Cardiff City vs Fulham Friday 30/08/19 7:45pm
Cardiff vs Fulham was a showing of two very conflicting styles of play with neither style proving most effective in a 1-1 draw between the two teams. Some poor defending and poor keeping were at fault for Cardiff’s goal as Josh Murphy was easily played through on goal and finished over the outstretched arm of Marcus Bettinelli in the 42nd minute. Fulham responded immediately with an smart cross allowed Aleksander Mitrovic a tap in from a yard out in the 45th minute. Harry Arter was shown a second yellow card for Fulham in the 68th minute for simulation but Fulham hung on for a draw.
Bristol City vs Middlesbrough Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
Some poor defending from Taylor Moore gifted Middlesbrough two goals in a 2-2 draw with Bristol City. Bristol took the lead late in the first half when unmarked Kasey Palmer headed into the bottom corner in the 44th minute. Middlesbrough’s equaliser came through an own goal by Moore who deflected a cross into an empty net in the 64th minute. Moore’s next error was in the 68th minute when he flicked a lofted through ball backwards allowing Britt Assombalonga to come onto the ball and finish into the bottom corner. Bristol did get a deserved equaliser in the 81st minute when Tommy Rowe was left unmarked from a cross allowing him to head the ball into the bottom corner.
Birmingham City vs Stoke City Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
A late Birmingham flourish prevented Stoke from earning their first win of the season in a 2-1 home win. Defender Liam Lindsay gave Stoke the lead in the 58th minute heading a free kick in from close range. Talisman Lukas Jutkiewicz rose like a phoenix at the back post to head Birmingham level in the 73rd minute. Substitute Jude Bellingham snatched all three points for Birmingham in the 76th minute when his long shot took a wicked deflection which took it past the stranded Adam Federici.
Brentford vs Derby County Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
A dominant Brentford team scored all three goals in the first half in a 3-0 win over Derby. Brentford took the lead in the 17th minute when Mbeumo squeezed a shot in following a pinball in the area. It took Brentford one minute to double their lead when Ollie Watkins tapped in following a low cross. Watkins got his second and Brentford’s third in the 45th minute finishing low into the bottom corner after having an initial effort blocked off the line.
Leeds United vs Swansea City Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
Leeds found themselves on the losing side of a 1-0 result despite creating most of the chances in a top on the table clash against Swansea. Leeds controlled the game and created a lot of chances but Swansea defended valiantly throughout and prevented them scoring. In the 90th minute all of Swansea’s hard work payed off when club Icon Wayne Routledge scuffed a shot into the bottom corner to earn Swansea a vital three points.
Luton Town vs Huddersfield Town Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
Luton eased past Huddersfield in a 2-1 win despite the away side taking the lead. Karlan Grant got the first goal of the game in the 47th minute sliding in a cross from close range. Huddersfield players were furious after Luton were awarded a soft penalty in the 57th minute which James Collins scored to equalise. A piece of magic won the game for Luton when Andrew Shinnie cut the ball onto his left foot before bending the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box in the 66th minute.
Millwall vs Hull City Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
Two first half goals ensured a 1-1 draw between Millwall and Hull. Millwall were the team that took the lead after a clumsy challenge in the box allowed Jed Wallace to take and smash a penalty down the middle in the 10th minute. Kamil Grosicki equalised for Hull through an outstanding forty yard free kick which went over keeper Bartosz Białkowski in the 18th minute. Hull finished the game with ten men when Josh Magennis was shown a second yellow card for a silly tackle in the 93rd minute.
Nottingham Forest vs Preston North End Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
Their was nothing to separate Nottingham Forest and Preston in a 1-1 draw between the two sides vying for play off places. Preston took the lead in the 40th minute after a smart turn and finish in the area by Billy Bodin. The equaliser came through Albert Adomah who put the ball into the bottom corner after being played through in the 79th minute.
Reading vs Charlton Athletic Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
A failure to take chances led to Reading losing 2-0 at home to Charlton. Reading had a lot of first half chances but Charlton took the lead when in the 51st minute Jonathan Leko had a long range effort deflected into the bottom corner. Things went from bad to worse for Reading when they gave away a penalty in the 80th minute which Lyle Taylor cockily walked up to and stroked home ensuring Charlton all three points.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Queens Park Rangers Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
QPR beat Sheffield Wednesday in a fairly comfortable 2-1 victory. A Steven Fletcher penalty gave Wednesday the lead in the 23rd minute following a questionable decision from the referee. QPR equalised through Jordan Hugill who composedly took the ball around the keeper before scoring in the 60th minute. The winning goal came in the 64th minute through Hugill again this time converting a cross from inside the area.
West Bromwich Albion vs Blackburn Rovers Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
An entertaining first half including five goals gave West Brom a 3-2 win over Blackburn. It took Bradley Dack just 1 minute to give Blackburn the lead capitalising on some sloppy passing around the back sliding the ball into the bottom corner. West Brom equalised through Matt Phillips who after using his power to get past his man slid the ball past the keeper in the 22nd minute. West Brom took the lead in the 31st minute when Jake Livermore finished emphatically into the net from inside the box. West Brom’s lead was doubled in the 40th minute when Grady Diangana beat his man before delightfully chipping the keeper. Bradley Johnson reduces West Brom’s lead in half time stoppage time scoring after some poor keeping and defending. No goals in the second half ensured West Brom finished the game with three points.
Wigan Athletic vs Barnsley Saturday 31/08/19 3pm
Wigan and Barnsley drew 0-0 in a tense match between two struggling sides. Both teams struggled to create clear cut chances with either sides best effort coming from long shots. Barnsley were reduced to 10 men in the 91st minute after a Ben Williams horror tackle but Wigan didn’t have the time to capitalise on their one player advantage.
Championship Player of the Week: Ollie Watkins
Forward Ollie Watkins is my player of the week for his display against Derby. Watkins played a part in the first goal scored two himself in the 3-0 win looking a threat throughout.
Feature Image Credit: BBC Sport
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