Reading, Middlesbrough and Norwich City all starred in yet another evenly-contested Championship game-week, where only two games exceeded a one-goal winning margin.
Reading, Middlesbrough and Norwich City Star in Latest Championship Game-Week
Royals Earn Comfortable Win at Home to Coventry City
Reading made another statement of intent by beating an in-form Coventry City side 3-0. Victory for The Royals – who started the season brilliantly – cements their place in the Championship play-offs and they are likely to have one eye on the automatic promotion places once more.
The hosts had to withstand some early Coventry City pressure, but they opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Lucas Joao controlled and finished a perfectly weighted ball from John Swift. Andy Rinomhota doubled the hosts’ advantage a minute into the second half, finding the bottom corner with his left-footed effort. Things went from bad to worse for The Sky Blues, who had started the game off very brightly, when centre-back Kyle McFadzean was sent off for a second yellow card. John Swift took the subsequent free-kick, finding the top corner in excellent fashion.
The victory for Reading saw them momentarily take fourth place, but they were pegged back to fifth after Brentford’s home win against Luton Town. Coventry, meanwhile, drop a place to 18th and will be hoping to continue their recent form at their temporary home, with their next four games being played at St Andrews.
Middlesbrough Impress in Rare Away Win at Nottingham Forest
Middlesbrough recorded just their fourth away win of the season in a comfortable 2-1 victory against Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest. The visitors dominated a poor performing Forest side, but had a to survive a late scare when the home side netted a late consolation goal.
Britt Assombalonga tapped the visitors into the lead, after a smart cross into the box from full-back Jonny Howson. The forward was then denied his second goal of the game by the head of Brice Samba before George Saville rounded off a swift counter-attacking move in the 50th minute. Loic Mbe Soh headed a late consolation goal for the hosts, but the game ended with a red card for Forest’s Yuri Ribeiro, after seemingly stamping on Saville’s leg whilst the midfielder was down.
Boro’s 2-1 win made it five victories in their last seven, and the Teesside club now sit just three points of the play-offs. However, the defeat for Forest ends their six-game unbeaten run, just as it looked like they were distancing themselves from the relegation places.
Robins Blown Away by Relentless Norwich City
Bristol City were unable to record a single shot in their 2-0 loss against who Robins manager Dean Holden believes is “undoubtedly the best team in the league”, Norwich City.
The Canaries caused The Robins problems from the off, with the combination of Dan Bentley in the City goal and centre-back Tomas Kalas preventing an early Norwich opener. Jordan Hugill eventually broke the deadlock for the hosts, nodding home Todd Cantwell‘s first-time cross into the box. Hugill scored his and Norwich’s second in the 76th minute, tapping home Max Aarons‘ cross into the box and ensuring the three points with a dominant display.
Victory for the Canaries means they stay seven points ahead of Swansea City in second place and nine points above Brentford in third, albeit The Swans have a game in hand and The Bees have two.
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