Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Barnsley all starred in the latest Championship game-week in what proved to be another good weekend for the division’s top six.
Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Barnsley Star in Latest Round of Championship Fixtures
Bristol City Inflict Further Relegation Worries on Blues
Birmingham City continued their awful record on home soil with a 3-0 loss against Nigel Pearson‘s Bristol City. The situation is looking increasingly bleak at St Andrew’s and remain just a place above the relegation zone.
After the home side had struck the post twice, Kasey Palmer opened the scoring for the travelling Robins, capitalising on some sloppy play in midfield before coolly slotting past Neil Etheridge in the Birmingham goal. Antoine Semenyo rather fortuitously doubled Bristol City’s lead, when Etheridge’s clearance bounced off the forward and into an empty net. Callum O’Dowda sealed the victory in the 76th minute when he latched onto Palmer’s perfectly-weighted through ball before converting a third.
For Bristol City, the three points and the manner of the victory was encouraging, but regarding this season, they still look set for mid-table mediocrity. Birmingham remain three points above water, but Rotherham United in 22nd, now have three games in hand.
Middlesbrough Keep Play-Off Ambitions Alive With Convincing Home Victory
Middlesbrough have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, but recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Stoke City to remain chasing a play-off spot.
Grant Hall opened the scoring in the 21st minute, tapping home Chuba Akpom‘s flick-on from Mark Bola’s corner. Paddy McNair extended the hosts’ lead five minutes before half-time, when he fired low past Angus Gunn in the Stoke goal. Both sides created opportunities for the all-important third goal, but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing added a third for the hosts in the 88th minute, when he finished off a well-worked counter-attack, with a perfectly-executed lob.
Middlesbrough are still eight points from the play-offs and will be looking to pounce, should any of the top eight drop points. The defeat seemingly eliminates a possible play-off charge for the Potters who now sit 13 points from the top six.
Tykes Solidify Play-Off Stance in Win Over Cherries
In perhaps the standout tie of this week’s fixture list, Barnsley maintained their wonderful recent record with a 3-2 victory at the Vitality Stadium.
Michal Helik opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he tapped in from Mads Anderson’s flick-on. Parity was restored just six minutes later when Arnaut Danjuma slotted home after a swift counter-attack. Moments before half-time, Dominic Solanke finished off a second well-worked Bournemouth move, after Danjuma had turned provider. On the hour mark, it was all level again, when Dominik Frieser converted expertly from Cauley Woodrow‘s cross. Barnsley’s victory was sealed in the 80th minute when Carlton Morris nodded Alex Mowatt‘s free-kick beyond Asmir Begovic in the Cherries’ goal.
In a game that made a huge impact on the play-off race, Barnsley opened up a five-point gap from Bournemouth, who now face an uphill battle if they are to make the much-desired top six.
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