On a mixed weekend for former England managers, the Saints marched on, Ipswich and Blackpool hit formAi??and Doncaster’s mini-revival continued. All these and more are covered in TheHardTackleai??i??s Top 6 highlights of Round 10 of the Championship.
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The End for Steve Mclaren
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Steve McClarenai??i??s dreadful reign as Nottingham Forest manager finally came to an end after Sundayai??i??s 3-1 defeat to Birmingham City.
A midweek 5-1 hammering by Burnley left McClaren teetering on the brink, with the visit of Birmingham a must-win game.
Things looked to be going well when Lewis McGuganai??i??s 35th minute cross was headed home by Ishmael Miller.
But with 15 minutes to go, Chris Burke levelled for the visitors and Chris Wood put the Blues in front four minutes later. Worse was still to come as Wood doubled his tally with two minutes left to condemn Forest to their sixth defeat in seven games.
Later on Sunday evening, an official Forest statement confirmed McClarenai??i??s disastrous 112-day reign as boss was over.
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Leicester finally hit form
Whilst McClarenai??i??s reign was coming to an end, another former England manager finally saw his side hit top form.
After spending vast amounts of money in the summer, Sven-Goran Erikssonai??i??s Leicester City went into the season as one of the favourites for promotion. However, the season hasnai??i??t started as well as Eriksson would have wanted with only 3 wins from 9 games.
On Saturday, the Foxes hosted East Midlandsai??i?? rivals Derby County, who themselves have enjoyed a great start to their campaign.
The home side started well, with David Nugent racing away to put them ahead on 21 minutes. Nugent put the ball in the Derby net again, but was judged to have handled the ball. But it wasnai??i??t long before the hosts had a two-goal cushion as former England striker Darius Vassell made it two on the stroke of half-time.
Derby improved in the second-half but rarely threatened, with the hosts always in control. With two minutes to go, Jeffrey Schlupp added a third and then Lloyd Dyer rounded off a superb afternoon for Eriksson when his shot trickled past Derby keeper Frank Fielding.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWHA8DMpzRE&version=3&hl=en_US]
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Saints go clear as Boro draw a blank again
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Southampton moved two points clear at the top of the table as they thrashed Watford 4-0.
Star striker Rickie Lambert converted two penalties, before Brazilian Guly Do Prado made it 3-0. With the league leaders full of confidence, they continued to pressure the visitorsai??i?? goal. They were rewarded with two minutes to go when substitute Lee Holmes scored a fourth from 25 yards.
The win made it five home wins from five and maintained the Saints best start for 52 years.
Going into the weekend, Middlesbrough were level with Southampton, but a third successive 0-0 draw saw them lose ground to Nigel Adkinsai??i?? side. In an even contest at Reading, Boro hit the woodwork twice through Marvin Emnes and Barry Robson, whilst the home side went close through Simon Church and Adam Le Fondre. Despite dropping points, the draw maintains Boroai??i??s unbeaten start to the season.
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Ipswich on the charge
After a shaky start to the season, including a 7-1 hammering at Peterborough United, Ipswich Town are finally starting to hit form.
After Tuesday nightai??i??s impressive 1-0 away win against West Ham United, Paul Jewellai??i??s improving side faced Brighton at Portman Road.
After a quiet first half, the game came to life when former Valencia winger Vicente curled the visitors in front. Only six minutes later though, the hosts were level, when Michael Chopra let fly from 25 yards.
Ibrahima Sonko put the Tractor boys in front on 70 minutes, then Chopra doubled his tally when he found the far corner after the Brighton defence had backed off him.
The win moves Ipswich into 10th on 16 points, just one point behind Brighton, who themselves have now gone 5 games without a win.
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Seasiders hit five
In glorious sunshine, Blackpool went goal crazy at home to struggling Bristol City.
With manager Ian Holloway sitting in the sides following a touchline ban, Blackpool took a 37th minute lead when Gary Taylor-Fletcher tapped home after on-loan Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelveyai??i??s shot was only parried.
Shelvey only put pen-to-paper on a three month loan deal on Friday, but it didnai??i??t take long for the England Under 21 international to endear himself to the Blackpool faithful as he fired home 35 yard free-kick midway through the second-half.
With the game won, the Seasiders played with confidence and freedom. Daniel Bogdanovic finished off a flowing move in the 83rd minute, before veteran striker Brett Ormerod made it 4-0 in the second minute of injury-time. There was still more time for one more as Bogdanovic doubled his account to cap a great day for the Tangerines.
The result, which leaves Bristol City rooted to the foot of the table, proved to be the final straw for the Robins’ board as manager Keith Millen was dismissed on Monday morning.
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Saunders continues impressive start
Dean Saundersai??i?? impressive start to life as Doncaster Rovers manager continued on Saturday, as Rovers moved out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win at Peterborough United.
After replacing Sean Oai??i??Driscoll as manager last Friday, Saunders gained a win over Crystal Palace, then a draw against Hull City. Saturdayai??i??s win over Posh takes their total to 7 points from three games, lifting them to 20th position.
As well as the three points, Saunders will be pleased with the character his team shown as they had to come from behind to gain the points after the home side took a deserved 19th minute lead when skipper Grant McCann smashed home from outside the box.
After a half-time teamtalk, Rovers upped their game and grabbed a 55th minute equaliser when Brian Stock scored from 25 yards. Visibly lifted by the goal, Rovers pushed for a winner and it duly arrived on 67 minutes when Kyle Bennett turned in John Osterai??i??s inviting cross.
Peterborough searched for an equaliser but veteran keeper Neil Sullivan kept them at bay saving well from George Boyd and Ryan Tunnicliffe.
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Round 10 Results:
Barnsley 2-0 Coventry City
Blackpool 5-0 Bristol City
Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United
Hull City 2-1 Cardiff City
Ipswich Town 3-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
Leeds United 1-0 Portsmouth
Leicester City 4-0 Derby County
Millwall 0-1 Burnley
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Birmingham City
Peterborough United 1-2 Doncaster Rovers
Reading 0-0 Middlesbrough
Southampton 4-0 Watford
Click Here to view the latest Championship table
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