A new manager sees a change of fortune, the Top 3 fail to win, a former England manager finally has something to cheer, whilst the points are shared almost everywhere else. All these and more are featured in TheHardTackle’s Top 6 highlights from Round 8 of the Championship:-
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New manager sees Donny win at last
After 1 point from their opening seven games, and without a league win since March 1st, Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan felt the need to publically back long-serving manager Sean O’Driscoll. Two days later, O’Driscoll was sacked, bringing his 5-year stint at the Keepmoat stadium to an end.
In O’Driscoll’s place came former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders, who had guided former club Wrexham to the top of the Blue Square Premier. The former Wales international didn’t have to wait long for his first taste of life as Rovers’ manager as Crystal Palace visited on Saturday.
After an uneventful first-half, John Oster’s 65th minute strike gave the home side the lead. With confidence increased, Rovers peppered the Palace goal as they chased a second. Despite attempts by striker James Hayter, another goal didn’t come, but Oster’s strike was enough to give Rovers a first win in 19 games and Saunders a dream start.
Top 3 fail to win
In a strange Championship weekend, the Top 3 Southampton, Middlesbrough and Brighton all failed to win.
Friday night saw a televised meeting between Brighton and Leeds United, both of whom had been knocked out of the Carling Cup earlier in the week by Liverpool and Manchester United respectively. The watching TV audience were treated to a brilliant game, with the visitors taking an early 2-0 goal lead thanks to Andy Keogh and the prolific Ross McCormack.
Immediately after the break, Gus Poyet’s men pulled one back through Craig Mackail-Smith, then equalised on the hour through an Ashley Barnes penalty. With just over 5 minutes remaining, Mackail-Smith’s simple tap-in put the home side on course for three points which had looked extremely unlikely at half-time. But, in the second minute of stoppage time, McCormack netted his ninth of the season to share the points.
Click to see highlights of Brighton v Leeds
Leaders Southampton travelled to Burnley on Saturday. The home side took the lead early in the second half through Charlie Austin, with the Saints replying through substitute Morgan Schneiderlin. Both teams had chances to win, with Rickie Lambert hitting the bar for the leaders, but a share of the spoils was the right result.
Middlesbrough also failed to take maximum points when they entertained Ipswich Town. Unbeaten Boro went close through Scott MacDonald, whilst Ipswich’s Jason Scotland struck the post. It was the first time in 21 games that Tony Mowbray’s high-flying Boro had failed to score.
Derby and Hammers close in at the top
With the top three failing to win, Derby County and West Ham United both took full advantage to close in at the top.
After beating East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest 2-1 last weekend, Derby hosted Millwall at Pride Park. Craig Bryson gave the home side a 24th minute lead, then last week’s derby-day hero Jeff Hendrick added a second six minutes before half-time.
Steve Davies scored his fourth goal of the season midway through the second period, to give the home side a comfortable 3-0 win and move them into third, a point behind leaders Southampton.
One place and one point behind the Rams are West Ham, who despite playing poorly, did enough to beat Peterborough United 1-0 at Upton Park. An eleventh minute penalty from Mark Noble was the difference between the two sides.
McClaren finally has something to cheer
Saturday tea-time’s televised game saw Watford host troubled Nottingham Forest.
Following a poor start to the campaign which culminated in last weekend’s defeat to rivals 10-men Derby County, the pressure was mounting on Forest boss Steve McClaren.
In a poor first-half, Forest went close through Joel Lynch, whilst the home side were unlucky when former Forest striker Joe Garner saw his header brilliantly saved by Lee Camp.
Garner missed an easier chance early in the second half when he headed wide, and was made to pay when Forest snatched the three points on the hour. Camp’s punt forward caused confusion between the Watford defence, allowing Ishmael Miller to pop up and shin the ball into the net, for his first Forest league goal. The win moves Forest out of the relegation zone and eases the pressure on McClaren.
Pompey prevail with a last-minute winner
A last-minute goal from Norwegian striker Erik Huseklepp was enough to give Portsmouth victory over Blackpool.
The visitors should have had the game won after missing a hatful of chances. Winger Matt Phillips twice missed when it was easier to score, whilst veteran defender Ian Evatt’s goal bound shot looked to have hit the hand of Pompey defender Jason Pearce, but the referee gave nothing.
The home side’s only real threat came when Blackpool keeper Matt Giles was forced into a fine save to deny Liam Lawrence. But with time running out, Huseklepp struck a 12-yard volley to give Steve Cotterill’s side a much-needed first win in five games.
A Point all round
No fewer than 7 of this weekend’s 12 games resulted in the points being shared.
In addition to the draw’s involving the Top 3, Cardiff and Leicester City drew for the second time in a week. On Wednesday, the two sides played out a Carling Cup draw, with Cardiff victorious in a penalty shoot-out. On Sunday, they couldn’t be separated again as the Cardiff City stadium witnessed a 0-0 draw.
Strugglers Birmingham and Barnsley fought out a 1-1, whilst Brett Pitman scored a late equaliser to give Bristol City a 1-1 home draw with Hull City.
In the final game of the weekend, lowly Coventry City got off to a flying start at home to Reading when Gary McSheffrey scored after only two minutes. Their joy was short-lived though as Reading striker Simon Church leveled matters after 10 minutes. The home side should have won all 3 points but Polish striker Lukas Jutkiewicz blazed an injury-time penalty high over the bar.
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Round 7 Results:
Birmingham 1-1 Barnsley
Brighton and Hove Albion 3-3 Leeds United
Bristol City 1-1 Hull City
Burnley 1-1 Southampton
Cardiff City 0-0 Leicester City
Coventry City 1-1 Reading
Derby County 3-0 Millwall
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Crystal Palace
Middlesbrough 0-0 Ipswich Town
Portsmouth 1-0 Blackpool
Watford 0-1 Nottingham Forest
West Ham United 1-0 Peterborough United
Click Here to view the latest Championship table
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