Championship MatchDay 29 Wrap-up

Championship MatchDay 29 ended with Fulham six points clear at the top of the Championship .

Fulham strengthened their grip at the top of the table thanks to two more goals for Serbia international Aleksandar Mitrovic as they comfortably saw off Millwall at Craven Cottage.

It's now 30 goals in just 27 league appearances for Mitro who needs just one more goal to break the single-season scoring record in a regular Championship campaign, currently jointly held by Ivan Toney (Brentford, 2020/21) and Glenn Murray (Crystal Palace, 2012/13).

Fulham have a vastly superior goal difference than any other Championships club and, in terms of goals against, have the joint second best defence in the Division.

Championship table - 10th February 2022
			Home					Away
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Fulham	29	10	4	2	40	13	8	3	2	37	13	51	61
2	Bournemouth	29	8	3	3	29	15	8	4	3	18	10	22	55
3	Blackburn	31	10	3	3	31	19	5	5	5	14	14	12	53
4	QPR	29	8	5	3	23	13	7	2	4	23	20	13	52
5	Huddersfield	31	8	4	3	22	16	5	6	5	18	18	6	49
6	N Forest	30	6	3	6	19	18	7	4	4	22	13	10	46
7	Middlesbrough	29	9	2	4	21	13	4	5	5	13	15	6	46
8	Luton	29	7	5	3	24	17	5	4	5	17	16	8	45
9	West Brom	30	8	5	1	21	8	4	4	8	13	18	8	45
10	Sheff U	28	6	2	4	19	11	7	4	5	20	22	6	45
11	Stoke	29	7	3	5	22	16	5	3	6	14	14	6	42
12	Preston	31	5	8	2	20	17	5	4	7	14	18	-1	42
13	Coventry	28	8	3	4	23	14	3	5	5	13	18	4	41
14	Blackpool	30	8	2	6	16	16	3	6	5	17	19	-2	41
15	Millwall	29	6	5	3	16	12	3	5	7	13	20	-3	37
16	Bristol C	31	6	5	5	20	20	4	2	9	21	35	-14	37
17	Swansea	29	6	4	4	16	13	3	4	8	13	25	-9	35
18	Birmingham	31	5	4	6	18	21	3	5	8	16	28	-15	33
19	Hull	30	5	3	7	15	17	4	2	9	11	18	-9	32
20	Cardiff	29	4	1	9	15	20	5	4	6	20	28	-13	32
21	Reading **	29	4	4	7	21	31	4	0	10	13	26	-23	22
22	Peterborough	28	4	4	5	15	17	1	1	13	8	42	-36	20
23	Derby *	30	7	6	2	21	14	2	6	7	10	17	0	18
24	Barnsley	29	2	4	8	8	17	0	4	11	10	28	-27	14
Results Table Fixtures

Fulham 3 - 0 Millwall
Star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice to take his tally to 30 Championship goals for the season as leaders Fulham comfortably beat Millwall.

Victory saw Fulham open an eight-point gap with a game in hand over second-placed Blackburn as the in-form Serbian helped Marco Silva's men to a fifth league win in six matches. Substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid added a late third as the Cottagers moved one step closer to automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

It was a fourth defeat in six matches for Millwall, who are eight points off the play-off places.

The game also saw a minute's applause held for Fulham fan Paul Parish, who died after falling ill at the Cottagers' home match against Blackpool on 29 January.

Coventry City 1 - 1 Blackpool
Championship play-off hopefuls Coventry City and Blackpool had to settle for a draw at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Blackpool's Gary Madine got his second goal in as many games as he fired his side ahead at the far post after good work down the left from Owen Dale. Viktor Gyokeres coolly levelled after getting on the end of keeper Simon Moore's long ball shortly before the break.

Madine and Jordan Thorniley had efforts in quick succession for Blackpool after the break while Gyokeres, Martyn Waghorn and Gustavo Hamer missed chances for the Sky Blues. Both sides are four points outside the top six in a tight table, with Coventry remaining in 12th after Stoke's win over Swansea while Blackpool drop one spot to 14th.

Derby County 3 - 1 Hull City
Derby County reignited their hopes of pulling off a remarkable escape from Championship relegation as they beat Hull City at home.

A Craig Forsyth header, Tom Lawrence pouncing on a rebound and Festy Ebosele firing a half-volley across goal put them into a 3-0 lead just after half-time before Forsyth deflected into his own net to give Hull hope of a comeback.

But the Tigers were unable to claw back any more of the deficit in the remaining 25 minutes with Sean McLoughlin hitting the side-netting in stoppage time. Derby closed out the game to move within four points of 21st-placed Reading, the side just outside the drop zone, with their first victory in four games.

While Wayne Rooney's side stay second-from-bottom, their win heaps more pressure on nearest rivals Peterborough and the Royals, who sit either side of the drop zone before their games on Wednesday.

Championship MatchDay 29 ~ Results
Tuesday 8th February 2022
KO	Home	Res	Away	Att
19:45	Coventry	1-1	Blackpool	15752
19:45	Derby	3-1	Hull	22595
19:45	Fulham	3-0	Millwall	16606
19:45	Luton	2-1	Barnsley	9101
19:45	Stoke	3-0	Swansea	17720
Wednesday 9th February 2022
KO	Home	Res	Away	Att
19:45	Bournemouth	3-1	Birmingham	8708
19:45	Blackburn	0-2	N. Forest	13869
19:45	Bristol City	2-1	Reading	17798
19:45	Cardiff	4-0	Peterborough	17297
19:45	Preston	0-0	Huddersfield	11120
19:45	QPR	2-2	Middlesbrough	14140
19:45	Sheff Utd	2-0	West Brom	26541
Results Table Fixtures

Luton Town 2 - 1 Barnsley
Bottom-of-the-table Barnsley's winless run extended to 13 league games as Luton Town moved closer to the Championship play-off places after a 2-1 win.

Barnsley defended poorly from a corner and Allan Campbell just forced the ball over the line from close range to give Luton a scrappy lead. The Tykes went into the break level thanks to Carlton Morris' well-taken equaliser, but went behind again when Elijah Adebayo converted from the penalty spot after an hour.

Luton could have extended their lead as Barnsley began to wilt - Adebayo and Campbell both missed good chances as the half wore on. Barnsley are now four points adrift at the bottom of the table after Derby's win over Hull City and are still eight points from safety.

They have won only once since the middle of August and manager Poya Asbaghi is winless in his 11 league games in charge, having gained just three points in that time. Luton are outside the play-off places on goal difference having moved on to 45 points although all the sides around them have yet to play this week.

Stoke City 3 - 0 Swansea City
Jaden Philogene-Bidace scored the first league goal of his career as Stoke City cruised to a 3-0 victory over 10-man Swansea City.

On-loan Aston Villa starlet Philogene-Bidace marked his 20th birthday by putting Stoke ahead from close range. Lewis Baker scored Stoke's second from the penalty spot after Ryan Bennett was sent off for handball on the line.

Jacob Brown's pinpoint finish wrapped up a win which sees Stoke climb to 10th, while Swansea stay 16th. This was a welcome triumph for the Potters, whose recent Championship record at the bet365 Stadium has been miserable.

A first home league victory since November - and just a second in the last nine attempts - lifts Michael O'Neill's team back to within three points of the play-off places. Any hope of a top-six push already looks over for Swansea, who could have few complaints about this result given the lacklustre nature of their performance, though their cause was not helped by Bennett's debatable red card.

Championship MatchDay 30 ~ Fixtures
Saturday 12th February 2022
KO	Home	Away	TV
12:30	Huddersfield	Sheff Utd	Sky
15:00	Barnsley	QPR
15:00	Birmingham	Luton
15:00	Blackpool	Bournemouth
15:00	Hull	Fulham
15:00	Middlesbrough	Derby
15:00	Millwall	Cardiff
15:00	N. Forest	Stoke
15:00	Peterborough	Preston
15:00	Reading	Coventry
Sunday 13th February 2022
KO	Home	Away	TV
13:00	Swansea	Bristol City
Monday 14th February 2022
KO	Home	Away	TV
20:00	West Brom	Blackburn	Sky
Results Table Fixtures

AFC Bournemouth 3 - 1 Birmingham City
Bournemouth recovered well from Sunday's FA Cup humiliation by non-league Boreham Wood as they beat Birmingham City to go back up to second in the Championship.

After going two goals up inside the first 31 minutes with quality strikes from Ryan Christie and top scorer Dominic Solanke, a crisply struck right-foot angled shot for his 20th goal of the season, Bournemouth looked in control. The Cherries then gave Blues a way back into the game when Jefferson Lerma chopped down Onel Hernandez and was sent off midway through the second half.

Within two minutes Blues pulled a goal back when, from Jordan Graham's right-wing corner, Ivan Sunjic laid the ball back and Hernandez's shot, heading for the right corner, deflected hugely off Nat Phillips. Blues could have been level when, from Juninho Bacuna's cross from the right, Lukas Jutkiewicz connected well with his right foot but home keeper Mark Travers made a brilliant save to turn it over the bar.

Jaidon Anthony quickly made Blues pay for that miss when he dribbled into the visitors' box and somehow retained possession before finding the back of the net from close range. Bournemouth's latest win over Blues, a team they have only ever lost to three times in 22 meetings, was just their fifth league victory since the end of October - but it took Scott Parker's side back to within six points of his old club Fulham at the top.

Blackburn Rovers 0 - 2 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest moved into the Championship play-off places for the first time this season as they edged out stuttering Blackburn in a frantic match at Ewood Park.

A superb driving run from Keinan Davis teed up James Garner who slipped his marker and stroked a finish into the corner to put Forest ahead. Rovers then had Darragh Lenihan sent off for a second yellow card early in the second half after a lunge on Jack Colback.

The hosts responded well, with Sam Gallagher twice going close, but Brennan Johnson's late penalty sealed Forest's win after Jan Paul van Hecke pulled down Sam Surridge. Forest ensured there was no anti-climax after their FA Cup heroics against Premier League side Leicester as they chiselled out a seventh league win in 10 matches to move into sixth place - having sat second-bottom when Steve Cooper took over in September.

Bristol City 2 - 1 Reading
Struggling Reading lost for the sixth successive time in the Championship as they went down 2-1 at Bristol City.

A drab first period was brought to life shortly before the break when Antoine Semenyo fired in from close range for City after good work by Andreas Weimann. City doubled their lead as some wonderful build-up play shortly after the restart saw Cameron Pring's cross turned into his own net by Michael Morrison under pressure from Alex Scott.

Semenyo hit the post with 25 minutes to go before John Swift pulled one back for Reading from the penalty spot to set up a tense finish. However, the Royals failed to convert a host of late chances as they pushed for an equaliser.

Bristol City's first win in four games sees them move up to 16th place in the Championship. Reading have now conceded 25 goals in their eight games in all competitions since the start of the year and remain two points and one place off the relegation spots after Peterborough's loss at Cardiff City.

Cardiff City 4 - 0 Peterborough United
Cardiff City landed a significant blow in the fight for Championship survival as they totally outplayed relegation rivals Peterborough United. Cardiff bookended a brilliant first half with goals for Joe Ralls and Aden Flint - and there could have been more.

Jordan Hugill's volley made it three, after a spectacular run and cross from Cody Drameh, before Uche Ikpeazu came on to score the Bluebirds' fourth. Victory takes Cardiff 12 points clear of Peterborough and the bottom three.

As for Darren Ferguson's side, they remain 22nd in the table, grateful that Reading's defeat at Bristol City means they have not lost any ground to the team immediately above them. What this result does do, however, is cast them further adrift from a Cardiff side who remain in 20th place despite a third successive league win, but now with a sizeable gap between themselves and the drop zone.

Preston North End 0 - 0 Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town extended their unbeaten Championship run to 11 matches as they held out for a goalless draw at Preston.

Town goalkeeper Lee Nicholls made a fine save from Ched Evans' strike after good work from Daniel Johnson and Cameron Archer before the break. Chances remained scarce after the interval despite a fast start from the Lilywhites, although Nicholls again saved smartly, this time from Archer.

The Terriers keeper then produced another fine stop deep into stoppage time to keep out an Emil Riis strike. A tight match was perhaps expected between two sides who are proving tough to beat - Preston have now lost just once in 10 league matches since Ryan Lowe took charge in December, while the Terriers are unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions.

Queens Park Rangers 2 - 2 Middlesbrough
Championship promotion hopefuls Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough shared the points in an entertaining draw at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Ilias Chair gave the home side the lead with a delightful curler before Dael Fry equalised for the visitors in first-half stoppage time. The Hoops were then ahead again within 15 seconds of the restart after former QPR keeper Joe Lumley gifted the ball to ex-team-mate Chris Willock to tap home.

Albert Adobah, a former Boro winger, then turned the ball into his own net to level the score again. The away side pushed to take the lead for the first time in the match but it finished all-square, with QPR staying fourth and Middlesbrough up to seventh in the table.

Sheffield United 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion
Steve Bruce's first game as West Bromwich Albion boss ended in the same way as his very first in management more than two decades ago - with a Sheffield United home win.

Billy Sharp got both goals to lift the Blades level on points with Albion - and within a point of the top six - thanks to an eighth win in 11 games for Paul Heckingbottom's men. But, in his 1,001st game in management after it all began at Sheffield United in 1998, Bruce was out of good fortune on his return to Bramall Lane.

It leaves Albion out of the play-off zone for the first time this season in ninth, a place ahead of the Blades. They could be even further down the table by the time they play their next game, at home to former Baggies boss Tony Mowbray's Blackburn on Monday. In-form Sheffield United were playing only their third home game since Heckingbottom took charge on 25 November - but they have now won them all.

andersen jimenez fulham premier league premiership josh onomah bankes raul jimenez nottingham football rumours fulham fc shahid khan gray peter bankes forest onomah championship silva craven cottage josh smith nottingham forest boa morte man city manchester city wilson cottage transfer rumours callum wilson marco silva fa cup joachim andersen