The Championship - Week 1 review / Week 2 preview
By Andrew Iddon
Week 1 - All eyes were on Newcastle United as they got their Championship campaign underway at fellow relegated side West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies looked to have snatched victory in stoppage time but Jonas Olsson’s header was ruled out for offside. Shelton Martis gave the home side the lead just before half-time, stabbing home after a free-kick was not cleared properly. Newcastle keeper Steve Harper took a heavy whack in the process from teammate Shola Ameobi, and suffering concussion, was replaced at the break by Tim Krul. Damien Duff finished coolly early in the second period to level for the Magpies but it was Krul who proved the busier goalkeeper, being forced into several excellent saves as West Brom pressed for the winner.
The third side demoted from the Premier League, Middlesbrough, kicked off the new season on Friday night at home to Sheffield United. The match remained goalless - the Blades avoiding a repeat of the opening day last season when they were beaten by Kevin Phillips’ last-gasp winner for Birmingham City. Adam Johnson had a penalty appeal turned down for Boro but chances were at a premium. It was goalless too at Madejski Stadium as Reading entertained big spenders Nottingham Forest. The Royals looked the more likely to claim the three points with Scott Davies twice stinging the palms of Lee Camp in the Forest goal. Dele Adebola headed over and Robert Earnshaw forced Adam Federici into a fine save with the best efforts for Forest, who had Luke Chambers dismissed for elbowing late on, but it was the home team who had the best of the play.
It was Clough Jnr. vs. Ferguson Jnr. as Derby County played host to newly-promoted Peterborough. George Boyd’s penalty looked to have rescued a point for Posh, cancelling out Miles Addison’s early opener after Rams keeper Stephen Bywater sent substitute Shaun Batt tumbling. Ultimately, it was Nigel Clough who won the battle of the famous managerial sons - Gary Teale poking home a late winner to give Derby their first opening day win for seven years. Championship new boys Scunthorpe lost heavily as Cardiff christened their eponymous new stadium. A brace from Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and a late Peter Whittingham penalty made the final score 4-0 to the Bluebirds. There was better news for fellow promoted side Leicester who came from behind with goals from debutant substitutes Martyn Waghorn and Dany N’Guessan to beat Swansea, Ashley Williams having given the Swans the lead.
Ian Holloway returned to former club QPR with his new Blackpool side and came away with a draw, Ben Burgess’ opener cancelled out by Peter Ramage’s freak goal. There were draws too in the games between Preston and Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Plymouth, Watford and Doncaster, and the South Yorkshire derby between Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley. Clinton Morrison scored twice as Coventry beat Ipswich on Sunday to complete the first round of matches, Jon Walters netting the Tractor Boys’ sole reply with all the goals coming in the first half.
Week 1 results - August 7-9, 2009
Cardiff 4-0 Scunthorpe
Coventry 2-1 Ipswich
Crystal Palace 1-1 Plymouth
Derby County 2-1 Peterborough
Leicester 2-1 Swansea
Middlesbrough 0-0 Sheffield United
Preston 2-2 Bristol City
QPR 1-1 Blackpool
Reading 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Barnsley
Watford 1-1 Doncaster
West Brom 1-1 Newcastle
Week 2 - St James’ Park hosts its first second tier match for 16 years as Newcastle welcome promotion-chasing Reading. With much confusion at the North East club over potential takeover bids and with no permanent manager in place, Newcastle did well to claim a point at West Brom on the opening day. They will have to be at their best to beat a confident Royals side that showed plenty of promise in new manager Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge against Forest. The Royals just lacked a cutting edge up front but were solid in defence and creative in midfield. Acting captain Alex Pearce was a rock at the back and Newcastle’s strike force of Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi will have to work hard if they are to find the net.
Middlesbrough will be hoping they can find the back of the net against Swansea. Like Reading, Boro looked well organised in defence and inventive going forward but lacked someone to fire the bullets. Tuncay Sanli should be fit to return, provided he is still at the club, but Gareth Southgate will hope that new signing Leroy Lita will be the answer. Swansea themselves will be anxious to find a regular source of goals following the departure of last season’s top scorer Jason Scotland to Wigan.
Peterborough looked naïve defensively against Derby and will need to work on this to avoid being punished by better sides as they step up a level this season. Things looked better for Posh going forward and they should prove to be a handful for Wednesday this weekend. Wednesday will rue blowing a two-goal lead at home to Barnsley but will be buoyed by at least avoiding defeat against a side that did the double over them last season. With defence not being a strong point for either side, this tie promises goals, and the London Road crowd should be in good voice for its first home game at this level for 15 years.
Iain Hume will be looking to make his return from a fractured skull as Barnsley entertain Coventry. The Canadian international has been out of action for nine months but was fit enough to be an unused substitute at the weekend. Having suffered life-threatening injuries, he will be glad just to get on the pitch, but do not bet against him scoring against a Coventry defence shorn of Daniel Fox and Scott Dann following their moves to Celtic and Birmingham respectively. Chris Coleman’s Sky Blues will hope Clinton Morrison can repeat his goalscoring heroics to alleviate the pressure on the rearguard.
Dany N’Guessan will be pushing for a start for Leicester at Roy Keane’s Ipswich. A half-time substitute in the win over Swansea, N’Guessan hit the post and scored the winning goal on a promising debut following his move from Lincoln. Keane, looking to return to winning ways, could be without David Norris who picked up a knee injury in the defeat at Coventry. Like the rest of his Championship managerial colleagues, the Ipswich boss will hope his players come through their midweek Carling Cup tie unscathed.
Week 2 fixtures - Saturday August 15, 2009
Barnsley vs. Coventry - 15:00
Blackpool vs. Cardiff - 15:00
Bristol City vs. Crystal Palace - 15:00
Doncaster vs. Preston - 15:00
Ipswich vs. Leicester - 15:00
Newcastle vs. Reading - 17:20
Nottm Forest vs. West Brom - 15:00
Peterborough vs. Sheff Wed - 15:00
Plymouth vs. QPR - 15:00
Scunthorpe vs. Derby - 15:00
Sheff Utd vs. Watford - 15:00
Swansea vs. Middlesbrough - 15:00
The Championship 2009/10
Week 1 review / Week 2 preview - August 12
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