Category: West Brom

Swansea Promoted After Thrilling Final

Two quick goals from Scott Sinclair and a third before half time from Stephen Dobbie meant that club from South Wales took a 3-0 lead into the break, but an unlikely Reading comeback looked on the cards following an own goal from Joe Allen and a Matt Mills header just before the hour. However, Sinclair’s second penalty of the afternoon – converted ten minutes before the end of the game – meant that the Swans returned to the top tier for the first time since 1983.

Yesterday’s win means that Swansea become the third team in the last five seasons to have been promoted via the playoffs after having finished the regular season in third place. However, six of the last ten Championship playoff winners have been relegated from the Premier League after one season, with eight of those ten sides finishing in the bottom five.

However, Swansea’s outstanding defensive record this season could stand them in good stead – Ipswich also only conceded 42 goals when they were promoted to the Premier League via the playoffs in 2000 and the Tractor Boys finished 5th the following season.

Reading have now lost both of their second tier play off finals – Bolton beat them in 1995 – and face a challenge of their own next season. Only once in the last two decades has a losing Championship playoff finalist reached the final the following season (Leicester in 1992/93) and seven of the last ten losers failed to qualify for the playoffs. Since 2001, only WBA (champions)and West Ham (playoffs) have been promoted the season after losing the final.

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The Play Offs: Heaven Or Hell?

Forget lucky dressing rooms, carrying a rabbit’s foot, not walking under ladders or stepping on cracks in the pavement. Don’t worry about avoiding the number thirteen, not crossing your fingers or letting a black cat cross your path.

There’s only one thing that your club has to do if you want to be promoted via the Championship play offs.

Don’t finish fourth.

The stark situation facing Cardiff City is that the last time a club that finished fourth in the second tier of English football was promoted via the play offs was twelve seasons ago. In May 1998, Charlton beat Sunderland on penalties after extra time in one of the most remarkable games ever seen at the old Wembley Stadium. Since then, Barnsley, Preston, West Ham, WBA, Bristol City and Cardiff themselves have finished fourth, reached the playoff final and lost.

Some other interesting trends are that the last three playoff final winners were making their first appearance in the Championship playoffs and two of them (Burnley and Blackpool) had been absent from the top tier for some time. Both trends are encouraging for Swansea – who last played in the old first division almost 30 years ago – and the latter is good news for Cardiff: it’s been almost 50 years since they were relegated to the old second division.

Reading can take heart from the fact that if they reach the final they’re far more likely to win promotion: fifth placed teams have provided half of the finalists in the last decade, with Burnley (2008/9), Wolves (2002/3) and Birmingham City (2001/2) progressing to the Premier League. It’s a similar story with sixth placed clubs – three of the last four clubs that qualified for the final won it – and even better news for Forest and Reading is that since 2000/01 the clubs finish fifth and six have won more finals since the team finishing third.

It’s easy for fans of the other Championship to look at the playoffs and either wonder about what might have been or could be next season, but for the fans of the teams that have reached the post season it’s torture. In some respects it may be better to be overwhelmed in the first round: having had recent experience of the highs and lows of the playoffs, the worst thing that can happen is an unexpected away win, a home win that only materialises in extra time and then having your hopes crushed at Wembley.

Rather than dwelling on the past, let’s take a look at the first legs of the semi finals. This evening Nottingham Forest host Swansea (Sky Sports 1, 7:45pm) and it looks as if Forest could have a slim advantages. Swansea’s away form this season has declined slightly from 2009/10 and the Swans have only won two of their last ten games at the City Ground, losing 3-1 to Forest at the end of September. On the other hand, Billy Davies’ side have only lost twice at home in the Championship this season: the key statistic in this game might be that Swansea have conceded a goal in 16 of their 23 away games this season. Although we’re probably not likely to see a goal fest at the City Ground there a couple of unlikely scorelines: 0-0 and a repeat of the game in the old second division in September 1952, which Forest won 6-4!

Cardiff’s trip to Reading  on Friday evening (Sky Sports 1, 7:45pm) looks as if it will be a much more difficult game to predict, especially as both sides actually performed at a higher level this season than they did in 2009/10. Although the Bluebirds have only won once in their last five trips to Berkshire, Reading haven’t beaten Cardiff at the Madjewski since January 2006 and both league games were drawn this season. Once again, a goalless draw looks unlikely, especially as Shane Long andJay Bothroyd have been banging the goals in for both clubs this season.

Finally, congratulations to Southampton for being promoted to the Championship after finishing runners up to Brighton in League 1. The Saints return to second tier football after two seasons and will no doubt be hoping to ‘do a Norwich’ next season.

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Postponements In December Could Have An Impact In May

With a number of games already postponed and several more under threat at time of writing (Friday lunchtime), any further postponements in the next couple of weeks could have a dramatic impact on the various aspirations of clubs in the nPower Championship. We’re already approaching the busy Christmas and New Year period and so any rearranged games will have to take place later in the season: squad strength becomes crucial at times like these and with Championship clubs already having  two midweek fixtures scheduled in February any backlogs could take until Spring to clear.

No doubt about the story of the week: having been thoroughly beaten by Norwich in the ‘Old Farm’ derby on Sunday lunchtime – the game was effectively over after Damien Delaney’s first half sending off – Ipswich reached the semi finals of the Carling Cup with 1-0 victory over WBA on Wednesday evening.

The Tractor Boys were on a four game losing streak going into the game against the Baggies but a Grant Leadbitter penalty twenty minutes from time saw them reach the semi finals for the first time in a decade – although Ipswich were a Premiership side at the time, they were knocked out by eventual runners up Birmingham City, who were playing in the Championship that season! Roy Keane’s side will face Arsenal in the two-legged semi final, first leg at Portman Road in mid January.

Back to a full programme on Saturday: Ipswich play their third televised game in a week when Swansea visit at lunchtime (12:45pm Sky Sports 2). Despite taking an early lead courtesy of a Craig Beattie goal, the Swans lost a golden opportunity to move into second place after losing at home to Portsmouth on Friday night: QPR moved five points clear at the top of the table after beating Cardiff the following day.

It’s a bit early to start using clichés such as ‘if the season ended today’, but it’s beginning to look as if QPR are safe bet for the playoffs at the very least: unless Darren Ferguson can make some magic happen at Deepdale, Preston look as if they are already in a relegation battle. The competitive nature of the Championship means that everything else is still pretty much up for grabs.

There were three games scheduled this weekend where clubs in the top six were supposed to play teams in the bottom six: Preston travel to Cardiff, but the Bluebirds have lost three of their last five games and will be looking for a morale boosting victory against the current basement dwellers.

If it’s not postponed, arguably the most interesting one of these games is Coventry v Middlesbrough: it’s still something of a surprise to see Coventry in the playoff spots and Middlesbrough in the bottom three, but the Sky Blues took full advantage of Scunthorpe’s lamentable home record last week and – not for the first time this season – Boro had to come from behind twice to earn a point at home to Hull. It was supposed to be the Tigers turn to try to beat QPR this week but that game – along with three others – has been postponed due to the atrocious weather conditions affecting most of Britain.

Game of the week is Derby against Norwich: both clubs are currently in the playoff places and only goal difference separates them. Despite a wobbly start at Pride Park, the Rams have won six consecutive home games but Norwich have kept pace with the other clubs in the top half a dozen despite not having won an away game since the beginning of October.

After Luke Moore had given his side the lead, two goals in the last ten minutes at Turf Moor last weekend meant Derby had a pointless afternoon at Burnley and – as mentioned earlier – Norwich beat Ipswich 4-1 for the Canaries first win in six games and their biggest win over their local rivals since March 1995.

Last game on Saturday is the teatime clash between Millwall and Scunthorpe (5:20pm, Sky Sports 2),  a repeat of the memorable League 1 playoff final from 2009. The Lions have only won once in their last five games, but the trip to south London further evidence of Scunthorpe’s schizophrenic performance away from home: the Iron have won on their last four trips to the New Den!

Apart from Hull v QPR, as of late Friday morning there were four confirmed postponements this weekend:

•    Doncaster v Barnsley
•    Nottingham Forest v Bristol City
•    Portsmouth v Burnley
•    Sheffield United v Reading

Needless to say, if you’re thinking of going to any of the remaining games it’s always worth checking  to see if your game is on before you leave.

30 Years Of Hurt: Can A Championship Team Win The FA Cup?

One game left in the Championship programme this weekend: Barcelona v Real Madrid will be overshadowed by the East Midlands’ version of El Clasico when Nottingham Forest travel to Leicester (Sky Sports 2, 7:45pm). Both clubs got off to sluggish starts following the trauma of failing in the playoffs last season, but they are more or less performing at similar levels as they were last season and this could be an entertaining – if low scoring – game.  A Forest win would put them back in the play off positions but the Foxes are unbeaten in their last five home games in the Championship and have the upper hand in recent league meetings in Leicestershire – they’ve only lost one of the last five games.

The slim chance of a club from outside the top tier of English football winning the FA Cup for the first time since 1980 were reduced even further following the draw for the 3rd Round on Sunday evening. Twelve Championship sides were drawn against Premiership opposition; two ties are between Championship sides, leaving only seven clubs with games against opposition from the lower divisions.

Arguably the best chance of a third round upset from a Championship point of view is QPR’s trip to Blackburn – if Rangers can maintain their Championship form then at the very least they should be able to force a replay, although presumably Neil Warnock’s priority will be promotion rather than cup glory. West Ham may not be looking forward to a visit from Barnsley: the Tykes don’t have a particularly good away record in the league but knocked Chelsea out of the competition a couple of seasons ago. At the other end of the scale, although there’ll be plenty of media attention at the Walker’s Stadium for Leicester’s game against Manchester City, Sven-Goran Eriksson will probably realise that his new side may have to concentrate on the league rather than look forward to the fourth round. Although Scunthorpe will enjoy a big crowd when Everton visit, the Iron’s home form in the Championship has been very poor so far.

The all Championship games could provide a distraction for two of the current bottom three. Crystal Palace have a good record at Coventry and have already beaten the Sky Blues this season: despite being three points adrift at the bottom of the table after this weekend’s games, Preston host Nottingham Forest at Deepdale.

On paper Swansea, Watford, Burnley and Norwich look as if they may have the best chances of progressing to the fourth round: Colchester United are currently just outside the playoff positions in League 1 but at time of writing have only lost once away from home and might fancy their chances at the Liberty Stadium. The Hornets will have to wait for a replay between Hartlepool and Yeovil before knowing their opponents but Burnley will need to be at their best when Port Vale come to Turf Moor – the Valiants are currently top of League 2 and have a very impressive away record. Norwich also need to wait for a replay, but should be able to get past either Droylsden or Leyton Orient.

If you’re looking for a possible shock involving a Championship team, Middlesbrough’s trip to Burton Albion might be the tie worth looking at, but if Brighton beat FC United of Manchester, they would ensure a tasty looking South Coast Derby with Portsmouth that – given Brighton’s position in League 1 – could be a Championship game next season.

Ipswich – away at Chelsea – probably won’t be able to repeat their performance in the Carling Cup. Wednesday night’s quarter final against West Bromwich Albion is the first time the Tractor Boys have played top tier opposition in this season’s competition – and having lost 4-1 at Norwich the day after the Baggies won 4-1 at Everton, it looks as if the semi finalists will all come from the Premiership.

Middlesbrough – Strachan Out Mowbray In?

Less than one year as manager of Middlesbrough Football Club, Gordon Strachan offered his resignation to chairman Steve Gibson yesterday.  Once accepted Strachan then tore up his contract to forfeit any due compensation.

“He sought no compensation and walked away from the club with empty hands and it’s a measure of the man.” Gibson told the BBC.  But Sky Sports News spun a different story.  According to their report, Strachan tore up his contract before Gibson accepted his resignation.  This isn’t the first time that I have heard Sky put a different slant on a football news story. Either way Gordon Strachan has left the club in 20th place in the nPower Championship, their lowest position for the past 20 years.

As part of my annual pre-season accumulator bet, I had Middlesboro to win the Championship.  Now they are struggling to avoid relegation to League One.

Strachan’s departure comes less than three months after Steve Coppell’s resignation at Bristol City.  Both teams had been tipped to do well this season, but with hindsight maybe they should have considered both managers had previously walked away from football management and surprised many with their return.

If I were to consider Strachan’s replacement at the Riverside, I would not hesitate to place a free bet on former Middlesboro player Tony Mowbray, the man who replaced Gordon Strachan at Celtic.

Since replacing Gareth Southgate in October 2009, Strachan only won 13 of his 46 games in charge.  The final straw was a 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United last Saturday.  Ironically, as the sections of the Middlesbrough crowd were hurling abuse at Strachan, the travelling Leeds fans were singing his praise.  Strachan acknowledged the Leeds support but I wonder if he knew before the game that this would be his last.

Though Tony Mowbray had a torrid time managing Celtic, he had previously taken West Brom into the Premier League as runaway champions of the Championship whilst playing exciting attacking football. Mowbray had a successful playing career with Middlesboro scoring 25 goals in 348 appearances between 1982 and 1991 before moving to Celtic and then Ipswich Town.

Chairman Steve Gibson said yesterday, following Strachan’s departure that Middlesboro had to get the next appointment right. And though Middlesboro are currently hovering just above the relegation zone, they are only seven points adrift of the play-off places.  Remember when Crystal Palace appointed Iain Dowie in December of 2003 and he took them from 19th position to win promotion to the Premiership?