Sunderland continued their fine form, edging out Hull with a 1-0 win on Sunday, leaving them top of the table. There was some controversy due to potential obstruction from the referee during Wilson Isidor’s 50-yard run for the winner, but the Black Cats won’t care, they seem to have found a solid striker in Isidor. Just behind them are Burnley, thanks to their 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
This week’s action kicked off with a big Friday night fixture, as Leeds dented the form of promotion hopefuls Sheffield United with a convincing 2-0 win – a first loss of the season for the Blades, allowing Leeds to leapfrog them into 3rd.
Causing trouble for top teams were Oxford United, who cliched a late, late equaliser in their 1-1 draw against West Brom with the most Championship of long throw-in routines.
Also at the top, Blackburn’s 1-0 victory over Swansea meant they won their first five home games for the first time since the 1994-95 season, leaving them nicely placed in 6th.
In the race for play-offs, Watford continued their hit-and-miss form, dropping points to Luton, who, judging by their dominant and chance-laden 3-0 victory, seem to be getting back into the swing of things in the EFL. Middlesborough followed Watford’s example with a 2-0 loss at home to Bristol City, allowing their opponents to tie level with them on 14 points.
Norwich dropped points with a 1-1 draw to Stoke – a game the Canaries would have looked to have won. Both goals came just before half-time with two brilliant finishes by both sides.
Down in relegation spots, struggling newcomers Portsmouth picked up a 2-1 victory on the road at table-bottoming QPR, their first win of the season. Also successful in climbing the rungs of relegation were Cardiff, who demolished Wayne Rooney’s 10-man Plymouth in a 5-0 thrashing reminiscent of a bad Sunday League pairing. That uncharacteristically large win took them up into 22nd, harpooning Plymouth back to 19th.
In London, Millwall v Derby was a tense 1-1 marked by missed chances and scrappy, fast-paced football – a key point for 20th placed Millwall.
Elsewhere, a disallowed equaliser for Coventry and late goalkeeping heroics from Preston’s Freddie Woodman propelled PNE up the table with a 1-0 win, leaving the Sky Blues in 21st, just outside relegation.
After this week, just 3 points split 9th and 19th. Well, that’s the Championship for you.
