Goal! Now it is 2-0 to Preston at Sunderland after Callum Robinson’s goal, leaving more players on the pitch than fans in the stands. They really are going down to League One.
Red! Jake Clarke-Salter has been sent off in his second successive game for Sunderland. It really is not a time to be a Sunderland player or fan. They are losing 1-0 at home to Preston currently.
Off the line! Tomkins almost had his second at Huddersfield but his strike on goal but Mounie is waiting on the line and clears it to keep his team in the game.
Daniel has asked for a team to follow. I would advise not backing West Brom in the short nor long term.
“Having just tuned into your clockwatch, after turning off the shower that is the England rugby team, I am on the lookout for a football team to follow. Not an expert in the game but I see that West Brom seem to be doing well today: would you recommend them as my new favourite “winners”?”
Sunderland are losing at home to Preston, that will not get the fans back. It looks like the Black Cats are heading down.
Third placed Shrewsbury have equalised at Scunthorpe through Jon Nolan. They could take advantage of neither of League One’s top two Blackburn nor Wigan playing today due to postponements and the FA Cup, respectively.
A win today for West Brom would leave them just seven points adrift of safety, which is something to hold onto. They have only won once in their last 28 league games, so it would be a nice boost and would make the season slightly less embarrassing even when they almost certainly go down.
Some more line chat here from Andrew.
“Apropos lines on the pitches. When the FA introduced the 9v9 format on smaller pitches for youth football as a bridge between seven a side football and the ‘mans game’ of eleven a side, there was a general absence of pitches so a common solution was to mark out a 9v9 pitch inside the bigger 11v11 pitch. The extra lines quite often caused chaos for the players as they lost track of where they were on the pitch during a match despite the use of blue paint with 9v9 players often suddenly playing to the white lines and vice versa for the 11v11 players.”
Maybe the Great Escape is on the for the Baggies! Defender Gibbs gets down the left and then sends the cross to the far post where Rondon heads it back to Rodriguez who is lurking and he eventually gets the ball over the line.
Jay Rodriguez scores for West Brom. Photograph: Mark Enfield/Mercury Press/REX/Shutterstock
Kevin certainly thinks Mr Adam is a touch naughty.
He says: “Is one of the dirtiest players in the game, and has been for a long time. FWIW, I think Scholes was also a dirty player. Excusing any of these guys because they are talented is a mistake.”
Here we go again across the country!
I once played in a win at Glossop when I scored a couple of cracking goals as a kid, so I have fond memories of playing in the snow. You would think those from Glossop would revel in the arctic conditions but they literally froze as I dribbled through their pitiful defence.
Peter asks about Charlie Adam being “that sort of player”.
In an email, he says: “When there’s an awful challenge and the Redknapp brigade rush to use the “not that sort of player” defense, I wonder if there’s someone who everyone agrees *is* that sort of player. Is Charlie Adam one? Every time I see him pick up a booking it’s not a Scholesian “he tries his best but he’s never been able to tackle”, it’s nasty and deliberate and violent and reckless.”
There is no doubting that his tackle today was utterly atrocious, that is for sure.
Three points for Palace could move them up to the lofty position of 16th and just one point behind opponents Huddersfield so Roy Hodgson will be doing all he can in the dressing room to make sure his players do not lose their focus.
If you had bet on who would be the only player to score in the opening 45 minutes today not many would have put James Tomkins down. Huddersfield had 30 shots in their 0-0 draw last week against Swansea whereas today they have not produced a single effort in the opening half, which will underwhelm their fans.
Wayne Rooney has been the victim of a foul for a sending off, while his brother has the boot on the other foot and has been dismissed for Guiseley.
The break brings with it more snowy pictures from Stoke.
Will we get an abandoned game today? No one wants that but there are plenty of games being conducted during a blizzard and some great photos of snowflakes obscuring the view.
Over in Birmingham there is supposedly a match going on.
James Maddison has just scored his 14th of the season for Norwich, his latest coming from the spot to make it 3-1 at home to Reading. He will be off to the Premier League over the summer.
Off you go, Charlie.
Rooney did recover from the challenge and is still on the pitch, although he is still being booed by the home fans for the being Adam’s victim.
OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
2006 – Charlie Adam is the first player to be sent off in the Premier League for a foul on Wayne Rooney since Sam Sodje for Reading in December 2006. Quirky.
Now we just need some action at Bournemouth against West Brom and then all over our reporters will have something to write about. Sadly, it does not sound too exciting down at Dean Court or whatever it is called nowadays.
The Scot has overrun the ball and produces and over the top challenge on Rooney, leaving the former England captain on the floor in a lot of pain. It does not look good for Rooney especially as it is far too cold to stay on the floor for too long in that Stoke blizzard.
Charlie Adam fouls Everton’s Wayne Rooney. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images via Reuters
Charlie Adam checks on Everton’s Wayne Rooney before being sent off. Photograph: Ed Sykes/Action Images via Reuters
Gideon ensures we all re-think our Saturday plans.
He says: “I wonder if there has ever been worse selection of matches to watch on MOTD tonight. Pro plus and Red Bull all round.
“Reminds me of a gooner friend who nodded off watching Arsenal on MOTD just as they had a corner. He woke as the corner came in watched the rest of the game and then thought ‘sod it I’m going to bed’. Walking upstairs to retire he was met by his girlfriend who handed him their newborn daughter and turned to go back to bed. He started to complain that he’d had her the previous night and they were supposed to be taking turns and so was rightfully put out until he saw the sunshine outside and realised he’d slept all night and woke up at the exact same incident on the morning repeat that he’d fallen asleep the night before.”
Other energy drinks are available.
It does not look like it is getting any warmer at Stoke.
A corner was swung into the box which Huddersfield failed to clear allowing Tomkins to take a shot from close range which was saved by Lossl but the big defender does not make any mistake with the rebound to give his team a vital lead.
James Tomkins of Crystal Palace celebrates. Photograph: Dan Weir/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock
Get down to Altrincham versus Stalybridge early and you can still make it in time for Manchester United against Brighton later, as long as the Metrolink is working. A lovely day out in Greater Manchester for Danny Last.
