Huddersfield Town vs Fulham Friday 16/08/19 7:45pm
A strong Fulham performance ensured a 2-1 win against Huddersfield which ended up being the trigger for the club to part way with their manager. The breakthrough came in the 51st when Juninho Bacuna’s sliced clearance allowed Aleksandar Mitrovic to power a header home from close range. Huddersfield equalised 6 minutes later when unmarked Karlan Grant had his header given by goal-line technology after going in off the post. After peppering the Huddersfield goal, Fulham secured the 3 points in the 80th minute after Cavaleiro curled the ball past Kamil Grabara and into the top corner.
Barnsley vs Charlton Athletic Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
The first game between newly-promoted sides ended in a stalemate as a Charlton last-minute penalty snatched a 2-2 draw against Barnsley. Barnsley took the lead in the 34th minute through a contender for goal of the season as Cauley Woodrow flicked up the ball and volleyed it into the top left corner from outside the box. Charlton responded in the 40th minute when some good work from Jonny Williams allowed Conor Gallagher to poke home. Summer signing Conor Chaplin put Barnsley back in front in the 48th minute slotting the ball past the keeper after beating several defenders. Charlton stole a point late on when Gallagher was bought down by Bambo Diaby in the box allowing Lyle Taylor to walk up to the ball and passed it into the net to equalise in the 89th minute.
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Blackburn secured their first win of the new season in a surprise 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough. Blackburn got what would turn out to be the winning goal in the 25th minute when Middlesbrough debutant Anfernee Dijksteel pulled back Danny Graham in the area who scored from the penalty spot. Middlesbrough had a chance to equalise in the second half when substitute Marcus Browne hit the post after Christian Walton misjudged a cross from Paddy McNair but Blackburn held on to ensure a 1-0 win.
Brentford vs Hull City Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Brentford and Hull shared the points in a scrappy 1-1 draw in west London. Both sides had plenty of chances but it was the away side who took the lead through a deflected goal by in-form Jarrod Bowen in the 53rd minute. Brentford got a deserved equaliser with twenty minutes left as Ollie Watkins scrambled the ball under the keeper in the 72nd minute. Both sides had chances to win it but some good goalkeeping and the ball hitting the post ensured both sides finished with a point.
Bristol City vs Queens Park Rangers Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Goals from new signings and some woeful defending allowed Bristol City a 2-0 win over QPR. Bristol City made their breakthrough in the 35th minute as QPR failed to clear their lines allowing Hungarian International Adam Nagy to fire home a low volley for his first goal for the club. QPR responded well after the break with Daniel Bentley keeping his side ahead with a top save. All 3 points were secured in the 59th minute after a throw-in led to a defensive mix up allowing Benik Afobe to grab his first goal for the club. QPR struggled to clear the ball for the rest of the game but Bristol City couldn’t capitalise on their mistakes and it stayed 2-0.
Luton Town vs West Bromwich Albion Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Some individual brilliance from West Ham loanee Grady Diangana was the difference as West Brom came out narrow victors in a 2-1 win over Luton. Luton started well and took the lead in the 15th minute through unmarked Harry Cornick who headed past Sam Johnstone. West Brom had to wait until the second half to equalise but it was worth the wait as Diangana squeezed a shot into the bottom corner from outside the area in the 48th minute. Three minutes later and Diangana had scored the winner reacting quickest to head home a deflected shot giving West Brom a less than convincing three points.
Millwall vs Sheffield Wednesday Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Sheffield Wednesday found themselves well and truly “FM’d” as they lost 1-0 to Millwall despite dominating the play. Matt Smith’s 37th minute header following a corner was the only goal of the game and one of only three shots Millwall had. Jed Wallace was sent off soon after the goal for a dangerous tackle in the 43rd minute leaving Millwall down to 10 men. Despite having seven times more shots and 69% possession Wednesday couldn’t find the breakthrough and Millwall came out victors.
Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham City Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Nottingham Forest eased to a 3-0 win over Birmingham providing new manager Sabri Lamouchi with his first three points as manager. Forest took the lead early as Joe Lolley’s long-range effort went under Lee Camp in the 15th minute. It was 2-0 soon after when Lewis Grabban rose to head home Lolley’s cross at the back post in the 22nd minute. Forrest’s final goal in their convincing win came from captain Michael Dawson who scored a header directly from a corner in the 65th minute.
Stoke City vs Derby County Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Stoke were unfortunate not to earn their first three points of the season as a Derby penalty ensured a 2-2 draw between the two sides. Derby struck first when Martyn Waghorn flicked a cross past Jack Butland in the 2nd minute. Joe Allen provided a contender for miss of the season soon after as he hit the post from less than a yard out denying Stoke the chance to equalise. The equaliser did come in the 32nd minute as a header from a corner deflected off Scott Hogan and in. Hogan had a two in the second half as he smashed the ball into the net after it was played across the box in the 55th minute. Derby equalised in the 70th minute after a foul in the box and Waghorn got his second of the afternoon and a point for Derby.
Swansea City vs Preston North End Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
A thrilling game at the Liberty Stadium left Swansea 3-2 winners over Preston in a very tight game. Preston took first blood in the 11th minute when Joe Rafferty scored a dipping effort from outside the box. Swansea equalised just before half time through Borja Baston who slid the ball into the bottom corner in stoppage time. Swansea took the lead for the first time in the 63rd minute as George Byers finished emphatically into the bottom corner from the centre of the box. Four minutes later and Preston were on level terms through Daniel Johnson who slotted home a penalty in the 67th minute after a clear foul in the box. Swansea’s winner came soon after and capped off the seven minute goal frenzy when Borja Baston score an emphatic header in the 69th minute to grab his second of the afternoon.
Wigan Athletic vs Leeds United Saturday 17/08/19 3pm
Wigan were brushed aside in a routine 2-0 win for Leeds putting them top of the Championship. Despite starting promisingly Wigan had Joe Williams sent off for a second yellow card and from then on Leeds were in total control. Leeds took the lead in the 34th minute through Patrick Bamford who had a tap in following an Adam Forshaw header that hit the post. Bamford also scored Leeds’s second goal as he scrambled the ball over the line in the 65th minute following a corner.
Reading vs Cardiff City Sunday 18/08/19 12pm
Reading provided a big upset against Cardiff as they beat one of the promotion favourites 3-0 in a convincing win. Reading looked bright and took the lead after a brilliant run and finish by George Puscas in the 25th minute. It was then 2-0 before halftime with George Puscas being the first to a cross and poking through the keeper’s legs for his second and Reading’s second in the 40th minute. As Cardiff pushed forward Reading counted attacked well with John Swift finishing a swift move making it 3-0 in the 83rd minute. Reading could have had a fourth after winning a penalty but Yakou Meite’s penalty was saved.
Championship Player of the Week: Andy Yiadom
Ghanaian international Andy Yiadom is my player of the week for his contribution to Reading’s surprise 3-0 win over Cardiff. Yiadom assisted the 1st and the 3rd goal as well as contributing a lot defensively as Cardiff pushed forward looking for a route back into the game.
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