VILLANS SPOIL IT FOR BOSS CHRIS
Coleman’s Cats bow ends in defeat
CHRIS Coleman’s reign as Sunderland boss started with a defeat, Ryan Sessegnon shone as Fulham shocked Sheffield United and Wolves powered on at the summit.
There was plenty to talk about after a full programme of Championship matches.
Coleman had a testing opener with the Black Cats – Aston Villa away. The in-form Albert Adomah gave Villa a first-half lead and Josh Onomah’s deflected effort early in the second half gave Sunderland a mountain to climb. Lewis Grabban pulled one back, but the bottom of the table side couldn’t find a leveller.
Despite the result, Coleman saw positive signs. “At twodown at Villa Park, the players could have melted, but they never did. In these moments, this is where you start building team spirit.”
One of Coleman’s former teams, Fulham, produced the result of the night – triumphing 5-4 in a thriller at Bramall Lane.
Left-sider Sessegnon, 17, bagged a stunning hat-trick and Sheyi Ojo scored twice as the Whites turned their recent poor form on its head. Fulham led 5-2 before a couple of late strikes by the Blades made it a nervy finale.
On-song striker Leon Clarke also scored three goals, but ended up on the losing side.
The following night, league leaders Wolves hammered Leeds 4-1. Barry Douglas and Ivan Cavaleiro gave the Molineux men a two-goal lead before Leeds replied through Ezgjan Alioski.
Advantage
The game turned back in favour of Wolves when Leeds’ Ronaldo Vieira was sent off for two bookable offences on the hour mark.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s troops took full advantage of the extra man. Diogo Jota chipped home to restore the two-goal cushion before substitute Helder Costa wrapped things up from the penalty spot.
The victory helped the second tier pacesetters open up a four-point gap at the top.
The previous night, Cardiff made the most of Sheffield United’s stumble by pinching second place. Callum Paterson bagged the only goal with seven minutes left to earn Neil Warnock’s men a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Barnsley. Villa’s victory enabled them to leapfrog Bristol City into fourth place. City went down to a surprise 2-1 defeat at home against Preston. Paul Gallagher and Callum Robinson netted for the Lilywhites, while Cauley Woodrow struck a last-gasp consolation for the Robins.
Britt Assombalonga was Middlesbrough’s hero in their 2-0 home win against lowly Birmingham. The powerful forward struck twice in the first half as Boro got back to winning ways after losing 2-1 at Leeds last Sunday.
There was a dramatic finish as Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday played out a 2-2 draw. Goals from former Rangers duo Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn helped give Ipswich a 2-1 lead with time running out.
However, substitute Atdhe Nuhiu headed a 95th minute leveller to earn the Owls a precious point. Gary Hooper had earlier scored from the spot in between the two Ipswich strikes.
Matej Vydra and Tom Lawrence grabbed the goals as Derby added to QPR’s away day blues with a solid 2-0 victory.
Valuable
Second-bottom Bolton let a couple of points slip through their fingers at home against Reading. Goals in the first quarter from Reece Burke and Darren Pratley looked to have earned the Trotters three valuable points.
However, Reading pulled one back through Liam Moore in the 76th minute and then levelled things up with a Leandro Bacuna penalty seven minutes from time after Mo Barrow was fouled by Sammy Ameobi.
Brentford drew 1-1 at home against Burton, while Nottingham Forest beat out-of-sorts Norwich 1-0. Millwall and Hull played out a goalless draw at The Den.