' Full Championship round-up '
Sun Feb 15, 2015 10:40 am
Championship round-up: Bournemouth return top and Ipswich boost their chances for automatic promotion with victory
Bournemouth returned to the top of the Championship with a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield, but Eddie Howe’s side will probably feel like it was two points dropped, rather than one gained in their quest for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Yann Kermogant opened the scoring early in the first half for the Cherries, but they were unable to build on that, despite dominating possession and chances. They were made to pay for that in the second half, as James Vaughan grabbed an equaliser for the Terriers and then denied Bournemouth a late winner with a goal-line clearance in the final minutes.
There were goals aplenty at Bloomfield Road, as Blackpool and Nottingham Forest played out a highly-entertaining 4-4 draw, that saw both sides score in time added on.
The hosts took a slender lead into the break courtesy of Gary Madine’s effort, but the second half was a completely different affair, as fans watched a further seven goals go in. Andrea Orlandi doubled the lead just after the hour-mark, before Dexter Blackstock halved the deficit for Forest and then Gary Gardner scored an equaliser. It was very much back and forward until the final whistle, with Steve Davies and Henri Lansbury each finding the net.
Forest thought they had pinched it in the fifth minute of added time thanks to Chris Burke, before David Ferguson nabbed a point for the Tangerines 90 seconds later.
Perhaps the game of the day came at the Macron, as Watford gave their promotion hopes a boost with an exciting 4-3 victory over Bolton. Odion Ighalo’s opened the scoring for the Hornets, but the lead was short-lived as Zach Clough equalised for Bolton. Adam Le Fondre put the Trotters ahead before half-time, but Almen Abdi restored parity for the Hornets, before Joel Ekstrand thought he’d given Watford all three points, 15 minutes from the end.
Clough had different plans though and grabbed his second of the game, before Troy Deeney proved to be Watford’s saviour yet again scoring on the 90th minute.
Brentford’s promotion hopes were dealt a minor blow as they were surprisingly beaten 3-0 by struggling Charlton, down at the Valley. Goals from Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Igor Vetokele and Frederic Bulot helped the Addicks move six-points clear of the relegation zone, while Brentford slip down to seventh.
Taking their place in the table are Norwich City, who recorded a routine victory over Wolves. Bradley Johnson put the Canaries ahead from Nathan Redmond’s corner in the first half and Lewis Grabban wrapped up the points in the second, finishing off a well-worked move.
Ipswich continued their recent good form to remain within touching distance of an automatic promotion spot with a well-deserved 2-1 victory away to Fulham. A first-half Daryl Murphy brace put the Tractor Boys in control of the game and while Ross McCormack pulled one back for struggling Fulham with 15 minutes to go, the Ipswich goal was rarely troubled. The victory puts Mick McCarthy’s men within two points of the top two.
Leeds ran out 1-0 winners in a very scrappy game against Millwall, that saw few chances created between the two teams. Alex Mowatt scored the only goal of the game, finding the net during the first half, to hand Leeds a welcome victory. The Yorkshire club remain mid-table, while Millwall sit in the relegation zone, one point from safety.
Brighton put a glimmer of light between themselves and the drop zone with a nervy 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday had the lions’ share of possession, but neither team could muster any real goalscoring opportunities.
Bournemouth returned to the top of the Championship with a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield, but Eddie Howe’s side will probably feel like it was two points dropped, rather than one gained in their quest for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Yann Kermogant opened the scoring early in the first half for the Cherries, but they were unable to build on that, despite dominating possession and chances. They were made to pay for that in the second half, as James Vaughan grabbed an equaliser for the Terriers and then denied Bournemouth a late winner with a goal-line clearance in the final minutes.
There were goals aplenty at Bloomfield Road, as Blackpool and Nottingham Forest played out a highly-entertaining 4-4 draw, that saw both sides score in time added on.
The hosts took a slender lead into the break courtesy of Gary Madine’s effort, but the second half was a completely different affair, as fans watched a further seven goals go in. Andrea Orlandi doubled the lead just after the hour-mark, before Dexter Blackstock halved the deficit for Forest and then Gary Gardner scored an equaliser. It was very much back and forward until the final whistle, with Steve Davies and Henri Lansbury each finding the net.
Forest thought they had pinched it in the fifth minute of added time thanks to Chris Burke, before David Ferguson nabbed a point for the Tangerines 90 seconds later.
Perhaps the game of the day came at the Macron, as Watford gave their promotion hopes a boost with an exciting 4-3 victory over Bolton. Odion Ighalo’s opened the scoring for the Hornets, but the lead was short-lived as Zach Clough equalised for Bolton. Adam Le Fondre put the Trotters ahead before half-time, but Almen Abdi restored parity for the Hornets, before Joel Ekstrand thought he’d given Watford all three points, 15 minutes from the end.
Clough had different plans though and grabbed his second of the game, before Troy Deeney proved to be Watford’s saviour yet again scoring on the 90th minute.
Brentford’s promotion hopes were dealt a minor blow as they were surprisingly beaten 3-0 by struggling Charlton, down at the Valley. Goals from Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Igor Vetokele and Frederic Bulot helped the Addicks move six-points clear of the relegation zone, while Brentford slip down to seventh.
Taking their place in the table are Norwich City, who recorded a routine victory over Wolves. Bradley Johnson put the Canaries ahead from Nathan Redmond’s corner in the first half and Lewis Grabban wrapped up the points in the second, finishing off a well-worked move.
Ipswich continued their recent good form to remain within touching distance of an automatic promotion spot with a well-deserved 2-1 victory away to Fulham. A first-half Daryl Murphy brace put the Tractor Boys in control of the game and while Ross McCormack pulled one back for struggling Fulham with 15 minutes to go, the Ipswich goal was rarely troubled. The victory puts Mick McCarthy’s men within two points of the top two.
Leeds ran out 1-0 winners in a very scrappy game against Millwall, that saw few chances created between the two teams. Alex Mowatt scored the only goal of the game, finding the net during the first half, to hand Leeds a welcome victory. The Yorkshire club remain mid-table, while Millwall sit in the relegation zone, one point from safety.
Brighton put a glimmer of light between themselves and the drop zone with a nervy 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday had the lions’ share of possession, but neither team could muster any real goalscoring opportunities.
Re: ' Full Championship round-up '
Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:57 pm
Cheers Mason 
