In a heated affair which Sheffield Wednesday slighted edged it was Birmingham that took all 3 points. Rowan Vines 5th goal of the season in the 53 minute proved decisive for the away team but they will now lose their keeper for the next game after Doyle saw Red in the 78th minute.Sheffield Wednesday can take away positives from this match as they created a number of chances to score but Hayden Dando must be wondering where he can buy a goal from at the moment.
Wolves 1 - 1 Preston
For the second week in a row Wolves dropped points with a one all home draw. Most would have predicted Jamies Wests boys to bounce back this week and continue their assault on the top of the league.But Prestons early goal from Roberto Platero proved difficult for Wolves to come back from and even though Nsofor Victor Obinna scored his 11th of a very impressive season so far a second Wolves goal was a step to far.
Sunderland 3 - 0 Leicester
Sunderland continued their rise up the table with a comprehensive win over Leicester, and thanks to another slip by Derby they have marched into top spot. Goals from Muntari, in the first half, and Maldondo and Chopra in the second proved to much as Leicester were brushed aside by one of the pre season favourites for promotion.Having only created 3 chances it appears that Leicester could be resigned to a season at the bottom.
Sheff Utd 1 - 1 Derby
Like Wolves this is the second weekend in a row that Derby have slipped up and they have now slipped from the top of the pile and allowed free scoring Sunderland to take over. Both Derby and Wolves need to reaffirm their winning ways with teams like Palace and Bristol City continuing to pick up points. Two very early goals seemed to signify a barnstorming game but unfortunately it signaled the beginning and the end of the highlight in this somewhat drab affair. Sheff Utd did take the lead in the 5th minute through Alberto only for Derby to reply within 60 seconds through Lea****.Both teams will be looking to improve next week.
Notts Forest 1 - 2 Bristol City
Bristol City continued their push at the top by defeating a demoralised Notts Forest. Forest still reeling from a 6 point deduction due to financial irregularities never really turned up and really the 2 1 score line flatters them somewhat. Having said that Forest did take a surprise lead but everyone watching knew it was only a matter of time before Bristol scored and once they had the question then became how many.Di Natale scored in the 43 minute after good work from Grant Holt but City pulled level and then ahead in the space of 3 mins with a Leon McKenzie double. Chances came and went for Bristol City and Stephen Wells may well be disappointed that his strikers did not grab more.
Leeds 0 - 2 Crystal Palace
After an impressive away draw at Derby last week Leeds looked as if they would frustrate another team at the top against a confident looking Crystal Palace side.Chris Gale made the brave decision to rest top scorer Eidur Gudjohnsen for this game and give loanee Rafael Sobis his first start in an Eagles shirt, and for 88 minutes it looked like a poor decision.Palace created may chances but it seemed the prowess of Gudjohnsen was needed to finish this game off.In the end senior midfielders Ifil (89)and Cani (90) stepped up and took responsibility to score two late goals the first from a long ball from veteran Darren Purse and the second after a mazy run from the young Sobis.Leeds and Neal Steer will feel hard done by with the result but to make matters worse they will now lose 2 players with Solano injured and Nicky Law suspended.
Southampton failed to cope with the cutting edge of Villa this week as the midlands outfit took all three points back to Villa Park. Improving Villa displayed an incisive performance, and goals from Gabby Agbonlahor and William Gallas were sufficient to claim the win their fans demanded. The loss leaves Southampton slipping back towards the relegation places after Cardiff and Charlton picked up a win and draw respectively. Villa however, can begin to look upwards and are in sight of the play-offs.
West Brom 4-1 Norwich City
The Baggies produced an inspirational display of attacking football to blow struggling Norwich away at the Hawthorns this weekend. Norwich were never really in the game despite Matty Fryatt bagging his first goal for joining for £10million earlier this season. Arturo Lupoli and Lita worked fantastically well up front for West Brom, the latter grabbing an inspired hat trick to round off a superb day at the office for the man who recently joined from Italian giants Roma. The win takes the Baggies to the summit of The Championship and, looking bang in form, will be tough to chase down. Norwich however, continue their desperately disappointing season as they prop up the division in last place.
Watford 3-3 Coventry City
Two of the most exciting attacking teams in The Championship played out a thrilling encounter at Vicaridge Road this week, in what was a testament to the quality of the division. Pre-season predictions would have placed both these teams in and around the relegation zone, having moved up from League One last term. But on this display neither will have to worry about relegation as both teams produced some scintillating football. As per usual Jamie Walkers troops produced a excellent display of passing football, but were matched all the way by an equally impressive Coventry, who kept going til the very end to earn an excellent point.
Reading 1-2 Cardiff City
The Bluebirds finally injected some life into their faltering season by picking up a valuable win at fellow strugglers Reading. Rafaelle Palladino finally showed some of the form which drew admiring gaizes from other managers last season, grabbing an efficient brace for JD Jaques side. Andy King had given the home side the lead, but Kings first goal of the season was later eclipsed by Cardiffs young striker who earnt his side an invaluable three points. The win means Cardiff leap frog Reading, but stay in the relegation zone after Charlton managed a valuable draw against fancied Bolton.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers showed a surprising shyness in front of goal as Boro grabbed an unexpected victory against the side leading the division at the start of play. Blackburn never really got going in what was a dull affair between two of the more fancied teams in the division. In the end it was Julio Arcas near post finish which separated the sides, and meant that West Brom jumped above Rovers to head the division.
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
The trotters will be disappointed they couldnt claim all three points away against struggling Charlton, but cannot claim the result was unjust on the balance of play. Brian McBride gave the hosts a surprise lead on five minutes with his first goal for his new club, before limping off on the just after half time. While the Charlton medics were assessing McBrides injury however, Bolton immediately took advantage as Idranik Teymourin placed a low shot into the right hand corner of the nest after Charlton failed to clear. Even though Bolton tried to push on and win, they never came close to breaking down Charlton again and a point was a frustrating result for a Bolton team trying to stave off an improving Villa in the play off positions.
With the last the last two teams who were nbeaten in the league this was always going to be a tricky game for both teams but it was Sampdoria who kept there unbeaten start to the season with yet another win but they were made to work for it as they conceded only there 2nd goal of the campaign. In a very competitive performance both teams made explosive starts as it was 1-1 inside 4 minutes but the winner came in the 29minute which dealt a blow to Ascoli's ambitions of automatic promotion but firmly cemented Sampdoria's reign of the league and it doesn't look as if they'll be beaten any time soon.
Torino 1-2 Palermo
Torino seating at the bottom of the table gave an encouring performance in front of their fans with a battling display against automatic hopefuls Palermo they gave them a real good go and even for a while though they could get a win or something out of the game sadly the quality and confidence of winning games bought the round for Palermo but they will have to perform better if they want to go up.
Siena 0-2 Messina
This game was against two strugglers who really already at this stage seem to have nothing to play for but pride but it was Messina who showed that and Siena were booed off after the game for a poor display with a brace from Rob Hulse being the difference between the two teams.
Reggina 0-2 Chievo
Reggina suffered their second lose in a row to a pumped up Chievo Reggna's problem yet again was creating chances and having someone to put them in the net but to be fair Chievo just had to much quality for them and Eugene Clarke will be very pleased with his team's performance and it see them rising to 4th in the table.
Napoli 1-1 Cagliari
No one involved with either club will be happy with this result a very tough game for the teams both needing wins to stay up with the play-off places saw a 1-1 draw whilst entertaining it sees them both dropping off from the play-offs both teams need to start producing wins instead of draws if they are to achieve this
Genoa 0-2 Catania
In what was meant to be a tough game between two automatic promotion contenders Catania came away with a very easy win and Genoa looked surprisingly out of their depth they never looked like getting anything out of it and werelucky to only lose 2-0 Catania have very much been the shock team so far this season as they have finished very poorly in the last two seasons but the new man at the helm Louis Galeozzie has done wonders for the club.
