NPower Championship Round Up 3rd January

Birmingham v Cardiff
Full time result: 0-1
Cardiff continued to control the Championship by beating struggling Birmingham at St Andrews for the first time since 1966.
On 41 minutes Joe Mason pounced on a spilled clearance from Jack Butland in the Birmingham goal and converted the chance to make it 1-0 to Cardiff.
Man of the match: David Marshall – Defiant display between the Cardiff sticks.

Blackburn v Notts Forest
Full time result: 3-0
Ruben Rochina opened the scoring for Rovers when a tackle from Forest’s Daniel Ayala made the ball ricochet off Rochina into the net.
Jordan Rhodes made in 2-0 on 75 minutes when he rounded Lee Camp and managed to squeeze the ball into the net.
The third goal was the pick of the lot, Adam Henley drove in a low cross and Colin Kazim Richards met it on the volley with a sweet strike that beat Camp.
Man of the match: Jake Kean – Great saves helped set up victory.

Blackpool v Hull
Full time result: 0-0
An uneventful game that had minimal chances for both teams, hence the Scoreline!
Man of the match: Matt Gilks – made good saves to earn a point.

Crystal Palace v Wolves
Full time result: 3-1
Andre Moritz continued to make an impression by bagging a brace in the game.
The first was a sweetly struck free kick in the 31st minute that curled into the Wolves net passed Ikeme who just stood and watched.
Yannick Bolasie got the second on 40 minutes, slotted home the chance after a through ball from hot property Wilfred Zaha.
Moritz made it 3-0 on 52 minutes, when he curled another free kick into the opposite corner from his first.
Ebanks Blake got a concilation goal on 75 minutes.
Man of the match: Andre Moritz – Two goals and pure class.

Derby v Middlesbrough
Full time result: 3-1
Jacobs opened the scoring for Derby on 19 minutes coolly converting a chance he created himself.
Hendrick made it 2-0 on 42 minutes, heading home a cross from Connor Sammon swung in from the left.
Sammon chipped in with a goal himself on 65 minutes, smashing home a chance at the near post.
Lukas Jutkiewicz pulled back one for Boro in added time, curling the ball into the far post.
Man of the match: Connor Sammon – Created one and converted one.

Ipswich v Brighton
Full time result: 0-3

Brighton took the lead on 15 minutes with a clinically executed goal. Andrea Orlandi drilled a corner in and Dean Hammond headed in at the near post.
The lead was doubled on 34 minutes, when Craig Mackail-Smith bulldozed his way through the Ipswich defence and angled a shot into the far post.
Wayne Bridge completed the game on 67 minutes converted a long distance drive into the Brighton goal.
Man of the match: Craig Mackail-Smith – So quick and lethal for Brighton.

Leeds v Bolton
Full time result: 1-0
Luciano Becchio converted the only goal of the game in the 66th minute from the penalty spot.
Tyrone Mears was the culprit after bringing down Ross McCormack and Becchio stayed calm to convert.
Man of the match: Luciano Becchio – What would Leeds do without him.

Leicester v Huddersfield
Full time result: 6-1
After having to play against 11 men when it should have been 10, Huddersfiled were battered 6-1 by Leicster.
Debutant Chris Wood and Anthony Knockheart both bagged a brace, Woods coming before half time and Knockhearts coming after the break.
Ritchie De Laet scored on the stroke of half time powering home a drive after been set up by Knockheart.
The visitors had a consolation goal on 60 minutes when Arfield finished at the second time of asking.
The goal rout was completed by Martin Waghorn on 76 minutes volleying home from 20 yards.
Man of the match: Chris Wood – Two goals on debut in classy display.

Mill wall v Bristol City
Full time result: 2-1
N’Guessan opened the scoring for Millwall on 19 minutes, when he slotted home a chance from 10 yards in a crowded penalty box.
Bristol were level on 63 minutes, Stead finished with a cool, calm and collective finish which Bristol have lacked in recent weeks.
But Millwall had the last laugh, on 75 minutes when Smith headed in powerfully at the far post.
Man of the match: Smith – Well converted header and overall good performance.

Peterborough v Barnsley
Full time result: 2-1
Bostwick converted a low shot on 28 minutes for Peterborough to give them the lead.
The game was 1-0 for a long time until Marlon Harewood volleyed home on 79 minutes to level the scores.
The game looked to be finishing level until Nicky Rowe headed home a corner on 87 minutes to give Peterborough a much needed three points.
Man of the match: Nicky Rowe – Late goal gave Peterborough all three points.

Sheffield Wednesday v Burnley
Full time result: 0-2
Sheff Weds problems continued as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Burnley.
Former Blackburn player Keith Treacy opened the scoring on 63 minutes when he converted a well delivered corner.
The game was finished off on 76 minutes when Wallace scored a penalty after Gary Madine brought down Treacy.
Man of the match: Keith Treacy – Great header and passing throughout.

Watford v Charlton
Full time result: 3-4
A goal fest at Valley Parade began in the 11th minute with Daniel Pudil’s low drive.
The game was level on 34 minutes after Tommy Hoban sliced a cross into his own net.
Yann Kermogant scored the first of his brace on 37 minutes when he headed home a cross from Bradley Pritchard.
On 53 minutes Watford were awarded a penalty when Fernando Forestieri was hacked down by Dorian Dervite. Almen Abdi converted to make the scores 2-2.
Watford led briefly on 68 minutes, Alex Geijo slid the ball in the net.
But 2 minutes later Charlton were level when Kermogant grabbed his second.
With 78 minutes on the clock, Johnnie Jackson headed home Dale Stephens corner. What a game!
Man of the match: Johnnie Jackson – Late goal sealed the point.