The Championship - Week 5 review / Week 6 preview
Wednesday 02 September 2009
Week five - Nottingham Forest were the victors in the Brian Clough Trophy but they had to weather a storming fight back from Derby in a game marred by ugly scenes at the full time whistle. Forest led 3-0 at half time but two own goals pulled the Rams back into the match. There were handbags exchanged when Robbie Savage made the most of being pushed by Garath McCleary but the real trouble occurred after the final whistle when Nathan Tyson stupidly decided to hold aloft a corner flag in celebration in front of the opposition fans. A melee ensued involving most of the players and members of both teams’ coaching staff and FA sanctions will surely follow. The scenes ultimately tarnished what had been Forest’s first win of the season, with Billy Davies’ side having picked up just two points prior to the game.
Also winning for the first time this season was Reading who came from behind to win at Barnsley. Noel Hunt’s double sealed the points for the Royals and signalled the end of Simon Davey’s reign in charge of the Tykes. Davey left by mutual consent following the game but not before he had seen his side take the lead through Andy Gray. Alex Pearce equalised for Reading before Hunt struck twice in a minute - the first coming from the penalty spot after Luke Steele upended Jimmy Kebe. Sheffield Wednesday were also 3-1 winners away from home, a Marcus Tudgay double helping them on the way to victory at Plymouth.
The surprise result of the weekend saw Cardiff crash 2-0 at Doncaster. The goals had previously been flowing for the Bluebirds but all top scorer Michael Chopra had to show for his efforts this time was a yellow card. Defeat was also tasted for the first time by Cardiff’s fellow high fliers Middlesbrough. A last minute goal by Nicky Maynard, his second of the game, clinched the three points for Bristol City after Adam Johnson had equalised with a penalty for Boro. Maynard has now scored all four of the Robins’ home goals to leave his team with a 100% home record after three games.
A Danny Guthrie goal was enough to send Newcastle top on Monday night and the Magpies have now won four in a row. West Brom dropped points for the first time since the opening day as they drew at Sheffield United. Roman Bednar hit a brace for the Baggies having returned from a drugs-related suspension but saw both strikes cancelled out by the Blades. There were 1-1 draws in the games at Ipswich, Peterborough and Swansea whilst Blackpool, who had previously drawn all four games so far this season, claimed their first win with a convincing vicory over Coventry. Charlie Adam, Ben Burgess and Gary Taylor-Fletcher were on the scoresheet for the Tangerines, whilst Coventry’s promising start to the season seems to have ended prematurely. The weekend’s remaining game saw QPR pick up their first three points of the campaign thanks to an early Adel Taarabt goal at Scunthorpe.
Week 5 results - August 29-31, 2009
Barnsley 1-3 Reading
Blackpool 3-0 Coventry
Bristol City 2-1 Middlesbrough
Doncaster 2-0 Cardiff
Ipswich 1-1 Preston
Newcastle 1 -0 Leicester
Nottingham Forest 3-2 Derby
Peterborough 1-1 Crystal Palace
Plymouth 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday
Scunthorpe 0-1 QPR
Sheffield United 2-2 West Brom
Swansea 1- 1Watford
Week six - Following the international break, the Championship resumes with a match between two of the early season high fliers. League leaders Newcastle travel to Wales to meet Cardiff who are yet to concede a goal at home. The Magpies have managed to avoid any further departures at the end of the transfer window and have re-signed Peter Lovenkrands to boost their attacking options. Young striker Nile Ranger, who had previously starred in the reserves, was impressive against Leicester and should feature again with Shola Ameobi likely to miss out injured. Andy Carroll is likely to return to partner Ranger up front although Lovenkrands will also come into contention. Cardiff have retained Joe Ledley which will boost Dave Jones’ side as they look to bounce back from the defeat at the Keepmoat.
There could be familiar faces on display as Derby host Sheffield United. Transfer deadline day saw a swap deal between the clubs which took Rams defender Jordan Stewart north in exchange for Blades midfielder Lee Hendrie. United will definitely be without Australian international David Carney who has joined Steve McClaren’s Twente in the Netherlands. Derby have won both their home matches this season but looked brittle in the first half against rivals Nottingham Forest in their last league game. The Blades are unbeaten so far and share the best defensive record away from home in the Championship. Derby striker Rob Hulse rejected a £4m move to Middlesbrough and will look to test Chris Morgan’s partnership with Matt Kilgallon in central defence for United.
The search for Reading’s first home win since January will go on as they entertain a Doncaster side fresh from beating Cardiff. Jobi McAnuff should be fit enough to make his Royals debut following his move from Watford having missed the win over Barnsley with an injury. Brendan Rodgers will also be able to call on recent signings Gregorz Rasiak, who came on as a sub at Oakwell, and Darren O’Dea but may opt to stick with an unchanged side - a tactic favoured by his predecessor Steve Coppell following a victory. Rodgers has acknowledged the need to surround his promising young players with experienced heads but will continue to offer first team football to the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jem Karacan.
Plymouth travel to West Brom looking to avoid a fourth successive defeat and manager Paul Sturrock will be keen to halt the poor form having seen his team finish 21st last season. Sturrock has said that he feels less pressure away from the Home Park crowd but a trip to the Hawthorns would not have featured highly on his wish list, with the Baggies in good form and unbeaten in five games back in the Championship. Argyle sit 22nd at present and have not yet been able to call on summer signing Bradley Wright-Phillips due to injury, but hope he will be fit enough to make the trip to the Midlands. West Brom have allowed Borja Valero to return to Real Mallorca on loan, the club-record signing having made just one start in the Carling Cup so far this season.
Week six fixtures
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Coventry vs. Bristol City, 15:00
Crystal Palace vs. Scunthorpe, 15:00
Derby vs. Sheffield United, 13:00
Leicester vs. Blackpool, 15:00
Middlesbrough vs. Ipswich, 15:00
Preston vs. Swansea, 15:00
QPR vs. Peterborough, 15:00
Reading vs. Doncaster, 15:00
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Nottingham Forest, 15:00
Watford vs. Barnsley, 15:00
West Brom vs. Plymouth, 15:00
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Cardiff vs. Newcastle, 14:05
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
Week 4 review / Week 5 preview - August 26
Week 5 review / Week 6 preview - September 2
Related Articles
| 