The Championship

Aston Villa 2 - 3 West Brom

West Brom kept up the pressure on Blackburn on the top of the Championship, and produced a scintillating display off attacking football to take the spoils in a competitive match at Villa Park. The scoreline perhaps flattered The Villans, as there rivals tore into them for much of the game. Luca Toni proved a handful for the brittle Villa backline, and Leroy Lita linked up well to keep the defence guessing all game. Aston Villa fans can find some comfort in their teams clinical nature in front of goal, Gardner and  Gallas poaching two good goals to keep their team in the game.

However, anything less than a win would have been an injustice for the Baggies and with Blackburn drawing at home to Bolton Wanderers only one point separates Paul Harringtons side from top spot. They will need to keep up the good form however, to prevent Jamie Walkers Watford side displacing them from the automatic promotion slots.

Southampton 1 - 2 Watford

Watford maintained their impressive run of results away at Southampton, but could so easily have slipped up as the Saints threw away a great chance to keep a share of the spoils. Watford, uncharacteristally slack in defence, ceded too much possession to the ever impressive Saints midfield who more than matched their counterparts. Danny Guthrie once again impressed, his poise and creativity orchestrating most of Southamptons play. However, it was Watford who broke the deadlock, with Tamas Priskin punishing clumsy defending from the Saints.

The Southampton determination by no means diminished however, and Andrew Surman found an opening just four minutes later to bring back parity to an entertaining game. Buoyed by the goal Southampton chased the win, only for Watford to deliver the sucker punch through Priskin again, just four minutes later. This time Southampton had no answer and Watford keep on track for an automatic promotion slot.

Next up for the Hornets is the much anticipated game against Coventry City. The Sky Blues have lost the last two meetings between the sides and after another gutsy display from Watford here, may find themselves disappointed for a third time.

Norwich City 1 - 2 Reading

In what turned out to be a blood and thunder contest at Carrow Road, Reading piled yet more pressure onto an underachieving Norwich side who now find themselves deep in trouble at the bottom end of the Championship table. The match was always set to be a war of attrition, and the Royal boss Courtney Medlicott will be encouraged to see his side pull through. The win sees Reading leap frog Norwich into 10^th spot, just inside the relegation zone, all be it only on goal difference.

Press speculation is mounting that manager Chris Ratcliff is under pressure from the clubs board to start moving the Canaries up and away from the Championship drop zone. Failure to do so could see the ex-Real Madrid boss searching for a new job. Bookmakers Sky Bet have already started taking bets on the Canaries next manager with ex-boss Dale Price 5-1 Favourite to return to Carrow Road.

Coventry City 3 - 2 Middlesbrough

Coventry City earnt an invaluable win at home to a fancied Middlesbrough team to once more defy pre-season predictions of relegation as they moved into fourth place in the Championship table. Many would have expected the Sky Blues recent good form to have been ended by a Boro side full of quality, but a gutsy, free flowing display by Mark Rollings men caught their opposition cold in a good display of attacking football.

Joey Barton once again produced a superb display in the middle of the park, driving forward at will to almost constant effect. Yakubu was unlucky to finish on the losing side, as the Nigerians power and pace troubled the Coventry defence all day. In the end though, the win was well deserved for the Sky Blues, and they will take great optimism into the rest of the season.

Afterwards manager Mark Rollings politely asked the press to leave him and his team to their own devices over the coming week, as the Young Welsh manager prepares his side for the upcoming fixture against Watford. Rollings explained that he wanted nothing to get in the way of his sides preperations ahead of the big clash, and would not be speaking to the press til after the match.

Cardiff City 1 - 1 Charlton Athletic

Cardiff City fans once again vented their frustration after another lacklustre display at Ninian Park. Manager JD Jaques is under severe pressure to start turning the clubs fortunes around following a string of disappointing results and performances which have left the Bluebirds in serious trouble. This result will do little to appease the unsatisfied fans, as Cardiff failed to impress against fellow strugglers Charlton.

The game was a dull affair, with neither side able to get a foothold in midfield. Creativity was at a premium going forward, and it took two defensive errors to provide any sort of entertainment. In truth, Cardiff can perhaps claim to have just about edged the game, but the scoreline failed to reflect their marginal superiority.

After the game, a source close to Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale suggested that the board were due to meet this week to discuss the future of the club. Jaques can take some comfort however, that according the source a final decision on the matter is by no means imminent.

Blackburn Rovers 1 - 1 Bolton Wanderers

Rovers ambitions of a title winning season were hit by a disappointing draw at home to North-West rivals Bolton this weekend, as they failed to reach their early season heights. Bolton were always likely to represent a stern test of Rovers 100% record, and managed to grind out an impressive result which leaves them comfortably inside the play off places.

The match sprang into life on 21 minutes, as Ludovic Guily, a menace throughout, weaved through two defenders outwide and delivered a pinpoint slide pass into the path of Niko Kranjcar on the front post. The Croatian met the ball with a rasping right foot, which took his goal tally to 9 for the season, and left Blackburn visibly rattled.

However, Morten Gamst Pedersen once again showed his Premiership credentials on 48 minutes, as he swung in a characteristic cross towards Benni McCarthy on the penalty spot. The South African marksman met the ball with his head, to send the ball into the net to the relief of the home fans.

Despite pressing late on, Blackburn couldnt break down Bolton again, and the Trotters will be delighted in taking a share of the spoils down the short trip down the M6.