LEEDS RAISE THE ROOFE AS HURST EXITS...
LEEDS United took advantage of their rivals’ wobbles to reclaim top spot – and bring the curtain down on Paul Hurst’s Ipswich reign at the same time. Striker Kemar Roofe got the opener on 22 minutes and he owed a debt of gratitude to midfielder Pablo Hernandez. The Spaniard whipped in a superb cross which gave Roofe all the invitation he needed to power home his header.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites then sealed the points on 66 minutes with a fine strike from skipper Liam Cooper.
“It was a necessary win and a deserved one, too,” said Bielsa. “There were two different halves - in the second half we had fluidity in the game which we didn’t have in the first half.
“Our team was constantly offensive and we had ten clear chances to score a goal. In the second half we defended well.”
While Leeds celebrated returning to the summit, it proved the end of Hurst’s ill-fated Ipswich tenure. The former Shrewsbury boss enjoyed just one win in his stint in charge and was sacked the following day with the Tractor Boys bottom of the table.
The writing was already on the wall.
“All I will do is continue to go about the job until I hear differently,” said Hurst after the game.
Leeds had entered the midweek programme in fourth place, but top three Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and West Brom all failed to win. Boro were surprisingly held to a goalless draw by lowly Rotherham at the Riverside. It was the Millers’ first point on their travels after six straight defeats. It looked as though it would open the door for Sheffield United to recapture top spot. The Blades were on course when Leon Clarke opened his account for the season on 70 minutes.
However, there was a sting in the tail as visitors Stoke drew level thanks to a Joe Allen 20-yard free-kick two minutes from time.
Delighted
Despite his disappointment at seeing victory snatched away, Blades boss Chris Wilder remained upbeat.
“I’m delighted with our performance tonight,” he said. “I thought we were absolutely outstanding. They will be getting back on their bus and wondering how they’ve got a result.”
It meant West Brom had the chance to put their flag on the summit, but they were torn apart by Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
Jack Marriott and Tom Lawrence both scored in the opening 15 minutes to stun the Hawthorns and things didn’t get any better for the Baggies in the second half.
Wales winger Harry Wilson and Scott Malone got their names on the scoresheet before shell-shocked West Brom pulled one back through Jay Rodriguez with seven minutes left.
Despite the thumping win, cautious Rams boss Lampard wants his players to keep their foot on the gas.
“Big parts of our game were great, especially the finishing, but I think we can still improve,” he said.
“We’re two points off the top boys but it’s an unforgiving league and a long season. If we listen to any talk, that’s our problem.”
Frustrated Baggies boss Darren Moore said: “Derby were clinical in their finishing but it was a bizarre game.
“They gave the ball away too at times but we just didn’t capitalise, and it turned into a bad day at the office.”
New Aston Villa boss Dean Smith had got off to a winning start at the weekend, but suffered the first defeat of his tenure as his troops went down 2-1 at upwardly mobile Norwich.
It looked as though it would be another successful night for Smith when Villa took the lead through a Tom Trybull own goal on 19 minutes. However, the Canaries – and striker Jordan Rhodes in particular – had other ideas.
The 28-year-old rose high to head home an Emi Buendia corner in the 54th minute and then superbly flicked the ball home for the winner to round off a slick 18-pass move involving every outfield player.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke hailed Rhodes for his two-goal salvo.
“I’m happy for Jordan - his second goal was typical predator instinct, only a real number nine is able to score such a goal,” said the German. “In the football business, where everyone is often selfish, this character is outstanding.”
Villa boss Smith was frustrated his side went home empty-handed.
“I certainly don’t think we deserved to lose,” he said. “It was a scrappy game – I thought it was going to be a good football game with two good football teams, but we seemed to cancel each other out a little bit.”
Impressive
Steve McClaren’s QPR continued their revival with an impressive 3-0 home win against Sheffield Wednesday. Tomer Hemed, Luke Freeman and sub Nahki Wells notched the goals.
Swansea put their weekend defeat at Aston Villa behind them with a 3-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers. A Charlie Mulgrew penalty gave the visitors a half-time lead, but the Swans hit back with a David Raya own goal and strikes from Connor Roberts and Bersant Celina to take the spoils.
Birmingham City extended their unbeaten Championship run to ten games with a
2-1 home victory against lowly Reading. Gary Gardner and Lukas Jutkiewicz gave the Blues a two-goal cushion before Yakou Meite pulled one back late on.
Millwall earned a much-needed three points with a 2-1 home success against Wigan. A Jed Wallace own goal on the stroke of halftime gave the Latics the lead but the game turned when Josh Windass fired over from the penalty spot when he had the chance to double the advantage.
The Lions made him pay as Shaun Williams scored from the spot and sub Steve Morison bagged an 82nd-minute winner.
Callum Robinson struck twice and Alan Browne and Tom Barkhuizen also netted as Preston beat Brentford 4-3 in a thriller. Sergi Canos, Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay netted for the Bees, who slipped to their second straight defeat under new boss Thomas Frank. Nottingham Forest stormed to a 3-0 win at Bolton. Joe Lolley rifled home the opener and Lewis Grabban netted two, one from the spot. Grabban had had an earlier penalty saved by Trotters keeper Ben Alnwick.
Famara Diedhiou headed home an injury time winner as
Bristol City edged out struggling Hull 1-0 at Ashton Gate.