Around One – Top two pulling away

Last updated : 08 March 2004 By Tony Scholes

Malky Mackay - two goals for league leaders Norwich
Both won and Norwich are now ten points clear after beating East Anglia rivals Ipswich at Carrow Road with the help of two goals from central defender Malky Mackay. It is difficult to see how Nigel Worthington’s team can miss out now, they really would have to blow it.

Behind them West Brom got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-0 home win against Coventry who themselves have been in very good form. They have been favourites all season and it is difficult to bet against them winning a quick return to the Premiership.

The play off area could have been affected by the cup matches but incredibly Millwall climbed back into the top six whilst in cup action courtesy of Ipswich’s defeat at Norwich. The two clubs swap places on goal difference.

Wigan were surprisingly beaten 3-2 at home by Crewe for whom Dean Ashton scored a hat-trick, two of them from penalties, and this after coming back from two down with only ten men following the second penalty incident.

West Ham meanwhile drew again and they are the only side in the division to have drawn more games than Burnley. Just as our inability to turn draws into wins is keeping us at the bottom then it has ensured West Ham will miss out on a top two place.

It was Walsall who prevented them from winning on this occasion in a 0-0 draw at the Boleyn Ground where the Hammers have won only 7 of 17 league games this season.

The one team who could seriously threaten the top two is Sunderland, but they would have to go and win all four games they have on hand on West Brom and that won’t happen. The north east club hardly bother with league games these days with snow and cup matches getting in the way.

Down at the bottom end of the table it was a mixed day for the Clarets. BRBC won but we shouldn’t be too bothered about that, they are not going to catch us. The result was a good one for us coming at Rotherham and we are now only a point behind the Millers.

Ade Akinbiyi - two goals in Stoke's 3-1 win over Watford
Gillingham were the only other winners and they surprised a few by inflicting Forest’s first defeat since Joe Kinnear took over. It shouldn’t have been a surprise, Forest have won only four games since they beat us in September and they have all come against the bottom four.

Derby had no game and that means we have pulled one further point away from the bottom three although Derby do have a game in hand on us.

Watford are just a point above us and their run of wins was brought to an end at Stoke where Ade Akinbiyi scored twice in a 3-1 win. Stoke, who play precious little football, are now in a mid-table position having looked like relegation candidates for some time.

In the other game played Steve Coppell returned to Selhurst Park with Reading who fought out a 2-2 draw with Palace. The result leaves both sides hovering just below the play off area.

Three of the bottom clubs are involved in games tomorrow whilst there is one re-arranged match on Wednesday followed by a full programme next weekend. All midweek games kick off at 7:45 p.m. and Saturday games at 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise shown.

Tuesday 9th March

BRBC v Watford
West Ham United v Franchise

Wednesday 10th March

Sunderland v Preston North End (8:00 p.m.)

Saturday 13th March

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

Leading Goal Scorers (League Only)

21: Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace)
19: Marlon Harewood (West Ham – 12 with Nottm Forest)
18: Robert Earnshaw (Cardiff)
16: Robbie Blake (Burnley)
15: Nathan Ellington (Wigan)
15: Ricardo Fuller (Preston)
13: Dean Ashton (Crewe)
13: Steve Jones (Crewe)
13: Peter Thorne (Cardiff)
12: David Healy (Preston)
12: Geoff Horsfield (West Brom – 7 with Wigan)
12: Marcus Stewart (Sunderland)
11: Pablo Counago (Ipswich)
11: Jermain Defoe (West Ham)
11: Andy Reid (Nottm Forest)
10: Martin Butler (Rotherham)
10: Dougie Freedman (Crystal Palace)
10: Shaun Goater (Reading)
10: Rob Hulse (West Brom)
10: Ade Akinbiyi (Stoke)
9: Scott Fitzgerald (Watford)
9: Darren Huckerby (Norwich)