Buzzin Championship Football

I don’t write ‘op ed’ pieces that often for this blog (the last one was about the attack on Chris Kirkland last autumn), but after what happened at Wembley last Saturday evening I don’t think I’ve got any choice.

I’m not going to call all Millwall fans every name under the sun as I’m fairly sure that the majority of them are the same as the rest of us. Like a lot of other clubs, the Lions have ‘fans’ they could do without, but the general reaction of the media was predictable and – dare I say it – out of date. For example, cocaine is widely used amongst contemporary hooligans but that was reported as if it was some kind of new and unexpected development.

Whoever is in charge of Millwall’s investigation into what happened needs to come down like a ton of bricks on the idiots who ruined Saturday’s FA Cup semi final and I’m sure that the club authorities will hold a thorough investigation.

However, the FA shouldn’t escape any criticism either. Whoever decided that a 5:15pm kickoff and that tickets for the Millwall end should be on general sale was a good idea is clearly a bloody fool. Having experienced several Millwall visits to my local club, I’m convinced that the only way of reducing the tangible threat of trouble at high profile away games is to move the kickoff time back to the earliest possible moment and make sure that anyone who buys tickets can be identified and traced – no cash sales for example. I’ve seen an argument put forward that an early kickoff would have inconvenienced Wigan fans, but let’s face it: 10000 Wigan tickets were returned and sacrificing inconvenience for safety is a no brainer. If you were a Wigan fan, you would have gone to the game whenever it was or you’d have stayed at home.

Now back to events on the field of play. We might be saying farewell to a couple of familiar teams tonight.

At the top, the circumstances are beautifully set up for Cardiff City to return to the top tier of…errr…English football for the first time in over half a century. Hull and Watford are both away and the Bluebirds could be promoted if they don’t lose at home to Charlton.

At the bottom, if Bristol City lose at home to Birmingham, they’re relegated. There are a combination of results that could see the Robins go down even if they win, but if anything happens tonight that’s worth reporting I’ll update this post when I get back from the game I’m watching later.

Tonight there are three games with a direct impact on both issues:

Peterborough v Brighton

Posh were 3-0 up against Watford with 20 minutes left but their dodgy defence made it a hard earned three points on Saturday even though the Hornets played the last half an hour or so with ten men after Marco Cassetti was sent off. Peterborough earned a temporary reprieve, but let’s not forget that they’ve only lost once in the league at London Road since Christmas and during that period have picked up seven points from a possible nine against the current top six. That’s promotion form and I think Darren Ferguson is a possible candidate for Manager of the Season.

Brighton had a straightforward 2-0 win at the Riverside to maintain their push for a playoff place, but they need to be aware of the curse of fourth place in their remaining four games. The Seagulls haven’t won back to back away games since September but have only lost once at the teams in the current bottom six this season and should be able to nick a point at least.

Wolves v Hull

The hosts took the lead at Molineux after four minutes on Saturday, but then ten minutes of madness resulted in two Huddersfield goals plus a straight red for Jamie O’Hara. Wolves are now in big, big trouble: the two recent wins at Molineux came against sides that have been terrible for one reason or another (Bristol City and Middlesbrough) and provided a glimpse of a false dawn for Wolves fans. It’s worth pointing out – once again – that three home wins since December is an awful record. Wolves haven’t beaten any of the current sides in the playoff positions at Molineux this season

Hull did exactly what they needed to at Portman Road and Watford’s defeat at Peterborough means a six point gap for the Tigers with four games left to play. A very soft run in – the Tigers two games after this one are against Bristol City and Barnsley – should mean automatic promotion, which could be earned as early as this Friday. Steve Bruce’s outfit have only lost two of their nine games so far against the bottom six.

Tonight’s useful stats: Hull have won three of their last ten league games at Molineux, but Wolves have only won two of the last six meetings when they’ve had home advantage.

Blackburn v Huddersfield

On Saturday, Blackburn won at home for the first time since mid-February, but still dropped a place thanks to Huddersfield’s win at Wolves and are only above Peterborough on goal difference, having scored 12 fewer goals than Posh. Their home form hasn’t been that bad, but three draws in the last six at Ewood Park combined with five consecutive away defeats means Rovers are still scrapping for their Championship status. Blackburn’s only home win against another club in the bottom six was against Barnsley.

Huddersfield have the Championship’s worst goal difference, but although their defence has been better recently, they’re still conceding an average of two goals a game away from the Galpharm Stadium and have to face Jordan Rhodes tonight. Their current away from (last game first) is WLWLWL so this looks like a game they won’t win, but it’s one they mustn’t lose either. Wins at Barnsley and Wolves show that Town are capable of winning at Ewood Park.

Finally – for the moment at least – Brian McDermott returned to management with Leeds United after being the sack by Reading recently. Leeds – and Leicester – have both underachieved this season and McDermott’s appointment at Elland Road is a very, very shrewd move. He knows the Championship, but more importantly, he knows how to win the Championship. My guess is that Leeds will be among the favourites for promotion when the bookies price up the market in the summer.

Update: congratulations to Cardiff City on winning promotion to the Premier League following their goalless draw with Charlton earlier tonight. Commiserations to Bristol City, who will be playing in League One next season.