Reading, Cardiff City and Norwich City all starred in the latest Championship game-week, with the latter strengthening their position at the second tier summit.
Reading, Cardiff City and Norwich City Impress in Latest Championship Game-Week
Reading Solidify Top Six Stance in Deserved Away Win
Two first-half goals earned Reading a rather comfortable 2-0 win against a struggling Bristol City. Defeat for the Robins was the final straw for manager Dean Holden who was subsequently sacked.
The visitors started on the front foot, creating several chances in the early exchanges, and it was the travelling Royals who opened the scoring when Lucas Joao netted for the 20th time this season, converting from Michael Olise‘s teasing free-kick from the right-hand side. The lead was doubled just three minutes later with centre-back Michael Morrison getting on the scoresheet, bundling in from inside the area. The Robins barely threatened in the second half, with the visitors comfortable to see the game out and solidify their play-off place.
The three points for the Royals keeps them in fifth position and they remain eight points above Cardiff City in seventh. However, Bristol City’s sixth consecutive defeat means that they stay in the bottom half of the table and have lost ten of their last 13 in the league.
Cardiff City Maintain Top Six Pressure With a Comfortable Victory in Bedfordshire
Cardiff City stretched their unbeaten run to six with a 2-0 victory against Luton Town, a run that has sparked a supposed play-off push.
Neither side were able to create any clear cut chances in the first half with both teams limited to harmless shots from outside of the area. But, a bit of magic from Harry Wilson eight minutes into the second half gave the visitors lead when he curled the ball into the bottom corner from outside the area. Will Vaulks‘ deflected volley made it two just four minutes later, with the hosts unable to find a way back into the game from that moment.
The Bluebirds still sit six points from the play-offs, but if their recent form is anything to go by, they may still mount a serious play-off challenge in what remains of the season. From a Luton perspective, they have found it difficult to gain any sort of momentum after picking up three points in previous games, but they are still nine points off the dreaded drop zone.
Canaries Extend Lead at the Championship Summit
Norwich City extended their lead at the top of the Championship table to four points with a 2-0 win over Coventry City.
After a bright start to the game from both sides, it was the league leaders who opened the scoring, when Teemu Pukki latched onto, and expertly converted, Emi Buendia‘s perfectly-weighted through ball. On the stroke of half time, the previously mentioned duo swapped as Pukki turned provider for Buendia, who tapped into an empty net. The Canaries defended their lead superbly and held on to a vital three points, on a night where second-placed Brentford lost away to West London rivals Queens Park Rangers.
Should Swansea City win their two games in hand, they would claim top spot, but the Canaries are starting to distance themselves from Brentford and strengthen their automatic promotion spot. For Coventry, it is now five games without a win and the threat of relegation emerges as a real possibility once more.
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