With clubs slowly finding their feet the second round of fixtures brought some woeful goalkeeping, late drama and two teams boasting 100% records who were both tipped to struggle.
Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest Saturday 10/08/19 12:30pm
After a convincing win in their first game on the season, Leeds carried on straight from where they left off with another convincing performance but only left with a 1-1 draw. Leeds throughout the game created a lot of chances that were squandered with Patrick Bamford being the main culprit missing four great chances to put Leeds ahead. Leeds finally took the lead in the 59th minute when Pablo Hernandez was played through on goal and finished expertly past Aro Muric. Despite not creating many chances Forest drew level in the 77th minute after a corner led to Lewis Grabban bundling the ball home from two yards. The game was marred with controversy with both sides claiming infringements in the build-up to both goals and Leeds having two penalty appeals turned down.
Birmingham City vs Bristol City Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
A goalkeeping masterclass from Lee Camp and Daniel Bentley ensured that Birmingham and Bristol City would leave St Andrew’s with a 1-1 draw. Both sides created chances in a very even game in the East Midlands with keepers thwarting goals at either end. However, the deadlock was broken in the 64th minute as Marc Roberts’ cross found the head of Lukas Jutkiewicz who headed home following a freekick. As the match ticked on it looked like Camp would not be beaten until in the 83rd minute debutant Tommy Rowe rifled home from an acute angle to equalise.
Cardiff City vs Luton Town Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
A 96th minute goal gave Cardiff a narrow 2-1 win against Championship newcomers Luton. Despite conceding a lot of possession Cardiff created a lot of chances due to their aerial dominance and direct approach. This approach payed dividends as Cardiff took the lead when Aden Flint prodded home a freekick in the 52nd minute. Despite not creating many chances, Luton thought they had rescued a point as Matt Pearson scored a thumping header from a corner and sent the travelling fans into raptures. This wasn’t to be however as in the 96th minute substitute Isaac Vassell headed past Luton keeper Simon Sluga to earn a debut goal and all 3 points for Cardiff.
Charlton Athletic vs Stoke City Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
Charlton provided the biggest shock of the weekend in the Championship as a 3-1 win over Stoke ensured they maintained their 100% record. Stoke started well but it was Charlton who took the lead when Lyle Taylor’s effort went through Stoke keeper Jack Butland in the 25th minute. Stoke responded brilliantly to the goal hitting the bar before and in the 37th minute Tom Ince scored a screamer from just outside the box to equalise before half time. Lee Gregory had two great chances to put Stoke in front either side of half time hitting the post following a misplaced passed and blazing over from six yards after being teed up by Sam Clucas. Charlton punished Stoke for the missed opportunities when substitute Chuks Aneke scored a placed effort on his debut in the 75th minute. Soon after, Charlton secured all three points as Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher smashed home a smart corner routine for his first senior goal in the 83rd minute.
Derby County vs Swansea City Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
In the build-up, all eyes were on Derby after they announced the signing of ex England International Wayne Rooney who will arrive in January from the MLS. After the game, Derby fans will be thinking about what could have been if he had joined immediately as they missed a penalty and squandered a host of chances in a 0-0 draw with Swansea. The first big chance of the game came in the first half when Swansea’s Mike Van der Hoorn was left unmarked from a corner and headed narrowly wide. Soon after Derby had a penalty as Jake Bidwell bought down Jayden Bogle which after a good run by the young English fullback. Martyn Waghorn’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Freddie Woodman low to his left and kept the game level. Freddie Woodman kept up his heroics in the second half making a superb double save firstly from Florian Jozefzoon and secondly from Scott Malone ensuring the game finished goalless.
Fulham vs Blackburn Rovers Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
Despite making four deadline day signings it was the central characters from their previous playoff campaign which helped Fulham to a 2-0 win over Blackburn. Fulham controlled the game throughout limiting Blackburn to a few headed chances all of which went wide. Fulham made the breakthrough in the 34th minute when after some good work from Harry Arter, Tom Cairney bent a beautiful curling effort into the top right corner. Fulham maintained control of the game and doubled their tally late on when Joe Bryan went on a run from the halfway line before cutting the ball back for Aleksandar Mitrovic who tucked it away in the 81st minute giving Fulham the win.
Hull City vs Reading Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
Hull keeping hold of their star players could prove crucial to whether they can have a successful championship campaign this season as both Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki were the difference in a 2-1 win over Reading. Hull came out of the blocks flying taking the lead in the 6th minute when Grosicki’s shot was parried to Bowen to give Hull a one goal lead. 10 minutes later it was two as Jackson Irvine headed in a Bowen cross and Hull looked in control. Hull’s attacking football did leave them open to counter attacks however and in the 66th minute, Reading got a goal back through Lucas Joao to set up a tense last twenty-five minutes. Reading almost snatched a draw at the death when new signing George Puscas hit the bar from close range but Hull held on for the three points.
Middlesbrough vs Brentford Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
Middlesbrough vs Brentford was truly a game of two halves as both sides provided an exciting game on Teesside which ended in a 1-1 draw. The first half was completely dominated by Middlesbrough, who created many chances including having an Ashley Fletcher goal controversially disallowed for handball and another disallowed for offside. It was Brentford who controlled the second half but unlike Middlesbrough they took one of their chances. In the 54th minute Ollie Watkins tapped a Sergi Canos cross home from close range and Brentford held on for a win.
Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
A poor Wigan side were taken to school by Preston losing 3-0 to the Lancashire side. Preston started well with Sean Maguire flicking a Paul Gallagher corner into the back of the net in the 6th minute. Wigan responded well with Josh Windass and Lewis Macleod forcing good saves from Preston keeper, Declan Rudd. Preston soon scored again when Daniel Johnson crossed to unmarked Louis Moult who’s header doubled Preston’s lead in the 39th minute. The rout was complete in the 54th minute when a smart combination from a freekick allowed Gallagher to curl an effort into the top corner from twenty-five yards.
Queens Park Rangers vs Huddersfield Town Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
Despite a dominant display, QPR needed a late equaliser to get a point against Huddersfield in a 1-1 draw. QPR controlled the game but were prevented from scoring thanks to a number of good saves from Huddersfield keeper Kamil Grabara. Huddersfield were the team to make the break through despite QPR dominance when Yoann Barbet bought down Elias Kachunga in the box. Karlan Grant despatched the penalty in the 49th minute putting the Terrier’s 1-0 up. QPR kept creating chances but couldn’t get past Grabara until the 83rd minute when Grant Hall headed a Ryan Manning freekick past the keeper to rescue a point for his side.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Barnsley Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
Sheffield Wednesday joined Charlton as the two championship clubs with 100% records after a 2-0 win over Barnsley. Wednesday could not asked for a better start when after two minutes the ball fell kindly to debutant Jacob Murphy to slot home with his first touch of the ball. Wednesday doubled their lead in the 60th minute when experience striker Steven Fletcher put a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box following a pass from Kieran Lee. Barnsley almost got a goal back late on but Mamadou Thiam had an effort cleared off the line by Julian Borner in the dying embers of the game.
West Bromwich Albion vs Millwall Saturday 10/08/19 3pm
West Brom and Millwall both came into the game and finished the game with the same amount of points as a 1-1 draw prevented either side a 100% record going into matchday three. West Brom dominated throughout the game and took the lead after Kyle Bartley’s header deflected off Alex Pearce for an own goal in the 57th minute. As the game grew on Millwall created more chances and in the 75th minute the ball fell in the box to Matt Smith who stabbed home from close range. As the game headed to a close both sides came close with efforts all of which were off target.
Championship Player of the Week: Paul Gallagher
34 year old Preston midfielder Paul Gallagher is my player of the week after a very impressive performance in a 3-0 win against Wigan. Gallagher assisted the first goal and scored the third which was a brilliant free kick from a wide position.
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