Bristol City have appointed Oxford United boss Liam Manning as head coach.

The 38-year-old succeeds Nigel Pearson, who was sacked last month with the club 15th in the Championship after a run of five losses in his last seven games.

Manning leaves Oxford second in League One and three points behind leaders Portsmouth after 15 matches, having spent just eight months in charge of the club.

He has previously managed Milton Keynes Dons and Belgian side Lommel.

"This is a terrific opportunity and one that I'm really looking forward to," Manning, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Ashton Gate, told the Bristol City website.

"If you look at the vision of the club and where they want to get to and how they want to get there I think there is really good fit and alignment with my journey and where I want to get to."

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Manning 'a great fit' for Robins
Manning, who will be assisted at the Robins by his number two at Oxford, Chris Hogg, has impressed since succeeding Karl Robinson as U's boss - the club were 18th in League One and three points off the relegation places when he took over in March.

He kept Oxford up last season thanks to two wins in their final three matches, before masterminding an excellent start of this season which has seen the U's lose just two league games since the opening day of the season.

"Liam is a great fit for the club and the style of play we want", Bristol City Chairman Jon Lansdown said.

"He has a very detailed approach to coaching, improving players and getting the best out of them as his record at MK Dons and Oxford United shows.

"As soon as we made the change Liam was our first choice and we are grateful to Oxford United for the extremely professional way they have approached the departure of someone who was doing a fantastic job for them."

U's begin managerial search
Oxford chairman Grant Ferguson said the U's had "reluctantly" given Manning permission to speak to Bristol City, adding that the club did "everything it could to keep him".

Chief executive Tim Williams added: "I am hugely disappointed. However, we have already begun the process of securing the best possible candidate to replace Liam.

"This is a fantastic club with great training facilities and an exciting future - I have no doubt we will have huge interest in the role."

First-team coach Craig Short will take on the role of interim head coach for Oxford, and will be assisted by academy coach Chris Hackett.

After taking over from Russell Martin at MK Dons in August 2021, Manning led the club to a third-placed finish in League One, before being knocked out of the play-offs at the semi-final stage by Wycombe Wanderers.

He lost his job in December last year after a run of one win in his final 11 league games left the club second-from-bottom.

Manning a 'summertime fling' - analysis
BBC Radio Oxford's Oxford United commentator, Jerome Sale

A week ago, Oxford United had won at Lincoln and were back to within three points of the League One lead and all seemed well on and off the field.

Seven days later and the league position hasn't changed, but there is turmoil. The fact that Liam Manning has jumped ship just 241 days into his tenure as head coach leaves supporters sore - and judging by Oxford's statement - plenty inside the club too.

But Manning's short time was transformative. He's taken them from a struggling relegation-threatened team to one that look serious promotion contenders.

United are absolutely correct that the field of potential replacements will be deeper for a top two side than a bottom six one.

Though the needs and immediate ambitions are different this time, they would do well to stick to the same processes that so successfully led to Manning's appointment. I say that even though it turned out to be little more than an intense summertime fling rather than a long-term relationship.

Millwall have appointed former Chelsea and Everton assistant coach Joe Edwards as their head coach.

He was in Frank Lampard's backroom staff at both Premier League clubs and has been in interim charge of England Under-20s since August.

Edwards, 37, takes over at the Championship club from Gary Rowett, who left by mutual consent on 18 October.

Millwall are 18th in the table, having picked up just two points from four games since his departure.

Rowett held the position at The Den for four years, guiding them to top-half finishes in each season, but was unable to secure a play-off berth.

The south-east London side had been considering former Southampton and Luton boss Nathan Jones for the role, but Edwards will now take charge of the team for the first time at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Edwards has brought in Andy Myers as his assistant while Adam Barrett - who had been caretaker manager after Rowett's departure - and fellow coach Andy Marshall will stay on as part of the backroom team.

"Although I have been coaching for a long time, a lot of people will be aware that this is my first job managing as head coach," Edwards told the Millwall website.

"Throughout the years, at various levels, you think you would like to have the opportunity to make the step up.

"To do it at a club like this, to be head coach of Millwall Football Club - I don't take that lightly at all. I'm really excited."

'Innovative' coach with 'positive ideas'
Joe Edwards in his time with England Under-20s
Edwards has not managed a senior men's side before
Edwards spent 27 years at Chelsea at all, turning to coaching aged 16 after not being kept on by the club as a youth player.

He worked his way up to become Chelsea Under-18 boss for a two-year spell form 2014, where the Blues twice won the FA Youth Cup.

He moved into the senior setup and became an assistant to Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, helping the Blues win the Champions League in 2021, before moving to Everton in January 2022 to link back up with Lampard.

Edwards went on to became England Under-20 boss on an interim basis this year.

"With Joe, I'm excited. He is somebody who I think is very innovative and has some positive ideas about the progression we can make as a club," Millwall chairman James Berylson told the club website.

"It was a thorough process, with no stone left unturned, and Joe was engaging, attentive, and impressive throughout, and I felt that we could have a productive working relationship together.

"We welcome both Joe and Andy to The Den with open arms and look forward to seeing the impact they can make on and off the pitch throughout what we hope to be a long relationship with Millwall."

May the Lord have mercy on their souls

League Two side Bradford City have appointed former MK Dons head coach Graham Alexander as their manager on a contract until the summer of 2026.

The 52-year-old had been out of work for only three weeks after being sacked by the Dons on 16 October.

He replaces ex-Wales boss Mark Hughes, who left Bradford early last month.

Alexander previously managed Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Salford and Scottish club Motherwell, who he guided to a Europa Conference League place in 2021-22.

"It is really good to be here. I am excited about the role, the potential of the team and club," he told the club website.

"Joining a club, you have to look at the short-term improvements you can make, but also look at the potential of what you can do. Here, for me, that scope is endless."

Hughes had led Bradford to the League Two play-offs last season but was dismissed having won just three out of 11 games this term with the club in 18th position in the table.

Kevin McDonald took over on a temporary player-caretaker basis and won his first three games before losing the next two.

Former Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley had been in the frame to replace Hughes but ruled himself out of taking the job because of family reasons.

Having been appointed by MK Dons in May following their relegation last season, Alexander's tenure at the club lasted just 16 games into the 2023-24 campaign.

MK Dons made 11 signings during the summer transfer window and Alexander steered them to four wins from their first five league games as they topped the League Two table.

A sharp drop off followed, culminating in his short stay with the club coming to an end last month.

He moves to the University of Bradford Stadium with former Bury boss Chris Lucketti as his assistant and the Bantams in 16th in division.

Gamball:
Southampton - WBA

Others:
Wolves - Spurs
Crystal Palace - Everton
Sunderland - Birmingham City
Cardiff - Norwich
Coventry - Stoke
Middlesbrough - Leicester
QPR - Bristol City
Sheff W - Millwall
Derby - Barnsley

Well what a game yesterday was. When I found out several weeks ago they were going to televise our game against Pompey, I kept thinking I hope we give a good account ourselves otherwise I would never hear the last of it from people and friends who support Premier League clubs. But yesterday we didn't just give a good account of ourselves we played Pompey off the park and matched them man for man. We looked and played like a Football League team.

The chances we created we could have had 3 or 4. I was really impressed by Banks, Grigg, Naylor, Grimes and Palmer at the back. I did worry a bit when Frecklton came on and gave the ball away rather cheaply once or twice but we managed to grind out a 1-0 victory against a team who haven't lost a league game since March.

As much as I enjoy the FA Cup and love a cup run, promotion back to the football league is more important. I do believe if we get promoted and I think we will then if we keep this team together in L2 then we could be looking at a back to back promotion.

Lately I've noticed a surge in 3G and 4G pitches especially in non-league. Now I can see the pros and cons to 3G and 4G pitches but I think football is played better on turf than artificial turf.

I've never played on a 3G or 4G pitch but have played on a 2G pitch which is astroturf and there is sand on there to stop it becoming waterlogged but also to keep it clean, which is a pain if you go up for a header and get a load of gritty sand in your eyes. I've noticed on the 3G and 4G pitches that they use rubber pellets apparently they are old, cut up car tyres, not sure how true that is.

Artificial pitches can be a moneyspinner and bring in extra revenue for non-league and grassroot clubs because they can be hired out for 6 a side leagues or even just hired out for private parties to play on. The downsides to them are the knee and ankle injuries that can occur to players especially if they aren't wearing the right boots or if they get there studs caught in the artificial turf. The other downside is the ball travels and bounces a lot quicker on the pitches where as on real turf it would take the bounce out of the ball.

And the games keep rolling in for the Hibees with a trip to Paisley for a 7.45pm kick-off.

Sometimes we are playing well and losing, sometimes we are playing well in patches and drawing/losing and sometimes we are playing poorly and losing/drawing. The word that is missing is WINNING. That word has been missing for 6 weeks now and we must see a definite improvement in the next couple of games or we will begin to hear the rumbles of discontent from the fans.

Nick Montgomery has my full backing and so has his style of play, but we do not have the players who are totally comfortable in playing out from the back and our opposition know that and try to benefit from that.

St Mirren on the other hand have been grinding out good results and have only lost twice this league season - to Rangers and Celtic - with determined displays. Only Celtic have lost fewer games and this will be a tough ask for Hibs to come away with anything at all.

In a mad dash to keep pace with my curling commitments, I've joined in on the first day in Lohja, Finland for these Championships.

There are only 11 countries entered from Brazil, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland. The three podium-finisher teams in Lohja qualify for the world championship, taking place in March 2024 in Gangneung, Korea.

Round-robin play starts on Sunday 5 November and continues until Thursday 9 November. The teams have been placed into one group and will play a round robin. At the end of the round robin, a ranking will be established and the first four teams will move onto the semi-finals. The semi-finals will take place at 9.30 on Friday 10 November, where the team ranked first will play the team ranked fourth, and the team ranked second will meet the team ranked third. The winners of the semi-finals advance to the gold medal game; the losers of the semi-finals will play for bronze medals. Both medal games will be held at 16.00 on Friday 10 November.

Representing England are Stewart Pemblett (Skip), Jason Kean (3rd), Karen Aspey (2nd), Julian Mattison (Lead, who will be Vice-skip) and George Potts (Alternate). They are coached by Tony and Rosemary Lenton, Rosemary being a Scottish medal-winning para bowler and English wheelchair curler.

In their first game England absolutely demolished Japan by 16-0, including 6 shots in the 4th end. It's very unusual for a team to be "grannied" (no score) in any game, never mind a World Championship game. In a turnaround in their second game, the English team were defeated 4-9 by Slovakia, mainly due to a loss of 4 shots in the 3rd end.

At 07.30 tomorrow England will play Denmark, then Spain at 16.30.

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 Random Badger gives you 2 points

The random badger is used for any random prediction used once in each matchday sequence. For instance, a scorer at a particular match, the number of red cards in the matches or yellow cards or own goals or owt you want really within reason, I do need to be able to check whether it's correct or not. Please don't put stuff like....."Commentator says...."  
The joker   is played for one match in each sequence and if correct you get double points. So if you've predicted 1-0 and it finishes 2-0, you get 4 pts, but if you've predicted 2-0, that's 8 pts. But if you get it wrong, it's minus 2.
Jokers and badgers are optional. You don't have to play one if you don't want.

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. Similarly with the badger, if your random prediction is affected by this, it'll be half the points.

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.  

End of season Play Offs: The one who finishes top of the league will still be champion, but after the season finishes there will be Play Offs between the top 4, with 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd. This will take in stuff like the EFL Play Offs, FA Cup Final, final day of Prima Donna League, European Finals etc. It will be one matchday for the semis and one for the Final. It will be the individual scores for each matchday against the allotted opponent, with some kind of tie breaker for a drawn match.

The prize for winning will be enormous. Another rep point.

1. St Charles Owl = 286 pts
   
2. Baggiebob(BBB) = 268 pts
   
3. neonfoxinthebox = 237 pts
   
4. jjamez = 235 pts
   
5. themaclad = 227 pts
   
6. theo_luddite = 218 pts
   

Friday 10th November:
Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End

Saturday 11th November:
Hull City v Town
Town scorers:
Hull scorers:

Queens Park Rangers v Bristol City
Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion
Watford v Rotherham United

Bonus matches:
Premier League:
Saturday:
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur (12:30)

Sunday:
West Ham United v Nottingham Forest (14:00)
Chelsea v Manchester City (16:30)

League One:
Saturday:
Peterborough United v Cambridge United (12:00)
Bolton Wanderers v Blackpool

League Two:
Bradford City v Barrow

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

1. Lord Snooty = 245 pts
   
2. ritchiebaby = 221 pts*
   
3. WakeyTerrier = 217 pts
   
4. Devongone = 210 pts
   
5. Amelia Chaffinch = 204 pts
   
6. SHEP_HTAFC = 166 pts
   

Saturday 11th November:
Hull City v Town
Town scorers:
Hull scorers:

Sunderland v Birmingham City (12:30)
Cardiff City v Norwich City
Coventry City v Stoke City
Ipswich Town v Swansea City
Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle
Middlesbrough v Leicester City

Bonus matches:
Premier League:
Saturday:
Arsenal v Burnley

Sunday:
Liverpool v Brentford (14:00)

Scottish Premiership:
Saturday:
Hibernian v Kilmarnock
St Johnstone v Ross County

National League:
Chesterfield v Barnet

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