Championship. Results, Reviews and Table for 2008/9

[johntheclaret]

Mon 6th & tues 7th April

Results

Tuesday, 7 April 2009
C.Palace 1-1 Coventry
Sheff.Utd 2-1 Barnsley
Watford 2-2 Southampton
Monday, 6 April 2009
Birmingham 2-0 Wolves

Round up

Late goals from Sheffield United pair John Joe O'Toole and Arturo Lupoli decided a typically feisty South Yorkshire derby at Bramall Lane that ended in explosive fashion after a 2-1 win over Barnsley.
O'Toole, on loan from Watford, bundled home his first goal for the club in the 81st minute to keep the Blades' automatic promotion hopes alive and Arsenal striker Lupoli slid home the clincher six minutes later.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce had a last-minute penalty saved by United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny with 90 minutes on the clock - but there was still time for Tykes substitute Daniel Bogdanovic to pull one back in a thrilling finish.
Both managers and their benches were forced apart by police as the derby clash threatened to get out of control in the closing stages as the Blades secured a fourth straight league win.
Defeat for Barnsley - their second in six matches - leaves the Tykes perilously close to the relegation zone and they face another late scramble to avoid the drop.

Centre-half Jan-Paul Saeijs hit a sensational last-minute equaliser as Southampton claimed a vital point in a 2-2 draw at Watford in their fight against relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.
The Dutchman headed Saints ahead early on but goals in either half from Aleksandrs Cauna and Tamas Priskin looked to have sent his side closer to the drop.
But Saeijs then stepped up from 25 yards and arced a fabulous free-kick over the wall and into the top corner to end a turbulent day for the south coast club on a high.
Confusion lingers over the club's immediate fate after the Football League called for an independent report into their financial position this afternoon, but Saints remain confident of avoiding the seemingly mandatory 10-point deduction for entering administration.
However, unless manager Mark Wotte can inspire his young side to a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, any penalty could prove academic for the club's survival chances this season.
Southampton are still two points adrift of safety with five games left and seem set to be plying their trade in League One - if at all - come August.

Teenage winger Kieron Cadogan scored on his debut to earn Crystal Palace a point in a 1-1 draw against Coventry in the Coca-Cola Championship.
The latest graduate from Palace's prolific Academy had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes when he pounced on a defensive mistake, rounded City goalkeeper Keiren Westwood and tucked the ball into the net.
Aron Gunnarsson had given Coventry a first-half lead, but the Icelandic midfielder missed two clear-cut opportunities after the break and was made to pay by the rookie substitute.

Ten-man Birmingham secured a priceless victory over local rivals Wolves in their top-of-the-table Championship showdown at St Andrews.
Blues' experience proved too much for Wolves' youth in an encounter that was ultimately settled by repeated hesitancy in the visiting defence.
Cameron Jerome had already wasted a glorious one-on-one after a misjudged back pass from Stephen Ward when he capitalised on some confusion in Wolves' six-yard box to bundle the ball home from close range in first-half injury time.
Substitute Garry O'Connor then wrapped up the points in the 69th minute after Christophe Berra failed to get enough purchase on his header back to Wayne Hennessey.

Table

Teams P GD PTS
1 Wolves 41 22 77
2 Birmingham 41 16 75
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3 SheffUtd 41 24 72
4 Reading 40 30 69
5 Burnley 41 8 66
6 Cardiff 39 15 64
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7 Preston 41 3 62
8 Swansea 41 11 59
9 Bristol C 41 6 59
10 QPR 41 0 57
11 Ipswich 41 6 56
12 SheffWed 41 -8 54
13 CPalace 41 1 53
14 Coventry 40 -4 52
15 Watford 41 -4 51
16 Doncaster 41 -15 49
17 Derby 39 -5 48
18 Blackpool 41 -13 47
19 Plymouth 41 -13 46
20 Barnsley 40 -12 45
21 Norwich 41 -9 43
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22 Nott'm Forest 41 -19 42
23 Southampton 41 -17 41
24 Charlton 40 -23 32

[johntheclaret]

Easter Week End

Results

Monday, 13 April 2009
Barnsley 1-3 Swansea
Birmingham 1-1 Plymouth
Blackpool 2-2 Reading
Bristol C. 1-1 Ipswich
Cardiff 3-1 Burnley
Coventry 0-0 Charlton
Derby 2-3 Wolves
Doncaster 0-2 Preston
Norwich 2-0 Watford
Q.P.R. 3-2 Sheff.Wed
Sheff.Utd 0-0 Nott'm Forest
Southampton 1-0 C.Palace
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Burnley 1-0 Q.P.R.
Charlton 0-0 Birmingham
C.Palace 0-2 Cardiff
Ipswich 1-3 Doncaster
Nott'm Forest 3-2 Bristol C.
Plymouth 4-0 Coventry
Preston 0-1 Blackpool
Sheff.Wed 0-1 Derby

Round Up

Saturday 11 April 2009
Birmingham regained second place in the Coca-Cola Championship but will be disappointed not to have closed the gap on table-topping Wolves further after stuttering to a goalless draw at rock-bottom Charlton.
The Blues returned to the second automatic promotion spot after Sheffield United had overhauled them with victory at Reading on Friday.
But they are only a point ahead of the Blades with four games remaining after a poor display against a Charlton side who look certain to be relegated.

Cardiff moved into fourth place with a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace, who had manager Neil Warnock sent to the stands. Top-scorer Ross McCormack sent Julian Speroni the wrong way from the spot in the first half after Paddy McCarthy pulled Joe Ledley's shirt, and the Scot netted a second goal in injury time to make it 21 for the season.

Burnley cemented their play-off push in sixth place with a 1-0 win over managerless QPR thanks to Clarke Carlisle's strike and Swansea kept the pressure up just outside the top six with a 2-1 win over Norwich.

But Preston's hopes took another blow after they succumbed 1-0 at home to Blackpool in the day's early kick-off, Charlie Adam drilling home the winner just before half-time.

At the bottom, Nottingham Forest moved out of the bottom three at Norwich's expense with a last-gasp 3-2 win over Bristol City.
Dele Adebola had put the visitors 2-1 up with 12 minutes to go, but Forest dug deep and pulled off a crucial victory, Joe Garner drawing things level in the 83rd minute and loan signing Dexter Blackstock netting the winner in injury time.

Local rivals Derby virtually secured their safety though with a win at Sheffield Wednesday, Rob Hulse netting the Rams' winner on the stroke of half-time.

And Barnsley remain in trouble after Tommy Smith's equaliser two minutes from time denied the Tykes all three points at Watford.

Elsewhere, Doncaster ran out 3-1 winners at Ipswich thanks to late strikes from Paul Heffernan and substitute James Hayter, while Plymouth destroyed Coventry with four goals in a little over 20 first-half minutes, Ashley Barnes, Jamie Mackie, Alan Judge and Marcel Seip getting their name on the scoresheet.

Monday 13 April 2009

Wolves moved to the brink of automatic promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Derby.
Andy Keogh scored his second goal of the game with three minutes remaining to give the league leaders victory after they had trailed 2-1.
Mick McCarthy's side took the lead in the seventh minute when Keogh rifled a brilliant volley past Stephen Bywater, but the Rams equalised on the half hour with a curling free-kick from Przemyslaw Kazmierczak and took the lead 10 minutes into the second half through Mile Sterjovski.
Wolves were far from finished though and Matt Jarvis tucked away an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining before Keogh's late winner.

The result puts them six points clear of second-placed Birmingham, who endured a torrid afternoon in a 1-1 draw at St Andrews against Plymouth.
Goalkeeper Maik Taylor was controversially dismissed after 23 minutes and Paul Gallagher converted the resulting penalty, but Birmingham showed grit to come back, substitute Franck Queudrue levelling with a header five minutes after the break.

Sheffield United missed the chance to take advantage and stay a point behind the Blues in third after drawing 0-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, who were reduced to 10 men after just 16 minutes when Kelvin Wilson was sent off for a head-butt.

Cardiff closed the gap on the Blades in fourth, Jay Bothroyd and a Ross McCormack brace sealing a 3-1 win over Burnley, who remain in the final play-off spot.

Reading occupy the other play-off place in fifth after throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Blackpool.
The Royals went ahead in the 10th minute through Noel Hunt and doubled their lead 15 minutes later, Jem Karacan netting his first for the club.
But Keith Southern made it 2-1 on the half hour and DJ Campbell equalised for Blackpool midway through the second half.

Seventh-placed Swansea kept their play-off hopes alive with a 3-1' victory at Barnsley, Ashley Williams getting on the end of a free-kick after two minutes, Jordi Gomez doubling the lead before the break and top-scorer Jason Scotland capping the win in the second half. Daniel Bogdanovic netted a late consolation from the spot for the Tykes.

And Preston are also in the running for a top-six place after notching a 2-0 win at Doncaster, Chris Brown and Neil Mellor with a goal in each half.

At the bottom, Norwich moved out of the bottom three with a 2-0 win over Watford thanks to a spectacular own goal from Danny Rose, who curled the ball over his own keeper, and a late second from Gary Doherty.

Southampton are still in the drop zone but also secured three vital points, David McGoldrick's 25-yard winner giving them a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

And rock-bottom Charlton need a mathematical miracle to prevent their relegation to League One after a goaless draw at Coventry.

Elsewhere, QPR came back from two down to beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 while Bristol City and Ipswich drew 1-1 at Ashton Gate.

Table
Teams P GD PTS
1 Wolves 43 26 83
2 Birmingham 43 16 77
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3 SheffUtd 43 25 76
4 Cardiff 42 22 73
5 Reading 42 29 70
6 Burnley 43 7 69
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7 Swansea 43 14 65
8 Preston 43 4 65
9 Bristol C 43 5 60
10 QPR 43 0 60
11 Ipswich 43 4 57
12 SheffWed 43 -10 54
13 CPalace 43 -2 53
14 Coventry 42 -8 53
15 Watford 43 -6 52
16 Doncaster 43 -15 52
17 Derby 42 -8 51
18 Blackpool 43 -12 51
19 Plymouth 43 -9 50
20 Norwich 43 -8 46
21 Barnsley 42 -14 46
---------------------------
22 Nott'm Forest 43 -18 46
23 Southampton 43 -19 44
24 Charlton 42 -23 34