Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Championship Review – Matchday 2

Deke Hardman in Editorial, English Championship 13 Aug 2018

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A twelfth minute goal from Britt Assombalonga was enough to see Middlesbrough beat Birmingham City, and in doing so keep their place at top of the Championship.

The visitors finished the game with ten men after Craig Gardner was dismissed seven minutes from time following a late challenge on Jonny Howson, ending any real hope of a comeback.

The result sees Boro remain in first place though they have played a game more than most of their rivals.

Two from two

Leeds United are in second after thumping Derby County 4-1 at Pride Park while Aston Villa and Swansea City also made it two wins from two after beating Wigan Athletic and Preston North End respectively.

Birkir Bjarnason scored the winner in the ninetieth minute for Steve Bruce’s side who triumphed by three goals to two while a Jay Fulton goal was enough to secure three points for the Swans.

Nottingham Forest edged past Reading with Hillel Soudani opening his account for the Reds with the only goal of the game while Brentford and Stoke City played out a 1-1 draw at the Bet 365 Stadium.

Striking hot

Benik Afobe scored for the Potters – his first goal since signing on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and he is favourite to finish the season as the division’s top scorer at 6/1.

Bristol City came from two goals down to salvage a point against Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium while the game of the day came in the shape of a seven-goal thriller at Carrow Road, where West Bromwich Albion beat Norwich City.

Thriller

The Canaries took the lead through Jordan Rhodes on twenty-four minutes only for Jay Rodriguez to level from the penalty spot just after the half hour mark.

Rodriguez bagged a second two minutes into the second half before Harvey Barnes doubled the Baggies’ advantage.

Teemu Pukki clawed one back for the hosts though Hal Robson-Kanu restored West Brom’s two goal lead before Grant Handley grabbed a late consolation eight minutes from time.

Queens Park Rangers, who were the only side in the division not to score last weekend took the lead against Sheffield United through Ebere Eze though goals from Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick either side of half time turned the result on its head.

Rotherham United bounced back from last weekend’s defeat at Brentford with a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town while Blackburn Rovers and Millwall played out a goalless draw at Ewood Park.

Finally, Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City both got off the mark after they lost their opening games, drawing 1-1 at Hillsborough.

Frazier Campbell put the Tigers in front on thirty-six minutes before Fernando Forestieri levelled with a penalty six minutes into the second half.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deke Hardman


Freelance football writer with a love of the game that goes back to the mid nineties when both his beloved Nottingham Forest and England had genuine hope of acheiving some level of success. A regular contributor to both SoccerNews.com and FreeBetting.com, Deke also dabbles in music journalism with his heart and head still stuck in the latter years of the twentieth century.

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