The Championship - Week 3 review / Week 4 preview
By Andrew Iddon
Week three - Michael Chopra stormed clear at the top of the goalscoring charts, after the former Newcastle hitman smashed in an emphatic hat-trick, taking him to six goals from the first three games, as he helped Cardiff hammer Plymouth away. The Bluebirds top the table on goal-difference and it is little wonder with their record summer signing in such a rich vein of form. The striker scored his first after four minutes before adding a late double to seal a comfortable victory for the Welsh side. Alan Gow netted from the penalty spot in injury time to give the hosts a consolation after Tony Capaldi handled in the box, with the Northern Ireland international receiving his marching orders for a second yellow card.
A spectacular comeback was almost on the cards at London Road as Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough fought back from going three goals down to lose narrowly 3-2 against West Brom. Luke Moore’s double and Chris Brunt’s first of the season shot the Baggies into a commanding lead but a diving-header from Craig Mackail-Smith on the stroke of half-time gave Posh hope. Aaron Mclean further reduced the deficit early in the second half but Roberto Di Matteo’s men, who had Graham Dorrans sent off at the death, held on for a second straight away win.
Middlesbrough’s scoring run away from the Riverside continued as Scunthorpe were soundly beaten 2-0. Adam Johnson netted both goals, withthe first an excellent volley and the second from the penalty spot. The winger had missed another penalty moments before his successful spot kick as he was felled going for the rebound to earn himself a second chance. After a tame performance on the opening day of the season, life in the Championship is starting to suit Boro, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot at this early stage of the season. Shola Ameobi made it four goals in his last two games as Newcastle beat Sheffield Wednesday in the only Wednesday evening match, lifting the Magpies to third, behind Cardiff and their north-east neighbours.
Barnsley and Nottingham Forest have the worst home records in the league having both lost their two games so far. The Tykes went down 3-0 against Preston whilst Forest lost a high-scoring game 4-2 to Watford. Tom Cleverley sealed the win for the Hornets on his debut having signed on-loan from Manchester United in time to feature. In contrast, Bristol City are enjoying much better home form. Nicky Maynard scored a second late winner in four days for the Robins to keep up their 100% record at Ashton Gate
Swansea took their first point of the season with a goalless draw at home to Reading. Adam Federici was the hero for the Royals - who have still to score this season - the Australian goalkeeper stopping Mark Gower’s penalty before saving smartly from Steven Dobbie later on. There were also scoreless draws in the games at Blackpool and Doncaster - two sides who have now drawn all three of their games this season. The other midweek games saw a win for Crystal Palace at Ipswich and a 1-1 draw between Sheffield United and Leicester City.
Week 3 results- August 19-20, 2009
Barnsley 0–3 Preston
Blackpool 0–0 Derby County
Bristol City 1–0 QPR
Doncaster 0–0 Coventry
Ipswich 1–3 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday
Nottingham Forest 2–4 Watford
Peterborough 2–3 West Brom
Plymouth 1–3 Cardiff
Scunthorpe 0–2 Middlesbrough
Sheffield United 1–1 Leicester
Swansea 0–0 Reading
Week four - Leicester will defend their unbeaten start to the season at home to bottom club Barnsley. Matty Fryatt opened his league account for the season in the draw at Bramall Lane, albeit with a massive stroke of luck when Matt Oakley’s free-kick deflected in off of his body. Fryatt formed an excellent strike partnership with Steve Howard as Leicester surged to the League One title and it will be crucial to the Foxes' ambitions of achieving more than just safety this season for the pair to continue their superb understanding. For Barnsley, just securing their position in the Championship for another season would be a huge success. The Tykes have started poorly, suffering defeat in both their home games to lose any early initiative that may have been there to take from what had been a relatively kind set of fixtures on paper.
Two teams with big aspirations that have so far failed to find any form meet at Loftus Road as Nottingham Forest visit QPR. For all the millions in the collective bank accounts of Rangers’ owners, it was Forest that led the way spending-wise this summer in the Championship. So far it has been a case of 'too many new cooks' in Billy Davies’ side, with the hoard of new faces failing to gel sufficiently. QPR desperately need some stability this season after the managerial merry-go-round in recent times and rumours of interference in team selections by shareholder Flavio Briatore. Jim Magilton’s side have a great chance to kick start their season with this fixture coming at a time when their opponents are yet to sort themselves out.
Reading look for their first home league win since January as they host Sheffield United. There is plenty of recent history between the two sides who were promoted to the Premier League together in 2006. The Royals appeared to have an Indian Sign over the Blades for a long time in meetings between the two sides but this changed late last season as United won 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium and pipped their opponents to third place. Both were subsequently unsuccessful in the play-offs. Both teams look impressive defensively having each kept two clean sheets in three games, and with just three goals scored between the two sides so far, goals could well be at a premium.
Sunday’s sole match sees two sides that have enjoyed excellent starts to the season go head-to-head. Cardiff and Bristol City are separated only by goal difference, mainly due to the exceptional scoring form of the Bluebirds’ Michael Chopra. Having failed to live up to his billing as the new Alan Shearer at hometown club Newcastle, Chopra is beginning to demonstrate his true class during his second spell in the Welsh capital. An unsuccessful move to Sunderland, where he also suffered problems in his personal life, seems a distant memory now that he has exploded out of the blocks in style following his summer return. The Robins have won their last two games 1-0 but few would bet against Chopra in this form and it is unlikely that Gary Johnson’s side will claim a third straight clean sheet victory.
Week 4 fixtures – Saturday August 22, 2009
Coventry vs. Swansea - 15:00
Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle - 15:00
Derby vs. Plymouth - 15:00
Leicester vs. Barnsley - 15:00
Middlesbrough vs. Doncaster - 15:00
Preston vs. Peterborough - 15:00
QPR vs. Nottm Forest - 15:00
Reading vs. Sheff Utd - 15:00
Sheff Wed vs. Scunthorpe - 15:00
Watford vs. Blackpool - 15:00
West Brom vs. Ipswich - 17:20
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Cardiff vs. Bristol City - 13:15
The Championship 2009/10
Week 1 review / Week 2 preview - August 12
Week 2 review / Week 3 preview - August 18
Week 3 review / Week 4 preview - August 20
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