Around One – Norwich miss out

Scott Fitzgerald - scored Watford's first goal at Norwich

But it wasn’t to be and Watford went home with all three points with a 2-1 victory with goals from Scott Fitzgerald and a Neil Cox penalty.

Fingers were pointing at referee Steve Bennett though after he twice turned down what looked blatant home penalties. When he did finally point to the spot it was somewhat dubious and at the other end.

Norwich did pull one goal back, a first for 17 year-old Ryan Jarvis who had come on as a sub for Paul McVeigh.

So Norwich remain in the play off positions where there was a change in the bottom place as Reading sneaked in courtesy of a 1-0 home win against Millwall. Ironically they move into the top six at the expense of West Ham who are now managed by Alan Pardew who walked out on Reading recently.

He is still to manage a winning West Ham team whereas new Reading boss Steve Coppell can hardly go wrong just now and this was their fifth win in seven games. A John Salako was enough to spoil the party for Dennis Wise who was in charge of Millwall for the first time since he was confirmed as the new full time manager.

Apart from the Clarets’ defeat at Derby there was just one other game on international weekend and that saw Franchise win at Gillingham. Goals from Adam Nowland and Patrick Agyemang were enough to see the Pariahs collect the points and move within one point of managerless Bradford City at the bottom.

The Bantams had no game this week and are still hopeful of appointing a replacement for Nicky Law before next weekend with Bryan Robson, out of work since getting the sack at Middlesbrough in 2001. Bradford are the fifth club in the First Division already this season to part with their manager for one reason or another.

There are no midweek games this week but a full fixture list next Saturday with all games kicking off at 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise shown.

Burnley v Rotherham United
Coventry City v Gillingham
Crewe Alexandra v Sunderland
Franchise v Cardiff City
Ipswich Town v Sheffield United
Millwall v Derby County
Preston North End v Norwich City
Stoke City v Bradford City
Walsall v Crystal Palace
Watford v West Ham United
West Bromwich Albion v Reading (5:35 p.m.)
Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest