STILL PUKKA FROM PUKKI
Finn misses... then finds a finish
DANIEL FARKE hailed Teemu Pukki as the Championship’s top predator – even though the Finn missed a series of sitters.
The striker’s 15th goal of the season ended up sinking the stubborn Millers and sending Norwich seven points clear at the top.
Pukki really should have claimed the match ball, which would have made life a lot easier for the Canaries.
But boss Farke insisted he will always cope with misses if the points keep on rolling in.
He said: “He is the best striker in this league. He could have scored three or four in this game, that is definitely right, but when he got the Golden Boot two seasons ago he missed an unbelievable amount of chances as well. If he goes on like this he is unplayable.
“Our goal difference should look much better than it is – but much more important are the three points.”
Norwich began in a fury with Mario Vrancic sending two decent chances wide and Pukki tamely poking an even better one at keeper Viktor Johansson.
Rotherham were energetic in the press and dangerous from set-pieces however.
Canaries keeper Tim Krul had to bat Lewis Wing’s corner away at his near post before the Millers had the ball in the net in the 11th minute from another one.
The whistle had gone before Clark Robertson’s
header hit the net though, for a foul on Krul by Daniel Barlaser that only referee Tony Harrington saw.
Norwich replied with a quality goal in the 17th minute. Todd Cantwell’s clever dummy of Emi Buendia’s di
agonal ball sent Pukki clear and this time he slotted home calmly.
Michael Ihiekwe’s error let Cantwell in straight after but the midfielder’s finish was wild. Buendia’s was better six minutes before the break when Vrancic set him up but Robertson arrived out of nowhere to make a goal-saving block.
Rotherham came out for the second period looking like they meant business.
Within two minutes they were denied an equaliser when Ben Wiles’ super hit from the edge of the box pinged off the crossbar. Johansson kept Rotherham in the game, diving to foil Pukki, before Norwich saw the game out.
Millers boss Paul Warne said: “The best team won – there’s no disputing that.
“But it doesn’t detract from the effort the lads have put in.”
BRENTFORD lost star striker Ivan Toney yesterday – and the wheels are starting to come off their promotion push.
The Championship’s top scorer was ruled out with an ankle problem and the Bees crashed to a third straight loss.
Tyler Walker’s double helped struggling Coventry to an easy win. And suddenly Brentford’s 21game unbeaten run seems an awfully time ago – even though it was only ended last week.
Boss Thomas Frank said: “Ivan is the best striker in the division so you are taking out 24 goals and nine assists from the team.
“We need to learn to play without him. Wednesday’s game against Sheffield Wednesday will be too soon, but after that it’s a contact to the ankle and not a clear twist so it depends on how quickly it will turn round.
“He should be back in three or four games. In sticky periods where you need to show what you are made of some players need to step up.
“We will do everything we can to put a strong team out there. But any team struggles when their leading players are missing.”
Brentford’s belief seems to have gone in just a few days and they were architects of their own downfall at St Andrew’s.
Coventry won a penalty 19 minutes in following Rico Henry’s daft challenge on Max Biamou.
Walker’s spot-kick crept underneath David Raya before the Bees keeper brilliantly kept out Callum O’Hare’s point-blank effort.
Brentford responded just before the break as Ethan Pinnock headed just over from Mathias
Jensen’s corner. But the Bees were at fault again as the Sky Blues helped themselves to a second 10 minutes after the restart.
Raya’s goal kick went straight to Biamou, O’Hare burst on and Walker finished well.
Jensen and Henrik Dalsgaard went close but the Bees suffered more injury woe as left-back Henry limped off.
This was a vital first win in six games for Coventry who wore a special one-off dark blue kit in tribute to the club’s members and staff.
Boss Mark Robins said: “It was hard-fought but with some brave performances.
“We took our chances. Tyler’s second goal was outstanding.
“We put them under pressure all game. We had fight and determination. It now gives us a platform.”
READING: Rafael 6; Yiadom 5, Morrison 6, McIntyre 5, Richards 5 (Gibson 46, 6); Rinomhota 6, Laurent 6; Olise 6 (Aluko 89), Semedo 6 (Esteves 46, 6), Ejaria 6 (Puscas 78); Joao 6.
Unused subs: Southwood, Holmes, Moore, Tetek, Baldock.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Bettinelli 6; Dijksteel 6, Fry 7, McNair 9; Fisher 6 (Mendez-Laing 78, 6); Howson 6, Morsy 6, Kebano 6 (Saville 78, 6), Bola 8; Fletcher 7, Watmore 6 (Johnson 66, 6).
Unused subs: Archer, Hall, Assombalonga, Akpom, Spence, Coulson.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Paddy McNair. Almost as impressive in attack as he was in defence which says it all about a terrific all-round display. REFEREE: David Webb 8.
NEIL WARNOCK was celebrating what he hailed as the best win of his Middlesbrough reign.
Warnock spoke out after first-half goals from Ashley Fletcher and Marc Bola saw off promotion rivals Reading.
“That has to go down as the best display since I came to Boro so I’m really chuffed,” said Warnock.
“I really enjoyed watching what was a really good performance against a good side – we were right in the mood and tactically we were very good as well.
“It sounds silly but we were totally different from the side that lost last weekend at Derby, but the lads did everything we asked of them and more.”
Reading began brightly and Andy Rinomhota should have put the hosts ahead early on but drove a shot just wide after being teed up by Michael Olise. Hot-shot Lucas Joao then
headed Olise’s corner just over the bar and it seemed only a matter of time before Reading dominated.
But Boro held firm and Fletcher hit home his second goal in five days on 22 minutes after Dael Fry nodded Paddy McNair’s free-kick to the goalmouth.
The Royals hit back and Ovie Ejaria went close but his low, angled shot sizzled narrowly wide of Marcus Bettinelli’s goal.
Things went from bad to worse for Reading on 29 minutes when Bola let fly from just outside the penalty area after good work by Sam Morsy – his rising shot giving Rafael no chance.
McNair should have strengthened Boro’s grip on the contest just before the break when he broke clear, but Rafael smothered his low shot. After the break, Reading struggled to get going and Duncan
Watmore would have rubbed salt into the wounds by breaking clear only to slip.
Andy Yiadom followed suit at the other end, close in on goal, and that summed up Reading’s struggles.
Rafael came to their rescue with a smart save to deny Fletcher as the Royals went missing in attack. Indeed, it was left to Reading skipper Michael Morrison to press forward from the back and finally test Bettinelli late on, trying his luck from inside the box.
Royals boss Veljko Paunovic, whose side have lost three in a row at the Madejski, said: “We can’t afford to keep losing at home.
“This is totally unacceptable and I am not happy with it.”