Birmingham City vs Barnsley Tuesday 20/08/19 7:45pm
Birmingham produced a great counter attacking performance despite Barnsley dominating with the ball in a 2-0 victory. Despite few chances in the first half, Barnsley will feel like they should of have a penalty when Bambo Diaby was bundled down in the box, but nothing was given. The breakthrough came after 69th minute when after some scrappy play Lukas Jutkiewicz powered a header into the top corner from close range. Birmingham secured their win soon after when Alvaro Gimenez was picked out by Steve Seddon who delightfully dinked the keeper to secure the points.
Derby County vs Bristol City Tuesday 20/08/19 7:45pm
Bristol City capitalised on defensive errors to earn a narrow 2-1 win over Derby. Derby started poorly and after some bad defending found themselves behind when in the 16th minute the ball fell fortuitously to Andreas Wiemann who rounded the keeper and scored. It was 2-0 just before half time when again Derby’s defence gave the ball away sloppily and were punished by Josh Brownhill who powerfully scored a pull back from wide in half time stoppage time. Jack Marriot pulled one back for Derby with a left footed screamer in the 85th minute but it was too little too late and Bristol City got all three points.
Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers Tuesday 20/08/19 7:45pm
Blackburn hit the woodwork three times but still found themselves fortunate to beat Hull in a 1-0 win. Hull had a great chance to open the scoring in the first half when Jackson Irvine was bought down in the box, but Jarrod Bowen forced a good save from Christian Walton. Blackburn’s goal came from defender Derrick Williams who headed a freekick into the bottom corner in the 62nd minute.
Middlesbrough vs Wigan Athletic Tuesday 20/08/19 7:45pm
Jonathan Woodgate got his first victory as Middlesbrough manager in a 1-0 win over Wigan. Wigan missed a big chance early on when Adam Clayton lost possession on the edge of his area with Jamal Lowe forcing a good save from Darren Randolph. Middlesbrough’s winning goal came early on through Britt Assombalonga who’s thumping header in the 23rd minute was the difference between the two sides.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Luton Town Tuesday 20/08/19 7:45pm
Sheffield beat Luton 1-0 to send them top of the Championship ahead of the Wednesday games. Sheffield Wednesday took the lead in the 54th minute after Luton lost the ball on the edge of their area leading to Kadeem Harris scrambling the ball home from close range. Sheffield Wednesday doubled their lead later in the half again from close range, but Steven Fletcher’s chip was ruled out for offside.
Cardiff City vs Huddersfield Town Wednesday 21/08/19 7:45pm
A late deflected goal gave Cardiff a 2-1 win over strugglers Huddersfield. Cardiff took the lead in late in the first half through Joe Ralls who stabbed the ball into the side netting in the 42nd minute. Huddersfield responded just after half time when a marvellous solo effort from Trevor Chalobah beat Alex Smithies at the front post in the 50th minute to equalise. Huddersfield looked like they were heading away with a very good point but in the 88th minute Junior Hoilett had a shot which deflected off Jonathan Hogg and beat the keeper to pile misery on Huddersfield.
Charlton Athletic vs Nottingham Forrest Wednesday 21/08/19 7:45pm
Charlton drew 1-1 to Nottingham Forrest with the main talking point surrounding how referee Oliver Langford missed a clear red card offence with Charlton leading. Charlton had the best chances of the game and took the lead through talisman Lyle Taylor who arrowed a header into the bottom corner in the 18th minute. Controversy struck with twenty minutes left when Sammy Ameobi was on the receiving end of a studs up challenge by midfielder Sam Field inside the penalty area. Despite being right in front of the challenge official Langford waved away the foul and played on to the dismay of the travelling Forest fans. An equalising goal did come however when a corner dropped to Albert Adomah who smashed the ball into the roof of the net in the 78th minute.
Fulham vs Millwall Wednesday 21/08/19 7:45pm
Fulham demolished Millwall in a record breaking 4-0 victory to propel them up the league. Fulham opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Ivan Cavaleiro’s second screamer in two games as he cut in and smashed it past Bartosz Bialkowski. It was two nil before half time when Anthony Knockaert’s header completed a 26 pass move which involved all 11 Fulham players. Aleksandar Mitrovic won a penalty in the second half and took it to make it 3-0 in the 56th minute. The final goal of the game came from Cavaleiro again who was picked out beautifully by Tom Cairney and took the ball around the onrushing keeper before tapping it in. Fulham registered an Opta Championship record for the most possession retained 84.5% and the highest number of passes completed by one team in 90 minutes 934.
Leeds United vs Brentford Wednesday 21/08/19 7:45pm
Leeds created a lot of chances and dominated the ball but still required a late winner in order to beat Brentford 1-0. Brentford had the closest effort of the first half when Bryan Mbeumo’s long range effort hit the inside of the post and bounced away. Leeds’s winner came in the 81st minute when new signing Eddie Nketiah tapped the ball in from close range after Helder Costa played it across the box.
Preston North End vs Stoke City Wednesday 21/08/19 7:45pm
Preston were gifted a 3-1 win over Stoke after some woeful goalkeeping from an English international. Preston took the lead in the 7th minute when a headed clearance fell to Daniel Johnson whose shot went through Jack Butland’s arms. The next goal was another Butland mistake after he came to punch a goal kick away in the 25th minute before Billy Bodin’s weak effort squirmed under the keeper. Preston went 3-0 in the 69th minute with Butland making a rare save parrying it to Josh Harrop who tapped in. James McClean grabbed a consolation tap in for Stoke in the 89th minute but the game finished 3-1.
Queens Park Rangers Vs Swansea City Wednesday 21/08/19 7:45pm
Swansea left it late to get a very important 3-1 away win against QPR. Swansea struck first when after a nice move Bersant Celina put the ball through the keepers legs in the 29th minute. QPR equalised in the 66th minute through Jordan Hugill who’s header shouldn’t of beaten keeper Freddie Woodman. QPR’s equaliser was soon cancelled out by Borja Baston who converted a penalty after a foul in the box in the 70th minute. Ten minutes later and it was 3-1, Sam Sturridge’s close range header securing the points for the away side.
West Bromwich Albion vs Reading Wednesday 21/08/19 8pm
Late action between both sides made for an exiting end to a 1-1 draw between West Brom and Reading. Reading took a surprise lead in the 71st through Ovie Ejaria who slammed the ball into the net from outside the box. However in the 88th minute Ejaria committed a foul in the area allowing Kenneth Zohore the opportunity to equalise which he took.
Championship Player of the Week: Ivan Cavaleiro
Wolves loanee Ivan Cavaleiro had to be my player of the week for his brilliant performance in Fulham’s 4-0 thrashing of Millwall. Cavaleiro scored two goals and assisted one constantly threatening the Millwall defence with his direct dribbling and pace.
Image Credit: Fulham FC
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