Championship Review: Week 1

 

Fulham 1-0 Newcastle

A Matt Smith header earned Fulham a shock win over title favourites Newcastle in the opening game of the new Championship season. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side struck just before half time as Tom Cairney’s dangerous cross was met by Smith, giving Newcastle’s debut goalkeeper Matz Sels no chance. Despite spending £45 million over the summer, none of the Newcastle signings could make the desired impact as a spirited Fulham side held out. The Magpies can count themselves unlucky as they were denied a penalty when Ryan Tunnicliffe appeared to block a cross with his arm. £12 million man Matt Ritchie had Newcastle’s best opening, but his effort from just inside the area was saved well by fellow debutant David Button. Not the start that Newcastle wanted and if the Geordie fans weren’t expecting much resistance in the Championship this season, they’ll certainly be expecting it now.

Birmingham 0-0 Cardiff

Neither side could get off to a winning start as Birmingham and Cardiff shared the points at St Andrews. In an entertaining game, poor finishing and great goalkeeping meant that it remained goalless. The best chance of the game fell for Cardiff’s Frederic Gounongbe, who missed an open goal from inside the 6-yard box. Peter Whittingham did manage to direct his long range effort on goal only to be denied by the outstretched Tomasz Kuszczak. Lex Immers did succeed in beating Kuszczak but his shot came back off the bar. Birmingham had their fair share of chances too, however Diego Fabbrini and Jack Storer were kept out brilliantly by David Marshall in the Cardiff goal. Encouraging signs for both teams, but they will need to find a clinical touch to challenge for a top 6 place.

Blackburn 1-4 Norwich

Academy product Jacob Murphy’s wonderstrike set Norwich on their way to an emphatic win against Blackburn, their first on the opening day since 2002. Wes Hoolahan, Cameron Jerome and Steven Naismith all found the net as the Canaries inflicted a heavy defeat in Owen Coyle’s first game in charge at Ewood Park. Rovers fans were heard booing their side as they trailed 3-0 after just 26 minutes. On his league debut, Jacob Murphy turned and swivelled before rifling a 30 yard effort past Jason Steele and into the top corner. Just 5 minutes later, Hoolahan ghosted through the Blackburn defence and slotted home before Jerome met Ivo Pinto’s cross to make it 3-0 as Norwich flew out of the blocks. Steven Naismith finished off a slick passing to add a 4th before debutant Anthony Stokes pulled one back for the hosts. The scoreline could’ve been much worse for Blackburn as Murphy hit the post when clean through but the result was still enough to send Norwich to the top of the league in the early standings.

Bristol City 2-1 Wigan

Bristol City produced a dramatic late comeback to ensure Wigan left Ashton Gate empty handed on their return to the Championship. Alex Gilbey’s impressive finish had put Wigan ahead in the first half and it seemed that it would be enough to earn the Latics the points. However, just nine minutes from time Tammy Abraham, a Chelsea loanee, headed in from Gary O’Neil’s corner to set up an exciting end to the game. The Robins found the winner as Bobby Reid’s shot deflected past keeper Adam Bogdan in injury time. Bristol City almost made the victory more comfortable as they hit the post but Lee Johnson will still be delighted that his side got off to a winning start.

Derby 0-0 Brighton

Two of the beaten play-off semi-finalists played out a goalless draw at the iPro Stadium. Derby dominated the first half and the visitors had David Stockdale to thank as he kept out Tom Ince with a smart save, while Darren Bent couldn’t adjust his body to steer Nick Blackman’s cross on target. Brighton grew into the game in the second half with Tomer Hemed being denied a wondergoal by Rams keeper Scott Carson, before the Israeli striker was denied again, this time by Cyrus Christie’s goalline clearance. Glenn Murray, on loan at the Seagulls from Bournemouth, squandered a couple of half chances late on as neither side showed the cutting edge needed to break the deadlock.

Huddersfield 2-1 Brentford

Kasey Palmer came off the bench to earn Huddersfield all three points on his Terriers debut as they defeated Brentford at the John Smiths Stadium. Fellow debuatant Elias Kachunga, on loan from German side Ingolstadt, had headed the home side in front just after half time as Huddersfield dominated for the majority of the game. New Brentford keeper Daniel Bentley kept the Bees in the game with a string of saves including a magnificent double save to keep it at 1-0. Those misses appeared costly for the Yorkshire side as Nico Yennaris equalised following a brilliant Brentford move, but the visitors weren’t level for long. Rajiv Van La Parra drove through the Brentford back line and when his effort was saved, Palmer was there to tap in the rebound giving David Wagner’s side a perfect start to the season.

 

Ipswich 4-2 Barnsley

Grant Ward enjoyed a memorable debut as his second half hat-trick saw Ipswich come out on top in an enthralling encounter at Portman Road. After a drab first half, Mick McCarthy brought on Ward, a summer signing from Tottenham, and it didn’t take long for him to have a devastating impact. Just 30 seconds into his first Ipswich appearance, Ward struck a low shot past the Barnsley keeper before ex-Tractor Boy Conor Hourihane levelled just three minutes later. The hosts retook the lead through a powerful Ward finish and the lead was extended when David McGoldrick converted a penalty after Daryl Murphy was fouled. Matt Watkins headed Barnsley back to within one goal only for Ward to seal the win for Ipswich and seal an extraordinary debut hat-trick. Mick McCarthy’s men are second only to their East Anglian rivals Norwich with the sides due to meet in just a couple of weeks time.

Nottingham Forest 4-3 Burton

Burton suffered defeat in their first ever game in the second tier of English football as Forest edged a thrilling Midlands derby. Britt Assombalonga showed that he had not lost his clinical touch following a lengthy injury spell as he opened the scoring but goals from Lucas Akins and new signing Lloyd Dyer turned the game on it’s head and the Brewers were dreaming of a famous win. That was until Thomas Lam equalised for Forest on the stroke of half time and Oliver Burke put the home side in front. Burton spurned some gilt edged chances to level, and Assombanlonga punished the visitors with his second of the game. Tom Naylor’s fine header gave Burton hope but they couldn’t quite muster a 4th goal, with captain John Mousinho coming closest as his header fizzed just wide. Victory in the end of Philippe Montanier in his first game in charge of Forest, but plenty of positives for Nigel Clough and his plucky Burton side.

Reading 1-0 Preston

Chelsea loanee John Swift earned Reading an opening day victory and a winning start for Jaap Stam as manager. Swift had earlier fluffed his lines with the goal gaping but made up for it when he met Gareth McCleary’s corner with a composed finish into the top corner. Reading should’ve made the game more comfortable but often lacked the quality of finish to seal the win, and they were almost made to pay when Daniel Johnson’s effort was well saved by Ali Al-Habsi in the Royals’ goal. Deniss Rakels wasted a number of opportunities for Reading which made for a tense finish but Stam’s men held on to an important three points.

Rotherham 2-2 Wolves

There were two new managers at the New York Stadium and two goals each as Rotherham and ten man Wolves drew. The home side raced into a two goal lead as Danny Ward and a stunning strike from Will Vaulks shocked their newly rich opponents. George Saville rounded the keeper to half the deficit before Dominic Iorfa was sent off for a tug on Jon Taylor leaving Wolves a man and a goal down. Walter Zenga, the new boss at Molineux, rallied his troops and new signing Jon Dadi Bodvarsson blasted home to level the scoreline and earn Wolves an impressive point given the circumstances. Alan Stubbs, who took over a Rotherham over the summer will see it as two points lost having held such a comfortable lead but will be pleased with his sides performance.

QPR 3-0 Leeds 

Garry Monk suffered a heavy loss in his first game in charge of Leeds as his side produced a dismal display against QPR. The impressive Nedum Onuouha bundled in an early goal as former QPR keeper Rob Green looked less than confident on his Leeds bow. Tjarron Chery and Sebastian Polter both struck the woodwork for the home side, who could’ve had so many more goals with Leeds offering such little resistance. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s men finally scored the second as Chery won and converted a penalty before Sebastian Polter smashed in a third in injury time. A lot of work needs to be done at Leeds while in contrast, things look promising at Loftus Road.

Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Aston Villa

Fernando Forestieri proved to be the difference for Sheffield Wednesday as his late goal consigned Roberto Di Matteo’s Aston Villa to defeat. Villa, playing in their first second tier game since 1988, failed to take some decent chances as they were made to pay by Forestieri with just five minutes to go. The Owls forward punished Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini’s poor kick to earn the win at Hillsbrough, just three months after they suffered play off final heartbreak. In an even game with few clear cut openings, £12 million signing Ross McCormack wasted Villa’s best chance as he hesitated in front of goal allowing Tom Lees to tackle him before he could pull the trigger. It was always going to be a tough start for Villa, but they put in a performance which showed they can compete with the best sides in this league while Carlos Carvalhal will be delighted with the way his side have put the play off disappointment aside.