A day late but ....

Planes, no Trains (on Monday) but some half decent pubs and maybe some Automobiles
Edgley Park
Smogport-on-Mersey
Not a Train nor a Tram in Sight on the day
Not that there's a tram in Smogport anyway
SK3 9DD


Kick-off 15:00 UK Time
Monday 20/04/25

2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score   (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Badger gives you 2 points

The prize for winning the league is one rep point.

Cup games: In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties. However, if you do predict a draw and it's a match that won't be going to a replay, you can get a possible extra point by stating which of the two teams you think will eventually win.

Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in.
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year.  


At the end of the season, the winner of group 2 and the bottom of group 1 will swap places in what is commonly known as "promotion" and "relegation". It's something that most football fans will be familiar with, unless you're a fan of Liverpool or Arsenal or one of those other fashionable clubs.

The second placed player in group 2 will then have a play off with the player who finishes second from the bottom in group 1 to decide whether they will be going up, down or staying where they are.

We're going to have two seasons in one though, just to try and make it a bit more interesting and not so long drawn out. The first season will end on the Boxing Day fixtures, with the play offs being on the dates of the Twixtmas fixtures and the NYD fixtures.

The second season will start the following week, which is usually the FA Cup 3rd round, finishing on the last game of the League One season. Then another period of relegation/promotion play off games, taking in such fixtures as the EFL play offs, FA Cup Final, UEFA finals and such like.

Each group will have it's own set of fixtures. Both groups will have the Town games, with scorers to predict as before. Then it will be a split of League One fixtures and bonus matches, hopefully around ten, eleven or twelve games per Matchday.

The random badger is restricted to three goal scorers in any of the fixtures in your group.

Here's how that will appear at the end of the fixture list. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.......


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Any of those will score two points if correct. No minus points for getting it wrong.

Postponed matches will only count if the match is re-played before the next Matchday is under way. Abandoned matches will be awarded half the points for the score at the time of abandonment, so 1 point if you have the correct result, 2 points if you have the correct score.

Substitute or scorer in one of the Town games:- These will be only be allowed if you change them before the match involved has kicked off.

Prediction League Archive: https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=12830



Division One table after Matchday 15:

1. neonfoxinthebox = 271 pts
   
2. Baggiebob(BBB) = 266 pts
   
3. Lord Snooty = 261 pts
   
4. jjamez = 249 pts
   
5. St Charles Owl = 242 pts
   
6. themaclad = 224 pts
   

Saturday 26th April:
Exeter v Town
Town scorers:
Exeter scorers:

Bristol Rovers v Reading (12:30)
Peterborough United v Bolton Wanderers
Stockport County v Lincoln City
Wigan Athletic v Blackpool
Wrexham v Charlton Athletic (17:30)

Sunday 27th April:
Stevenage v Rotherham United (14:00)

Bonus matches:
Saturday:
Championship:
Cardiff City v West Bromwich Albion
Preston North End v Plymouth Argyle
Sheffield Wednesday v Portsmouth

Sunday:
Premier League
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United (14:00)

FA Cup semi finals:
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (16:30)

*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

1. ritchiebaby = 261 pts
   
2. SHEP_HTAFC = 256 pts
   
3. theo_luddite = 254 pts
   
4. Devongone = 238 pts
   
5. WakeyTerrier = 184 pts
   
6. Amelia Chaffinch = 179 pts
   

Saturday 26th April:
Exeter v Town
Town scorers:
Exeter scorers:

Leyton Orient v Wycombe Wanderers (12:30)
Barnsley v Shrewsbury Town
Burton Albion v Cambridge United
Crawley Town v Northampton Town

Sunday 27th April:
Birmingham City v Mansfield Town (15:00)

Bonus matches:
Saturday:
Premier League:
Chelsea v Everton (12:30)
Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City

League Two:
Chesterfield v Morecambe

Scottish Premiership:
Aberdeen v Hibernian

FA Cup semi finals:
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa (17:15)


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey will take charge of Cardiff City for the remainder of the Championship season after the Bluebirds parted company with Omer Riza.

Riza was told of the decision on Saturday after defeat at Sheffield United left the Bluebirds one point from safety in the Championship relegation places.

Ramsey, 34, will lead the side for the first time during Monday's game against Oxford United at Cardiff City Stadium (15:00 BST).

He will be assisted by former Wales team-mate and current Wales Under-19s manager Chris Gunter, as well as Bluebirds midfielder Joe Ralls.

Gavin Ward, who is expected to continue in his role as goalkeeping coach, makes up the remainder of the technical staff alongside under-21s coach Matt Bloxham and under-18s manager Tom Hutton.

A club statement read: "We'd like to thank Omer for his passion and effort during his time as Cardiff City manager and wish him the very best for his next steps in the game."

Ramsey has no frontline managerial experience but has harboured coaching ambitions for some time, being tipped by Wales boss Craig Bellamy as someone who could work at a high level at the end of his playing career.

The 86-cap international will be the third man in the Cardiff dugout this season, one that began with Erol Bulut at the helm before he was sacked after picking up just one point from their opening six games as the club endured its worst ever start to a season.

Former Watford coach Riza - drafted in to assist Bulut last summer - was initially appointed on a caretaker basis before being handed a contract until the end of the season in December after an upturn in form.

However, he has come under increasing pressure with Cardiff unable to pull away from trouble. It is believed some of the club hierarchy had considered a change last month - with former manager Neil Warnock considered as a replacement - only for Riza to retain the support of owner Vincent Tan.

But with fans calling for Riza to be removed after Friday's 2-0 loss at Bramall Lane – their fifth game without a win - the club have taken action in a late bid to avoid dropping into the third tier for the first time since 2002.

Cardiff will hope the appointment of Ramsey - one of the club's most decorated youth products - will at least galvanise supporters ahead of final games against Oxford, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City.

The midfielder became the club's youngest ever player after breaking into the first-team at the age of 16 in 2007 before moving to Premier League Arsenal, where he twice won the FA Cup.

He returned to his boyhood club in 2023 following spells at Juventus and Nice, although his impact on the field had been limited because of injury.

Ramsey had been ruled out from any playing involvement during the Championship run-in after having surgery on a hamstring injury sustained in defeat against Luton Town last month.

He has worked at the club's academy during his time back in south Wales while has also provided tactical analysis for Riza from games during a previous injury lay-off earlier in the season.

THE MATCH

MONDAY 21ST APRIL KO 3PM

v

LAST MATCH



The dismal form continued as we went down to an up for it Stoke. We were neve in it in the first half and it wasn't a surprise when Stoke took the lead when Bunho got down the left and his cross fell to Manhoef who finished easily. Stoke had further chances but the score remained 1-0. Onto the 2nd half and we had a couple of half chances but didn't trouble the keeper. Stoke then wrapped the game up when Charles clearance hit Wilmot's backside and went into the net. Smith hit the post when he came on but we never really looked like scoring.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

THE MATCH



Next up and unfortunately back to Hillsborough as Middlesboro come to town. Boro are just outside the playoff spots in 7th place and just 3 points behind Coventry with just 3 games remaining. After they play/beat us they have Norwich at home then play at Coventry on the final day of the season which could be a win and your in scenario. They are managed by Michael Carrick who has been in charge since October 2022. There leading scorer is Conway who has 13 goals so far this season.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 49
MIDD 49
DRAW 20

CURRENT FORM

OWLS  L L D L D L                                                                       

MIDD  W L L W W D

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

ROBERT MADLEY
Blake Antrobus and James Wilson
Fourth Official: Adam Herczeg

THE TEAM

Charles
Iorfa Ihiekwe Otegbayo Hatsuse
Bannan Charles
Gasama Windass Ingelsson
Smith

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-3 Gassama

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

26

ATTENDANCE

28211

BML LEAGUE

Imre 30
Maddix 23
SCO 22
Washington 20
Wereham 14

BMPL

Stateside 19
Owlkev 14
Southey 12
Pei 10

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Tottenham v Notts Forest
Burnley v Sheff Utd
Wycombe v Charlton
Accrington v Carlisle
Wealdstone v Maidenhead

AHDAH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

Do 'em or the bunny gets it!


Monday 21st April

Newport County AFC v Walsall 12.30 Kick-off

3.00pm Kick-offs:-

Accrington Stanley v Carlisle United
Barrow v Tranmere Rovers
Chesterfield v Bradford City
Crewe Alexandra v Milton Keynes Dons
Doncaster Rovers v Colchester United
Gillingham vs AFC Wimbledon
Harrogate Town vs Fleetwood Town
Morecambe v Salford City
Notts County v Cheltenham Town
Port Vale v Grimsby Town
Swindon Town v Bromley

Group A

A.A.A. 15
Amelia 15
Themaclad 11
Minizin 7
Zinman 6
Twerton 3

Not a bad week for Group A, but compared to most weeks it’s a bit upside down!! Joint first this week is our bottom 2 - AAA and Amelia with 15 points each. They got there in very similar ways, both missed on the Gamball but both got 2 CSs, in AAAs case that saw him get a max on the Bonus. In third place, and the only other player in double figures is Themaclad. He only;y managed one CS but got it on the Gamball, the 7th time he has achieved that this season!!

Bit of a drop down to the bottom 3, the chasing (but probably failing now) pack for first place!! Minizin ended with 7 points, Zinman with 6 and Twerton with just 3. All of them got one Correct Score but Zin and Minizin managed a CR on the Bonus whereas Twerton missed out on his leaving him bottom this week.

319 Themaclad
282 Twerton
277 Zinman
265 Minizin
225 Amelia
218 A.A.A.

No place changes this week but surely Themaclad now has the title won and the next three have likely secured their PO places unless Derby or Stairs have a storming last few weeks!!

Cheers
SCO

Group B

BaggieOne 15
Lady Jane 14
Derby 13
Stairs 10
Snooty 7
SCO 6
BBB 5

Another tight week for Group B with just 5 points separating the top 4. Just one correct gamball and it was a maximum but that wasn't enough to secure top spot.

BaggieOne has lagged behind for months but just as we have the end in sight, he's finally found some form. 5 correct results with 2 of them correct scores, including his bonus, is enough to see him top this week's table. Lady Jane is just a point behind. She collected her 6th gamball maximum (double the number of any other player) but her lack of faith in Albion saw her lose out on the bonus ball. A point further back is Derby with Stairs also achieving double figures.

Snooty was held back by missing on both the major balls, while SCO scored on 4 games but failed on all 3 balls. BBB had the lowest number of correct predictions, just 3, so it's no surprise to see him at the foot of the table.

280 Lady Jane
267 SCO
253 Derby
246 Stairs
220 BBB
212 Snooty
201 BaggieOne

There' daylight between all players in Group B, so unsurprisingly there's no positional changes this week. SCO's charge towards Lady Jane came to a halt as she again opens up a decent gap at the top. After a long season, BaggieOne finally broke the 200 mark!

Zin

THE MATCH

FRIDAY 18TH APRIL KO 3PM

v

LAST MATCH



Will this season please end as we limp to another home defeat as Oxford won it late. Charles made a couple of save and Gassama & Windass forced saves while Musaba had a couple of chances but put them both wide. Onto the 2nd half and Ingelsson had a chance but failed to hit the target. Charles made a good save save from Nelson. Oxfords winner came when Vaulks long throw was flicked on and Sam Long nodded the ball into the net. Oxford saw the game out fairly comfortably as our terrible home form continued with our fifth straight defeat..

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

THE MATCH



Next up and we make the shortish journey to Stoke. Stoke seem to have been in the bottom half of the table for most of the season and are currently 5 points above the relegation zone with just 4 games to go but still have to play Leeds & the Blunts and relegation rivals Derby so they are far from safe as we speak. They are managed by Mark Robins who took over in January and have won 6 of the 19 games he has been in charge of. There leading score this season is Lewis Baker with 7 goals, although Tom Cannon did score 9 but has since left to join the Blunts.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 40
STOKE 35
DRAW 25

CURRENT FORM

OWLS  L D L D L W                                                                      

STOK W D D W L W

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  



THE TEAM

Charles
Iorfa Ihiekwe M Lowe Hatsuse
Bannan Charles
Gasama Windass Ingelsson
Pato

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-1 Gassama

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

26

ATTENDANCE

N/A

BML LEAGUE

Imre 30
Maddix 23
SCO 22
Washington 20
Wereham 14

BMPL

Stateside 19
Owlkev 14
Southey 12
Pei 9

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Brentford v Brighton
Coventry v WBA
Stevenage v Blackpool
Carlisle v Port Vale
Oldham v Hartlepool

ADAAH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

Rotherham United have given Matt Hamshaw the permanent manager's job on a three-year deal after he picked up three wins as caretaker boss.

Hamshaw, 43, was a coach for the Millers under former manager Paul Warne and took charge of the first team after Steve Evans was sacked last month.

United then won at Northampton, at home to Blackpool and on the road at Bolton and despite a 3-1 defeat at Stockport last weekend Hamshaw has been handed the job.

The club say that Hamshaw was being courted for a coaching job in the Premier League before committing his future to the League One side.

Chairman Tony Stewart said:, external "It was clear to us from a very early stage in his tenure that Matt was the individual that we wanted to take us forward.

"Not only is Matt an incredibly talented coach, he is also an individual who we feel embodies what the club stands for both on and off the pitch.

"He is the kind of hard-working and heart-on-his-sleeve character that has historically enjoyed great success here and - as we did with Paul Warne when he made the step up from the coaching ranks - we see great potential within him as a leader."

The Millers have moved away from trouble up to 13th in the table and a point against Mansfield on Good Friday would mathematically secure their place in the third tier.