Four Championship fixtures taking place on Wednesday night, no points shared in any of the stadiums hosting second tier action. Millwall arguably the biggest beneficiaries on the night as their hopes of automatic promotion took a huge boost.
With Middlesbrough having picked up just two points from the last nine on offer, there has been a recent surge of impetus in a certain pocket of South London and with Alex Neil’s men playing host to Birmingham on Wednesday, they were too strong for the West Midlands outfit.
Femi Azeez opening the scoring on 25 minutes, a well-taken volley having far too much pace for Birmingham’s James Beadle in between the posts. All the 21-year-old could do was fish the ball out of his net.
Fast forward just six minutes later and Millwall had doubled their advantage. Azeez once again in the thick of it. More ferocity from his foot, only this time he was foiled by the woodwork. That would not foil the hosts as Tristan Crama reacted quickest to slot home the rebound and make it 2-0.
Already coasting towards victory, the mode was full relaxation by the time Josh Cooper made it 3-0 just four minutes after the restart. Birmingham’s night going from bad to worse when Jhon Solis was given his marching orders eight minutes after the break for a second yellow card.
A rather comfortable win for Millwall in the end, one that keeps them third but closes the gap to Middlesbrough to just four points. Could they make their first ever Premier League showing next season?
Singing like Canaries
With Sheffield Wednesday already relegated to League One, Norwich could not have been given better midweek opposition in their own bid to avoid the drop. Philippe Clements’ men returning to winning ways, the task complete before the break.
Carrow Road in full voice just after the half hour, Mathias Kvistgaarden opening the scoring after previously having a goal ruled out for offside. Not the prettiest of efforts as the Dane’s first attempt hit the woodwork but not to be denied again, he eventually bundled the ball over the line.
The hosts in front and if their opener was scrappy, their second was far more aesthetically pleasing. Paris Maghoma creating enough space for himself in the 38th minute before his neat finish was given the reward it deserved.
Norwich deserved three points almost by default, Wednesday’s attacking output could only be classed as non-threatening. The bigger threat to the club is their ongoing existence after takeover talks have now collapsed. The fight to survive continues in this half of Sheffield.
Sharpening the Blades
While in the other half of Sheffield, United failed to make it three successive league wins. They also failed to add to their current points tally after suffering at the hands of league leaders Coventry. Frank Lampard’s men coming from behind to eventually win by two goals to one.
In what was a quiet first half, the game came alive after the break. All three of the game’s goals coming within a 10 minute flurry. The Blades drawing first blood through Harrison Burrows, collecting possession from Gustavo Hamer’s neat reverse pass before firing home.
A goal that if anything woke the league leaders from their slumber and just four minutes later, Haji Wright would place himself on the scoresheet once again. The American forward in something of a purple patch, his strike restoring parity in the 52nd minute.
The pendulum swinging in Coventry’s favour and five minutes after going level, Jack Rudoni’s header would put the Sky Blues ahead for the first time in the encounter. Timing his run perfectly to meet an Ephron Mason-Clark cross and give the travelling support another reason to be cheerful.
Plenty of reasons to be cheerful at the final whistle, three more in fact. That win for Coventry now puts them five points clear at the top. Their 25-year exile from the Premier League taking another step to soon being ended.
More Woe For Oxford
One relegation berth already confirmed, two more up for grabs. Oxford in possession of one of them, not doing their cause any help after suffering defeat on Wednesday. Matt Bloomfield’s men making the trip to mid-table Stoke and losing 2-1 for their efforts.
Efforts that saw the two sides level at the break, Lamine Cisse opening the scoring for the hosts. Million Manhoef integral to the goal with his neat pass, his 23-year-old teammate thankful after subsequently getting his name on the scoresheet.
Stoke’s lead lasted just eight minutes when Ciaron Brown equalised just before the break. A goal that in all fairness was against the run of play, not that anyone in Oxford colours would have cared if it was deserved or not.
However, Stoke’s winner certainly felt deserved and it came in the 57th minute. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi scoring his first goal for Stoke since his loan move from Crystal Palace. Stoke move up to 13th with this most recent win, Oxford stay second bottom and are now six points from safety.
