THAT’S WHAT WE CAN DO, GAFFER!
EXPERIENCED boss Tony Pulis was a happy man after watching his Middlesbrough side beat Bolton on Boxing Day.
Following the shock sacking of Garry Monk after Boro’s 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, owner Steve Gibson moved quickly to appoint former Stoke and West Brom manager Pulis.
However, it was academy manager Craig Liddle who took the team against the Trotters, while Pulis viewed the game alongside Gibson. Goals from Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga earned Boro victory.
Pulis, 59, said: “I won’t turn water into wine and I need a look before I make predictions, but there was some very good play, and back-toback wins helps confidence.”
Rebounded
Sheffield Wednesday sacked manager Carlos Carvalhal after that defeat to Boro and they rebounded with a superb 3-0 victory at
Nottingham Forest under caretaker-boss Lee Bullen.
A wonder strike from Adam Reach after five minutes set the Owls on their way at the City Ground, before a Jordan Rhodes penalty on the stroke of halftime and a second-half goal from Lucas Joao ended a run of seven games without a win.
“It was a fabulous win,” said a delighted Bullen.
League leaders Wolves extended their advantage at the top of the table to eight points – despite being held to a draw at Millwall.
Former Wolves man Jed Wallace surged forward and set up Lee Gregory to slot home Millwall’s opener on 13 minutes. However, it looked as though normal service was set to be resumed when Wolves hit back to lead 2-1, courtesy of goals from Diogo Jota (45 mins) and Romain Saiss (56).
There was a sting in the tail, though, as towering defender Jake Cooper headed home a 72nd minute equaliser for Neil Harris’ Lions. Cardiff ’s miserable Christmas continued as they went down to a 4-2 defeat at home against Fulham, who are beginning to hit form. Fulham’s highly-rated youngster Ryan Sessegnon notched one goal and set up another for Floyd Ayite, while Tim Ream and Stefan Johansen were also on the mark for the Whites. Kenneth Zohore’s stunning effort and Callum Paterson’s late goal were mere consolations for Cardiff, who saw their unbeaten home record tumble.
Successive defeats – Cardiff lost 2-0 at Bolton on Saturday – saw Neil Warnock’s men slip to third place.
Bubbling Bristol City, buoyant after knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup, took advantage of the Welsh side’s slip-ups by moving into second place.
Substitute Jamie Paterson curled home a classy opener in the 68th minute against Jaap Stam’s Reading and Lloyd Kelly, who replaced hamstring victim Paterson, sealed the points in stoppage time. Leeds consolidated fifth place with a 2-1 win at Burton, who lost their eighth league game on the spin at home.
Winless
It looked as though Burton might end their depressing home sequence when Tom Naylor tapped home in the 29th minute, but a magnificent Pablo Hernandez free-kick just after the hour and a clinicallytaken goal by Kemar Roofe three minutes later turned the tables.
Sheffield United brought a six-game winless streak to an end by dismantling Sunderland 3-0 to move back into the play-off places. John Lundstram, Richard Stearman and George Baldock were on target.
Aston Villa slithered out of the play-off spots after losing 2-1 at Brentford. Romaine Sawyers and the in-form Lasse Vibe struck for the Bees, while sub Josh Onomah replied for Steve Bruce’s faltering Villans.
It was another miserable afternoon for Villa’s neighbours, Birmingham. The bottom-of-the-table Blues succumbed 2-0 at home against Norwich, Alex Pritchard and Josh Murphy netting.
Three games finished goalless, Barnsley vs Preston, Hull against Derby, who dropped a place to fourth, and Ipswich versus QPR.