Weekend in Words: nPower Championship Final Day

Weekend in Words: nPower Championship Final Day

For entertainment factor, the nPower Championship never fails to disappoint for the neutral. For the fans of those clubs facing possible relegation and promotion, apprehension, unease, and hysterical are words that would prove to be more accurate.

Before the start of today’s fixtures with two spots in the relegation zone yet to play for, up to seven different teams could have potentially filled those positions as they looked to do everything they possibly could to avoid the drop.

Wolves were the favorites for relegation amongst the majority of bookies, as it would have taken a miracle for them to claw their way out following their 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley last weekend. 

Ahead of their trip to Brighton on this final day of the Championship season, Dean Saunders’ side were three points off safety, but only a win and a heavy loss for Peterborough and Barnsley would have seen them clinch safety in their first season back in the second tier of English football.

This proved to be too difficult a task for the former Premier League side as a first-half brace from Kazenga LuaLua in a 2-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium in front of a 30,000 strong crowd, sealed their fate and condemned the Midlands side to two consecutive relegations. Next season will be the first time Wolves have seen third tier football since 1989.

It is not yet known whether manager Dean Saunders will be kept on as Wolves boss for next seasons campaign but today’s result was his tenth defeat in 20 games with five wins and five draws also on his record.

Elsewhere in the nPower Championship, 22^nd place Barnsley faced 18^th placed Huddersfield Town in a fixture that could have seen one of these two teams relegated if a draw was avoided.

Barnsley occupied the third and final relegation place on 54 points before this game, but a win would see them leapfrog numerous sides, if results went their way.  As for the Terriers, they were sitting in what most fans would consider the most comfortable position out of the other relegation candidates.

However, a loss at home to Mark Robins’ former side Barnsley and wins for Peterborough and Sheffield Wednesday would have sent them back down to League One, after only one season in the Championship.

Thankfully for Terriers fans this wasn’t the case as they came from behind on two occasions and managed to hold on for a solitary point with goals from Jermaine Beckford, and on-loan Norwich forward James Vaughan securing Championship safety. Chris O’Grady opened the scoring for the Tykes, and a 74^th minute goal from Jason Scotland put them back in front.

This point at the John Smith’s Stadium was also enough for the South Yorkshire side who can now celebrate survival for another season under the leadership of inexperienced David Flitcroft who lead the Tykes to 12 wins in 25, with a win percentage of 48% since taking over on December 29^th. Nothing short of miraculous.

Flitcroft opened his post-match interview with the BBC as ‘Mission Impossible completed’ and I’m sure the Barnsley fans would have to agree.

Peterborough were visitors to Selhurst Park where they met Crystal Palace, and a point would confirm Championship football for one more season, should Barnsley fail to win at Huddersfield.

They came up against a side who were sitting in fifth place on 69 points before this game. It would have taken wins for both Bolton and Nottingham Forest and a loss for Palace to see the Eagles fall out of the play-off places. Palace would have been unfortunate to say the least, but when you’re playing in arguably the most unpredictable league in the world, anything could happen.

Posh led this game on two separate occasions with goals from Lee Tomlin on the 29^th minute, before Glenn Murray equalized from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who put Ian Holloway’s side behind once more on the 63^rd minute.

From here it was all down hill for Posh who conceded two goals in seven minutes, as veteran striker Kevin Phillips equalized once again for Palace, before Mile Jedinak’s header sealed the deal in the final minute of normal time, and broke Posh hearts.

The win for Palace confirmed their place in the play-offs as they finished the season in fifth place, the same position they were in before this weekends final fixtures.  

Another one of the potential relegation candidates were Sheffield Wednesday. They sat in 20^th place at 12:45 this afternoon, before their game with an out-of-form Middlesbrough side who occupied 12^th place on a solid 59 points but are without an away win this calendar year.

With a win needed to guarantee second tier football for the 2013/14 season, the Owls duly delivered with an impressive 2-0 win at Hillsborough. Two first-half goals from Steve Howard and Leroy Lita ensured safety on Wednesday’s first season back in the Championship since 2010.

The win for Dave Jones’s side meant that they finished the season in 18^th position, just four points above the drop zone and defeat for Tony Mowbray’s men means they conclude the season in 16^th, just one point above today’s opponents.

Owls boss claimed survival this year was a much bigger achievement than his sides promotion to the Championship last season.

Already-relegated Bristol City, faced ninth placed Charlton in this final day fixture at The Valley and they took one hell of a beating as they bowed out of the Championship with a 4-1 thumping away from home.

Two goals from Yann Kermorgant, and a goal each from Jonathan Obika and Johnnie Jackson completed the rout for Charlton who summed up City’s season in just one result – disappointing.

Bristol City have now gone from play-off finalists in 2008, to a League One side in 2013 and it’s a drop that recently appointed manager Sean O’Driscoll says the club need to reflect upon.

Millwall were the final club who were in the mix for potential relegation this afternoon, but narrowly avoided the drop, even with a 1-0 away defeat at Derby.

The Lions only needed one point to beat the drop but were unable to collect the point at Pride Park as Derby striker Connor Sammon scored his eight goal of the season for the rams.

This wasn’t enough for the Lions to be relegated however, after Peterborough’s loss away at Palace. This saw Millwall finish two points above the drop zone.

Millwall management partnership Kenny Jackett and Joe Gallen didn’t want to have to rely on other results from around the Championship due to the unpredictable nature of this league, but I can guarantee they won’t be complaining now it’s all over and they can breathe a sigh of relief.

Enough of relegation talk – at the other end of the nPower Championship, it was a nerve-wracking afternoon for both Hull and Watford as both sets of fans were keeping a close eye on each others results as they watched their own sides try and claim a position in next seasons Premier League season.

Hull faced league champions Cardiff City at the KC Stadium, whilst Watford were also at home to Brian McDermott’s Leeds United.

It started off well for Hull, when they heard of news down in North London, when Leeds took the lead with an opener for Dominic Poleon.

This was a sign of things to come though, as Hull fans joy was soon replaced with despair as news of an equalizer at Vicarage Road rang round the KC.

Things got worse however, when they went a goal behind thanks to a calm and collected finish from ex-Hull striker Fraizer Campbell who netted in the 49^th minute to put promotion in doubt for the Tigers, as it would mean Watford only needed a point to pip them to the second and final automatic place.

It may have gone all quiet in North London, but that certainly wasn’t the case on Humberside as a goal from Nick Proschwitz leveled the scoring on the 58^th minute, followed by a scrappy goal from defender Paul McShane, which sent the Hull fans into raptures 15 minutes into the second half.

As it stood, the Tigers would be going up to the Premier League and Watford would have to settle for third place and a spot in the play-off semi-finals.

The drama wasn’t over though. Cardiff were reduced to ten men when Andrew Taylor was given his marching orders after he was shown a second yellow card for a rash tackle.

Hull then had the chance to finally kill the game off in the final minutes from the penalty spot and David Meyler was bundled over in the box. Nick Proschwitz failed to put the Tiger further ahead with a save from David Marshall denying him his second of the game.

Within moments, the Bluebirds were up at the other end and had a penalty awarded to them after a handball in the area. Former Bristol City forward, Nicky Maynard coolly found the equalizing goal from the spot and put fear into the hearts of the on-looking Tigers fans.

This would mean that Watford just needed one more goal to overthrow Hull in second spot.

It just wasn’t to be for the Hornets, after Troy Deeney saw red and took an early bath after two bookable offences, and then a goalkeeping error from third-choice replacement Jack Bonham allowed Ross McCormack to snatch the three points in the final minutes at Vicarage Road with a lofted effort.

Watford will now face Leicester in the nPower Play-Off Semi-Final, while Leeds finish the season in 13^th spot.

With one play-off place left to play for, it was up to two games – Nottingham Forest were at home to Leicester while Bolton were at home to mid-table Blackpool.

Bolton started the day occupying sixth spot on 67 points, equal with Nottingham Forest with just three goals separating the two sides. Forest’s opponents Leicester were sitting in eighth, two points adrift of Bolton and Forest.

Shifting of positions was certainly on the cards, and that was what the fans got, as Bolton were held to a 2-2 draw at the Reebok and a win for Leicester at the City Ground meant that they had pipped their opponents to the post in the final dash for the play-off spot.

Bolton were two goals down to Blackpool following goals from Matt Phillips and Ludovic Sylvestre after 35 minutes, but the Trotters managed to get two late goals in first half stoppage time from Chris Eagles and Craig Davies sealed the point for Wanderers.

This just wasn’t enough though, with the Foxes 3-2 win at Forest.

Simon Cox opened the scoring for Forest in the third minute, but Leicester fought back and got the equalizer in the 24^th minute through a deflected shot from Matt James.

Midfielder Andy King then put the Foxes ahead just before half-time, but were pegged back with a header from Elliott Ward.

The winning goal came in stoppage time from Anthony Knockaert in a dramatic, up-and-down game in Nottingham, which booked Leicester’s spot in the Championship play-offers.

Other results in the Championship saw Birmingham and Blackburn share the points at St Andrews. Ravel Morrison 20-yard strike gave the Blues the lead before a second-half leveler from none other than goal-machine Jordan Rhodes, who netted his 29^th goal of the season.

Ipswich could have gone up to ninth spot with a win at Turf Moor in this mid-table clash. Nothing was to play for, so gave both bosses the chance to field youngsters and experiment with their sides. Town boss Mick McCarthy done just this, by handing debuts to left-back Tyrone Mings and 18-year-old striker Jack Marriott.

It was a drab match but Burnley took the three points with a 25-yard strike into the top corner on the hour, and striker Martin Paterson secured all three points late into the game with a header from close range.

Ipswich boss won’t be too disheartened about this result, as since his arrival, his side have picked up 53 points when his side sat bottom of the nPower Championship on just seven points in November.

Play-Off Semi Final Fixtures:

Watford vs. Leicester

Brighton vs. Crystal Palace

Quotes from BBC Sport

MATCH PREVIEW: Burnley vs. Ipswich Town

Burnley vs. Ipswich Town – Turf Moor

The Teams

Burnley

The final game of the 2013/14 season is upon these two sides with both sides having already secured their places in the nPower Championship for next season with wins in their last games.

Burnley fans would have hoped this season would be an improvement on the previous, but instead they’re on track for another mid-table finish with only one game remaining.

With the possibility of relegation looming over the Clarets for the majority of the second half of the season, a sense of relief lingers around Turf Moor after their 2-1 win at Molineux sealed their fate, and ensured safety.

Even with survival secured, manager Sean Dyche doesn’t want his side to relax and get complacent against Ipswich Town, a team who has also had fears of relegation this season. His side could finish tenth with a win at Turf this coming Saturday, which would guarantee them a finish above local rivals Blackburn Rovers for the first time in 33 years – and who said there was nothing to play for?

On the other hand, a loss could see them fall within one point of the relegation zone, if other results go against them, which just typifies the Championship this season.

Ahead of this game, other than left-back Ben Mee and top goalscorer Charlie Austin, the Clarets will have a full squad to choose from and it’s likely that with Sean Dyche wanting to end the season on a high, he will keep his faith in the team that claimed the three points in a hard-fought away win at Wolves last weekend.

Last 5 Games

The Lancashire side have a points haul of seven from a possible 15 from their last five games, with a win at home to League One bound, Bristol City on 6^th April and the other four points coming from last weekend’s win at Wolves and a last minute point at Turf Moor against league winners Cardiff.

These previous five games have also featured two losses, both 1-0 defeats to Blackpool and Leeds on the 13^th April and 16^th April respectively.

06.04.2013 – Burnley 3-1 Bristol City

13.04.2013 – Blackpool 1-0 Burnley

16.04.2013 – Leeds 1-0 Burnley

20.04.2013 – Burnley 1-1 Cardiff

27.04.2013 – Wolves 1-2 Burnley

Four of the seven points they have picked up since the beginning of April have been from home fixtures, so the Clarets will be hoping they can carry on the trend with another win at home to Ipswich, but with the Blues solid defensive record since the arrival of Mick McCarthy, they’re going to have to work hard for it.

One to Watch:

The one to watch for Burnley in this fixture is right-back Kieran Trippier. The pacy wingback has all the attributes to bomb forward on the overlap and get in behind defences, and put dangerous balls into the box for strikers Martin Paterson and Wales international Sam Vokes. 

Tripper signed for Burnley from Manchester City on a three-and-a-half-year deal after initially signing on a season long loan from the 2011/12 Premier League champions.

The Tractor Boys are going to need to do everything they can to prevent the young Englishman from getting in behind them and putting back into key areas. This will be where Town left-back Aaron Cresswell will really need to be at his best.

The 22-year-old right-back has made 47 appearances this year, creating 16 goals, picking up six yellow cards and one red.

Ipswich Town

To say it’s been a rollercoaster of a 2012/13 season for Ipswich Town and their fans is an understatement, as they finally secure their Championship status for 2013/14.

This season the Blues have seen one manager leave, and another arrive with the sacking of Paul Jewell on October 24^th with Town sitting in 21^st position with a shocking seven points.

The arrival of the experienced Mick McCarthy was music to the ears of Town fans who were desperate to see their side progress up the league table and steer away from relegation.

Since the former Wolves boss arrived at Portman Road in November, the Blues have picked up a miraculous 53 points from a possible 72, which is what Town fans could have only dreamed when they heard of his arrival.

Blues fans were almost residing to the fact that they could be watching League One football next season, with the abject performances from Paul Jewell’s side and only two wins in their first 14. Not only was it the results that fans were most displeased with, it was the manner in which they were coming – the 6-0 loss away to Blackpool, and the 2-1 home defeat to Derby in particular.

In terms of the team selection for Saturday’s trip to Lancashire, McCarthy has promised to ring the changes, but will be sticking with his favored 4-4-2 formation.

This will no doubt be the time for fringe players such as Michael Chopra, Aaron McLean and others to prove their worth should they wish to stay with the East Anglian side for next season.

Town have two injuries coming into this game, Paul Taylor who has a long-term foot injury are definitely ruled out, along with Josh Carson who suffers a broken toe.

Last 5 Games: 

Ipswich have had a fairly impressive last five games – picking up three wins, one draw, and a loss. Nine goals have also been scored by the Blues, six of these coming in the 3-0 home win to Crystal Palace and the other three last weekend at home to Birmingham City.

One thing that McCarthy has really instilled into Ipswich since arriving is their ability to keep the ball from hitting the back of the net. Four goals have been conceded throughout April, two of these from Hull City at Portman Road.   

Two of the five games have been away fixtures to Derby and Sheffield Wednesday which saw a last minute winner from skipper Carlos Edwards and a first Ipswich goal for on-loan midfielder Jay Tabb.

One of Burnley’s main weaknesses has been conceding goals, so this is the time for the Tractor Boys to show what they can do in front of goal, mainly for Michael Chopra who has only scored four goals in his 33 appearances for the club this season.

06.04.2013 – Derby 0-1 Ipswich Town

13.04.2013 – Ipswich 1-2 Hull City

16.04.2013 – Ipswich 3-0 Crystal Palace

20.04.2013 – Sheff. Wed 1-1 Ipswich

27.04.2013 – Ipswich 3-1 Birmingham City.

One to Watch:

The one to watch in this fixture is January signing Anthony Wordsworth who signed for Ipswich on January 30^th on a two-year deal with the option for a further year.

The 24-year-old has shown glimpses of what he can do off the bench in the five sub appearances he has made for McCarthy’s Ipswich.

His main strength is his vision and creativity when on the ball. He also has a good set piece taker, and was considered the dead ball specialist at former side Colchester. If he starts, the Blues will be looking to get him on the ball as often as possible to allow him to create and set up opportunities for the front-men.

As McCarthy is looking to give the fringe players an opportunity for the final game of the season, I believe this will be Wordsworth’s second start and will give him the chance to make an impact and help the team conclude the season with all three points at Turf Moor.

Previous Meetings:

From the last five meetings between the two sides, Ipswich have picked up ten points, with nine of the points coming from the three wins Town have over the Lancashire side and the other a 1-1 draw back in August 2010. 

Burnley have had just the one win - that being a dominant 4-0 win at Turf Moor in November 2011. This was Town's sixth straight defeat and goals from Sam Vokes, Jay Rodriguez and a second-half double from Chris McCann delivered the thumping to the suffering Tractor Boys. 

This seasons fixture saw Ipswich send Burnley back to Lancashire empty-handed after defeating them 2-1 with goals from Daryl Murphy and a later winner from on-loan striker DJ Campbell who responded to the 80th minute equaliser from Wales international Sam Vokes. 

MATCH PREVIEW: Hull City vs Cardiff City

Hull City vs. Cardiff – KC Stadium, Hull.

The Teams

Hull City

It’s the final game of the season for all clubs in the nPower Championship, and for Hull City, this is what it has all boiled down to - a home tie against the league champions, Cardiff City. 

This isn’t what Hull City would have wanted, with the team being six points ahead of automatic promotion chasers Watford in mid-April. It was expected that Hull would have cemented second position with just another win in one of their last three ties, but this hasn’t happened and the pressure is now on for Steve Bruce’s Tigers to get a result at the KC Stadium.

As it stands, Hull City are currently sitting in second place in the nPower championship with 78 points but only one point from their last three games against Championship strugglers Wolves, Barnsley and already relegated Bristol City has seen them fail to secure promotion before the final day of the season. 

Coming into this game, Hull City only have one doubt and that is striker Matty Fryatt who has undergone Achilles' tendon surgery after an injury he picked up in October 2012 and he is not expected to be near the starting 11 for this clash against the Bluebirds. Despite making a couple of cameo appearances in recent games. It is likely he will again feature on the bench for this tie. 

The concern amongst Tigers fans should be the pressure of the occasion. Recent form has shown that with so much at stake, so much can go terribly wrong and against a dominant Cardiff City side, collapsing is something Hull City cannot afford to do.

Last 5 Games:

Hull City’s last five games have seen them pick up seven points out of a possible 15, with six of them points coming from a 2-1 away win at Ipswich Town and a 1-0 home win against out-of-form Middlesbrough. 

As previously mentioned, the last three games is where Hull really have needed to pick up points, but have failed to do so, with the Tigers only scoring three goals in their last six games whilst conceding five.  

None of those Hull goals have come from the previous three matches having lost 1-0 to Wolves on the 16^th April, drawn 0-0 at home to relegated Bristol City, and in the penultimate game of the season, being defeated 2-0 by Barnsley, who recorded their first win in six at Oakwell.  

Hull are really going to need to put recent results behind them and get back to their old ways if they want to confirm their place in the Premier League for the 2013/14 season.

06.04.2013 – Hull City 1-0 Middlesbrough

13.04.2013 – Ipswich Town 1-2 Hull City

16.04.2013 – Wolverhampton 1-0 Hull City

19.04.2013 – Hull City 0-0 Bristol City

27.04.2013 – Barnsley 2-0 Hull City

One to Watch:

The one to watch out for in this game, is the versatile George Boyd who has the ability to change games in a matter of seconds with his vision and ability to see what others players do not.

He is also a tidy finisher, having notched four goals in his 12 appearances for the Tigers and always seems a constant threat when bearing down on goal. 

With Cardiff City already league champions, it could be the game for the Scotland international to really go all guns blazing at the Bluebirds defence, which he has already proven he can do against defences in the league. 

With the support of attacking midfielder Robbie Brady, and strike partner Jay Simpson, I believe this is the game Boyd will really show his class and finish his season off in style.

Cardiff City

If there were four words to describe the final day of the season for football fans around the country, they would be nerve-wracking, tense, upsetting and joyous. 

The latter would be an understatement for the fans of Cardiff City, who will no doubt be celebrating all the way through this 90 minutes at the KC Stadium and back home in Cardiff. They can sit back, relax, and enjoy the game ahead as they have already seen their team deservedly seal the league title and confirm their place alongside the big boys in the Barclays Premier League for the 2013/14 season. 

Cardiff City top the nPower Championship table with 86 points, eight points ahead of Saturday’s opponents, Hull City, and haven’t looked like dropping off top spot all season, and consistency has without doubt been the key for the Bluebirds. 

Likewise with Hull, Cardiff haven’t had that one single goalscorer to lead the way and carry the rest of the team, instead they are scoring goals from all over the field, mainly from wing positions with Peter Whittingham on eight goals for the season, Craig Noone on seven goals and Fraizer Campbell and Joe Mason with 11 goals between them.

Before this game, Cardiff City have no injury worries and a clean bill of health within the whole squad so Malky Mackay is spoilt for choice. He could go one of two ways; go with his first team that has deservedly won them the league title, or mix up fringe players with the youngsters to give them vital experience.

Last 5 Games

Cardiff fans have seen one win in their last five games, which has also seen the Bluebirds take a point on three separate occasions through April, with home draws against Bolton, Charlton and Barnsley and an away draw at Burnley; who managed to snatch a point with the last kick of the game. 

The win was picked up in a dominant 3-0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium against late play-off chasers, Nottingham Forest, thanks to a goal from Icelandic striker Heider Helguson and a second-half brace from towering front man Rudy Gestede in front of a stadium record attendance. 

If the last five games and recent form is anything to go by, the Bluebirds would be in a very good position to take all three points at the KC Stadium but as we have seen in the Championship, form cannot guarantee wins and Hull City are certainly no pushovers.

09.04.2013 – Cardiff 1-1 Barnsley

13.04.2013 – Cardiff 3-0 Nottingham Forest

16.04.2013 – Cardiff 0-0 Charlton

20.04.2013 – Burnley 1-1 Cardiff

27.04.2013 – Cardiff 1-1 Bolton

One to Watch:

For me, the one to watch for Cardiff City has to be 24 year-old Craig Noone. The ex-Brighton man signed for the Bluebirds for a fee of £1,000,000 on a four-year deal, last summer. With 7 goals and 9 assists to his name for the season, Noone has been one of Malky Mackay’s most effective signings since his arrival in Wales and can be a constant threat when playing out wide with his dangerous ball delivery, especially with Heider Helguson and Rudy Gestede just waiting to pounce in the 6-yard box. If they can utilise the wing play for this game, I believe they can be a real threat.