The Championship was the main focus in midweek as an almost full programme took place. Only Sunderland, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich were not in action. League One and Two took a step back, but some teams were in action in the EFL Trophy.
Football League Midweek Round-up
Third Straight Win For Wolves
Wolves showed what spending big can do for a club with a fine away win at Hull. £15.8m signing Ruben Neves gave the visitors the lead with a stunning 30-yard goal in just the sixth minute. Hull drew level in the 27th minute through Michael Dawson’s header, but Wolves regained their advantage when Diogo Jota turned in a cross.
Nouah Dicko added a third in the 90th minute. Hull did get a consolation through David Meyler’s penalty deep into injury time, but Wolves held on to keep their unbeaten start going.
Seven Goal Thriller at The Den
Ipswich continued their 100% start to the season with a 4-3 win away at Millwall. Jordan Spence scored the late winner for the Tractor Boys, heading in Grant Ward’s free-kick.
Jed Wallace gave Millwall the perfect start, scoring less than a minute in. The lead barely lasted, however, as new signing Joe Garner scored a brilliant equaliser. Martyn Waghorn then gave the visitors the lead, but Aiden O’Brien drew level. Waghorn then scored again before the break to give the visitors a 3-2 half-time advantage.
Tom Elliott thought he had given the home side a point after bundling in a free-kick at the far post. It wasn’t to be though, as Spence’s header ensured that Ipswich’s positive start remained in tact.
Burton Continue To Struggle
It may be early in the season, but it wouldn’t be silly to suggest Burton’s time in the Championship could be coming to an end. They suffered their third league defeat of the season. The only respite so far has been a 3-2 away win at Oldham in the Carabao Cup.
In midweek, they were outclassed by Middlesbrough in a 2-0 defeat. £15m signing Britt Assombalonga scored twice for the home team who brushed aside their opponents.
The visitors weren’t helped by Hope Akpan’s red card either. He was given his marching orders for a lunging challenge on Lewis Baker in the 78th minute, with the score already beyond Burton.
Elsewhere…
Barnsley got their first win of the season with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest. Matty Pearson and Ryan Hedges got the goals for the Tykes, either side of Daryl Murphy’s headed equaliser.
Bobby Reid scored a 98th minute leveller for Bristol City at Brentford in a 2-2 draw. Josh Brownhill had given City a fifth minute lead, but Marley Watkins and Neal Maupay had turned it around before Reid’s equaliser. Birmingham and Bolton also shared the points in a stalemate at St Andrews, with the same scoreline also coming at Elland Road between Leeds and Fulham.
Cardiff continued their 100% start, easing to a 2-0 win over Sheffield United. Derby also continued their strong form by defeating Preston 1-0.
Finally, Aston Villa made sure they entered Saturday’s fixtures in the relegation zone as they lost 2-1 to Reading. Glenn Whelan’s own goal gave the home side the lead, with Mo Barrow doubling not long after. Conor Hourihane gave Villa hope in the 87th minute, but they remain on just one point after their slow start to the campaign.
EFL Trophy
A selection of games from the EFL Trophy also took place in midweek. The controversial competition has been kept for this season despite calls for it to be scrapped.
One of its particularly disputable rules ensured that Plymouth and Manchester City U21’s gained an extra point despite drawing their games. The competition’s rules state that a penalty shoot-out is played when a game finishes level. The winner of the shoot-out then gains an additional point, giving them two in total.
Plymouth worked hard for their points. Coming up against a strong Chelsea U21 team, striker Alex Fletcher scored a late brace to rescue a 2-2 draw in normal time. The Pilgrims then won 5-4 in the shoot-out to take their extra reward. Manchester City, on the other hand, needed a 94th minute winner from Bnejamin Garre to take their game at Rotherham to penalties. It was worth the wait, too. City won 4-2 in the shoot-out to take the second point.
Elsewhere, Notts County were 2-1 victors over Everton U21. First half goals from Jonathan Forte and Haydn Hollis were enough, despite Anton Donkor’s response for the Toffees.
Swansea’s youngsters won 2-1 away at Cheltenham, while West Ham also took three points away from League Two side Swindon.
Finally, Luton Town were victors on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
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