|
Championship MatchDay 27 Wrap-up
|
Championship MatchDay 27 ended with Fulham
five points clear at the top of the Championship after securing their fourth straight win, a thrilling 3-2 win away at Stoke.
Previous nearest challengers Bournemouth suffered a surprise 1-0 home defeat by Hull
and were replaced in second spot by Blackburn who beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on
Monday evening.
Fulham have a vastly superior goal difference than any other Championships club and, in terms of goals against, have the third best defence in the Division.
|
Championship table - 25th January 2022 |
|
Home |
Away |
|
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
Fulham |
27 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
36 |
12 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
37 |
13 |
48 |
57 |
| 2 |
Blackburn |
28 |
10 |
3 |
2 |
31 |
17 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
14 |
13 |
15 |
52 |
| 3 |
Bournemouth |
27 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
26 |
14 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
17 |
10 |
19 |
49 |
| 4 |
QPR |
26 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
17 |
11 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
23 |
20 |
9 |
47 |
| 5 |
West Brom |
27 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
21 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
45 |
| 6 |
Huddersfield |
28 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
19 |
15 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
18 |
18 |
4 |
44 |
| 7 |
Middlesbrough |
27 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
20 |
13 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
11 |
13 |
5 |
42 |
| 8 |
N Forest |
27 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
16 |
18 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
19 |
11 |
6 |
40 |
| 9 |
Stoke |
26 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
19 |
16 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
13 |
12 |
4 |
38 |
| 10 |
Coventry |
25 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
21 |
13 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
13 |
17 |
4 |
37 |
| 11 |
Sheff U |
25 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
17 |
11 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
16 |
21 |
1 |
36 |
| 12 |
Blackpool |
27 |
7 |
2 |
6 |
13 |
15 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
15 |
17 |
-4 |
36 |
| 13 |
Luton |
25 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
20 |
15 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
16 |
16 |
5 |
35 |
| 14 |
Millwall |
26 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
14 |
12 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
13 |
17 |
-2 |
33 |
| 15 |
Preston |
26 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
18 |
15 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
18 |
-4 |
33 |
| 16 |
Bristol C |
27 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
18 |
19 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
17 |
28 |
-12 |
33 |
| 17 |
Swansea |
24 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
15 |
12 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
13 |
20 |
-4 |
31 |
| 18 |
Birmingham |
27 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
15 |
17 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
13 |
23 |
-12 |
31 |
| 19 |
Hull |
27 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
13 |
16 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
15 |
-8 |
29 |
| 20 |
Cardiff |
26 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
19 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
19 |
28 |
-19 |
23 |
| 21 |
Reading ** |
27 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
21 |
31 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
12 |
20 |
-18 |
22 |
| 22 |
Peterborough |
25 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
15 |
15 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
6 |
36 |
-30 |
19 |
| 23 |
Derby * |
27 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
16 |
11 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
15 |
0 |
14 |
| 24 |
Barnsley |
25 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
15 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
9 |
23 |
-21 |
14 |
|
|
Stoke City 2 - 3 Fulham
Championship leaders Fulham's amazing goalscoring feats were diluted as they were limited to just three goals to shade a thriller with Stoke City in the Potteries.
After strikers D'Margio Wright-Phillips and Rodrigo Muniz traded goals inside the first 90 seconds, Fulham led at the break when they got a second, possibly from Fabio Carvalho, although Muniz appeared to get the final touch, and may yet get credited with the goal.
Stoke new boy Lewis Baker blasted the hosts level again from 30 yards. But, although Muniz might have missed out on a hat-trick when his header bounced off the bar, it fell to Bobby Decordova-Reid who connected superbly on the half-volley from 18 yards.
His 72nd-minute winner made it 22 goals in four league games since the turn of the year to take Fulham, who had hit seven, six and six in their previous three games, eight points clear of Bournemouth.
Fulham ended the day looking even more secure at the top of the league - and their 949 away fans in a 21,749 crowd optimistically chanting "Manchester City, we're coming for you".
Bristol City 3 - 2 Cardiff City
Chris Martin's two goals inspired Bristol City as they came from behind to beat a lacklustre Cardiff City in the Severnside derby.
James Collins headed Cardiff in front, only for Martin to equalise seconds later with a fine finish after some slack defending.
Martin seized on more sloppiness from the visitors to fire Bristol City ahead in the second half with a powerful low drive.
Andreas Weimann drilled in a third for the Robins, with Max Watters' header coming too late for Cardiff.
There was a desperate late push for an improbable equaliser, but it was Bristol City who came closest to scoring in injury time when Antoine Semenyo's shot clattered into the post.
That would have been no more than the home side warranted for a strong fightback, whereas Cardiff got what they deserved for a sorry second-half capitulation.
Bristol City stay 16th in the Championship table despite a first win in five league games but they are now 10 points clear of Cardiff, whose sixth league fixture without victory leaves them 20th and looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.
| Championship MatchDay 27 ~ Results |
| Saturday 22nd January 2022 |
| KO | Home | Res | Away | Att |
| 12:30 | Bristol City |
3-2 |
Cardiff | 21435 |
| 12:30 | N. Forest |
2-1 |
Derby | 29256 |
| 15:00 | Bournemouth |
0-1 |
Hull | 88236 |
| 15:00 | Birmingham |
2-1 |
Barnsley | 15742 |
| 15:00 | Blackpool |
1-0 |
Millwall | 10696 |
| 15:00 | Coventry |
1-2 |
QPR | 20842 |
| 15:00 | Reading |
3-4 |
Huddersfield | 10796 |
| 15:00 | Sheff Utd |
2-0 |
Luton | 27780 |
| 15:00 | Stoke |
2-3 |
Fulham | 21749 |
| 15:00 | Swansea |
1-0 |
Preston | 16842 |
| 15:00 | West Brom |
3-0 |
Peterborough | 21251 |
| Monday 24th January 2022 |
| KO | Home | Res | Away | Att |
| 19:45 | Blackburn |
1-0 |
Middlesbrough | 14670 |
|
|
Nottingham Forest 2 - 1 Derby County
Goals from Lewis Grabban and Brennan Johnson gave Nottingham Forest victory over troubled rivals Derby County in the East Midlands derby.
After Scott McKenna headed James Garner's free-kick towards the six-yard box, Steve Cook's shot was blocked and the loose ball dropped to Grabban, who netted from close range.
Johnson started and finished the move for the Reds' late second, finding Philip Zinckernagel on the left and then galloping into the box to fire home the Dane's low cross.
Tom Lawrence pulled a goal back for Derby with a penalty after being fouled by Cook.
The visitors ended the match with 10 men after Ravel Morrison was sent off in the final moments for a reckless challenge on Zinckernagel.
It earned Morrison a straight red card and sparked a melee after the final whistle involving players from both sides.
Derby, in administration and needing a takeover to go through in order to secure the club's future, had won four and drawn one of their previous five matches - raising hopes of avoiding relegation.
AFC Bournemouth 0 - 1 Hull City
Ryan Longman's second-half strike secured Hull City victory over Bournemouth, to cap an impressive week as the club's takeover was confirmed.
Emiliano Marcondes hit the post while Dominic Solanke sent two headers wide as the second-placed Cherries dominated but couldn't find the back of the net.
Tom Eaves also had a long-range shot tipped over the bar for the visitors before Longman's strike secured the three points.
Hull's win followed another over promotion rivals Blackburn Rovers in midweek. while Bournemouth have now fallen eight points behind Fulham, who won 3-2 at Stoke, at the top of the Championship.
Bournemouth came into the match on the back of a disappointing run that had seen them only win twice in their past nine matches.
Hull, by contrast, were buoyed by midweek news of the club's takeover by the Turkey-based Acun Medya Group, and their morale-boosting victory over Rovers ended a six-match winless streak.
| Championship MatchDay 28 ~ Fixtures |
| Friday 28th January 2022 |
| KO | Home | Away | TV |
| 19:45 | Huddersfield |
Stoke | Sky |
| Saturday 29th January 2022 |
| KO | Home |
Away | TV |
| 15:00 | Barnsley |
Bournemouth | |
| 15:00 | Fulham |
Blackpool | |
| 15:00 | Hull |
Swansea | |
| 15:00 | Luton |
Blackburn | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough |
Coventry | |
| 15:00 | Millwall |
West Brom | |
| 15:00 | Preston |
Bristol City | |
| 15:00 | QPR |
Reading | |
| 17:30 | Peterborough |
Sheff Utd | Sky |
| Sunday 30th January 2022 |
| KO | Home |
Away | TV |
|
13:30 | Derby |
Birmingham | Sky |
|
16:00 | Cardiff |
N. Forest | Sky |
|
|
Birmingham City 2 - 1 Barnsley
Onel Hernandez scored his first goal for Birmingham as they ended a run of six Championship games without a win by beating bottom club Barnsley at St Andrew's.
Blues doubled their lead after the break when Ryan Woods' left-wing corner eluded Collins, came back off the chest of Carlton Morris and Scott Hogan reacted sharpest, taking a touch before poking in the loose ball from close range.
The visitors finally pulled one back through Victor Adeboyejo, but it was not enough as they slumped to their 15th defeat of the season.
Birmingham's first victory of 2022 gave the club something to celebrate and, although Lee Bowyer's side remain 18th, they are 12 points clear of the bottom three.
Blackpool 1 - 0 Millwall
Shayne Lavery's left-foot strike was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Blackpool against Millwall in the Championship.
Lavery fired home after the impressive Millwall goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski saved from CJ Hamilton in the 55th minute at Bloomfield Road.
Bialkowski made a string of saves throughout to keep Millwall in the match but he couldn't keep his side from suffering their third league loss in a row.
The win sends Blackpool 12th in the table on 36 points while the Lions fall to 14th on 33.
Coventry City 1 - 2 Queens Park Rangers
Albert Adomah's goal gave QPR victory at Coventry and boosted their promotion hopes.
Adomah headed home Chris Willock's cross to clinch a fourth consecutive win for the west London side, putting them just two points behind second-placed Bournemouth with a game in hand.
Willock also set up the opening goal for Andre Gray, threading through a clever pass for the on-loan Watford striker, who fired home.
The hosts created chances, with Viktor Gyokeres shooting wide and R's goalkeeper David Marshall producing a number of saves before Adomah secured the points.
QPR remain fourth in the Championship table and are the only team in the division to have scored in all their away league matches this season.
And they have won both their games since the loss of two of their key players, midfielder Ilias Chair and keeper Seny Dieng, who are involved in the Africa Cup of Nations for Morocco and Senegal respectively.
Coventry, meanwhile, stay in 10th spot after a third consecutive home defeat, seven points outside the top six.
Reading 3 - 4 Huddersfield Town
Danny Ward's hat-trick helped Huddersfield Town beat Reading 4-3 and increase the pressure on Royals boss Veljko Paunovic.
A wild first half saw six goals - with five coming in the first 25 minutes - as the returning Lucas Joao put the Royals ahead after five minutes, before Danel Sinani's equaliser soon after.
Danny Ward put the Terriers in front, only for George Puscas to level before Ward got his second within three minutes, but Michael Morrison headed the Royals level again just before half time.
Ward blasted in a long-range third shortly after the restart to seal victory as Reading's winless run extended to eight matches.
Huddersfield moved into the final play-off place, although Middlesbrough could reclaim sixth spot if they beat Blackburn on Monday.
The Royals, who have won just twice in their past 16 games, are still three points and one place above the relegation zone but Peterborough, who are directly below them, have two games in hand.
Reading went into the game having lost six and drawn the other of their previous seven games, conceding 16 goals in the process.
Sheffield United 2 - 0 Luton Town
Jack Robinson scored his first goal in over three years as Sheffield United overcame 10-man Luton at Bramall Lane.
The Blades defender headed home soon after Rhian Brewster had opened the scoring early in the second half.
It was Robinson's maiden goal for United and the first time he had found the net since December 2018, as a Nottingham Forest player.
Luton's hopes of a comeback evaporated after defender Reece Burke was sent off for hauling down Brewster.
The victory lifted United above their opponents into 11th place, eight points outside the play-off places, with Luton slipping to 13th.
Swansea City 1 - 0 Preston North End
Swansea City got back to winning ways thanks to Ryan Manning's thunderous strike against Preston North End.
A poor first half saw little in the way of chances at either end, but Swansea deserved to win on the balance of play.
The decisive moment came in the 51st minute as Manning's superb strike flew into the top corner of the net.
The contest marked the return of fans to the Swansea.com Stadium following a change to Welsh government Covid-19 restrictions.
This tight contest could be important for Swansea, who had been on a poor run of results recently and who remain 17th in the Championship, while Preston slip to 15th.
West Bromwich Albion 3 - 0 Peterborough United
A flurry of late strikes finally ended West Bromwich Albion's goal drought as they saw off struggling Peterborough.
Valerien Ismael's side, who had found the net just once in four games, laboured to break down a dogged Posh defence.
But Cedric Kipre scrambled in the opener in the 79th minute when Darnell Furlong's close-range effort from Conor Townsend's left-foot in-swinging corner cannoned into his shin and diverted the ball just inside the right upright.
Substitute Callum Robinson then set up both Karlan Grant and Albion's earlier sub Grady Diangana to seal the Baggies' first win in five Championship games.
Albion remain fifth, with Peterborough still 22nd in the table, three points adrift of safety.
Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough
Sam Gallagher scored a second-half winner to send Blackburn Rovers second in the Championship as they edged past Middlesbrough.
The 26-year-old took advantage of Paddy McNair's error to swivel and score his sixth goal of the season with a low shot to separate the sides.
Until that point, Boro were much the better side in the second half but a lengthy delay for a fan taken ill halted their momentum, and moments after the restart, Gallagher struck.
Matt Crooks had a golden chance to equalise towards the end of 12 minutes of stoppage time but headed a free-kick from the right over the bar from inside the six-yard box.
Midfielder Crooks should also have scored with an earlier header from eight yards out, only for Lewis Travis to head off the line, and his Boro team-mate Aaron Connolly saw a right-footed shot deflected just wide after a slick move down the right.
It was just a second defeat for Chris Wilder as Middlesbrough manager since his appointment in November, as his side missed the chance to climb into the play-off places.