It's Round and It's White
Liam O’Connor rounds up the action from matchday six of the Championship.
There was plenty to talk about in the Championship following the midweek fixtures from Tuesday and Wednesday night. The referee’s were certainly busy, awarding seven penalties in total. We begin the round-up at Blackpool, where the visitors Middlesbrough were easily beaten 4-1. Nathan Delfouneso’s first-half double put Blackpool in the driving seat, but Andre Bikey’s header just before the break kept Middlesbrough in the game. In the second half, Delfouneso turnt provider, setting up Thomas Ince for his sixth of the season. Elliot Grandin’s spot-kick four minutes from time ensured the victory, leaving Middlesbrough pointless on their travels this season.
Hull City’s impressive start to the season continued on Tuesday night as they edged out a five-goal thriller, beating Leeds United 3-2. Despite the home side taking the lead after 8 minutes courtesy of Luciano Becchio’s penalty, Hull came back to score twice inside the opening half an hour. Ahmed Elmohamady bagged the first after 23 minutes, then Abdoulaye Faye scored his second goal in as many games with a header at the far-post. In the second half, Robert Koren curled the ball past Paddy Kenny to make it three after 76 minutes. Andy Gray’s stoppage-time goal was only a consolation, as Hull recorded their first win at Elland Road since 1987.
Derby County survived a Charlton fightback in the second half to claim all three points. Jamie Ward opened the scoring with an effort from outside the box on 7 minutes, as Craig Bryson doubled Derby’s lead eight minutes after the re-start. Ward then doubled his tally for the night, dispatching from the spot to make it 3-0. However, Charlton refused to give up without a fight. Danny Green’s long-range strike on 70 minutes gave the visitors some hope. Green then turnt provider two minutes later, setting up Yann Kermorgant to make it 3-2. Chris Powell’s men have struggled with life back in the Championship, enduring their worst start to a league campaign since their relegation from the Premier League back in 2006.
Marlon King’s converted penalty shortly after half-time earnt Birmingham an important win, defeating Bolton 2-1 at St. Andrews. Leroy Lita scored on his home debut for Birmingham, latching onto Paul Caddis’ cross. The visitors equalised just before the break, with Chris Eagles curling in a free-kick from 30-yards out. King then won the game for the home side 48 minutes in, scoring from the spot after he was fouled by Marcos Alonso.
Cardiff City earnt their first league win at the Den in 30 years, beating Millwall 2-0. After having his first-half free-kick disallowed for a foul in the box, Peter Whittingham curled the ball past Maik Taylor on 53 minutes following Craig Noone’s square-ball to make it 1-0. Having set-up the first, Noone then bagged a goal for himself just two minutes after Cardiff’s opener, placing his shot in the bottom corner from outside the area. That ensured Cardiff’s first away win of the season, condeming Millwall to a second successive defeat.
Sam Baldock’s quickfire double guaranteed victory for Bristol City at Peterborough, who are rock bottom of the Championship with 0 points from six games. Baldock capitalised on a sloppy backpass from Mark Little on 56 minutes, slotting home to open the scoring. He then doubled his and his sides tally six minutes later following Albert Adomah’s pass. Lee Tomlin pulled one back from the spot in the 90th minute for Peterborough, as the pressure now begins to build on manager Darren Ferguson.
Nuno Gomes’ fourth goal in as many games sealed victory for Blackburn against Barnsley at Ewood Park. Jordan Rhodes followed up Bradley Orr’s free-kick on the stroke of half time after Jacob Mellis had given Barnsley the lead on 32 minutes, with Mellis firing into the top corner from 12 yards. Gomes then bagged the winner five minutes from time to seal all three points for Blackburn.
Craig Mackail-Smith’s sixth goal in four games from the spot sealed a narrow 1-0 victory for Brighton at Vicarage Road, as Watford fell to 20th in the Championship table. Nottingham Forest earnt a point against Crystal Palace, coming from behind with 10-men to draw 1-1. Kagisho Dikgacoi continued his good goal scoring form from midfield, putting the home side infront on 50 minutes. Adlene Guedioura was then sent-off for the visitors after kicking out at Mile Jedinak. However, Dexter Blackstock levelled with nine minutes to go as Forest remain unbeaten.
We now turn to Wednesday night’s action, where Huddersfield recorded an impressive 3-1 victory away at Sheffield Wednesday. Oliver Norwood and Lee Novak gave the visitors a two-goal lead inside 18 minutes, with Norwood scoring from the re-bound after his initial spot-kick was saved, then two minutes later Novak headed in Town’s second of the night. Reda Johnson’s headed goal on 37 minutes gave Wednesday a way back into the game, but Adam Clayton made no mistake from the spot on 71 minutes as the game finished 3-1.
Elsewhere, Stale Solbakken earnt his first away league victory as Wolves manager, seeing off Ipswich at Portman Road by a 2-0 scoreline. Tommy Smith turnt the ball into his own net on 69 minutes following Bakary Sako’s free-kick from the edge of the area. Tongo Doumbia added a second for Wolves after 77 minutes to ensure the win, drilling past Scott Loach from outside the area. Leicester came from behind at home to see off Burnley 2-1 thanks to goals from David Nugent and Jamie Vardy. Burnley took the lead 10 minutes in through Dean Marney, but the Foxes scored twice in the space of ten minutes to win the game.
