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Jun 2

6 Comments

Back to the future

Flying to London tonight, a quick visit to the parents, and then on Wednesday ten of us will meet in the morning at Gatwick departures lounge over a Guinness no doubt and embark on a long overdue boy’s trip.

Almost 40 years ago the same group minus two or three went on our first foreign lads holiday to Magaluf. We rekindled that group to re-visit Majorca in 2011, and now as we close in on the next big birthday milestone, a couple have already passed it, we are together once again a little greyer, balder and less energetic.

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May 29

4 Comments

Miami heat

A weekend away in Miami awaits with the family. We often drive across alligator alley and enjoy the aura Miami oozes from the more pedestrian pace of where we live on the Gulf Coast. We are booked into our favourite hotel and restaurant and have plans in case it rains, which is in the forecast.

We usually do this trip post school/ busy work period about a month later but hotel prices during the World Cup are extortionate, even although there are suspicions that large blocks of rooms that have been booked out will come back onto the market due to a very slow take up of tickets.

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May 25

11 Comments

Next season’s Championship

With Bolton beating Stockport yesterday, next season’s line up is finalized.

It looks pretty formidable in that graphic – a proper Premier League 2. Only 4 of the 24 clubs have never played in the Premier League, and there are 8 previous top tier champions.

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May 23

12 Comments

Charlton’s women win promotion to the WSL

Almost 20 years after Richard Murray disbanded Charlton’s women’s team following relegation they are back in the big time after winning their play-off final today against Leicester at The Valley.

One of the few things Thomas Sandgaard will be remembered for is that he brought the women’s team back under the auspices of the club in 2021, although proving that he often lacked judgement he did try to change their ‘name’ to ladies from women.

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May 22

9 Comments

England squad

“The goal is to try and win the World Cup and not be shy about it”

Only a German could say that, not an Englishman. Let’s hope Thomas Tuchel is right after the squad was picked today.

There are always major tournament squad picks that are up for debate among your mates down the pub, but Tuchel’s 26 looks to have a few more than others.

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May 20

1 Comment

PSR to SCR. What does it mean.

This change to the financial rules in The Championship seems to have gone a little overlooked this week, but to be fair there has been a lot going on.

Beginning with the 2026-27 season and therefore this transfer window, Championship clubs have voted to replace the old Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) with a new financial framework based on Squad Cost Rules (SCR).

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May 19

14 Comments

Spygate

Crazy eh?

Southampton expelled from the play-off final today and deducted 4 points from the start of next season’s Championship. Yet they’ve lodged an appeal and on Wednesday will argue the punishment is disproportionate. The EFL said it would be “working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday, 20 May”.

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May 16

7 Comments

U18’s win National title

Fantastic win by Charlton’s U18’s last night to become Professional Development League National Champions for the third time.

The PDL is for Category Two Academies and has 20 clubs split in two regional divisions. The young Addicks won the South Division for the fifth time in six years and booked their place in the final with an impressive 4-1 semi-final victory over Hull City in SE7 last Saturday.

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May 15

6 Comments

This time last year

A year ago tonight the roof came off the Covered End. By common agreement The Valley was one of the loudest, if not the loudest it had ever been, and on 81 minutes the wonderful old place exploded.

Godden again, ole ole.

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May 12

7 Comments

The eye of the Tigers

🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅

I think I’d rather forego next season’s 6 points than have Millwall join Palace in the Premier League.

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May 12

2 Comments

Patrick Casey

Interested to see Patrick Casey being offered a new pro deal.

The club released their academy squad update today with Toby Bower, Ollie Hobden, Paris Lock, Lennon MacLorg and Tommy Reid being the most high profile leavers.

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May 11

13 Comments

Review of the season

I enjoyed having the stress levels reduced over the weekend with no Charlton game. Less so if you are a West Ham fan. Looks like we’ve come to the point where VAR will decide the Premier League title and relegation.

Play-off semi’s conclude this week, the Championships ones were tight. Bolton, with no Rob Apter in their squad, and Stockport (Tanto came on as a sub) have the advantages.

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May 9

4 Comments

Luke Berry appreciation

Just a few words on Luke Berry. The club is in a much better place than it was when he joined.

Berry and Nathan Jones were reunited after he was released by Luton in the summer of 2024 following the Hatter’s relegation from the Premier League.

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May 8

10 Comments

Squad update thoughts

It’s hard to take the scalpel to the squad when there isn’t much lying on the operating table.

The only long-term contracted players that expired this summer are Luke Berry and Terry Taylor, both will be released. As expected TC will have his additonal year triggered. The club also have an option on Godden, but with him and Lyndon Dykes the club “remains in discussion.”

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May 7

Ft. Lauderdale Swimming Hall of Fame

Last weekend we were at the Ft. Lauderdale International Swimming Hall of Fame, and their impressive aquatic complex, which is midpoint of a $220 million redevelopment that is planned to be finished in 2028.

We saw it before but I had to look up why this impressive competitive arena was chosen over anywhere else in the country. According to ChatGPT in the early 1960s, Fort Lauderdale had already established itself as a premier training destination, notably hosting the College Swim Forum and international teams, making it a natural fit for the Hall of Fame.

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May 6

1 Comment

Coventry called up

Good to see Addicks’ Conor Coventry be selected for the upcoming Republic of Ireland friendly.

Heimir Hallgrimsson added seven players included for the first time for this month’s friendly against Grenada.

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May 3

26 Comments

Ruthless decisions

Nathan Jones has stated numerous times, and yesterday more forcefully that this summer will see a big turnaround in playing staff following the consolidation of our Championship status, the first time the club have done that since 2013, and the first time ever following promotion through the play-off’s.

Jones said yesterday: “We need an influx of quality, athleticism, better decision-makers and pace. Everything. We need better.”

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May 2

4 Comments

Swansea City 3 Charlton Athletic 1

And relax. That’s it then, all over.

Defeat on the final day of the season losing to Swansea 3-1 in South Wales.

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May 1

6 Comments

Game 46

So here we are then. We made it, game 46. Swansea City away.

You could’ve had a baby in the time since the opening day against Watford, which is actually still quite fresh in my memory. Not having a baby, I’ve never actually had a baby, but the Watford game. What a great day that was even though I spent 14 hours of it on an airplane.

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Apr 30

5 Comments

Lloyd Jones

Lloyd Jones’ name will appear on the POTY trophy for the second successive season.

Jones follows such Addick luminaries as Mark Kinsella, John Humphrey, Mark Aizlewood, Nicky Johns, Richard Rufus and Keith Peacock in winning the fan voted for award two year’s running. John Humphrey won it three times in a row between 1988 – 1990.

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Apr 28

The Big Easy

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Zurich Classic this past week(end). This is the only PGA Tour’s regular-season team event, when 80 pairs of pro golfers compete at the TPC of Louisiana.

TPC Louisiana is a stunningly beautiful golf course in Avondale, 15 miles from New Orleans, built over wetlands, still home to hundreds of alligators, and carved from a forest of cypress and oak trees.

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Apr 28

17 Comments

Lennie Lawrence dinner

I had this photo sent to me of Lennie Lawrence’s dinner at The Valley on Sunday. Had me feeling all sentimental.

Lennie is an Addicks legend, a miracle worker who bought, and coached some of my favourite ever (and best) Charlton players of the last half a century. And at 78 years old is still working in the game.

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Apr 26

14 Comments

The journey continues

How nice was it to follow yesterday’s results after the conclusion of our game. Stress levels: zero.

Oxford shoved Wednesday aside and Derby, Hull and Wrexham will contest the final place-off place next week. Meanwhile it does look like Millwall will need to beat Oxford, whatever happens in the Southampton v Ipswich game on Tuesday.

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Apr 25

18 Comments

Charlton Athletic 2 Hull City 1

I’ll say it again. Phew.

Fantastic to win today to secure our Championship status after our first year up. Two wonderful goals allowed us all to let out massive sense of relief.

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Apr 25

9 Comments

Phew

What a relief.

More later. Come on you reds.

Apr 23

13 Comments

Together

Nathan Jones has recorded a message to supporters on the official channels. We’ve had a few of these over the years, but this one seems as significant as the many others that have come before them.

There are so many thoughts swirling around my head that I’d like to get down in writing, but I don’t feel this is the time for that. That needs a clear head and it is nothing but that at present.

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Apr 23

20 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Ipswich Town 2

I felt I needed to sleep on last night’s game.

That wasn’t particuarly successful as I couldn’t get our situation out of my head, plus my alarm went off at 4.30am as I had an early flight to catch. The anxiety is real.

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Apr 19

3 Comments

MoD magazine to close

Sad news reaches me that the Addicks’ fan magazine My Only Desire are calling it a day after five years.

It’s bloody tough, time consuming and expensive to produce a regular fanzine but the guys at MOD have done an excellent job of keeping it relevant and engaging.

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Apr 18

24 Comments

Sheffield Wednesday 1 Charlton Athletic 1

We are such a hard watch. There was absolutely nothing praiseworthy about that, and we were second best all over the pitch.

It is like every game is on a loop and we’ve been playing the same match for weeks. We are simply incapable of taking care of ourselves.

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Apr 15

12 Comments

No faint hearts

How we all feeling?

I’m making my way home after being away for 15 of the last 17 days and in that time saw the Addicks in the flesh twice, watched the Watford game on the box, and will be back in front of the small screen on Saturday.

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Apr 12

15 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Preston North End 2

Apologies for another delay on my post match thoughts. I was at The Valley again yesterday and again had to drown my sorrows afterwards.

This morning I woke with my stomach churning and that was not due to the late night Brick Lane curry.

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Apr 6

1 Comment

Conor Coady discharged from hospital

On his 500th appearance Conor Coady was entrusted back into the defensive midfield role today, and I was pleased to see it.

He had a strong game, but just after the officials put up 6 minutes of added time, Conor took a shot from Tom Ince straight in the face and lay prone unconscious for 9 minutes.

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Apr 6

14 Comments

Watford 1 Charlton Athletic 1

Another very good away performance. It’s been a nice run since the Millwall debacle.

Today we held a better structure, defended smarter, characteristically battled for everything, and wasn’t it great to see Matty Godden score.

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Apr 4

2 Comments

The Let Down Effect

I had been in the UK since last Monday. This week begins a crazy period of work travel. If anyone has a potion for preventing illness after extended trips, then please share.

I beleive they call it the ‘Let Down Effect,’ which after extended periods of stress or travel or both, elevated hormone levels drop quickly, resulting in a ‘crash’ of the immune system.

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Apr 4

20 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Bristol City 2

I’m heading home to Florida today and was at the game yesterday. We really are crawling to the finish line, well not even crawling more frozen to the spot.

It was another frustrating display as we lost at home for the third time in four matches.

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Mar 29

7 Comments

Charlton’s women

I know a fair few of you pay close attention and watch Charlton Women’s team.

I follow their results enough to know that under Karen Hills they’ve hardly been showing scintillating form despite being sitting on top of the WSL 2 table, and despite going over a calendar year without defeat and being top of the table this entire season the Addicks have been wobbly for a while.

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Mar 29

15 Comments

The final straight

So here we are then, the final block of matches. 7 left, 4 at home, 3 away. The finish line in sight.

Hopeful too, that we see the return of Matty Godden and Harvey Knibbs, although the official channels are being usually schtum about the injury situation.

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Mar 28

2 Comments

Reggae Boyz need to turn the music up

I am one of those rare Englishmen that likes to see other ‘home nations’ qualify for big tournaments, so that went well this past week.

You just know that Lloyd Jones would have won that header against Edin Džeko at that late corner!

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Mar 27

8 Comments

Silly season

The silly season is back.

Bristol City today sacked Gerhard Struber and replaced him with 78-year old Roy Hodgson. The ex-England manager has been retired since leaving Crystal Palace over two years ago, and will take charge of City for the remaining seven games of the season starting with us on Good Friday.

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Mar 21

21 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Norwich City 1

The Addicks fell to their 7th home defeat of the season today losing 1-0 to in-form Norwich City.

For 45 minutes we were second best by a stretch, but we had a good go in the second period and although the best team won, on another day we could’ve snatched a point with more luck, and a better referee.

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Mar 19

5 Comments

Addicks and World Cup play-off’s

It wasn’t a surprise that Lyndon Dykes was called up this week for the Scotland squad, who play friendlies against Japan at Hampden Park on Saturday and then take on fellow World Cup qualifiers Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Tuesday.

What wasn’t a surprise was the lack of a call up for Conor Coventry from Ireland and Lloyd Jones from Craig Bellamy of Wales as those two nations enter a huge week in the World Cup play-offs.

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Mar 17

20 Comments

Tyreece Campbell

There hasn’t been an Addicks player that splits opinion for a number of years like Tyreece Campbell does.

Campbell has been at the club since he was 9 and made his debut just over 4 years ago. He tops the appearance list comfortably within the current squad and as we know is favoured by manager Nathan Jones and has featured in every league game this season thus far.

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Mar 15

13 Comments

Second team

I’ve never had a second team, never really understood the concept. One team gives me enough headaches.

When I lived back at home (sic) I used to watch a whole range of local sides – Welling, Bromley, Tonbridge, Hornchurch, Eastbourne Borough. It was a nice little outlet if the Addicks weren’t playing or were away.

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Mar 14

28 Comments

Oxford United 1 Charlton Athletic 1

I’ll take that. 7 massive points this week, and from three such different games.

We were excellent last Saturday at home to Birmingham and thoroughly deserved the 3 points. The long Wednesday trip up north to Middlesbrough saw a masterclass defensive performance and we snuffled all 3 points to take home. Today we were poor, and we contributed to a poor match, but still managed to come away with an important point.

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Mar 12

5 Comments

Mbick out for the season

For those that follow our loan players they would’ve seen Micah Mbick take a really bad tackle during his first full game back for Colchester from his recent hip injury on Saturday.

I say tackle as it wasn’t even given as a foul as the ref played on following a high challenge from Newport County’s Cameron Evans’s

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Mar 11

16 Comments

Middlesbrough 0 Charlton Athletic 1

Wow.

A breathtaking result and 3 points being brought 300 miles home tonight. Heroes on the pitch, and heroes in the stand.

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Mar 8

10 Comments

Can Kelman kick on

Charlie Kelman finished his goal yesterday like the striker we had hoped we had signed in the summer.

There were some interesting interviews after the game from both Nathan Jones and Kelman, which basically said the same and I don’t expect they had time to collude beforehand. I think we all want to see Kelman wheel away cupping his ears after scoring more often. Question is, will we.

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Mar 7

18 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Birmingham City 0

1-0 to the Charlton boys.

Huge win at home today that was peppered with some really strong individual performances and a real desire from the team to get the win.

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Mar 5

7 Comments

Play-off places extended to 8th

The attempted Americanization of the planet sport continues. In America’s MLS 18 teams qualify for the play-off’s and they have a best of three ‘knockout’ in the first round, so we can only look forward to that.

It was annonced today that EFL Championship clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams effective next season. I mean of course they did, it was owners casting the vote. The day before Turkey’s voted to abolish Christmas.

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Feb 28

20 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Wrexham 1

We did not deserve to lose that. At all.

Our best attacking display for many weeks, but it resulted in defeat and a blank in front of goal telling the serial story of us not being clinical enough. Seminally we were just unable to create enough clear cut chances from our midfield and wide players.

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Feb 26

1 Comment

Jones’ presser

The Thursday weekly pre-match Nathan Jones club presser follows a similar format each week. It is obviously heavily managed and at best we get a look back at how well last week’s oppositon were coached, how well this coming week’s team are coached, and injury news consisting of updates that players are a week less injured than they were last Thursday.

However, Rich Cawley asks the questions that we want answers to.

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Feb 24

30 Comments

West Bromwich Albion 1 Charlton Athletic 1

There I was thinking wouldn’t it be great if we really took the game to them tonight and show that we are better spirited, better organized and a better team. Then the game kicked off….

We were bad, very bad, but one piece of quality grabbed us a valuable point. Losing really wasn’t an option tonight.

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Feb 22

2 Comments

Ciao bella

Well, sadly that is it for four more years. That’s my armchair coaching and commnentating on sports I know little or anything about over until next time. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person shouting at the tele’ for Bruce Mouat to takeout or Charlotte Bankes to straightline!

I was lucky to see a lot of this year’s Winter Olympics and I enjoyed BBC, TNT and NBC’s coverage. The closing ceremony this afternoon was also stunning. The Italians are cool bastards, aren’t they. I do need to get myself to that Roman amphitheater in Verona that was built in 30 AD. Breathtaking.

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Feb 21

15 Comments

Southampton 1 Charlton Athletic 1

That was a terrific and hard-fought point today.

Tuesday was so disappointing, but the players showed real character today to bounce back and take a point from a very good Southampton side, who have individuals a cut above this level.

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Feb 19

8 Comments

Michail Antonio update

Qatar side Al‑Sailiya have joined the race, not sure if that is the right word, to sign free agent Michail Antonio.

The BBC suggested yesterday that Antonio has options but continues to train with Charlton.

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Feb 18

3 Comments

Andrea Bocelli

Me and the songstress-other-half knocked off a long time bucket list item last night. We went to see Andrea Bocelli live in Tampa.

He never ceases to tour but for a host of different reasons we have never been able to see, or get tickets to watch him. As it was he chose a night in Tampa as part of his Romanza 30th Anniversary tour, and we long ago snapped up tickets.

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Feb 18

24 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Portsmouth 3

I couldn’t watch yesterday’s game as we were on our way to watch Andrea Bocelli in Tampa. Me and the operatic-other half drew straws to see if we listened to the game in the car or Bocelli’s greatest hits.

Fortunately she won.

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Feb 14

1 Comment

Travelogue – Lucerne & Mt. Pilatus, Switzerland

On a work trip last year to Zurich, we took the train to Lucerne in central Switzerland for a day trip. It took less than an hour and the train dissects through the Swiss mountainside with lakes for company all the way.

The train station is impressive but we exited to a murky Lucerne shrouded in a low-lying fog.

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Feb 12

19 Comments

Michail Antonio

Michail Antonio has been training with the Addicks for a few days as Nathan Jones and the medical team cast their eyes over the ex-West Ham striker with a view of putting together a deal for the free-agent.

Antonio has not played a competitive game in England since the highly-documented car crash in December 2024 that left the 35-year-old with multiple leg fractures.

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Feb 11

13 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Stoke City 0

A big, big win.

It was an enjoyable watch, the odd bit of anxiety aside, but better still was the huge 3 points that gives us some breathing space. The clean sheet was fully earned and we wanted it more all over the pitch. We are so better structured, Clarke and Chambers give us balance and poise, Coady is the linchpin, and Dykes an old school number 9, who leaves it all out on the pitch.

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Feb 6

22 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Queens Park Rangers 0

As the clocked ticked around to 90 minutes I was bemoaning that it was two points dropped. We had done more than enough to win the game.

Then during the 8 minutes of injury time, QPR had 5 chances and we were clinging onto the point

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Feb 5

14 Comments

Leicester docked 6 points

Leicester City have been docked six points by the EFL for breaching financial rules after they were charged by the Premier League in May for a profit and sustainability (PSR) breach in the three years leading up to 2023-24.

The deduction is applied immediately meaning they fall from 17th to 20th in the table and put another body between us and the bottom three.

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