|
Championship MatchDay 34 Wrap-up
|
Championship MatchDay 34 ended with Fulham now eleven points clear at the top of the Championship table and 12 points clear of third placed Bournemouth. The Cottagers
managed three wins on the trot with with Neeskens Kebano and Harry Wilson doing the necessary.
Fulham's Liverpool loanee Neco Williams almost wrapped the points when
his shot from just beyond halfway rattled the crossbar.
|
Championship table - 6th March 2022 |
|
Home |
Away |
|
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Fulham |
34 |
12 |
4 |
3 |
45 |
16 |
10 |
3 |
2 |
39 |
13 |
55 |
73 |
| 2 |
Huddersfield |
36 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
27 |
17 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
22 |
19 |
13 |
62 |
| 3 |
Bournemouth |
32 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
31 |
16 |
9 |
4 |
4 |
21 |
13 |
23 |
61 |
| 4 |
Blackburn |
35 |
11 |
3 |
3 |
32 |
19 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
14 |
17 |
10 |
57 |
| 5 |
QPR |
35 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
27 |
17 |
7 |
2 |
7 |
23 |
24 |
9 |
56 |
| 6 |
Middlesbrough |
34 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
29 |
16 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
16 |
20 |
9 |
55 |
| 7 |
Sheff U |
34 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
25 |
12 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
20 |
23 |
10 |
54 |
| 8 |
Luton |
34 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
27 |
17 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
20 |
22 |
8 |
54 |
| 9 |
N Forest |
34 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
23 |
20 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
23 |
14 |
12 |
52 |
| 10 |
Millwall |
34 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
21 |
13 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
16 |
21 |
3 |
52 |
| 11 |
Coventry |
34 |
9 |
4 |
4 |
25 |
15 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
19 |
26 |
3 |
51 |
| 12 |
Preston |
36 |
6 |
9 |
3 |
24 |
21 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
16 |
19 |
0 |
50 |
| 13 |
West Brom |
35 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
21 |
10 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
22 |
5 |
49 |
| 14 |
Blackpool |
35 |
9 |
2 |
7 |
21 |
19 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
20 |
22 |
0 |
48 |
| 15 |
Stoke |
34 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
25 |
21 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
17 |
18 |
3 |
44 |
| 16 |
Swansea |
33 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
22 |
15 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
15 |
29 |
-7 |
44 |
| 17 |
Cardiff |
36 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
19 |
22 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
24 |
33 |
-12 |
42 |
| 18 |
Birmingham |
36 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
21 |
23 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
21 |
33 |
-14 |
40 |
| 19 |
Bristol C |
36 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
24 |
25 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
22 |
40 |
-19 |
40 |
| 20 |
Hull |
36 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
15 |
22 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
15 |
19 |
-11 |
37 |
| 21 |
Reading ** |
35 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
25 |
36 |
5 |
1 |
11 |
17 |
32 |
-26 |
29 |
| 22 |
Derby * |
36 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
25 |
16 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
23 |
-3 |
24 |
| 23 |
Barnsley |
34 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
12 |
19 |
1 |
4 |
13 |
12 |
31 |
-26 |
23 |
| 24 |
Peterborough |
34 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
15 |
21 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
9 |
48 |
-45 |
21 |
|
|
Bournemouth dropped down to third after losing to a late Preston winner in an eventful finish at Deepdale which included Bournemouth manager Scott Parker being red carded.
Fulham 2 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Fulham extended their lead at the top of the Championship to 11 points with victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage.
It was the Cottagers' ninth win in their past 11 league games, and followed a dominant first-half display in which Neeskens Kebano and Harry Wilson netted without reply.
The hosts started at full pelt and took the game to Rovers, whose passive display in the opening 45 was punished when Kebano fired in after Neco Williams' shot was spilled by Thomas Kaminski, and then when Wilson lifted a long through-ball from former Blackburn loanee Tosin Adarabioyo over the Belgian keeper for a second.
Sam Gallagher was sent on after the break to give the visitors more of a presence up front and he was only denied a goal by the offside flag after burying the rebound from a Bradley Johnson header.
Despite an improved effort from Rovers, Marco Silva's hosts still had chances to further extend their lead with 34-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic bulleting a header into the side-netting and Williams hitting the bar spectacularly when trying to catch out Kaminski, who also beat away a Wilson free-kick late on.
Tony Mowbray's team are still fourth,
<
Bristol City 1 - 2 Birmingham City
Tahith Chong's first goal in English football put Birmingham City on their way to a first away win since October after closing out a 2-1 win at Bristol City.
Chong, on loan from Manchester United, tucked home from close range after only two minutes to cap an electric start from the visitors.
| Championship MatchDay 34 ~ Results |
| Saturday 4th March 2022 |
| KO | Home |
Res |
Away | Att |
| 19:45 | Huddersfield |
3-0 |
Peterborough | 19023 |
| 19:45 | Sheff Utd |
1-1 |
N. Forest | 28841 |
| Saturday 5th March 2022 |
| KO | Home |
Res |
Away | Att |
| 12:30 | Fulham |
2-0 |
Blackburn | 19343 |
| 15:00 | Bristol City |
1-2 |
Birmingham | 21942 |
| 15:00 | Derby |
2-0 |
Barnsley | 25891 |
| 15:00 | Hull |
0-2 |
West Brom | 13643 |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough |
2-1 |
Luton | 23817 |
| 15:00 | Preston |
2-1 |
Bournemouth | 12173 |
| 15:00 | QPR |
1-2 |
Cardiff | 16170 |
| 15:00 | Reading |
0-1 |
Millwall | 14169 |
| 15:00 | Stoke |
0-1 |
Blackpool | 26384 |
| 15:00 | Swansea |
3-1 |
Coventry | 18405 |
|
|
Confident Blues then doubled their advantage 11 minutes later when Nico Gordon marked his first Championship appearance of the season by finishing from Jordan Graham's corner.
Bristol City, lacklustre in the first half, needed an immediate response in the second and got it as Alex Scott tapped in Jay Dasilva's snaking cross.
Although Robert Atkinson headed into the side netting, Blues were always a threat on the counter and only a sharp save from Dan Bentley from Juninho Bacuna's late drive denied Lee Bowyer's side a more comfortable victory.
But a first away win in 11 games will more than please Bowyer, especially with a number of important defensive and attacking personnel absent, with Nigel Pearson's City suffering a fourth defeat in five and no clean sheet in 16 games.
Derby County 2 - 0 Barnsley
Midfielder Ravel Morrison inspired Derby County to a priceless Championship 'six-pointer' victory over fellow strugglers Barnsley that revives their survival hopes after three games without a win.
After Luke Plange had fired wide when well placed, the hosts did go in front when Morrison finished off a beautifully worked Rams move before the break, having linked up with Plange in the build-up.
The 29-year-old also hit the woodwork in the opening period, while Ryan Allsopp had to be alert at the other end when Tykes forward Carlton Morris snapped a shot that forced him into a save.
Derby were two goals up when Morrison claimed his second just a couple of minutes after the interval, firing in the rebound after captain Tom Lawrence shook the crossbar.
It was enough to see off a Tykes side who are a point and a place below their victors and a result that dents their recent upturn in form, which had seen them take three wins from four in the league.
Hull City 0 - 2 West Bromwich Albion
Two goals from Karlan Grant ended West Bromwich Albion's awful run of form to give Steve Bruce his first win as Baggies boss against his former club Hull City.
Top scorer Grant flicked home Alex Mowatt's fine cross to give Albion the lead as the visitors bossed the first half at the MKM Stadium.
| Championship MatchDay 35 ~ Fixtures |
| Saturday 8th March 2022 |
| KO | Home |
Away | TV |
| 19:45 | Bournemouth |
Peterborough | Sky |
| 19:45 | Barnsley |
Stoke | Sky |
| 19:45 | Blackburn |
Millwall | Sky |
| 19:45 | Coventry |
Luton | - |
| 19:45 | Sheff Utd |
Middlesbrough | Sky |
| 19:45 | Swansea |
Fulham | |
|
|
Grant then made it two from the penalty spot early in the second half after Taylor Gardner-Hickman had been brought down by Jacob Greaves.
Hull never really offered any sustained pressure, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Tom Eaves unable to make the most of decent chances.
With skipper Jake Livermore crucially back for Albion after his four-game ban alongside recalled youngster Gardner-Hickman in midfield, the Baggies ended their wretched run of six straight away defeats to breathe life into their fading play-off challenge.
But, although still in the Championship bottom half, in 13th, they are only six points outside the play-offs going into next Friday night's home clash with another of Bruce's old clubs, automatic promotion hopefuls Huddersfield Town.
Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Luton Town
Middlesbrough finished off a dream week with a promotion-push-boosting win over fellow play-off challengers Luton Town at the Riverside.
Having dispatched Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup in midweek, goals from Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore secured three points to move them into the Championship top six.
Luton contributed much to an absorbing contest, but they found themselves a goal down just before the break when Folarin Balogun was brought down by Reece Burke and McNair scored from the spot.
Boro goalkeeper Joe Lumley made some key saves to maintain that lead, notably diving at the feet of Elijah Adebayo and turning away Cameron Jerome's header.
Watmore put the result beyond doubt for the Teessiders late on, hammering past Alex Palmer at the second attempt after the emergency West Brom loanee had denied his initial effort.
Harry Cornick pulled one back in the sixth minute of added time, his 10th of the campaign, but time was against the Hatters - who drop to eighth in the table, just a point behind Boro.
Preston North End 2 - 1 AFC Bournemouth
Preston North End came from behind to beat Championship promotion chasers Bournemouth at Deepdale, courtesy of Emil Riis Jakobsen's 89th-minute winner.
Jamal Lowe gave Bournemouth the lead after the break when he tapped in from close range following Jaidon Anthony's ball into the box.
Cameron Archer hit back for the hosts within four minutes when he fired into the bottom corner.
And Preston took the three points as substitute Jakobsen found the net in the final minute of normal time, with Bournemouth defender Adam Smith and boss Scott Parker sent off in the aftermath.
The result meant Bournemouth missed the chance to move into the automatic promotion places and they remain third in the table behind Huddersfield, but Parker's side have four games in hand on the Terriers.
Queens Park Rangers 1 - 2 Cardiff City
Cardiff City academy graduates Isaak Davies and Rubin Colwill scored as the Bluebirds produced a comeback to dent Queen's Park Rangers' promotion hopes.
Andre Gray smashed home his first goal at Loftus Road this season to give the hosts a deserved lead at half-time.
QPR failed to score a second and Isaak Davies equalised as his shot beat ex-Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall.
The visitors took the lead five minutes later as Rubin Colwill scored with a superb free-kick from 20 yards.
The win all-but secures Championship football for Cardiff next season, while delivering a serious blow to QPR's hopes of automatic promotion.
QPR remain fifth and inside the Championship play-off places after the defeat, but failed to make ground on their promotion rivals, while Cardiff rise to 17th and are now 18 points clear of the relegation zone.
Reading 0 - 1 Millwall
Jake Cooper headed Millwall's winner for the second successive game as they beat Reading to close in on the play-off places.
The former Royals defender nodded in a corner late in the first half and that was enough to secure a fifth straight win for his side.
They had to withstand periods of pressure from Reading, who went close to rescuing a point through John Swift and Lucas Joao.
But Millwall saw out the game to climb to 10th place, just three points off sixth, while Reading remain 21st, five points clear of Derby County, who beat fellow relegation strugglers Barnsley.
Stoke City 0 - 1 Blackpool
Josh Bowler snatched a late winner on his 23rd birthday with his third goal in as many games to earn Blackpool victory at Stoke.
There were just four minutes of normal time left when the midfielder exchanged passes with Jerry Yates before firing past Jack Bonham.
It was a rare moment of magic in a dour game, in which Josh Maja hit the post for Stoke in the first half.
But the Potters, who have now failed to win in five Championship games, were unable to find a way through.
Swansea City 3 - 1 Coventry City
Coventry City's Championship play-off hopes suffered a setback as Michael Obafemi's double helped Swansea City to an impressive 3-1 victory.
Jamie Paterson opened the scoring when his precise drive rounded off a superb passing move.
Obafemi twice finished coolly to put impressive Swansea in total control.
Coventry responded despite the deficit, but Gustavo Hamer's composed effort came too late as they missed the chance to cut the gap to the top six.
Viktor Gyokeres and Matty Godden also went close for Mark Robins' side, who might have produced an unlikely revival had they taken their opportunities.
But a first defeat in four games see the Sky Blues slip to 11th, four points adrift of the top six, while Swansea stay 16th despite a fourth win in their last six outings.
Huddersfield Town 3 - 0 Peterborough United
Two goals in the opening seven minutes set Huddersfield on the way to a thoroughly dominant victory over rock-bottom Peterborough that moved the Terriers up to second in the Championship.
Danel Sinani curled in a classy opener from 20 yards and Tom Lees headed home a corner to double Huddersfield's early advantage.
OIlie Turton hit the bar while Lewis O'Brien and Duane Holmes both twice went close before Lees finally added Town's third by heading home Harry Toffolo's cushioned knockback from another corner.
Victory pushed Carlos Corberan's side above Bournemouth but the Cherries have five games in hand on Huddersfield.
Peterborough took until stoppage time to register a shot on target as they slipped to a 16th defeat in 18 away league games this season and they remain eight points adrift of safety with 12 matches to go.
Sheffield United 1 - 1 Nottingham Forest
Ryan Yates scored a last-minute header to give Nottingham Forest a dramatic but deserved point at fellow Championship play-off hopefuls Sheffield United.
The away side enjoyed the lion's share of possession and chances in the first half but blew a great opportunity to take the lead when Wes Foderingham saved Brennan Johnson's penalty with ease.
Steve Cook sent a powerful header against the crossbar as Forest picked up where they had left off after the break, but they were left to rue their profligacy when Billy Sharp rose brilliantly to head home a Morgan Gibbs-White cross.
Sharp and Ben Davies were then denied by Forest goalkeeper Ethan Horvath as United looked to make the game safe, and those saves proved to be vital when Yates headed in from James Garner's corner in the last of five minutes of time added on.
A point was enough to send the Blades up to sixth, while Forest climbed to eighth.