but you win a couple of games and you you get that it’ll change the sense changes like Mia. I I reiterate what Mia says about their injuries. The spine of their team is pretty much decimated with injuries. They’ve got illness in the camp as well. So you’re fighting these things as well as trying to stay and compete in this league. I think that they’ll be they’ll be fine if they get a couple of wins. They need to win at home obviously because that keeps the fans in. But winning away, doesn’t matter how you get the points, you pick them up anywhere you can. If they can win a couple at home, then I think the fans start coming back and you’re looking up the table. >> And Blackman, of course, with the second best away record in the division. So, not to be taken lightly at all this afternoon. Well, it was just under two years ago that Rexom last squared up to Blackburn Rovers. At the time, we were flying high in League 2. Blackburn in the championship as they are today. and Rex made the trip to Ewood Park for an FA Cup tie, having bloodied the noses of Sheffield United and Coventry City the previous season. Could Rexom go to Wewood Park and spring a surprise? Here’s a reminder of how that one played out. Heat. Heat. He’s [cheering] it. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Thank you. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> A heavy defeat that night then at Ewood Park for Rexom. No FA Cup heroics on that occasion, but two years on these teams find themselves playing at the same level. Mia, you were there that night at Ewood Park and it’s an indication of how far Rexom have traveled that tonight these two teams square up in a league fixture in which Rexom probably starters favorites. >> Yeah, it certainly is. You know, it’s one of those games that you were looking at this season going, “Oh, that that could be a tasty one, especially after that FA Cup game, which like you say, I was at in that away end with with my dad.” And um it was it was a cold one. That’s one of the the most things I I remember from that night. But I think that, you know, looking back at it and looking to now, it shows the golfing quality. And I think that night you saw, I know we were only league two at the time, but you saw the difference in League 2 to the to a championship side. You know, seeing players like Sammy Schmodics, who was just, you know, unbelievable. Tyrese Dolan, Gallagher, who scored as well. And yeah, I thought, you know, I know we went one nil up, but it was a really, really tough ask for for that Rexom side, but also great to see, you know, Arthur in that side, James Mlan in that side, Max Clue in that side, obviously Andy Cannon, who we hope to see back soon as well. >> Andy Cannon getting the goal for Rexom that night. Andy and great to hear Phil saying in the press in the last few days that he’s back training again. The players are starting to see what a good player he is. He’s got that power over 5 to 10 yards to beat a man. exciting that he’s going to be back in the reckning in January when the restrictions on the 25man squad are lifted. >> Yeah, I’m I’m pleased for him because it’s horrible when you’re in a a long-term injury. He was absolutely key in that season at that league 2 season and then at the start of the League One season as well. He started really well, really important goals, scored those really, you know, he doesn’t score huge amounts, but he just nicks a goal when it’s important when you need one. and he’s going to be buzzing to be back out on the grass with the team first and foremost, but he adds a little bit of quality in there as well. And I’m really looking forward to seeing him back in a Rexom shirt soon if we can. So, Blackman Rover is a team who’ve become regulars in the championship over the last eight years. But as some of you will remember well, they were Premier League champions as recently as 1995. The period when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were regular lifters of that trophy. became a buck in the trend under Kenny Dal Gleas, Kevin Gallagher, Alan Sheer, Chris Sutton, Colin Henry, Tim Flowers, and all the rest became forever legends around the environs of Ewood Park for that outstanding achievement. They led the league for most of the season and ultimately got over the line despite losing on the final day to Liverpool. Well, Kevin Gallagher was one of those Premier League winners. He’s here today and I had the chance to catch up with Kevin both to reminisce about those days and initially to get his update on how Blackburn’s season is playing out so far. And thanks so much for taking time to join us on match day live today. You follow Blackburn Rovers week in week out. Just give us an overview of how the season’s gone so far. >> This season’s been very up and down. you know, the managers bringing players in, uh, trying to get them established playing together, and it’s been pretty difficult for them. You know, one game’s a good game, next game’s a bad game, and it’s the consistency of being like that has been it. Uh, at home, we’ve not been as hard to beat as we probably would like to be away from home. Uh, has been a different kettle of fish. Uh, we’re up there with the best and we’re getting results away from home. So at the moment his system and his style of football is actually suiting us better away from home than being at you park. >> Why do you think it is that that can happen with a team Kevin that they become so much better away from home? Is there a sense of pressure at home do you think? Or is it just that there’s a license to play differently? >> I think a little bit of both. I think the pressure at home because you got the home fans there hearing the stories from the away fans of how good you are and then you turn in poor performances at home. Uh the players show nervousness. they don’t really want to play at home because it’s a bigger crowd. Away from home, it’s easier. You playing with hostility. You don’t worry about your your fans until you score goals and celebrate. And that’s the thing. And sometimes players don’t like uh the sort of pressures. Uh you’ve got to overcome it if you want to become the best players. And the best players can handle it really well. So this lot are kind of new to the the championship, shall we say? They’re new to understanding the championship and how hard it is. So they’re still getting a slow understanding, but I just think they the longer the season goes, they need to start winning at home as well. >> Seventh place finish last season, bottom half at the moment, largely due to that home form. Kevin, give us a sense of perspective from Rover’s fans. Do they still feel that this is a squad that can challenge for a playoff place? >> I think it’s 50/50, Chris. Uh, you know, 50% of the fans think they can. 50% of the fans have gone the other way. You know, they’re going into the negative side. I think you they’ve all got to come together and believe that they can finish as high as they can. And I think it’s the understanding that we once had the history of Premier League football. We don’t have that now. We’re a championship side probably mid table and above um and producing that that would be fantastic. Get to the playoff sections is where Blackburn are really punching above the weight. Uh if we can get there and get that opportunity as as other clubs have done and gone into the Premier League, yeah, to me you take it. So if you can get your best shout this season we’ve slipped down the table. We’ve gone the opposite direction and to go the opposite direction you see the reaction in 50% of the fans. So you need to on the grass get the results right and especially at home because that’s for the majority to see you and if they can get the results right the confidence comes back within the supporter and then it’s all hunky dory and and happy faces >> like Rexom Kevin ownership abroad for Blackburn Rovers with the Venkey’s family in India it hasn’t always been the most harmonious relationship with the club and potentially the supporters how are things at the moment as you said when you’re not doing well there’s a rumbling and they’re always is. Uh unfortunately, the club, we don’t have the finance that we once had. Uh the owners are putting money behind the club and keeping it stable and and running it as a day-to-day business, which is is keeping Blackburn Rovers going. So, we can’t complain about that. We’ve spent some money this year on players. So, there is money available. We’ve had to sell players, but that’s the way the strategy has come at Blackburn now. It’s becoming a get the academy, put the money behind a category one academy. So, it’s still very much so that get the players in there, develop them into good championship players, if not better. Adam Watton’s example, h you get them into the Premier League, you sell them for money with sellon clauses. And that’s, I think, the future for Blackburn Rovers, and that’s the way it’s looking at the moment. >> Looking at this afternoon’s game, who do you think Rexom need to be most aware of in terms of the threats in the Blackburn ranks? >> I think the thing about Blackburn is we’re missing about five or six players that are key. uh you know and and Todd Canel has been very very key industrious to what we’ve done. Uh Todd went out the side we the manager changed it went two up front ohashi and good Johnson and they started scoring goals so there was a kind of change of personnel in there uh and the counterattacking system suits the two forwards as well so the way we’re going so for me it’s it’s more about the two strikers they’ve had a lot of chances but they’re not scoring as many goals as the chances and it’s I think it’s only a matter of time that they’ll start doing that. You were of course a striker for Rovers yourself, Kevin, a Premier League winner back in 95. If you cast your mind back to that season under Kenny Dles and breaking Manchester United’s then strangle hold on the Premier League, 30th anniversary this year, of course. What comes back into mind the most? >> Well, everything you know what, eight good years at Blackburn. You know, I started at the club when it was very similar to here at Rexom. know the stadium we had one stand at the back at the Blackburn end or the Darwin end at the time was down. So you come to and you think oh this is a rebuild and then it starts building you start seeing it develop you know we developed very very quickly that was the difference you know we developed basically nearly overnight they got promoted to the Premier League 9293 when I joined at the end of that season cuz Alan Sher went out with his cruise ship we finished the season fourth to Man United and that was the awakening because everybody then looked at Blackburn Rovers and thought wow they’re challenging Man United and Arsenal they look sort of a team that are hungry for it the next season, we gave it our best shot. We finished second. Uh, so it was always going to get better. Unfortunately for myself, I broke my leg and we went out, brought Chris Sutton and then we had the SAS up front and they were phenomenal. You know, the goals that scored, the way the team played, we played for them up front anyway. So, uh, it was phenomenal. We go on and and we we take that title off Man United. It was a nervous time. It was a great time, don’t get me wrong, was nervous, but I think we were still celebrating it two years later. Uh and unfortunately three years later I think we ended up back in the championship. So it wasn’t so good but the time that four or five years we had in that Premier League at that time was just unbelievable and uh just seeing it grow to from nothing uh to something and not only something but you got people like Kennedy Glee there and I mean Jack Walker was the benefactor behind it all and then unfortunately I think it was the millennium it’s Jack unfortunately passed away and and things were changing at the football club and uh things have got different but the unfortunate side of not been able to get back to the dizzy heights in the last few years and and hopefully the next couple of years we might we might get a team together and we might get back there. >> Well, we’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on that. Kevin, just before we let you go, score prediction this afternoon. >> Oh, it’s my head in my heart. I’m terrible because I mean sometimes I’ll say I’ll set the fence. I don’t I always go for go for a Blackburn win. You know, I watch Rex the other week and you know when they look a little bit feisty and things they look like they can get in about you. It’ll be very interesting what Blackburn can put out today. But I think I’ve still got to go. W for an away win. I’ve still got to go where my heart feels with Blackburn and say we can come here to Rexum and go home with three points. >> Kevin, thanks so much for joining us. Fantastic to have you with us today on Match Day Live. >> Oh, thanks for having me, Chris. Thank you. Premier League winner Kevin Gallagha giving us his assessment of Blackburn Rovers then and now ahead of this afternoon Skyet Championship match which kicks off in just under 14 minutes time. Andy, it really was some achievement, wasn’t it, from that Blackburn team in 95 to break what was really a Manchester United dynasty through that period of the ‘9s. >> Yeah, definitely. they um they were bankrolled a little bit with and they had the best striker in the in the country possibly the world at the time Alan Sheira you know that does help but the achievement to out to go above a United team that was so so strong it’s in the realms of the Leicester City that happened 20 years on maybe not just quite to that fantasy but a huge achievement and and one that you know not many people thought was possible when those juggernauts of teams were were fighting out at the top in recent seasons Rex some fans of of course have enjoyed the ascent of the club and back to back to back. If you were a Blackburn fan, perhaps a relatively young Blackburn fan in 95, the trajectory you’ve followed has been pretty much the reverse of that, hasn’t it? It’s been relegation to the Championship, relegation again to League One before they got themselves back again. but a team who very much peaked at that time. How does that change, do you think, the psychology of a supporter knowing that your club have had greatness not that long ago, but seeing them not at the levels that they were able to hit in the not too distant past? >> Yeah, it’s it’s just the reality of it really, isn’t it? you you know you can that can happen to you as a club whether you know you’re right at the very top or or near the bottom and and can climb the the leagues and that’s what everyone wants to believe in the fact that that is a possibility and obviously we’ve seen that here and like Andy says you know bankrolling helps you know having that injection of money and cash absolutely does contribute a big factor but you know I mean growing up as a Rexen fan like I did it it felt year on year maybe apart from you know the almost year with with with you and your lot that you know it was never going to happen that we were always going to remain in that national league or if not worse, go below. Um, so you know, you sort of feel for them Blackburn fans, but that’s the reality. But then, you know, part of that then makes the successes and the victories all the more sweeter when they do come round. Well, one man who has made the transition from Blackburn to Rexom is Dom. He skippered Blackburn on that FA Cup occasion we reminded you of, which occurred a couple of years ago, but he’s now very much settled in red. a player who has impressed in that super tight defensive unit in recent weeks. And Dom’s been on press conference duty looking ahead to today’s game. >> Dom, good to see you. Um, another positive result and performance the other night. Another clean sheet as well. How impressive has that run been lately? >> Yeah, really good result and performance. Um, yeah, been really happy with the form as of late. You know, we’ve shut a lot of teams out. Um, and it’s, you know, a lot of hard work that’s come come from the training pitch to start with. into the game. So, um yeah, feeling good. Momentum’s good at the minute, but there’s another test around the corner um tomorrow. >> Yeah, you mentioned the test. Blackford, they’ve had a really strong away form this season. I mean, what do you make of them? >> Yeah, good. Um yeah, definitely away from home. They’ve been I think they’re right up there first or second in the league. So, uh we know it’s going to be a tough game. You know, they’ve got some tricky players that can hurt teams. So, um yeah, another game that we’ll be prepared for and and try and get maximum points. And that said, obviously your own form here has been magnificent recently, unbeaten in six here and obviously winning four in a row in the league. You know, you got to be confident yourselves as good as they’ve been away from home, you’ve been equally good at home. >> Yeah, that’s what we spoke about quite a lot recently is, you know, any team that wants to do well and push up the leagues is, you know, got to have a good solid home form. Uh we’ve done that recently and hopefully we can continue that. But um yeah, like I said, tomorrow’s another test. You know, it you know, we’ve got a good home form, they’ve got a good away form, so it makes for an interesting game. And in terms of the clean sheet record, I mean, four in a row at this level, you know, yourself that’s a a really difficult ask. How how impressive an achievement is that? >> Yeah, it’s really good. We’re really happy. It’s um it’s one of them that I think while we’re in it, we’re not really thinking about it too much. You know, we want to get the next one. Um but um yeah, it gives us solid foundation to work off. You know, if we’re get keeping a clean sheet, then we’re going to get some points out the game. So, um, yeah, it’s a lot of hard work and it’s not just down to the back five or six, you know, it’s it come it starts from the front. So, uh, yeah, all happy with it and yeah, long may that continue. >> Last time Blackburn, Tom, you’re obviously in the Blackburn team’s FA Cup tide. Do you remember much about that night? >> Uh, yeah, I remember it being a cold sort of January, February game at Ewood Park, wasn’t it? I think Rex remember that happened Andy Cannon scored. Um but yeah, no it’s good memories and it was I remember it being a packed away end as well with the Rex and fans. So um yeah, be interesting to see it from from the other side. Now >> you mentioned that support just how impressed have you been with it in recent weeks with the midweek games under flood lights here as well. >> Oh, it’s massive. I think Agaffy said in one of his previous interviews that can really drive us on, you know, if and when time games are tight or there’s not much in it and you know, we can just hear the atmosphere building and you know, it’s that’s it’s a good feeling to have especially when there’s no real momentum swift uh changes. So yeah, it could kick us on and hopefully that can help. Rexom center back Dom on press conference duty this week. He retains his place on the left hand side of Rexom’s back three this afternoon. 8 minutes or so to kick off. Andy Domheim has been terrific since his arrival. And you’ve been keeping a particularly close eye on the correlation between his appearances and Rexom’s results. Tell us more. Yeah. Well, I don’t think it’s that difficult to see that when since he’s played his 11 games that we’ve really turned a corner and stopped conceding goals, you know, I think it’s uh he’s only lost probably one game stoke away, you know, would be the only loss that he’s had and we’ve just stopped. we’ve got the best defensive one of the best defensive records as well around since he’s come in and that first six games before him were a little bit more tricky you know and for me he’s been the standout signing you know he’s not the big name that came in and it was the last day of the the window that he did come in but I think he’s had the biggest impact on this team so far not to say that others won’t have that impact for the rest of the season but for me so far he’s had the biggest impact is a player who seems to be very available for Blackburn last year he didn’t miss a minute in any competition. I know talking to Blackburn fans, they feel they’ve not replaced him since he came here in the summer and now he’s settled in at left center back. You’ve got someone who is a left footer in Callum Doyle who’s having to be very patient to get his chance. And the fact that Lewis Brunt is unavailable, it just gives Phil Parkinson that extra option knowing he can be deployed there and play that role just as well as the central center back position. Yeah, it’s such a great great attribute to have that sort of just reliability of his fitness and, you know, it’s not like he’s going into these games and he’s not getting in those those tussles and those physical battles because he absolutely is. That’s one of his biggest, you know, quality of of strengths in that back line for for Rexom. So, you know, it’s it’s remarkable how sort of fit he is and how he is playing every minute for for this club at the moment like he did for Blackburn last season. And that shows, you know, we could see that from from before we signed him, looking at that stat, showing, well, this guy’s going to be a real top player if he’s played every single minute in the Championship last season. You know, there’s not many that can can boast that statistic. So, he’s been immense. I totally echo what what Andy said. I think he’s been fantastic. I think he’s brilliant for someone like Max to be alongside. We know how much Max is a bit of a sponge, how much he can absorb from these sort of players. And I think that back three at the moment, like we touched on with Dan Scar before, are just working and collaborating perfectly together. We’ll be hearing today at Halime from newly appointed academy manager Gus Williams who’s also got a past connection with Dom. So make sure you return same link on YouTube at halftime as we catch up with Gus. Building up to kickoff now then let’s just have a quick look at today’s fixtures because of course in the championship we’ve already had a clutch of games at lunchtime today and one last night where Oxford United picked up three very valuable points at home to Ipsswitch with a 2-1 win that certainly helped ease their relegation concerns. Leicster City today fought back hard against Sheffield United but it’s another defeat for the men from the King Power Stadium. Sheffield United continuing to improve under Chris Wilder. Portsouth beaten again. They’re really slipping at the moment. Bristol City picking up the points and Stoke beaten at home by Hull. A bit of a surprise that one M with Stoke going so well. >> Yeah, I think there’s two really good examples in there of of that Oxford win and and the Hull win that you just can’t predict this league at all. I know Hull are right up there, you know, bit surprisingly really. I think we I looked a few days ago at that league and, you know, saw them doing really well in terms of form as well. Obviously, we’ve got them uh in a in a in a couple of weeks or so in that midweek fixture. So, that that could prove itself to be a really tasty tie. >> Andy Mia, thank you very much. As ever, pre-match today. Andy Amir will be back with me at halftime and fulltime. There will of course be on commentary throughout the game. So, if you’ve not yet got your IFOW pass, head to reexmc.co.uklive. And Andy Amir will be joining up as ever with Mark Griffith. So the players are just about ready to leave the tunnel. Rexom trying to go back to back with league wins for the first time this season. Four straight victories here at the Stoke Kyrass. Can they make it five against Valerie Ismael’s Blackburn Rovers? Statistically the second best team away from home in this division, but who are currently struggling in the lower half and beset by injuries today. Rexom with an opportunity you’d sense, but no point in the championship is ever easily earned. Please come back and join us then at Halime with all the reaction to the first half and the Halime stats with Gus Williams joining us to talk a little bit about his new role. And we’ll be back of course at full time with all the postmatch reaction and interviews from the Rexom camp. We look forward to you joining us then. Bye for now. Sing [applause] together the Oh [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] >> Heat. Heat. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> I don’t know. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Hey, [cheering and applause] go [cheering] away. >> [cheering] >> Come on. [cheering] It’s that time again. You got to back the boys and make some noise and [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] All your [cheering] [cheering] god. Heat. [cheering] Heat. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Heat up [cheering] [cheering] Happy [cheering] birthday. 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[cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Hey, >> [cheering] >> Hey, hey, hey. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Hey, hey, hey. [cheering] [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Heat. [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> number 11. Heat. [cheering] Heat. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> All right, let’s go. [cheering] Heat. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Heat. Heat. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> I can’t [cheering] control you. [cheering] Fire. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> the [cheering] road. I say [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] Hey, [cheering] hey, goat. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> your leg. Follow your leg. Follow your leg. [cheering] Follow your [cheering] [cheering] I think [cheering] Heat. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Oh yeah. [cheering] Heat. 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[cheering] [cheering] [cheering] All over the world. Congratulations. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Free [cheering] [cheering] up. Heat. [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Come >> [applause and cheering] >> on. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering and applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> Hey, [cheering] [cheering] All >> [applause] [cheering] >> right. [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Heat. [applause] [cheering] Come >> [cheering and applause] >> on. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Do it. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> Move it >> [cheering] [cheering] >> You got to get closer. [screaming] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> All Yes, sir. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Good points. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Crossely. [screaming and cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [screaming] [cheering] [screaming] [cheering] [cheering] [applause and cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause and cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Christmas. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Happy birthday. [cheering] [applause] [applause and cheering] [cheering] >> [applause and cheering] [cheering] >> Don’t [cheering] Hallelujah. [cheering] [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> It finish. >> [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> Come >> [cheering] >> on. Come on. I [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering and applause] suck. >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Let’s [cheering] go. [cheering] [cheering] [applause] Wake up. [cheering] Are you [cheering] ready? >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] >> We like [cheering] you. We like you. >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> Get off. Get off. >> [cheering] >> Michael officials indicated there will be a minimum of 1 minute added time. That’s one minute. >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> You are you are [cheering] you are you Hey, The game and Edin Watford get a kick and trio. The arrive at the next home game here at the Stokai house is on December 13th when Watford and the visitors will ask Sky Championship match which kicks off at 300 p.m. still. A message for WM Low W Stewart. Thank you. We ask that all themselves with their row and seat number. Those of you who were here on Wednesday will Halime at an increasingly damp Stoke Kai Ras and it’s been a damp squid for Rexom in the first half because it’s Rexom nil Blackben Rovers one a beautifully taken 13th minute header from Andre Goodson the difference between these two sides at the interval Blackburn have belied their lowly league position and shown why they’re so good on their travels with a strong first half performance. The goal was nicely worked down the right hand side. Ryan Alleosu getting away, finding a bit of space, lifting up a deep cross, and Andre Good Johnson with excellent technique managing to head the ball back across Arthur Aonquo and give Rovers the lead. In truth, it was thanks to Dom’s excellent block from Morishittita that Rex and weren’t further behind. The home team have struggled to find the rhythm that we so enjoyed on Wednesday night. The best opportunity, a deep cross from Ryan Longman, which James Mlan headed narrowly over the bar. But work to do for Parkinson’s side. They trail by a goal to nil at the interval. Mia Roberts and Andy Morel have been on co- commentary. Mia, have you seen it? Yeah, tough. I I thought Rexom started okay to be fair and it was just well as the game’s gone on, it’s just sort of felt like that last bit hasn’t quite clicked in terms of getting that ball into the box and timing it right, but yeah, they just don’t look right, you know, especially after they conceded, I thought that maybe shook them a little bit. Obviously, we haven’t conceded in the last four, so that’s um something to obviously take into account and that’s certainly a different test for this side. But yeah, I just thought there was a little bit of sort of unsure unsuress in what they were doing at times, you know, a little bit lack of communication that that sort of doubt second doubt in themselves in moments when Blackburn have just been absolutely on it. I thought Adam Foreshaw in that middle has been superb. I think he’s done a really good job in that middle of the park. just a few times where I don’t necessarily think we’ve been playing bad balls out from from the back three particularly Dan Scar I think’s been caught out a couple of times but not necessarily because the ball’s been wrong but because we just haven’t been anticipating it as much as uh the Blackburn Rovers players and and that’s just something where we’ve been caught out in the middle of the park and Rovers have been so good on that transition as well when they have won it back obviously that’s what the goals come from from the counterattack and we just haven’t been able to deal with that at all which is unlike this side >> yeah I just think we’ve we’ve been on our heels a little bit a couple of times when a few passes have come I mean, we’re waiting rather than than than meeting the ball if you like and and being really positive. Um, yeah, I think the goal has shook us a little bit and uh bit disappointed. It’s a really good goal by the way cuz then the cross is fantastic. It’s left up there and good Johnson, he doesn’t even really try and head it. He just lets it hit him and he just reds it the opposite side as Arthur comes across. He can’t he can’t stop his momentum if you like and it’s a really good finish. But yeah, final third we’ve not really caused them much problems either. I think there’s a few that may be feeling the two games, you know, now I I expect to see changes. I think we might see a Ryan Barnett. I think we might see a George Dobson coming in just to just to give us something. Josh Windas may may come on. He might change it a little bit. Might go to the boxing midfield. But I feel he’s got to do something a little bit different now to just take the game and and really put a bit of pressure on this Blackburn back three. Let’s take a look at the statistics then of that first half and see the story that they tell us. Rexom have certainly got work to do as Andy mentions there and decisions for Parkinson and Parkin to make at Halime. We can see on the stats that Rexom have had the majority of the possession. Well, we thought that would be the case. Blackburn comfortable without the ball away from home. But Mia, look at that stat there. Six shots from Blackburn. Just the one from Rexom. It proves you don’t need the ball as much as your opponents if you can use it better. >> Absolutely not. And you know, we we have had a lot of the ball, but not necessarily in the right areas. And I think, you know, that’s that’s the difference. I think there’s there’s been a few moments, like I say, uh prior that we we have been able to work it well outside. There was a few minutes where we had some really good possession and were working it really well for into the final third, you know, just on that one touch, two touch sort of stuff in in those triangles which we see so often from this Rexom side and it it just didn’t seem to be clicking, you know, in terms of making that final ball into the box or or or to put it in an area where you can get that shot off and and that’s the final bit. That’s the sort of key to to unlocking Blackburn, isn’t it? Obviously, and we just haven’t been able to do that in that first half. And I totally agree with Andy. I think it really it’s screaming out for someone like a George Dobson or George Thomasson to really take this game by the scruff of the neck in that middle of the park. >> I think you’ve got to say congratulations to to Blackburn as well cuz their counterattacking has been so good. The front four are so quick to to join in with play. The wing backs are really going and the and the back three are comfortable when they do that. They’re happy for as many bodies to go forward as they can and it’s so sharp with their passing in and around the box looking for little one twos. You know, they’ve been they’ve been really really good. It’s a perfect away performance at the moment for them. >> Blackburn certainly looking lively. Let’s have a little look at the defensive statistics to see the insights that that data gives us. But as Andy said, the style of play for Blackburn moving forward quickly on the break. The two Japanese attacking players, ohashi and Morishita involved. Goodson dropping deep and setting them going. The tackles one is pretty much even Steven. more Blackburn interceptions. Rexom doing better in the air as is often the case, but as Mia was saying, it’s about what you do with the ball when you’ve got it. And at the moment, Rexom struggling to ask too many questions of the Blackburn defense. Certainly something for Phil Parkinson to ponder. He’s got an informed side. Unbeaten in seven with four straight wins here. They found formulas in previous games, but they’re going to have to find one today if they’re going to keep that run going. Well, a recent appointment at the club has been that of academy manager Gus Williams rejoining Rexom from the FAW. We hope to get Gus on the show in a future match day live to talk to him in a bit more length about his vision and plans ahead. But I did have the chance to catch up with him briefly yesterday to get a bit of a flavor of how he’s settled back into the club and learn a little bit more about the past relationship he’s had with one of Rexom’s current players. >> Um yeah, it it’s uh been fantastic to be honest. A tremendous club, an iconic club. um coming back you know there was no hesitation. Uh the role um absolutely uh encapsulated everything that I I wanted in in another role moving from the FAW. It has everything about it. It’s a club that we we know. >> Um yeah it it’s uh been fantastic to be honest. A tremendous club, an iconic club. Um coming back you know there was no hesitation. uh the role um absolutely uh encapsulated everything that I I wanted in in another role moving from the FAW. It has everything about it. It’s a club that we we know so well in the area. Um globally now, of course, it has a it has a has a name, but equally the important thing for me was that it’s Rexum. It’s Rexom AFC. It’s Joey’s Club. It’s it’s the club of the heart of North Wales. And coming back here and seeing the opportunity, the scope that’s available, the support and the drive and the intent from the CEO, Michael Williamson, and the owners, Robin Ryan, is immense. Um, so yeah, the foundations are in place for growth. >> And in that context, Gus, what do you hope to achieve as the academy manager now? Well, initially of course we’re in a we’re in a a period of transition uh and we want to move that transition into a period of stability and then into a phase of rhythm where everything becomes uh a flow to all the staff. The program becomes a flowing mechanism across all departments. But the primary objective of every academy is to develop players for the first team of course. But ultimately you underpin and caveat that with developing young good people and players. Equip them for the life outside whether it’s football or any area of industry that they pursue in their careers. if they do not make it at Rex Football Club knowing that they have all the tools required to to succeed in life and that they’re nurturing and their grounding happened at Rex AFC. >> And this afternoon there’s an opportunity for you to keep an eye from a bit of a distance today on a player who you’ve recruited before for another club but who now is proudly wearing red. Tell us about your history with Domim. >> Yes. Um it’s a small world. It’s even smaller in in the world of football, of course, as we all know. Um I went into Blackburn as I had to play recruitment in the summer window, bang in the summer window of 2022 in the middle of it all. And one of our first signings, one of our first captures uh was Dom Hayen. Um a colossus of a of a center half from Commentary City. The sporting director at the time was Greg Borton and and Yondal Thomasson was the the manager and he had all the attributes that our player profile um was looking for in that position in addition to of course the leadership um skills uh that he had on and off the pitch. Um yeah, he he served Blackton very well and and when I see him play for for Rexom now, I I’m I’m so pleased that he’s at Rexom. Um because he’s got stability, calmness, composure. He’s robust. He’s happy to throw himself at the ball, but equally he can play out the back and he can deliver the long balls as he did the other night that long ball into the into the feeds of Jimmy Mlan uh which resulted in the in the goal for Nathan Broadhead. So a few weeks ago when I was in the car park at Collers and and it was my one of my first couple of days actually and um who walks past but Dom and it was nice really to have that um reconciliation you know of identifying each other. Wow, you’re here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um but a a fantastic first and foremost person. um and and a really good footballer and a great acquisition for Rexom Football Club. >> Rexom Academy manager Gus Williams joining us on match day live. The players are out for the second half. Rexom with work to do then. Rexom nil, Blackburn Rovers one. Join us at fulltime same link on YouTube to get all the post-match reaction. We’ll see you then. >> [singing] >> to the Lord. [music] We hear [singing] [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] Stand. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Okay, [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Look at me. >> [cheering] >> Thank you. [cheering] Let’s go. Yeah. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Heat. Heat. [cheering and applause] >> [cheering] [cheering] >> That’s all they say. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Oh my god. >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Get over it. >> [cheering] >> Lord, [cheering] [cheering] Awesome. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Walk your way. [cheering] Your way. Walk your way. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Come on. [cheering] All [cheering] the >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> 16. Here [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] you Heat. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering and applause] >> Come on. [cheering] [cheering] What’s that? >> [cheering] [screaming] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> You can’t [cheering] >> [applause and cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Thank you. [cheering] [cheering] Come >> [cheering] >> on. Come on. [cheering] >> [cheering] [applause] >> Shake. Shake. >> [cheering] [cheering] [applause] >> Get away. Get away. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Substitution for action leading the field number 27 Lewis O’Brien. He’s been replaced by number 10 Josh. [applause] Leaving the field number 18, Dan Sheep. He’s been replaced by number 15, George Doson. [applause and cheering] Leaving the field number 24, Dan Star. He’s been replaced by number two, Callum Doyle. What’s happening? [cheering] Merry [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Christmas. >> [cheering] >> Totally [cheering] impossible. Let’s [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] go ahead. Alex. [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> She know [applause and cheering] we are shining fast. We know who we are. [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Hello. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Heat. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Hey, First, stay. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Yeah. [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> That’s it. >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Okay. All right. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Yeah. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. Heat. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Heat. Heat. [cheering] Hey [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] guys, [cheering] heat. Heat. Heat. [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Let’s [cheering] go. [cheering] [cheering] your way. Your leg [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Hallelujah. [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Shin. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Substitution number. [cheering] He’s been replaced by >> [cheering] [cheering] >> We are going [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] to say Yeah. [cheering] [cheering] Back. [cheering] USA. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Okay. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Oh my god. We’re back. [cheering] [cheering] Austral [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] That’s it. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Get out. Get out. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Heat. Heat. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] [applause] Heat. [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] >> Substitution action lead the field number seven James the he’s been replaced by number 20 [cheering] leaving the field for black leaving the field for the 25 Ya Marisha He’s been replaced by number 18 Axel Henrikson. And in the field number 23, Yuki Bahashi is replaced by number 14 Dean. [cheering] [cheering] Come on. [cheering] [cheering] Sorry. >> [cheering] >> your way. Your way. >> [cheering] >> for the impostor. [cheering] Hey, [cheering] thanks. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Take it off. [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> Hey, good [cheering] [cheering] to sh Heat. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [applause] >> Thank you. [cheering] Excellent. [cheering] >> [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> First [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Yeah. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. >> [cheering] >> Come on. [cheering] Get out. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> That’s awesome. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Heat. [cheering] Heat. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Heat. Heat. [cheering] [applause] [cheering] >> [cheering] >> Oh >> [cheering and screaming] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [cheering] >> Oh my [cheering] god. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Hello. [cheering] What’s up? All >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> right. Heat. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Hey. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [applause] >> Substitution for leaving the field number 37 James. He’s moving and number 28 Sam Smith. >> [cheering] >> Leaving up for Blackwood number 28, Alan For 24. [applause] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Yeah. [cheering] Here [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] we go. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Take it. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Come on. [cheering] Come on up. >> [cheering] >> It’s [cheering] [cheering] welcome >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Happy birthday. [cheering] Oh, [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] fire. >> [cheering] >> Come on. Fresh indicated there will be a minimum of 5 minutes added time. That’s 5 minutes. [cheering] Save the robers. [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Come on A ball. [cheering] Go. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Robert, [cheering] Robert. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> again [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] [applause] go. >> [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] >> Good job. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Heat. Heat. [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Heat. Yeah. [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Heat. [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] Heat. [cheering] [cheering] [cheering] Heat. [cheering] >> [cheering] >> That’s [cheering] [cheering] the direction. [cheering] Awesome. [cheering] [applause] [applause] >> [applause] >> Easy support. Please warm black and white [cheering] [applause] for the next game here is on December 13th when the visitors for our bet championship match which kicks off at 300 p.m. [applause] again the official attendance this evening 10,643,25 [applause] [applause and cheering] [cheering] journey home to all supporters take care when leaving stadium. The foot shop is open for 30 minutes after tail. A massive thanks to Caris for the music this afternoon. We’ll see you again on December 30th. [cheering] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Heat. [applause] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Heat. [applause] [cheering] [applause] Heat. Heat. [cheering] [applause] [applause] [cheering] Full time at the Stoke Kaias and Rexom have kept their unbeaten run going in the very final seconds of the game. It’s finished. Rexom one, Blackburn Rovers one. Max Cl with his first goal of the season getting the final touch after Nathan Broadhead’s goalbound shot came into his path and Rexom recover a point when it looked like they may be going home with nothing. Blackburn had led of course with that first half header from Andre Good Jansson. Rovers struggled for much of the second to impose themselves. Rexom in the ascendancy. Kefir Moore going close on a couple of occasions. George Pratt on one occasion scrambling the ball off the line for Rovers. More than denied by Ainsley pairs. It looked like it could be one of those frustrating days where Rexom threw the kitchen sink at the opposition without getting the breakthrough. But George Dobson’s free kick in the 95th minute was headed back across the box by Kefir Moore. And Broadhead’s shot was turned home from a couple of yards out by Max Cl. [music] And the point was salvaged. Rexom’s unbeaten run continues, but Blackburn gave them a mighty scare. Mia Roberts and Andy Morel have recovered. I think Mia, your reflections. >> I think I pulled something in my leg celebrating. >> Really? Um, but no, brilliant from Rexom. I mean, you know, to keep the pressure on like they did, but it did, it did feel like one of those days where it just wasn’t going to happen. But as you know, as the co-chairman says, never leave the racecourse ground early. We know that now. And um, I think we’ve been due one of those for a while. Andy’s just mentioned, the last time we’ve sort of had a last minute one like that was probably Ollie Palmer against Hull in the cup. So, it’s sort of felt fair. I think that that result in the end. You’ve got to give Blackburn a lot of credit. I thought they were superb today defensively and you know they’ll probably argue they deserved all three with that defensive performance but you know from Rexom’s point of view you’ve just got to keep going to the absolute death and they did that today and you know it did feel like it wasn’t going to come but you know cometh the hour cometh the man Maxith in the right place at the right time it’s a brilliant brilliant free kick initially from George Dobson great header back in from Kefir Moore that’s what we know he can do so well and then Nathan Broader just make that right connection put it back in there and it’s always going to cause problems and Maxith I don’t know what part of his leg it’s it, but it doesn’t matter. It’s hit the back of the net and that that’s all we care about. >> Andy, Phil Parkinson, you said at our Halime chat, needed to make alterations in the second half. He certainly made a number of those, deploying all five of his available substitutes by the end. By the end of the game, we had Smith, Windas, Broadhead, and Moore all on. I guess defensively for Blackburn, it’s always going to be pressure on pressure, and for them, frustrating. They just couldn’t quite hold out. Yeah, I think he had to do something. We needed a spark somewhere in there uh with about half an hour, 35 minutes to go and he did that and he put them on and he just kept putting on forward players and taking off defensive-minded ones and fair play to him because sometimes you can be a bit pissy, keep the same tactics and and go with different personnel, but he’s gone with Windas and Broadhead and Moore and Smith and and just just chuck the kitchen sink at it. And sometimes you have to and uh you know I think sometimes a win uh sorry a draw can feel like a win and and that certainly feels like you hear the noise at the end of the game to the fans and to the players. It keeps that unbeaten run going and I think that’s a huge point for us and a great great November. >> Yeah it does complete an excellent month’s work Andy doesn’t it? And Mia having that unbeaten run now stretch out to eight games. This pattern is just continuing to repeat. Win draw win draw win draw win draw. And that’s a great pattern if you can keep it going. >> Yeah, definitely. I think especially when you’re going into the busy period that Christmas always is and you know you want to get into those habits. Obviously this disappointing thing will be from that form as good as it has been. and we just haven’t had that backto-back win which you spoke about at the top of the show and we thought maybe today could be the day where we make that happen and then like I say you just fall into them habits then you become used to winning and it feels that little bit easier maybe because it’s just happening for you and um you know I think they’ll listen they’ll be disappointed with some of the performances in there especially from that first half I think when they look back on it in the week but to come away with it with that point you know the the momentum that gives you as a group especially in the in the dying you know members of that game as well is huge and they’ve now got a week to prepare for Preston. >> I think the crowd were excellent as well because they gave them the lift >> that they needed in that second half when you’re a bit tired or you’re thinking, “Oh, this is just going to be one of those days.” The crowd with half an hour to go, they got right behind them. A couple of runs forward by Moore got the crowd going and a couple of pass. That’s what we need here cuz sometimes it’s not the players that can lift them. It’s something that the crowd can do and by the end you heard the noise. It was it was brilliant. >> Yeah. Anyone who did leave the race course early, I’m sure, will be disappointed that they did. There were quite a few I could see making their way out in injury time perhaps thinking this wasn’t going to be Rexom’s day but as Mia rightly mentions you should never leave the racecourse early and Max Clouth giving yet another dividend to that argument. Let’s have a look at the statistics then over the 90 minutes and see how those all broke down because it was certainly an eventful game here at the Stoke Kai Ras this afternoon. Blackburn coming out hard in the first half, having the better of it, getting themselves into the lead. We saw at Halime that Rexom had had the majority of possession and that continued and developed further in the second half. I think at Halime here, Rexom had had one shot and Blackburn six. And you can see at the end, 16 shots for Rexom and 12 for Blackburn Rovers. So that really was Rexom on the front foot in that second half. Yeah, and it was always going to be I think obviously like with the changes Phil Parkinson made, you know, having Windas on the pitch, Smith on on there as well alongside Broadhead and Moore, you know, you you’re going to see that, but you know, only two shots on target as well. So, it’s not like we were really peppering uh Perez’s goal either, but we found that moment and that’s all that matters. Uh I think going forward that you know that there’s they’re going to have to look at well why weren’t we able to create more shots on target and that’s something you know we spoke a bit about it at halftime in terms of those balls into the box and making finding that room. Listen I think again you have to give a lot of credit to Blackburn. I thought every time you thought there was maybe a moment where it landed in front of Broadhead or Windas you know in in in their sort of shooting range which is pretty much you know goes quite far out outside that area doesn’t it? But Blackburn players, you know, just committing everything to to get their bodies in front of it and not let uh pairs be troubled. >> I think Blackburn will be disappointed to go away here with only a point. >> Definitely. I think their away form has been sensational like we’ve said, but that to be one nil up and to have had two or three really good chances as well to put it to bed the game and Arthur’s made a save. There’s been a a really good block by Max in the first half. I think they’ll be disappointed that they’ve only got a point because I thought their plan, their game plan, how they e executed it was excellent today. >> Yeah, because as you say, Andy, although Rexen were in the ascendancy for much of the second half in terms of possession and had some clear chances themselves, the one you mentioned in particular when Aari burst into the box. Good save by Arthur. It comes back to Good Johnson. He’s surely got to be scoring from there, hasn’t he? And he puts the ball over the bar. Two-0 then round about the hour mark. It’s a long way back. >> Yeah, absolutely. and and that’s why I think they’ll be disappointed and why it’s such a good point from somewhere. How we’ve dug that out, I do not know. Yes, we’ve had a lot of possession. We haven’t really carved them open at all at that end, but you find a way. Somehow they find a way this group and they’ve done that for the last 11 12 games at the moment. Mia, when you get on an unbeaten run like Reximmer on, does that have some waiting, do you think, even when you go deep into injury time knowing we’re not used to losing, we’ll find a way. We’re not quite sure how we will, but we’ll just get this done. >> I think it definitely does. I think we’ve heard players, you know, over the the last few years, Underfield Parkinson who, you know, some obviously not here anymore. I’m not sure if it was Steven Fletcher who, you know, when he arrived was sat on the bench and I think Rex were, you know, one down in a game and it was about 85th minute and the substitute next to him just turns to him and says, “Oh, no. We’ll we’ll go on to win this. You know, this is this is quite normal.” And you do get in that mentality where you know if you’ve got that confidence in the group that you know well no we’re we’re good enough to to do it even in the 85th 88th whatever it may be and it gives you that confidence to think no we’ll still make chances and you know some teams heads will go down and and mentality is such a huge part to this team and and has been over the last few years >> and also Andy when Mark Howard was with us on the show and you were on your holidays one of the points he made was going towards that stoke cold brew coffee end it just gives you that little bit of a lift like the ball’s being sucked in and when you’re desperate and you’re thinking is it not going to be our day. That can make a huge difference, too. >> Yeah. Well, I played here when the cop was full and they certainly did suck the ball in when we were kicking this way, but that, you know, the tech end at the moment is is our cop and they are exactly that. It makes a big difference when you’re kicking towards fans who are desperate for that that ball to go in and and they s they do they they just literally inhale the ball to get into that net and uh you can feel their their frustrations today off of off not being exactly where we where we were at in standards wise but the desperation to still get something out the game right to the very end and like I said they they really ged the boys on to to go to the very end. Let’s take a quick look at the defensive statistics then from this afternoon’s game as we um conclude the statistical review of how Rexom continued this unbeaten run. If you’re just joining us on match day live recovering from one down deep in stoppage time with that 95th minute Maxith equalizer. Blackburn having to make more interceptions. Clearance is fairly steady. Rexom having the better of the aerial jewels 60- 43. But an interesting change I thought me in the second half when Phil Parkinson made the triple change on the hour. Windas perhaps not so much of a surprise coming on at that stage and George Dobson equally but he took Dan Scar off brought Doyle on, shifted Haim to the middle of the back three. What was your read on that? >> Yeah, I think it’s you know obviously Callum Doyle being able to use his left foot and we know his ability in terms of his distribution. I said I think I said it at half time. I didn’t think Danscar was necessarily to blame or any of the back three really in terms of their their passing out from the back. I thought it was more on the midfielders and and attackers in front of him who were just on their heels a bit and weren’t anticipating. I thought the pace on on pretty much each ball they played in was was good. But I think you know Phil Parkinson has just read the game and and and said listen there’s got to be a change here. And Callum Doyle as soon as he came on was was doing that making those balls stick and and playing those ones over the top that maybe Danscar just hasn’t quite got in his locker. So you can see again a brilliant use of of this squad and I think that’s something now maybe going forward into Preston. Will that back three change? You know at the start of the show today we were saying well that’s the one thing you you’re absolutely not changing at the moment but you know is that now another another question mark in his head. >> I think it was just an anticipation that we were going to have the majority of the ball for the rest of that half really that half an hour and Doyle is a bit more progressive with it and the balance of him on that left hand side being able to play and follow and crossing. Yeah. It just gave you us that little bit extra going forwards and it turned out that way with cuz I thought he was good when he came on. He was really playing forward looking forward and and progressive with his passing. >> Let’s have a look at the other results around today then because of course it’s a full program of Sky Bet Championship football and we’ve got the chance now to see what’s been happening elsewhere and how that affects the standings in the table. Well, we looked earlier at the result from last night. Oxford beating Ipsswitch. The lunchtime games then saw wins for Sheffield United at Leicester, Bristol City at Portsmouth and Hull at Stoke. And then Coventry Charton was the first of the three:00s this afternoon. Coventry continuing their imperious run up to 43 points under Frank Lampard at the top of the table. They have beaten Charton Athletic by three goals to one. Middlesbrough 2 Derby one is a good win for Middlesborough up in the northeast. They’re still right in the picture against a Derby side who are not too far off the pace either. Norwich City reviving a little bit with a 3-1 win over the inconsistent Queens Park Rangers. Preston North End inflicting another defeat on the strugglers. Sheffield Wednesday. A good win for Paul Hecking bottom side at Hillsborough by three goals to two. West Brom prevailing over Swansea City by the same score. And Birmingham against Watford is the Monday night game. Let’s have a little look at what that means then for the EFL Championship table and uh we will have a look at that in just a moment. But Andy, your your thoughts on the scores this afternoon? Anything stand out? >> Well, we think Southampton are coming. You know, they’ve got their mojo back and then they get beat today. It’s it just proves what this league is all about is that if you are not bang at it, you just you get turned over. >> That’s the bottom half then. Sheffield Wednesday still rooted to the bottom on minus three points after that points deduction. Portsouth dropping into the relegation places. They are just below the water line. 17 points from 18 games. Oxford’s win last night propelling them out of the bottom three. And Sheffield United, as Andy was mentioning pre-match today, are really on a good run under Chris Wilder in his third spell with the club starting to get themselves away from danger. No one ever expected them to be bottom three material and the Blades starting to get going a bit now. It really looks bleak for Sheffield Wednesday, but Norwich’s win will give them renewed hope. Let’s have a look then at the top half where Rexom and Black uh rather Blackburn over sitting there in 18th. Rexom very much in the top half of the table. Blackburn very strong away from home as we’ve commented and continuing to impress on their travels. They just need to back it up at home. Rex and they’re in 12th spot then with one more game to be played this weekend tomorrow. Uh 25 points from 18 games but just three points behind Preston North End in the final playoff spot in sixth. Coventry continue to forge ahead at the top of the table 13 clear of second place Stoke City who were beaten today. Middlesborough up on Stoke’s shoulder again starting to find a second wind after losing leaving uh earlier this season. Rob Edwards moving on to Wolverampton Wanderers and Middlesbrough having to cope with that managerial change. But Middlesbrough right in the mix there then a bit of a gap to some of the other sides in the chasing pack. But it continues to be a fascinating championship me as uh each result each week comes past but Rexom still very much in the mixer looking upwards in the table. >> Absolutely. That’s where where you want to be at the moment. I think, you know, a lot of people would have would have bitten your hand off to to be where we are right now, especially after, you know, a bit of a difficult start that we made and you’re sort of thinking how long is it going to take for this team to gel and and for us to become a a real championship sort of side that that can hold their own in in this league. But we’re certainly showing signs of that. I think, you know, today’s again another great example of this of this Rexom side being able to sort of, you know, get their backs up and and have to play in a different way and in tough conditions. Obviously, we should saw Wednesday night, you know, played really well and and, you know, really just controlled that game and made it look easy at times. Well, today that wasn’t the case. Blackburn made it really difficult for us, but we still come away with a point. And I think, you know, that that’s that shows the signs of of a real good team in this in this league that can grind out points, grind out results, and will hopefully find its way, you know, further up that table. >> Yeah. I think the only thing you’re going to have to say this season is that Sheffield Wednesday, unfortunately, are going to be rooted to the to the bottom. The rest of the league, it it could be anything. Do you know what I mean? We’ve just seen their Sheffield United. They’ve had nine points in a week and gone from second bottom to like sixth bottom, seventh bottom and they’re probably looking up going, “Well, two winds will be, you know, we could be right in amongst it again.” So, it’s it changes very very quickly. >> Yeah, it is certainly an everchanging picture and uh ever changing in the studio because Mia and Andy are stepping out. Phil Parkinson’s popping in. Phil, what a incredible conclusion to the game today. What was your read on it all? >> Yeah, I think we deserved a point. Um first half thought we gave the ball away too many times against a team who were a counter or are a counterattacking team. Um and we put ourselves under pressure just by a bit of carelessness more than anything else. Um and I think it was more of a a half where we had to be patient against the team sitting in um and we tried to thread balls through too many times and got cut out. Um but you’re not always at your best. You got to accept that. It’s been a a busy week for us. And I thought second half we were really good. We we we we played with a lot more composure on the ball. Um the subs did really well for us. Um pleased really pleased with that. And we’ve had some great chances before we score to get the goal. You know, the Kef has had one where he’s lifted over the keeper. He’s at the header where Maxis’s followed it in. You know, should really score two. Broady’s had that great one where um Ke has squared it to him, came at him quickly, and then we eventually get the goal. And I think if that goal had gone in 5 minutes before we would have gone on to win the game. But we’re not going to be greedy. You know, we knew they were a hardworking kind of structured team and that’s why they’ve done well away. Eight unbeaten now. This win draw win draw pattern continuing. If you can’t win a game, then at least get something from it. And your side have yet again shown that a game is never over at Rexom until the final whistle’s blown. Yeah, I think that’s good for the group as well because you know we’ve you know Wednesday was a terrific game for us and um it doesn’t always go your way either. you know, for whatever reason, we’re not quite showing the quality we we need to the opposition get a goal like they did and how are we going to respond as a group? And, you know, the supporters in in this stadium have seen it time and time again over the years that we never give in. And the new lads have have, you know, shown today about that characteristic has got to be in place and it was and a delight for Maxi to get the goal. >> Yeah, Max had obviously become a real goalcoring center back for you last season picking up the mantle from Aaron Hayden. It’s his first this season. Do you think this might be a bit of a catalyst for him to go on and perhaps get a few more? >> Yeah, I think it will be. You know, he’s he’s a really good finisher, Max. I mean, I know that’s kind of a a deflected one, but it doesn’t matter that you got to be in and around it and, you know, he’s a great header back from Kefir and Broady has controlled the shot, which in that situation, that’s where you need calmness and and he’s kept it, you know, in the frame of the goal and and it’s ended up in the back of the net. I’m not sure what the Blackburn lads were appealing for. I thought I think they might have thought it was offside, but I think there’s two or three players in between. >> Now then, the Rexom fans haven’t seen more Broadhead and Windas playing as a triangle very much so far, if at all. Clearly today, you were chasing the game when you made the change on the hour, but how did you think they worked as a triplicate? And is it something you’d consider again? >> Yeah, definitely. Listen, we we’re we’ve got options. It’s trying to get the balance right on on a game-to-ame basis. And uh yeah, they did well. I thought Broady, you know, stuck at it. He’s had 68 minutes Wednesday, played the 490 day. And Kefir as well, you got to give him credit. He’s come back off an injury and um you know, played probably a little bit longer than anticipated on the Wednesday and he’s gone the full 90 as well. So those three are good, but I thought Callum Doyle was brilliant when he we came on. We we knew that they were blocking the inside of the pitch and we needed an actual left footer on that side to take the game to them and um I thought he did brilliant. He he just gave us what we needed um you know driving forward from that position and uh um yeah so I’m pleased with Cal. >> A bit of a break at least no midweek game coming now Phil and then Preston away next Saturday. Will that give you and the staff the chance just to sort of stand back a little bit and reflect on this busy little period you’ve had or is there no let up in the intensity? No, listen the the of course when you’ve had the the games we’ve had since the international break just the three then there’s going to be a bit of a breather this week because I think you know it is kind of relentless for for for everybody but it’s enjoyable as well and we’ll take a deep breath like you say we we’ll review the last few games I’ve got a bit of time to do that now um but yeah no listen it was a terrific response from us in the second period and um on another day we’ll have gone on to win that game >> Phil thanks so much for joining us as ever well done on keeping that unbeaten ongoing. >> Cheers. Thank you. >> Phil Parkinson, the Rexom manager, joining us on match day live after his side managed to maintain that unbeaten run thanks to Max Clu’s first of the season in the 95th minute, sending the Rexom fans out of the Stoke Kyrass certainly happy. I’m sure of course they’d have wanted all three points, but it required a concerted effort in the second side to break down Valerie Isma’s team who came here of course with the second best record in away form in this league and certainly threw some punches at Rexom in the first half necessitating that response. Got that impression, Mia, that Phil was really chuffed to got out of that one with a point considering what it might have been. >> Yeah, I think so. I think there would have been some difficult words at at Halime probably and you know just I totally agree with what he said about that first half. I just felt the team was very disconnected and you know at times it was just really poor decision- making and and so unlike the the Rexom we’ve seen over the last few weeks which which of course is allowed and and you’re going to see over this season um especially with the busy busy period it has been you know that that’s going to creep in at times. It’s about you know making sure that doesn’t just carry on in games and and you get a hold of it quickly and you know I totally agree. I think the substitutions made a big difference in that game. I think the Callum Doyle one’s a brave a brave switch to make. You know, if that doesn’t work, you get you’re going to get heavily questioned on that. But, you know, to have someone like him coming off the benches is is is so good. And then obviously, like you say, to to see that triple um attack the the triple attackers in action in terms of Windas more and and Broadhead is something really exciting as well. You know, is that something we can see more of going forward? You know, I certainly certainly hope so in some aspects because I think that link up of of Broadhead and and Windas is something to be really excited about. >> Excellent. I can see Max Cliff is behind us. Rachel’s kindly looking after him with an umbrella. Do you want an umbrella, Max? Are you coping? You can borrow mine. We can manage. I’m sure >> you’re going to cope. Yeah, stiff. Can’t even been out in the rain all afternoon. So, what does it matter now? Ex. Congratulations. First goal of the season and um a chance to send 10,000 people home happy. What was that like to play in? Yeah, I think it was probably a bit um frustrating at times in the first half. Uh you know, we haven’t been used to conceding at late, so uh conceding of late. So when obviously they take the lead, it probably shocks us a bit. Um you know, I sort of need to see the goal back. I just don’t really I sort of know he went front post and then back post. So from a personal point of view, probably need to analyze it. I think it was a good header, but >> [snorts] >> um you know, it’s a frustrating one to let him sort of have a header there. Um and then we sort of through every night we had loads of chances. Just you know, sort of didn’t think we were going to get one. And then yeah, it was nice to, you know, sort of I’m not sure what part. I think came off my cough. Um tried my best to block it, I think, and then, you know, it’s gone in. So yeah, I’m glad to get off the mark this season. >> Don’t sell yourself short, Max. Phil’s just been saying what a good finisher you are. You saying you tried to block it when it was on it way in. [clears throat] >> No, I’ve tried to get somewhere and and it came through bodies, I think, and yeah, it’s ended up coming off, I think, the bottom of my cough. Um, but I’ll take it. You know, it was it was we really threw everything at it and I thought we deserved, you know, three points def if not definitely one. um from the game. So yeah, it was nice to, you know, send the fans home or something. >> We were talking just now with Phil and and with Andy and Mia Max about the belief in the squad and the number of times we’ve seen in the last few years, particularly here, late Rex some goals, either salvaging draws or turning draws into wins. But when you get that deep into injury time, how do you psychologically ensure you don’t get a bit desperate and kind of try too hard? >> Yeah, I think, you know, it’s important you don’t just sort of lump it forward. Um, and maybe we did that one or two times, but I think overall we we moved it pretty well and got into the final third and then we’re putting crosses in. Um, which was important. I think you know, Broady, off the top of my head, Broady had one, I think Kee had one, and then I had the one off Keith’s rebound. Um, and obviously the ones in the first half, but yeah, it’s important not to get too desperate, but I think, you know, as it does get towards the end of the game, you’ve really got to start putting crosses in the box. And, you know, they they sunk deeper and deeper. Um and yeah, you know, this the team the belief in this team over the last few years has always been the same. You know, you keep going right until the end. No matter the score line, no matter whe you’re just fighting for a consolation or you’re fighting for a point or all three, you don’t give in. So, um you know, we definitely didn’t do that today. If we look at the last three games, IPS switch away having to fight so hard for that point, then getting right on the front foot against Bristol City, arguably the best half an hour of the season, the first half an hour, and then today perhaps not at your best in the first half, but then really picking it up in the second. What leads to these games feeling so different and certainly from a supporters perspective, the way in which the team goes about playing? What are the key drivers that change that? I think it’s sort of a bit of confidence that obviously we’ve we’ve gained over the last few weeks, you know, picking up results and started a little sort of unbeaten run. I think that, you know, pushes us. Um, and it’s important we can try and maintain that. Um, but you have to understand that every every game in this league is really hard. You know, whether you play Iswitch who, you know, just come down from the Premier League last year or any other team. Um, you know, every game’s just really hard in any team. You know, everyone says it and it’s a big cliche, but any team can beat anyone on their day. Um, and you know, Blackburn have been really, really good away from home. uh yesterday um sorry this season you know the gaffer made a point of it yesterday and in the pre-match meeting that you know this isn’t we can’t just turn up and expect to get something from the game um and we said certainly didn’t do that but you know when it’s not going our way um we showed the belief again and that sort of fight um you know which I think represents the club as a whole >> a draw today but still in the top half of the table moving into this middle third of the season now and no midweek game before Preston next Saturday does it mean a lot to the players to see yourselves in that top half >> yeah you know we we We want to be high as possible. Um, you know, there’s no shying away from that. I think, you know, the quality in that dressing room, you know, we’ve certainly got enough to be to be right up there. So, um, you know, we’re well into the season now. There’s no sort of feeling it out. We know how hard it is. Um, you know, we just got to keep pushing, keep working on the training pitch and striving every day to get better. Um, and, you know, see where see where we end up. >> And just finally, Max, first of the season for you today, but you scored a hatful last season. Is this going to be the start of something? Andy Morell just doing his best. Merry Pocket. >> I have my uses. >> It starts. [laughter] We found one bit >> now. >> Probably regretted saying no to them. >> Chance to kick on Max with a few more goals perhaps. >> Yeah, I’ve probably been a bit frustrated. I think, you know, I didn’t want to sort of get carried away with last season, but it would have been nice to have a few more. I’ve certainly had a few chances this season. Um, you know, when I think back at games this year where I could have scored and, you know, it’s either gone the wrong side of the post or not, not quite made the right connection and I probably made a terrible connection tonight and it’s gone in. So, that just sort of the way football goes. But yeah, hopefully um you know I can sort of chip in with a few more until the end of the season and yeah, as long as as long as it’s helping the team move forward and that’s all that really matters. >> Max, huge thanks for coming on to match day live despite the rain and well done on your goal and chiseling out that point today. >> Thank you. Cheers. >> Rexom center back joining us on match day live with a bit of assistance from his uh very own uh I don’t know what described Broly holder. There we are. The Broly holding. Andy Morell adding it to his wide range of skills as player manager, pundit, and coach. And Broly holder. Mia. Where were you in the Broly holding? Did you just summon Andy forward? >> Yeah, he [laughter] just he just wanted to get as close to Max as he could. >> Well, absolutely. Fair enough. And why wouldn’t you? Why wouldn’t you? Another great performance from Max today at the back Mir. He’s Mr. consistent this season, isn’t he’s hardly missed a minute in the championship, but that I’m sure give him a lift because goals were a big part of his uh game last season. the first time we’ve seen one this time. >> Yeah, first goal from from a defender I think for Rexom so far in the league this season. So, you know, that’s something that as well can only help you, you know, once once those boys start start chipping in with with them as well because, you know, that’s another another factor in this league. You know, if you’re getting goals from all over the pitch, then that’s only going to benefit you, isn’t it? And like you’re saying, we know Max certainly did that did that last season in League One and and he can certainly do that this year. he gets in some really good positions and like he said he’s maybe been a bit unlucky so far this season not to actually get on the score sheet already but you know only player in this side now to to have started every single league game after Kefa missed Ipsswich away so that shows his quality and you know who who would have would have thought they would have been saying that about you know if there was going to be one maybe over the last few years how great is it to say it’s one that that’s been through our academy and I I think that’s such a such a big statement that this club can make and hopefully you know there’s many more like Max to come >> yeah but despite scoring in the equalizer in the game. I think his focus there was the goal that we conceded. Yeah. He he goes straight to it and says, you know, we need to have a look and analyze it because it’s it’s a front post near to back post run if you like and it’s his side if when you you look at it and it’s it’s a good header, but he’ll go, “Oh, well, what could I have done a little bit differently and that that’s a sign of a lad that wants to improve and focus on on getting better.” >> No, absolutely. Yeah. Being critical of his own performance, always looking to improve. Well, the Rexom women this season have been nomadic in the early part of it as preparations have continued at the rock to get it ready to be the home ground that Rexom want it to be. But tomorrow is the opportunity that people have been waiting for all season. The first chance to see the Rexom women at home at the Rock, now owned by the club, of course. And here’s a bit of taster of what you might expect if you head down there at 2:00 tomorrow. >> [music] >> Yes, she can. Lily Jones two nil to Rexom [music] and it’s in. What a fabulous finish that was. And Rexom didn’t have to wait long to retake the lead. It’s knock scores her first goal for Rexom. The Rock has certainly undergone quite some transformation over the last few weeks. Huge amounts of work done with the infrastructure and facilities and it should be quite an occasion down there tomorrow. Tickets available either in advance or on the gate, £3 for adults, a pound for children and there’s going to be street food available and Rexom merchandise as well. So a big effort from the club to make it a great experience to go and watch the Rexom women’s team at their very own new home. It should be an exciting day for the women tomorrow against Swansea. Yeah, it poses itself to be a really good test and you know delighted for them that that they’ve got that home now because I think that I mean you know they haven’t shown it as a weakness so far this season they they have been that good but you know it’s brilliant to to have that for them and obviously training there and and to now be playing there it gives you a bit extra so you know that that’s I’m delighted for them that they’ve got that and yeah hopefully you know a very good win hopefully tomorrow against Swansea and and hopefully get get one ahead of Cardiff. Yeah, certainly going really well for Jenny Sugarman’s side at the moment. And as for Phil Parkinson’s side, Andy, next stop, Preston North End next Saturday. You’ll both be there, of course. And P& going well under Paul Hecking Bottom. Couple of slips of late, but a good win today. And they’re right in the playoff picture. >> Yeah, absolutely. Remember had a decent game and a trip up there already, albeit maybe second strings, I suppose, if you squad rotations in that game in the cup. But it took our first teams to get us the win over the line in the last half an hour. So, uh yeah, and at times they play some decent football as well. So, uh it’s going to be another incredibly difficult game, but we go there in full of confidence and with a last minute equalizer to to get another point on the board and then uh let’s go there and and no holes barred, let’s go and take three points off them. >> Well, Andy Mir, have a safe trip. Short trip up to Deep Dale on Saturday. Then it’s a trip to Hull and then we’re back here for match day live for the home game against Watford in a couple of weeks time. So look forward to seeing you both then hopefully with less need for umbrellas. All right, so Rexom have continued their unbeaten run to eight games. Blackburn Rovers came and gave them a real test here at the Stoke Kaias. The slogan of course on Blackburn’s logo is a famous one art at Labore translating as through skill and hard work. And for their 15 players today, they certainly demonstrated plenty of both of those things. But nil desperandom from a Rexom perspective, they had enough to finally find their way through at the very end. It came down to max power to ensure that Rexom took home a point. From all of us here at the Stoke Kyas Dean will see you very soon. Good night. Heat. [music] [music] [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] [music] Heat.