Milan Smit on his Europa journey earlier than Championship transfer
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Stoke ahead Milan Smit tells Sky Sports about his Europa League endeavours earlier than becoming a member of the Championship membership
Milan Smit remains to be settling into life within the Championship with Stoke, following a mortgage transfer from Go Ahead Eagles in January – however on the tail finish of 2025, he settled completely into enjoying European soccer.
The Eredivisie facet gained the KNVB Cup in 2024/25 and certified for this season’s Europa League league part as a outcome.
On his first begin, in opposition to Panathinaikos, Smit scored twice, whereas he additionally scored away at Lyon.
“When I played in the Europa League with Go Ahead Eagles, it’s something I didn’t think about when I joined the club!” he instructed Sky Sports.
“We stated simply to make the most effective of it and to not likely count on issues as a result of it was new for everybody. When you win the second recreation, you begin considering if one thing is feasible. Then you win in opposition to Aston Villa and you might be already on six factors with three or 4 video games left, you then suppose perhaps it is potential to undergo.
“The Stuttgart game was another level – they were much better than us. Against Salzburg, we went close and Lyon, we went close. We ended on seven points and wonder if more was possible, but it was a really nice experience to play against those kinds of clubs.”
And he says a packed schedule, as a results of the additional European video games, ready him for all times in England.
“Because we played Europa League, I know what it’s like to play that many games and I really liked it.
“You are a soccer participant to play matches and right here you may play nearly three matches in a week, which is a dream for me.”
Dan Long
Dylan Lawlor on his Cardiff dream and rugby background
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Dylan Lawlor tells Sky Sports about what it means to him to characterize Cardiff City and enjoying rugby in school
There are events when the clouds of relegation can present silver linings for some. For Dylan Lawlor, Cardiff’s drop into League One has offered a large alternative.
The defender solely turned 20 in January, however has loved a large breakout season for the Bluebirds – that includes of their push for promotion and in addition moving into the Wales squad.
For a Welsh lad who has been on the membership since he was seven, it has been a dream.
“Every time I pull on the shirt it’s immense pride,” he says. “I love it and cherish every moment. I grew up a Cardiff fan, so it means even more to me. I love every minute playing for the club and I hope it continues.”
Built at 6’2 and from Wales, rugby may effectively have been an possibility for Lawlor, notably contemplating his Irish heritage.
“My family aren’t big football fans to be honest! There’s more of a rugby background there and my dad is Irish,” he provides.
“I did play rugby at school and really enjoyed it. In school I was always a back. I started as a 10 and then moved to outside centre. But it clashed with football as they were on the same days. I had to choose and I always enjoyed football more.”
Cardiff City will likely be very glad he did.
Ryan Ledson on his midway line stunner
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Huddersfield’s Ryan Ledson tells Sky Sports about his gorgeous Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month successful effort
Ryan Ledson doesn’t normally rating many. But the one he hit for Huddersfield in opposition to Luton in January was fairly particular.
A peach of a hit from simply behind the midway line, to seal a 1-0 win for his 10-man facet.
“It was definitely the best goal of my career,” he stated of the strike that gained him Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month. “It was in all probability the sweetest I’ve hit the ball for a whereas and fortunately it went in.
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Watch all of the midway line objectives within the EFL thus far this season
“It just rolled back to me. We were down to 10 men as well, so it was going to take something a little bit special to get us in front. Luckily we hung on and got the three points, which made it even better.
“It was extra intuition. In that cut up second your thoughts simply takes over and also you simply do it. I believe it is simply intuition. It rolled again properly, I took a couple of steps onto it and simply went for it.
“It could have gone anywhere, but I backed myself to have a good strike and I caught it clean and it’s gone in.
“You’ve received to try to catch the keeper off guard.You see fairly a few now every season. It’s turning into extra widespread, with 5 – 6 a yr from across the midway line as a result of goalkeepers are taking over increased positions, so it is at all times a likelihood to attain.”
James Belshaw resides his dream at Notts County
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James Belshaw tells Sky Sports about his fairy tale transfer to Notts County on the age of 35
James Belshaw nonetheless has to pinch himself every so often. Back in January, on the age of 35, the goalkeeper sealed his dream transfer to his boyhood membership Notts County.
“It still feels surreal,” he says. “Every time I pull the badge on and represent the football club, walking out at Meadow Lane, I don’t think that will ever get old. I don’t take a minute for granted here. As you can probably tell, I’m loving every minute of it.”
Belshaw, born and raised in Nottingham, was at County as a teenager, however then needed to work his approach again up by the sport, first within the USA in school stage, earlier than time in each non-league and the EFL.
Now, he’s again the place all of it started.
“I don’t think these stories happen very often in football,” he provides. “It’s a club I’ve tried to sign for for a long time and we’ve had conversations in the past. When it all became real around the back end of December and things started moving, I was only ever going to do one thing.
“It’s a membership that is so near my coronary heart and my household’s coronary heart. My dad is a season ticket holder and nonetheless sits within the Kop supporting me. For my household, my spouse and my little daughter, to see me play for the membership is actually particular.
“I was part of the Centre of Excellence here until I was 15. After leaving, I had to work my way through non-league and eventually got back into the Football League at 30.
“To now put on the goalkeeper shirt, characterize the membership and comply with within the footsteps of the legends who’ve performed right here earlier than me means a lot. It’s actually particular to be a part of it now.”
Ryan Woods: Stoke setback was a troublesome time
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Ryan Woods tells Sky Sports about his troubled transfer to Stoke City in 2018
Ryan Woods had been on the rise for a number of years, first at Shrewsbury, then at Brentford.
In the summer season of 2018, he joined Stoke City. Just relegated from the Premier League. It was presupposed to be the following massive step for the midfielder, but it surely turned out to be extra of a derailment.
“I spoke to [then-Stoke manager] Gary Rowett a lot before the move,” Woods remembers. “He wanted to bring me in to try and influence and change the style of play, to help put his own stamp on things.
“He introduced me in to assist the group play extra soccer, however he then left after about three months of me being right here. Then, a new supervisor got here in with totally different concepts and I discovered myself extra on the periphery.”
Now 32 and at Oldham in League Two, Woods reflects on what was a challenging time.
“It was actually troublesome for me as a result of I’d by no means skilled a low in soccer earlier than,” he admits. “From beginning at Shrewsbury at 17 or 18 as much as my transfer to Stoke at 25, the whole lot had been an upward trajectory by way of video games and performances.
“Going there, it was hard to get my head around not playing as much as I wanted and not performing at the level I expected from myself.
“I discovered a lot from it as a individual and a participant. It was very troublesome and I struggled mentally to know what was occurring as a result of I hadn’t skilled it earlier than.
“We also had big players and big personalities in the dressing room. Gary had spent a lot on players and we had a really strong squad for the division, but we never achieved what we expected at the time.”
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3pm kick-off until said…
Championship
- Portsmouth vs Oxford (12.30pm)
- Millwall vs Norwich (1pm)
- Blackburn vs West Brom
- Bristol City vs Sheffield United
- Derby vs Stoke
- Ipswich vs Birmingham
- Preston vs QPR
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Leicester
- Watford vs Charlton
- Swansea vs Middlesbrough (5.30pm)
- Hull vs Coventry (8pm)
League One
- AFC Wimbledon vs Luton
- Barnsley vs Plymouth
- Bolton vs Stockport
- Exeter vs Doncaster
- Leyton Orient vs Huddersfield
- Mansfield vs Burton
- Northampton vs Wigan
- Peterborough vs Cardiff
- Port Vale vs Rotherham
- Reading vs Lincoln
- Stevenage vs Blackpool
- Wycombe vs Bradford
League Two
- Barrow vs Chesterfield
- Cheltenham vs Cambridge
- Crawley vs Grimsby
- Crewe vs Salford
- Fleetwood vs Barnet
- Gillingham vs Accrington
- Harrogate vs Bristol Rovers
- Notts County vs Newport
- Oldham vs MK Dons
- Swindon vs Walsall
- Tranmere vs Colchester
