Cardiff Local Guide A guide to all Things Cardiff
We’ve a full midweek Championship calendar kicking-off on Tuesday, with ten games being played on the evening and another two the following night. Liam Jones reflects on this past weekend’s fixtures as we build towards kick-off.
AT THE TOP
Nottingham Forest continued their unbeaten start to the season with a draw at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Derby County, this Sunday lunch-time. Stuart Pearce’s team tops the table at this early stage – a point ahead of Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
And though it would be hasty to put too much emphasis on league standings at this point, the early signs have been good for those at the summit.
Forest have dropped just four points thus far, a draw against Bolton their 2014/15 record’s only other smudge. Norwich have now won four of their last five after an opening day defeat at Molineux – jumping from fourth to second – their best start in 12 years.
Perhaps surprisingly, it’s only Charlton Athletic that hold the other unbeaten record so far this campaign. A penalty in the third minute against top six rivals Watford was enough to secure all three points for the Addicks on the weekend, taking Bob Peeters’ squad up to fifth place.
AT THE BOTTOM
At the less enviable end of the table Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool and Fulham will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes – none of the trio are yet to win this term. Blackpool earned their first point on Saturday under ex-Charlton boss Jose Riga, Joe Lewis making some vital stops to grind out a draw. A Glenn Murray brace defeated the Cottagers before Blackman put the game to bed for Reading, whilst Bolton’s draw with Sheffield Wednesday doubled their points tally. Birmingham City and Leeds United drew 1-1 in Saturday’s early kick-off, while Wigan Athletic’s 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers saw the Latics drop to 16th. Gary Bowyer’s Rovers are now up to eighth.
THE CHARTS
Two more matched Lewis Grabban and Igor Vetokele’s five goals on the Championship top-scorer chart this weekend.
Britt Assombalonga put Forest ahead in the East Midlands derby, while Middlesbrough’s Grant Leadbitter hit the goal of the weekend with a 35 yard thunderbolt, followed up by a composed penalty to win three points for the team that visit Cardiff City Stadium this evening. City’s Kenwyne Jones is currently on four, tied with the two Callums – McManaman and Wilson.
Meanwhile, ex-City defender Glenn Loovens tops the disciplinary chart with five yellow cards this term, the subsequent ban meaning he didn’t play this coming weekend.
Read Tom Phillips’ City v Middlesbrough Stat Pack, by CLICKING HERE
Highlights of City’s previous Championship game against Norwich City can be viewed below:
