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Championship Round Up: How Burnley have leapfrogged to the top of the table?
Blogs

Championship Round Up: How Burnley have leapfrogged to the top of the table?

Championship Round Up: How Burnley have leapfrogged to the top of the table?

Match-day 40 has delivered a series of surprising results, causing a huge shake-up of the Championship table.

Read along to discover which teams faltered and which teams prevailed in their pursuit for Championship glory.

Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough

Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Middlesbrough

Kicking off the match weekend was Friday night football with Middlesbrough making the journey to Blackburn Rovers.

Take a bow Tommy Conway! The 22-year-old produced a moment of brilliance inside the second minute of the game, knocking the ball expertly past the defender and smashing it into the back of the Blackburn net.

Further shattering Blackburn’s hopes just six minutes later, a shot from the edge of the box took a huge deflection and Aynsley Alan William Pears could only watch as it rolled over the line putting his team two goals behind.

While Blackburn Rovers came close on a few occasions, Middlesbrough were the far dominant team and could have won the game a lot more than 2-0.

This result now means Blackburn Rovers drop to 12th place in the table and are without a win from their last seven matches. Middlesbrough on the other hand benefit from Coventry’s blunder and are now inside the playoff positions.

Coventry vs Burnley

Coventry 1-2 Burnley

An out of this world performance by Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony has sent the Clarets to the top of the Championship table.

Coventry started the game fast, with star forward Haji Wright finding the back of the net just five minutes after kick off. A controversial one as it certainly looks like the US forward was in an offside position.

However, the automatic promotion chasers would benefit from terrible defences errors from Coventry City with zero communication between defender and goalkeeper as Jaidon Anthony would find himself with two open goals.

After a dream start for Frank Lampard at Coventry City, they have since dropped to seventh and out of the promotion playoff spots but still showing signs, they are ready to fight back.

West Brom vs Sunderland

West Brom 0-1 Sunderland

It turned out to be a wasteful Saturday afternoon for promotion playoff chasing West Brom. The Black Country had gone without a win in their previous three games which has now extended to four.

Accumulating 21 shots on goal, West Brom would only manage three on target. At the other end, Sunderland would not be wasteful with their chances as before halftime, left back Trai Hume would convert a stunning free kick to put his side up before the break.

After a dull second half of wasteful West Brom chances, the ref would blow the whistle. With their playoff spot all but confirmed Sunderland turn to their next game, on the road to Norwich tomorrow night.

Luton Town vs Leeds United

Lutown Town 1-1 Leeds United

Luton showed tremendous strength as they managed to hold off the onslaught by title fighting Leeds United.

Kenilworth Road erupted as Luton fans watched winger Isaiah Jones put his side a goal up against second in the table. Followed up by a superb a finish from Daniel James, Luton went into the break with a point on the cards in a game where on paper they should not have had a chance.

Leeds would come close to the second goal but the only thing that would come is the final whistle, and Luton grabbed a much-needed point in their quest for survival.

Dropping down to third, Leeds have lost their automatic promotion spot and may end up leaving their chances down to a Wembley trip.

Oxford United vs Sheffield United

Oxford United 1-0 Sheffield United

Chris Wilder did not get the return to the Kassam he wanted as his side would take a serious blunder in their chances of Championship supremacy.

Sheffield United squandered their chances of going top of the table after a poor defensive display allowed the ball to fall to the foot of Siriki Dembele who slotted the ball home.

U’s goalkeeper Jamie Cumming would stop Sheffield's assault and Oxford United would pick up all three points as their chances at survival continue to improve.

With their automatic promotion spot still safe for now, Wilder’s team turn to their next match, hosting a Millwall side who have inspired a late push up the table.

Queens Park Rangers vs Cardiff City

QPR 0-0 Cardiff City

Lotus road was left locked in a stalemate as the points were shared between QPR and Cardiff City.

Any point is well needed for Cardiff City as they continue their attempt to push themselves out of the relegation zone. Unbeaten from their last three they are now currently tied on points with Derby County.

QPR will need to remain vigilant although their five-point gap above the relegation zone is currently safe, but anything is possible throughout the last six matches.

Millwall vs Portsmouth

Millwall 2-1 Portsmouth

Alex Neils’s side take a step closer to promotion playoffs after Mihailo Ivanovic completed a brace, sending his team to ninth place. Portsmouth would enjoy more of the ball, but it would be Millwall who would have more chances in front of goal.

Portsmouth found an equaliser in the 80th minute through Andre Dozzell but Ivanovic would find his second goal and secure the three points.

The recent League One champions sit just four points above the relegation zone and with teams like Coventry, Watford and Norwich still to play, will they be able to maintain their survival spot?

Bristol City vs Watford

Bristol City 2-1 Watford

Currently locked in a tough battle for promotion playoffs,it was essential Bristol City emerged victorious over a Watford side who are also keen to get their name involved in the fight.

Coming into this game with only two losses in their last ten matches, Bristol City were the clear favourites, and they proved why.

Two first half goals proved to be too much for Watford although Mamadou Doumbia managed to find a late goal which proved to be only a consolation.

Climbing from eighth to sixth, Bristol City occupy the last available promotion playoff currently whilst Watford sit seven points behind in tenth position.

Swansea vs Derby County

Swansea 1-0 Derby County

Derby County’s tremendous four game winstreak has come to a heartbreaking end at the hands of Swansea City.

Swansea controlled more of the ball but struggled immensely to get into the final third, only managing three shots in 90 minutes but all it took was one to find the back of the net. Substitute Eom Ji-Sung found himself on the end of an inviting ball and Swansea secured the three points

Recently promoted from League One, the Rams are scarily close to returning straight back down as this loss leaves them tied on points with Cardiff City.

Preston North End vs Stoke City

Preston North End 1-1 Stoke City

The points were shared at the Deepdale Ground as Stoke City were unable to build momentum and push further away from the relegation places.

It would be Preston who would break the deadlock for this match and within the first ten minutes, English fullback Kaine Kesler-Hayden would score his first goal of the season.

Stoke dominated after that slip up but it took them until the 75th minute and they would find the equaliser, aided by a foul inside the box by Liam Lindsay with the resulting penalty calmly slotted away by Lewis Baker.

Sitting on 48 points, Preston North End have built a safe gap from the relegation but are 12 points away from thinking about promotion playoffs.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Hull City

Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Hull City

A shock victory for Hull City has seen them escape the relegation zone and up into 19th, holding a three-point gap over Cardiff City.

Sheffield were all over Hull City from start to finish but were wasteful in front of goal. A gorgeous, floated ball in was met by an even better header from Hull defender Charlie Hughes and with virtually the last kick of the game, Hull City had the lead.

Sat in 13th place, Sheffield Wednesday are almost confirmed for the Championship next season. However, without a win in their last three games and an eight-point gap, it is too little too late to think about a run for promotion playoffs.

Plymouth Argyle vs Norwich City

Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Norwich City

Picking up three points has not been Plymouth Argyle’s biggest strength this season, but they managed to get the job done against Norwich City.

Argyle’s Ryan Hardie netted his first goal after 24 minutes and would complete his brace just five minutes later. Norwich were able to find an answer early into the second half but lacked the strength to complete the comeback.

With the Championship season drawing ever so nearer to its finale, Plymouth Argyle are dead bottom of the league with five points separating them from safety. Relegation is almost certain with the Argyle having to face off against Sheffield United, Coventry and Leeds before the season is over.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Ozzie Summerhill

Writer at Football Park

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