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n injury, the Senators obtained goalie Mike Condon from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in exchang
n injury, the Senators obtained goalie Mike Condon from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in exchang
in Introduce Yourself As A Pony! Tue Apr 23, 2019 1:48 pmby dasg234 • 815 Posts
Its the big one. Middlesbrough face Brighton on the final day of the Championship season for a place in the Premier League - and unrivalled riches.The victor on Saturday will rub shoulders with the likes of Pep Guardiolas Manchester City next term but the biggest ever financial prize in football is also at stake, say financial analysts.Promotion to the Premier League for either club will see an uplift in revenue of at least £170m, according to Deloittes Sports Business Group, and at least £290m if they survive their first season. The experts also predict an increase in revenue for 2016/17 could propel Middlesbrough or Brighton into the worlds top 30 revenue-generating clubs. The winner of the match between Middlesbrough or Brighton could earn in the region of £170m by being promoted to the Premier League It doesnt get much closer than two glory-chasing sides level on points going into the final afternoon but who will prevail in front of the Sky Sports cameras? From the form book to the expert view, heres all you need to know...Whats the deal? Championship top three Team P GD Pts 1. Burnley 45 34 90 2. Middlesbrough 45 32 88 3. Brighton 45 30 88 Its pretty simple. Three points would secure promotion to the top flight alongside Burnley and the winner could still seal the title.If the Clarets lose to already-relegated Charlton at The Valley, a winner at the Riverside would see that side promoted as champions with 91 points to Burnleys 90. If Sean Dyches men win in south London, though, they will take home the silverware. Boros hopes were dealt a blow at Birmingham last weekend A draw would be enough for Middlesbrough as they have a superior goal difference.Bu it isnt all doom and gloom for the losing side. They would face sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs - with home advantage in the second leg - and could still earn promotion to the Premier League.Whos in form?Both sides are in decent form, but missed out on the chance to take maximum points last weekend. Middlesbrough drew with Birmingham on Friday, while James Wilsons late strike earned Brighton a point against play-off contenders Derby on Monday. Highlights from Brightons 1-1 draw with Derby in the Sky Bet Championship But they are both still on unbeaten runs. Boro have not lost in nine but have drawn the last three - including a 1-1 result against Burnley. The Seagulls made history at the start of the season when they went on a run of 21 games without loss - but were stopped in their tracks with a 3-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough just before Christmas. Since a 4-1 loss to Cardiff at the end of February, Brighton are now unbeaten in their last 13 Championship encounters, winning five of the last six. Aitor Karanka believes his side are even better than last season Any injuries to worry about?Karanka is unsure over the fitness of defender George Friend, who suffered a hamstring injury at Turf Moor last month.Karanka confirmed the clubs medical staff will assess Friend on Saturday morning, but does not anticipate doubts over other players.Ritchie de Laet stands by to step into the defence for Boro should Friend fail to make the cut. Middlesbroughs George Friend could be missing on Saturday Brighton will be missing defender Lewis Dunk, who starts a two-match ban following his red card against Derby on Monday.That means a first appearance since January for club captain Gordon Greer alongside Connor Goldson at centre-half.Any omens from the stats?Boro have won three of their last four league encounters with the Seagulls (D1).Brighton have not conceded a goal in any of their last three trips to the Riverside, winning two (D1). Brighton manager Chris Hughton has urged his squad to use the underdog tag to their advantage Boro have kept more clean sheets in league competition than any other team in the top four tiers this season (22).Tomer Hemeds 17 goals have won Brighton 16 points this season; only Andre Grays goals (22 points won) have been more valuable.Brighton have scored the first goal in more matches than any other team this season (28); with Chris Hughtons men avoiding defeat in all of those games (W21 D7).Are the managers confident? Seagulls boss Chris Hughton is backing his side to do the business and was in bullish mood following Mondays draw with the Rams.We will be going there with a winning mentality and we need to show enough quality, he said. Theres no doubt Middlesbrough will be the favourites and theyll be pleased with our result, but weve given ourselves every chance. Brighton midfielder Steve Sidwell is confident Brighton can beat Middlesbrough We have been good away from home for the majority of the season and we havent lost today. It is a big task but not one that is impossible.Boro boss Aitor Karanka is hoping home advantage pays dividends and believes his side are better than the one that suffered an agonising play-off final defeat last season. We have this game at home in front of our support and I am really positive, he told the Gazette.We have it in our hands. We have the final at our own stadium and we are better than we were last season. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship clash between Birmingham and Middlesbrough It will be a really tough game, a really difficult 95 minutes. But we ready. I am ready, the club is ready, the fans are ready, and especially the players are ready.It will be tough but I think if I had to choose Brightons situation or ours I would choose ours, definitely.Whats the expert verdict? Sky Sports Football League expert Ian Holloway will be at the Riverside and describes the showdown as a double final.I cant believe Im fortunate enough to go. I can honestly tell you I dont know which way its going to go, he said. I dont know whos going to handle the pressure of it that well. I urge the Middlesbrough supporters to get right behind your team. I know they want it really badly and its been a long time since they dropped out of it [the Premier League]. Ian Holloway admits he has no idea whether it will be Middlesbrough or Brighton who will grab the final automatic promotion spot Chris Hughton and his Brighton team know theyve got to win. Sometimes worrying about a draw - it stops you going for broke so sometimes its better to know what youve got to do.The game will be won or lost in the nerves and who can play the occasion. Who can go through the process rather than be caught up in the emotion of the game. Its like a tug of war and its a one off - like a double final for the neutrals this year.Middlesbrough have got the chance to put the play-off final from last season behind them. Will that carry into this year? I hope not, but truthfully I cant wait to see and the atmosphere will be something else and I just know someones going to be disappointed. Craig Hignett believes Middlesbrough will beat Brighton If its Brighton, they will be more than delighted with their season anyway and I think theyll fancy their chances with the way their team is playing. If its Middlesbrough who miss out, Im sure that it would be harder for them because of last season. I feel for whoever doesnt do it, but theyve all had great seasons and I cant wait to see how it unfolds.Who do you think will be taking the final automatic promotion spot to the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @SkySportsFL.Also See:Whats still to be decided?Loan Watch: Who has impressed?Crucial FL72 games live on SkyChampionship nominees for AprilCheap Salomon Shoes Outlet . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. Salomon Shoes Outlet Free Shipping .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. http://www.salomonoutletstore.com/ . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Cheap Salomon Shoes China . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Wholesale Salomon Shoes . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No.OTTAWA -- When the Vancouver Canucks visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, it will be a meeting of a team that is struggling mightily with its offense against one that is doing a good job keeping pucks out of its net.The Canucks are coming off a 3-0 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday that kicked off a six-game road trip, which matches their longest of the season. They have lost five in a row, including a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Senators on Oct. 25 in Vancouver.The Senators are off to a 6-3-0 start and the Canucks have turned a good start into a 4-5-1 record.During their 240-minute losing streak, the Canucks have scored just two goals.When youre struggling to score goals, you start chasing the game, you start forechecking too hard, and you lose guys in the offensive zone, Canucks winger Daniel Sedin said after the loss to Montreal. Tonight we had our third guy high, our defensemen could pinch, kept the play alive. Thats why we had a lot of zone time, too, and more offensive shots.But can we do it again? Thats the challenge for us. If we can do it once, I think we can do it every game.The Senators are coming off a 2-1 overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on tuesday at Canadian Tire Centre that was their second victory in a row. They have won three of their last four, including two shutouts by goalie Craig Anderson, whose wife was recently diagnosed with cancer.Amazingly, Andersons focus has been stellar throughout the hardship.dddddddddddd He has won his last three starts while stopping 91 of 92 shots.Hes an inspiration to all of us, I will tell you that, Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf said. Hes been incredible, not only the way that hes stopping the puck, but just his strength and courage. Its something that has definitely touched our room.While Anderson could leave the team to be with his wife at any moment, and with backup Andrew Hammond nursing a groin injury, the Senators obtained goalie Mike Condon from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.The situation with (Anderson) is very fluid, Senators GM Pierre Dorion said. We cant afford, at the present time, not to field the best team we can.As a longtime Buffalo Sabres goalie, Ryan Miller has faced the Senators often. He is 18-21-4 against Ottawa with a .919 save percentage and a 2.61 goals-against average.If Miller doesnt go back-to-back, Canucks backup Jack Marksstrom is 0-1 against the Senators, allowing four goals the only time he faced them.You have to stay with your process, Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. You dont have any choice. I thought we had a better effort creating shots.I believe that if we play like that every night, well win our share of games. Thats what we have to believe and thats how we have to keep playing. ' ' '
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