The Championship was up to its usual tricks once again this weekend during Match-Day 15. With late goals, convincing wins and a few surprise results along the way. However, with no more managerial sackings to report on, it’s nice just to be able to concentrate on the football for at least a week!
Villa manager Steve Bruce locked horns with one of his old clubs, Birmingham City, resulting in a captivating Midlands Derby. Elsewhere there was yet another victory for Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United, this time on the road.
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2 candidates for promotion during the early part of the season were put to the sword by other Premier League hopefuls this weekend. Plus, bottom club Rotherham United managed to stop the rot, but it could have been so much better….
#1 None capture the Midlands
It was a stalemate in England’s ‘Second City Derby’ but the action was far from stale. The added spice between the 2 rival clubs and Steve Bruce returning to St Andrews after 9 years away meant that the match was played at a frenetic pace.
It was Villa who started the brighter and were in front after 29 minutes, when boyhood Villa fan, Gary Gardner headed in brilliantly. His celebration was also superb, running the length of the field to celebrate with almost 2,000 away fans!
Unfortunately for Gardner and his fellow Villa fans their celebrations were cut short when on 71 minutes Blues midfielder David Davis hammered home a right-footed shot to bring them level. That’s the way it stayed and it looked like both managers were happy with a point.
Bruce acknowledged the effort from Birmingham, but also praised his own side and what they’ve shown so far during his tenure:
"It was a typical ferocious derby game, but it was a fair result. We showed a sort of resilience.
"Gary's got a very decent Championship side here, a bit similar to the Birmingham side I had here. They're up and at you, and that's why they're up at the top end.
"Wherever we go, we're Aston Villa and people want to turn us over because of who we are and what we are. I'm proud of the way we performed and got a result."
#2 What happened to Huddersfield?
On the 1st October and 10 games in, Huddersfield Town were sitting pretty on top of the Sky-Bet Championship. Fast forward 1 month and they are in comparative free-fall. With just one win in 4 against Derby (and 3 losses) they have slipped to 3rd in the table.
November, however, sees the visit of in-form Birmingham City, followed by a visit to the Bluebirds of Cardiff, then back home to welcome Wigan Athletic. With these last 2 games coming against teams in the lower half of the league, boss David Wagner will hope that his side will see a return to form.
Their last game of October was at Fulham. They were 3-0 down after 42 minutes and in truth it could have been more. By the time the final whistle blew Fulham had added 2 more to make it a 5-0 hammering. After the match, Wagner was desperate to put this result behind him:
"I can leave this game very quickly behind us. We don't have to speak about any tactical problems because we had so many individual mistakes that you couldn't get anything against any opponent.
"We were very sloppy when we had the ball and in the end we totally underperformed today.
"I think Fulham were stronger in every position. We had problems everywhere. We made so many easy mistakes.
"This happens in football. It shouldn't but it does and I've always said we will have ups and downs on our journey. This was a down."
#3 Stat Attack: Canaries stunned by Seagulls
On paper, this was meant to be the Championship’s most hotly contested game during Match-Day 15. Brighton were sitting in 2nd place on 28 points with Norwich just behind them in 4th on 27.
In truth, it was one-way traffic for much of the game with the Seagulls of Brighton being superior in almost every aspect and enjoying a 5-0 rout. Norwich could only fashion 2 shots on target during the whole 90 minutes and manager Alex Neil has to be worried about current form.
In their last 6 matches, they’ve let more goals in than any other Championship team (14) and won only twice. Their current form will see them drop out of the promotion picture and increase pressure on the manager expected to deliver Premiership football next season.
In contrast, Brighton and Hove Albion are second only to Newcastle in league and current form. Their unbeaten Championship run now stretches to 9 games and they have kept 10 clean sheets out of the 15 games played so far. Seagulls boss Chris Hughton was quite rightly pleased with the result but is keeping his feet on the ground:
"This is a big win, an unusual win. Come 15:00 BST next Saturday it'll be forgotten about.
"The significance of this game is that it is a very, very good victory against a top, top team. On Monday, all thoughts will be on our next game at Bristol City.
"The win is right up there with my best (Brighton victories); it would be silly of me to say anything different. It was against a top team who are pushing to try and achieve what we're trying to achieve."
#4 Toon make it 6 from 6
Is there any team in the Sky Bet Championship capable of beating Newcastle United right now? On current form, you would have to say it’s doubtful. Rafa’s Toon Army made it 6 wins in a row last weekend with a less than comfortable 2-1 defeat of Preston at Deepdale.
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored both goals in the second half for Newcastle, who looked to be cruising to victory until Jermaine Beckford’s late goal gave Preston hope.
United then appeared nervy and during 6 minutes of added time were lucky not to concede a goal. A penalty appeal was turned down followed by Marnick Vermijl’s effort that struck a post.
Rafa Benitez praised Mitrovic’s contribution and Preston:
"Mitrovic has given me a very good problem to have. We are really pleased because the team is growing.
"We knew that it would be a tough game, they have beaten some good teams. So we were ready for that and we've been working hard on defence.
"In the second half we were much better. We had more space, more possibilities to counter attack and I think we did well.
"We did well to withstand their pressure and we used our quality to make the difference."
Next up, Newcastle are at home to a resurgent Cardiff City; the Bluebirds recovering their form in recent weeks and moving out of the relegation zone thanks to new Boss Neil Warnock.
The Magpies are 3 points clear of Brighton at the top of the league. Can they continue their fantastic run and make it 7 from 7?
#5 Tractor boys ruin Rotherham’s party
When you’re rock bottom of the Championship, to travel away from home and gain a point would be seen as a great result. However, Rotherham United it will be seen as two points dropped.
The Millers found themselves 2-1 up against Ipswich Town after 2 goals from Danny Ward in each half cancelled out Freddy Sears’ early strike.
Ipswich were struggling to create chances and Rotherham’s new manager, Kenny Jackett, must have thought the 3 points were in the bag. However, David McGoldrick scored 5 minutes into injury time to send the home support into raptures.
The draw, Rotherham’s first point since 14th September, leaves them languishing at the foot of the table on just 7 points. 8 points clear of the relegation zone.
Kenny Jackett reflected on the draw, which must have felt like a loss:
"Football can be a cruel game and it is very deflating for our players who worked so hard during the match.
"It was a terrific strike from David McGoldrick but it is the second late goal we have conceded in the last week and it is costing us.
"There are things we need to work on but we were very competitive and we look like we have a goal threat and we also stopped the rot of defeats.
"Danny Ward took his goals very well and with his pace, he is always going to be a threat. We need to keep utilising him properly."
