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Stoke followed up their opening day win at Derby with a 2-1 home victory over Franchise, the winner from Wayne Thomas coming three minutes into stoppage time. after Agyemang had equalised during the second half. Apparently Stoke were not over impressive but won the points courtesy of a hard working performance.
Millwall have started well and have not conceded a goal. They won 1-0 at Sunderland with an early goal from loan player Noel Whelan in front of a crowd of just under 25,000 a remarkably low turn out at the Stadium of Light.
This is Sunderland’s 17th consecutive league defeat, their last point came in a 0-0 draw at home to Blackburn on 11th January. It is certainly an unwanted record as is the fact that manager Mick McCarthy is looking for his first point as Sunderland manager since his appointment in March.
Having beaten the Clarets last week Palace sneaked a 1-0 win against Watford with a first half goal from Neil Shipperley, the rent money from Franchise, although they had to finish the game with ten men as Michael Hughes became the fourth Palace player to be sent off already this season.
It can come as no surprise given the way they approached the game at Burnley and if this is to be Kember’s style then they are going to need one hell of a squad to cover for suspensions.
Crewe became the first of the three promoted clubs to win a game with a surprise 1-0 victory over much fancied cheating Ipswich at the now named Alexandra Stadium. Kenny Lunt was the match winner with a second half goal. Crewe were much the better side against an Ipswich team that relied mainly on long ball football, surprisingly for Ipswich but not for manager Joe Royle.
Wigan collected their first point with a late, late equaliser in the derby against Preston after North End had scored late. There were just three minutes left when Fuller put North End in front but within two minutes it was all square with a goal from McCulloch.
The third promoted side Cardiff City are still to score despite giving a debut to our recent windfall Alan Lee. They went down to a 2-0 defeat at Ninian Park against Bradford City, a side expected to struggle.
Forest took a beating at Reading with a 3-0 defeat and this prompted striker David Johnson to attack the club for a lack of investment. He described the club who pay his wages as a shambles and like one in administration.
The division wasn’t without its goalless draws again and this week there were three of them. These were Coventry v Walsall, Gillingham v Derby and West Ham v Sheffield United.
West Brom were the highest scorers of the day as they hit the Clarets for four and finally Norwich picked up their first win with a 2-0 scoreline against Rotherham at Carrow Road where Ronnie Moore was still ranting and raving about the Alan Lee sale.
It’s early days and the league tables mean very little. For those concerned to see us at the bottom then it is worth noting that we are only six points from the top and a victory at West Brom would have seen us into the top half of the league.
There are no midweek fixtures this week but a full programme next week as follows with all games kicking off at 3:00 unless shown otherwise
Saturday 23rd August
Bradford City v Gillingham
Burnley v Wigan Athletic
Derby County v Reading
Franchise v Crystal Palace
Ipswich Town v Coventry City
Millwall v Crewe Alexandra
Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City
Preston North End v Sunderland (5:35 p.m.)
Rotherham United v West Ham United
Sheffield United v Norwich City
Walsall v Stoke City
Watford v West Bromwich Albion
Leading Goalscorers (League Only)
3: Dougie Freedman (Crystal Palace)
2: Patrick Agyemang (Franchise)
2: Robbie Blake (Burnley)
2: Clint Easton (Norwich)
2: Lee Hughes (West Brom)
2: Paul Merson (Walsall)
2: Mark Rivers (Norwich)
2: Steven Sidwell (Reading)