EFL’s Best Matches: Saturday’s Best in Review
EFL Key Match Roundup: The 10 Best Games of the Day
The weekend saw an abundance of entertaining EFL action coming across the Championship, League One and League Two.
There were 104 goals scored through 34 fixtures across these leagues, with just two nil-nil draws, and two seven-goal thrillers; as well as a goal of the decade contender in the second tier.
Football Park is here to give you the ten key matches this weekend and what the results do for the respective league table.
Championship
Controversial Canaries Winner Denies Tonda’s Saints
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon as 23rd place Norwich City looked to make it back-to-back home victories since January when they welcome a completely reinvented Saints side to Carrow Road. Tonda Eckert’s Southampton were looking to go within a point of the playoff places as they were hoping to make it seven wins in eight games.
It started that way too, with the visitors completely dominating the opening period; Leo Scienza had two excellent chances early on – one cannoning off the crossbar from a free kick and the other going inches wide of the post. Keeper Vladan Kovacevic was also needed to save a penalty in the opening half hour, but the Canaries held on, however, and fought back hard in the second half.
Jovon Makama gave the hosts a surprise lead shortly after the break after he tapped in at the near post after a great ball in from Jacob Wright. The lead lasted just nine minutes though, as Liam Manning’s stunning strike range thundered into the net to level the scores. Makama then netted his controversial brace as he appeared to handle the ball after the ball bounced up off his foot onto his hand and into the net, which left Saints fans seething.
The win makes no change to Norwich’s league position, but the confidence is higher than it has ever been this season, and they close the gap to safety to just three points. As for Southampton, their playoff push has come to a halt as they sit four points adrift.
Coventry Back on Track and Remain Five Clear
It was all entertainment but not many goals at the Coventry Building Society Arena as Ephron Mason-Clark’s ninth goal of the season gave Frank Lampard’s side their first win in three games as they remain five clear at the top, while the lengthen the gap to third to a stunning 12 points before Christmas.
The first half did not disappoint in terms of quality chances, with the visitors thinking they took the lead through Sinclair Armstrong, but the goal was ruled out for handball. The hosts also had Haji Wright and Bristol’s Armstrong both hit the crossbar in a first period in which the goals could have been flowing.
Coventry did eventually take the lead after the break thanks to Mason-Clark, however, from a rebound opportunity after the visitors failed to clear. The defeat means the Robins drift further down the table and now out of the top ten.
Goal of the Decade Contender Puts a Halt to Ipswich Automatic Promotion Push
What a day it was for any and all Foxes fans who attended a show stopping encounter at the King Power on Saturday afternoon as two glorious goals were scored to help Leicester to just their fifth win in 17 games.
It took the hosts just eight minutes to take the lead, and it was through a thrilling long-range effort from Bobby Decordova-Reid that they did so. Just as fans though that would be the best strike they would see that day, they were so wrong. Just before the break, Abdul Fatawu collected the ball from inside his own half and belted the ball the length of the pitch and over Ipswich keeper Christian Walton into the goal to send the stadium into raptures.
They would make it three after the break as Jordan Ayew calmly finished from a few yards out, but the Foxes couldn’t keep the clean sheet as Jakub Stolarczyk clumsily gave the ball away to Jens-Lys Cajuste to give the Tractor Boys hope.
For Marti Cifuentes, he wouldn’t have cared one bit about his side creating just 0.99 xG, with those three brilliant goals relieving pressure on the Spaniard.
League One
Late Barnsley Comeback Puts Them in Playoff Contention
Davis Keillor-Dunn’s tenth goal of the campaign capped off a stunning late comeback to down Leyton Orient and send the Tykes just four points off the playoffs, while they push three clear of their London-based opponents.
Reyes Cleary scored the opener within just ten minutes and also had an incredible player of the match performance as he assisted both goals in the late comeback. Orient did fight back in the first period, with a penalty on the 30-minute mark from Dominic Ballard before the visitors took a lead of their own through Oliver O’Neill just five minutes later.
As the match entered the final 15 minutes, the Yorkshire side began to ramp up the pressure, reaping their rewards soon after. First, it was substitute Jonathan Russell, then Keillor-Dunn scored to give Barnsley an all important three points.
Bantams Go Second as They Seek Consecutive Promotions
Bradford were perfect at both ends of the pitch for the third time in a row in the league, as nine points from their last three league games, and three clean sheets see them go second and just four points off leaders Cardiff City in their first campaign back in the third tier.
The started as a rather tight and cagey affair in the opening period where chances were flying with both sides coming close to taking the lead. Despite creating just 0.89xG, however, it was the Bantams who found that lead early in the second half, with Antoni Sarcevic netting his seventh goal of the season. Just 11 minutes after coming off the bench, it was then Bobby Pointon who scored to double the hosts’ lead.
It has been an excellent tenure so far for Graham Alexander, who looks to lead the Valley Parade occupants to a meteoric consecutive promotion.
99th Minute Winner as Bluebirds Made to Sweat
The Bluebirds found some excellent form in front of goal to act as important preparation as the lowest-ranked side left in the EFL Cup get ready for the visit of Chelsea on Tuesday evening after a seven-goal thriller at the Cardiff City Stadium.
It was a rapid start to the game which took just 15 minutes for Doncaster to find the lead through Owen Bailey before Chelsea loanee Omari Kellyman levelled the scores just ten minutes later. Just nine minutes later and it was Cardiff who found the lead, with Cian Ashford’s low strike bulging the net. That was not all the action done for the opening period, however, as Brandon Hanlan restored parity just before the break.
Just five minutes into the second half is all it took for the hosts’ lead to be restored, as forward Yousef Salech’s goal saw him make double figures for the season. Harry Clifton scored the sixth of the game as the match was drawn level, leading to a nervy last 20 minutes – then just seconds away from a from Rovers earning a crucial point, it was Joel Bagan who made the stadium erupt in the 99th minute as he slammed it home from close range.
Cleverley Steers Argyle to Third Win in Four as They Get Heads Above Water
Tom Cleverley’s Plymouth Argyle seem to be back on track after a third 1-0 win in four games saw them make one of four sides on 22 points as they have seemed to put an end to their defensive woes.
The half hour mark saw penalty shouts for the hosts waved away from referee David Rock, before Joe Ralls scored what proved to be the winner just ten minutes later after he finished off an incredible move down the right flank. Centre-back Alexander Mitchell cleared off the line late on to deny Thomas Holmes and ensure Rotherham were inflicted to a second defeat this week.
Masterclass in Finishing Sees Stevenage Trump Stockport
Stevenage showed some excellent character to down Stockport, despite the stats going overwhelmingly in Stockport’s favour, with Boro having just seven shots compared to County’s 14.
It began tidily for the visitors despite both sides producing game-leading chances inside the opening 15 minutes, with Chem Campbell’s outstanding curling effort netting their first of the afternoon inside 22 minutes. In the second period, however, was when some very clinical finishing pulled the visitors away from the hosts. First it was Jamie Reid who slotted in a smart finish; then eight minutes later down the other end of the pitch, it was Kyle Wootton who headed home from close range to half the deficit. Just two minutes later, however, Stevenage restored their two-goal cushion as Louis Thompson capitalised on poor defending to put the game to bed.
For Boro, it was a crucial win for their playoff hopes as they leapfrogged Stockport and have a game in hand where they could go up to second with a win.
League Two
10-man Swindon Thrash 10-man Bristol Rovers to Go Third
Gas fans would not have enjoyed their afternoon at the memorial stadium, as their tenth loss on the bounce was finally enough to see manager Darrell Clarke relieved of his duties.
Surprisingly, the red cards didn’t come into play until all three goals had been scored – all of which came in a very entertaining 17-minute period for visiting supporters. It took promotion-pursuing Swindon just 16 minutes to crack the deadlock, as Manchester City academy product Joe Snowdon opened the scoring with an outrageous strike from 35 yards. Shortly after, and Rovers were hit with a quick-fire five-minute burst of Swindon pressure, as goals from Ollie Clarke and Aaron Drinan rubbed salt into the wounds of the on-watching Clarke on the sidelines.
Things just kept getting worse for the hosts too as Kacper Lopata was shown a red card for a poor tackle on Gavin Kilkenny. Just a quarter of an hour after the break, Swindon joined Gas at 10-men apiece as Drinan was shown a second yellow for simulation after receiving his first immediately after his goal.
Ian Holloway’s side continue their excellent form with four wins in five games as they increase the pressure on Walsall, who dropped two points against Shrewsbury Town.
Salford Late Winner to Seal Off a Superb Second Half Comeback
Salford earned their tenth win of the campaign in sensational fashion as Luke Garbutt’s stoppage-time winner sent them into the playoff places, leaving Colchester four points adrift.
It was a rapid-fire start to the fixture, with Colchy’s Harry Anderson’s opening effort immediately cancelled out just three minutes later after Kadeem Harris scored his fourth of the season. The second half was set up for show-stopping finish after three goals were found inside 15 minutes. First, it was Ellis Iandolo before Arthur Read joined him on the scoresheet to earn Colchester a two-goal cushion; Adebola Oluwo would find the net on the hour mark to give Salford hope, however.
Sunderland cult hero Fabio Borini then restored parity after converting from 12 yards, before Garbutt found his second goal contribution of the afternoon in an incredible finish which earned Salford their third win in five games.
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