Fulham on top after a shock loss for Cherries
TOM Lawrence’s second-half brace ended Derby County’s seven-game winless run and prevented Bournemouth from returning to the top of the Championship table.
The 3-2 triumph also saw the Rams wipe out their 21-point deduction in full with Lawrence sealing matters after Jason Knight’s opening goal had been overturned by Jaidon Anthony and Dominic Solanke replies.
That left Fulham back on top after cruising to their seventh straight win, a 4-1 victory over Barnsley at Craven Cottage.
Aleksandar Mitrovic struck the opener and cued up the second for Fabio Carvalho to sum up the size of the task facing the visitors’ new boss Poya Asbaghi.
Neeskens Kebano increased Fulham’s advantage midway through the second half and despite a consolation from Victor Adeboyejo, Fulham’s Harry Wilson sealed a convincing win late on.
Ten-man West Bromwich Albion gave up more ground on the division’s top two as they sunk to their fourth straight away defeat in a 1-0 reversal away to Huddersfield Town.
Danel Sinani’s sixth-minute strike proved enough for the home side, while the Baggies had Jake Livermore sent off midway through the second half for a high tackle.
Matt Crooks headed an early opener but Chris Wilder failed to summon a win in his first match in charge of Middlesbrough, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Millwall.
The Lions levelled through Sol Bamba’s own goal in the 27th minute as Boro were forced to endure their fourth straight game without a win.
Steve Morison had better luck in his first game since being confirmed as Cardiff City’s new boss, as the Bluebirds came from behind to win 2-1 against Preston North End.
Sean Maguire put the hosts in front after two minutes but Mark Mcguinness headed an equaliser at the start of the second half before James Collins nodded home a 66thminute winner.
Coventry City were indebted to keeper Simon Moore for a superb late save to deny Morgan Gibbswhite as the Sky Blues held on for a goalless draw away to Sheffield United.
Goals from Mario Vrancic and Tyrese Campbell saw Stoke City boost their play-off push with a 2-0 win over Peterborough United, although the victory was tainted by Sam Surridge’s sending-off in injury time.
That result helped Hull City bounce out of the bottom three in place of Posh as they won 2-0 against 10-man Birmingham City.
George Honeyman gave the Tigers the lead before Gary Gardner was sent off shortly before half-time following an off-the-ball incident.
Mallik Wilks struck Hull’s second in the 57th minute to make it two wins in a row for Gavin Mccann’s men.
Bristol City’s bid to return to winning ways was denied by a late Ben Diaz equaliser for Blackburn Rovers at Ashton Gate.
Callum O’dowda had put the home side in front in the 34th minute but the visitors fought back to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Keshi Anderson scored in the 86th minute to salvage a point for Blackpool away to Swansea City, who had led through Joel Piroe’s first-half opener.
THERE was a different feel about Steve Cooper’s post-match debrief on Saturday. Where his press conferences usually strike a positive and upbeat tone, the Nottingham Forest boss was a little more reflective on this occasion.
“Bit serious today. Sorry,” he signed off with at the end.
Not that any apology was necessary. Being quizzed on missed chances, set-piece defending and a potential injury blow was never going to make for the most buoyant of interviews.
Cooper’s reaction was a sign of his frustration at having to settle for a 1-1 draw against Reading.
When Philip Zinckernagel slalomed through the Royals defence and thumped in a fantastic shot, it had looked as though another win was on the cards for the Reds. That was the perfect start, four minutes in at the Madejski Stadium.
But, as well as losing Max Lowe to injury, the visitors also lost their way. Not making the most of their opportunities proved costly as the hosts grew into the game, with Scott Dann bagging the equaliser just past the hour mark.
Reading were good for their point, but Cooper’s men headed home feeling they should have had all three.
Here are some of the big talking points from the match.
■■Lowe blow
Forest are still waiting to discover the extent of the groin problem which forced the defender off after half an hour.
He was able to walk off the pitch at least, having gone down and required treatment, but he did look in some discomfort.
There will be much crossing of fingers at the City Ground that the Sheffield United loanee won’t be sidelined for long. To lose him would be a considerable blow.
He has been a key player since he came in and his departure did knock the Reds out of their stride.
As it is, Lowe seems likely to miss at least the next two games. Given a considerable lack of options, Cooper has a big call to make when it comes to his 11 for tomorrow’s clash with Luton Town.
Gaetan Bong got the call from the bench to replace Lowe at Reading. He was making his first appearance since August and it showed - he was decidedly rusty. Cooper’s assessment of “fine” wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.
Moving Jack Colback to left-back is a possibility, as was the case when Lowe was unable to feature against his parent club.
The big question is, can Forest afford to lose Colback from midfield? He was immense again this weekend and is playing out of his skin - although the fact James Garner looked sharp when he came on does offer food for thought.
Nevertheless, the situation only serves to highlight the clear need to strengthen at full-back in the January transfer window.
■■To pass or not to pass
Lewis Grabban came in for plenty of stick on social media in the wake of a couple of big moments which didn’t go his way.
The first saw his effort hacked off the line in the 51st minute, after doing all the hard work in the buildup to create the opening. But, with two team-mates running in on goal, the front man came in for criticism for not squaring the ball instead.
Colback was screaming out for the pass as Grabban shaped to shoot.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. With the benefit of it, there’s no doubt rolling the ball across for a tap-in was the better option.
Grabban is a striker in great form, though. He backed himself to score, as all good forwards do, and it took a very good clearance to deny him.
The score was 1-0 at the time. Had that gone in, it would have been game over for Reading.
Likewise, when Garner played a neat pass through for Grabban to latch on to with 15 minutes to go, that could very well have been the winner. Instead, the effort was fired into the side-netting.
It was one of those days for the skipper.
Pinning the blame on him for two points dropped is wrong, though. They were undoubtedly big moments, but Forest did have other chances. Better decision-making from several players could have created even more.
The match was bookmarked by bright spells from the visitors, but in between there was a lack of cohesion in attack.
■■Solid Samba
It has been something of an up and down season for Brice Samba. He deserves credit for a good game against the Royals, though.
When the Reds came under pressure in the first half at 1-0, he