Preston North End, Bristol City and Norwich City all starred in the latest Championship game-week. Victories for the former two keeps a play-off position within a realistic grasp, whilst the Canaries maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the Championship table.
Preston North End, Bristol City and Norwich City Feature in Championship Game-Week
Preston Score Three Without Reply Against a Struggling Huddersfield Town
The Lilywhites possess one of the worst home records in the division but secured an impressive 3-0 win over a Huddersfield Town side who are struggling to shake off the threat of relegation.
The hosts had to endure early pressure from the Terriers who showed plenty of promise in the opening exchanges. But, Brad Potts opened the scoring for Preston with his volleyed effort squeezing in at the front post. Potts turned provider for the home side’s second goal, feeding the ball into Ched Evans who coolly slotted past Ryan Schofield in the Huddersfield net. Scott Sinclair made it three in the 80th minute, with his first-time effort finding the bottom corner after an exquisite through ball from Tom Barkhuizen.
Preston’s comfortable win takes them up to 13th and are now nine points from the play-offs. Although it may not be a target, they will certainly be keeping a close eye on the top six. For Huddersfield, they have only won once in their last 11 and remain just seven points from the relegation zone.
Bristol City Stun Championship High Flyers Swansea City
Bristol City continued their recent resurgence in another 3-1 victory, with high-flying Swansea City becoming their latest victims.
After a first-half onslaught from the home side, the Robins managed to begin the second half level. Ten minutes into the second half, Swansea scored the goal that their dominance warranted, albeit in rather controversial fashion. Kasey Palmer was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area before Andre Ayew slotted home from the penalty spot. Nahki Wells then equalised ten minutes later, converting from Zak Vyner‘s cross, before Palmer scored directly from a corner kick to give the visitors the lead. Antoine Semenyo added a third deep into stoppage time after dispossessing Swansea goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Two successive wins for the visitors keep their play-off ambitions intact, whilst Swansea’s second defeat in three games means they drop to fourth, but still possess games in hand on their promotion-chasing counterparts.
Canaries Maintain Seven-Point Lead in Wycombe Victory
Norwich made it five straight victories and maintained their comfortable lead at the Championship summit with a 2-0 win over bottom club Wycombe Wanderers.
After a goalless, yet action-packed, first half, the visitors took six minutes after the break when Teemu Pukki‘s deflected effort found the back of the net, wrong-footing David Stockdale in the Wycombe goal. As the second half progressed, both sides had opportunities to grab the decisive second goal. But, it was the visitors who eventually extended their lead when Adam Idah poked home from close range after the hosts failed to deal with a corner.
Although the seven-point gap still exists between Norwich and second-place Brentford, the Canaries are now a healthy ten points ahead of Watford in third. The Chairboys now sit 11 points off safety with their chances of survival slimming to near impossible.
Main Photo
