AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson said he understands why Jurgen Klopp wants to take a break from management after Ronan Curtis snatched a last-gasp 2-1 win against 10-man Mansfield.
The former Portsmouth winger, making his debut for the Dons, tapped home in the sixth minute of stoppage time to end a three-game winless run.
It had looked as if high-flying Mansfield, playing with 10 men for 70 minutes after Jordan Bowery’s dismissal, would earn a hard-fought draw with Will Swan cancelling out Omar Bugiel’s opener.
But Curtis had the final say, capping a whirlwind of emotions for his new manager Jackson, who referenced Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season in his press conference.
“I can understand why Klopp wants to have a year out, and I’ve only been doing it two years,” joked Jackson.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. Honestly, it’s as good as it gets in football when you score a last-minute winner.
“After probably as low as it gets on Tuesday to have that high, that’s football for you. That’s why we love it.”
The hosts suffered a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals MK Dons in midweek, denting their play-off ambitions, but the win on Saturday moved them up to eighth, two points off Notts County.
“(The play-offs) have always been in sight. We had an opportunity on Tuesday to get into them, but we didn’t take it,” Jackson added.
“But we said, when the dust settled, we’ve just lost a game of football. There’s a chance in three or four days to bounce back and we’ve done that today.”
In the other dugout, Nigel Clough could not fault his players’ efforts in response to Bowery’s red card and Bugiel’s goal in first-half stoppage time.
He said: “If you go to 10 men for 75 minutes and then come out the stronger team, get an equaliser and look to win the game in the manner that we did, I’m unbelievably proud.
“It says an awful lot about the spirit in the camp. With 15 minutes to go there was only one team you could really see winning it.
“I think if the officials do their jobs correctly, we do (win it).”
Clough took issue with the sending off, as well as having a potential penalty for a foul on Davis Keillor-Dunn waved away just before Curtis’ winner.
The substituted Stephen Quinn was also shown red for dissent in a tense final few minutes.
“I think the provocation that we’ve had to deal with today has been extreme,” said Clough. “Right from the first 20 seconds, to the sending off and the penalty denied.
“Then you’ve got a fourth official who is winking and smiling at the technical area and the bench in an act of nothing else but provocation.
“We had to put up with them all afternoon.”
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
Serie A side Genoa confirm sacking of head coach Gilardino
Serie A side Genoa have confirmed the departure of their head coach Alberto Gilardino, with Patrick Vieira reportedly on his way in.
Gilardino, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, leaves the club with them sitting just one point above the relegation size with 10 points from 12 matches this season.
A former striker who played for clubs including Genoa, Parma, AC Milan and Fiorentina, Gilardino took charge of Genoa in 2022 and helped them earn promotion to the top division before a 11th-place finish during the 2023-24 season.
"The club thanks Gilardino for the goals achieved together over the years and wishes him the best for his career," Genoa said in a statement.
The 42-year-old saw his side salvage a late 1-1 draw against Cesc Fabregas' Como in their last match before the international break.
Genoa were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia in the second round following a defeat to Sampdoria on penalties in September.
Arsenal legend Vieira is set to replace him, according to multiple reports.
The former France midfielder has been out of work since leaving Strasbourg by mutual consent in July.
Doncic backs Mbappe to turn fortunes around at Real Madrid
NBA superstar Luka Doncic has backed Kylian Mbappe to "figure it out" after his underwhelming start to life at Real Madrid.
Mbappe has scored eight goals in 16 games for Madrid in all competitions since joining as a free agent following the expiration of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.
He has gone four matches without a goal – a run that includes losses to Barcelona and Milan – and has been left out of France's latest squad.
However, Dallas Mavericks guard Doncic – a Real Madrid supporter due to his previous ties with the sports club – can see Mbappe turning things around.
"Obviously [their season] could be better," Doncic told Managing Madrid after the Mavericks' win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
"But when you get a guy like Mbappe, it takes some time to get used to it. We'll figure it out."
Mbappe has scored six goals in 11 LaLiga appearances for Madrid but has underperformed his season's expected goals (xG) total by 2.04.
The forward is averaging a goal every 166 minutes in all competitions this term, compared to one every 88 minutes for PSG in his last of seven seasons in Paris.
Madrid thrashed Osasuna 4-0 last time out in the league to return to winning ways but still trail leaders Barcelona by six points.
Asked about his connections with Madrid, former Los Blancos basketball player Doncic said: "I follow Real Madrid every time.
"I grew up there. They taught me everything, so it's a part of my life. You can call it a secondary home.
"I learned a lot of stuff there and, especially, they gave me a way to be here right now [in Dallas]. I always appreciate that 100%."
Madrid return to action after the international break with a trip to Leganes on Sunday.
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