Championship Review 04.02.2012

The Big One

The weekend started with one of the games I have been waiting for all season. West Ham v Millwall. The game didn't disappoint in terms of talking points either as Kevin Nolan was sent off for a two footed tackle very early on in the game. Carlton Cole managed to bag his first goal in five games with a headed goal which probably would have been saved if it were anyone but David Forde in goal. Trotter then scored a brilliant equalizer for Millwall before Winston Reid scored a dubious goal minutes later as Forde was rugby tackled by Julian Faubert leaving Reid to slam the ball home into an empty net. 2-1 Hammers.

Carlton Cole celebrating giving West Ham the lead

The Chasing Pack

Terrible weather at St. Andrews

Birmingham and Southampton shared the points in conditions at St. Andrews similar to that shown on Frozen Planet. Unfortunately there was no commentary from David Attenborough and the game finished 0-0.

Blackpool scored three in the last 11 minutes at Cardiff to secure a huge 3-1 win for the Tangerines. A Phillips double act saved Blackpool as Cardiff had taken the lead through a close range finish from young prodigy Joe 'Messi' Mason. Blackpool deservedly equalised through pensioner Kevin Phillips which was quickly followed by Blackpool's own youth prodigy, and ironically a transfer target of Cardiff, Matty Phillips bagging a brace in the final 7 minutes to send Ian Holloway home laughing as once again he masterminded a comeback against Cardiff. Shucks.

Middlesbrough, off colour at the moment managed to gain a point at home to Crystal Palace after the Eagles dominated the match and may have felt unlucky to only be taking one point home with them. Another 0-0.

McCormack and Clayton celebrate

With Leeds United's form of late you would have expected them to have gone home from Ashton Gate empty handed but the referee had other ideas. Bristol City have been seriously inconsistent this season and didn't help themselves when James Wilson decided he wanted a hot bath more than kicking a ball around in the snow and got himself sent off. Snodgrass had given Leeds the lead four minutes earlier and Robins' fans must have been fearing the worst at half time. They were right to. Leeds soon had a two man advantage as Bolasie got himself a second yellow and joined Wilson in the bath for what I presume to be a very warm snowball fight! McCormack, a former Cardiff player, scored the second to a 'warm' reception from the home fans. If they weren't heading back to their homes already they were when Becchio added a third. 3-0 to Leeds in their first game without Simon Grayson.

Mid-Table

Buckley celebrates his last gasp winner

In a game with few chances, Brighton stole the spoils against Leicester in the 90th minute thanks to a Will Buckley volley from a Vicente cross. I had started to doubt whether bringing in Vicente was a good move by Gus Poyet and Brighton but a vital assist and three points to help their playoff push surely goes some way to fixing the doubt. Leicester finished the game with 9 men after having Beckford and Danns sent off while Brighton also finished a man light with Sparrow seeing red late on. 1-0 Brighton.

Composure shown from Rodriguez

Jay Rodriguez saved a late point for Burnley at Turf Moor against a struggling Peterborough. A defensive lapse had let Peterborough take an early lead with a great finish from Taylor. That would turn out to be the Posh's only shot on target all game. Burnley couldn't find the break through despite twelve shots on target, that was until young man Jay picked the ball up near the half way line, charged towards the defence, kept going..and going..and going.. before slotting the ball home in Henry esque fashion. A top goal from one of the Championship's best players. 1-1 in the end.

Relegation Battle

Chopra heads late winner

Watford and Barnsley met at Vicarage Road and it was the London club who came away with the three points as John Eustace scored twice before a late goal from Scott Golbourne set up a nervy finish for the Hornets. A first home game without Marvin Sordell saw Troy Deeney and Joe Garner play up front with each other after Sordell's £3m move to Bolton. Watford 2-1 Barnsley.

Coventry and Ipswich surprisingly served up the game of the day at the Ricoh Arena infront of a 13,500 crowd which isn't even 50% of the stadium capacity! Jay Emmanuel-Thomas managed a deflected goal for the Tractor Boys before Clingan levelled from the spot. Deegan then gave Coventry the lead before Chopra scored twice to secure the win. 3-2 Ipswich.


Biggest Winners

West Ham and Blackpool have to be contenders with other results going their way but this week the biggest winners have to be Ipswich Town. They were one of two teams in the bottom twelve to pick up three points, moving ten points clear of the drop zone. Also getting Michael Chopra back into goal scoring form is a huge positive for them!

This weeks biggest winners could also be the teams fans that didn't play. Not the most exciting day of football which wasn't helped by the adverse weather conditions. Let's hope for better next week!

What I wish the Cardiff City Stadium looked like so our game would have been called off!

Blues Brothers

The Demise of one CCFC is the Rise of Another.

Aron Gunnarsson

Cardiff City and Coventry City are both one of the top longest serving Championship teams, but this season that looks like it's about to change!

With Cardiff pushing for promotion and Coventry holding everyone up at the bottom, both teams could go their different ways next year. This isn't to say Cardiff haven't exploited, and probably assisted in Coventry's downfall, and Malky Mackay must feel like Daniel Ocean after we stole Aron Gunnarsson and Ben Turner away from them for a smidgen of their true value!

Ben Turner

When Coventry lost these players, they really had to be replaced, but they weren't. They survived last season due to these two players, Marlon King (boo) and Keiron Westwood. All four departed in the summer and Coventry have taken just 22 points from 27 games this season. Add to that their average attendance is at the lowest in years, there is a real fear around the club that they will be playing League One football next year. Who can blame them? If they did go down, I would fully expect them to be at least in the playoffs at the end of the season. Coventry fans may wonder where the money has gone, but in football you can never give up hope! Coventry have a decent youth academy and with no players being bought, maybe manager Andy Thorn is just looking to the future and trying to establish a good youth base for a promotion push next year if the worst should happen this year.