Division One – Good week for East Anglia

David Healy - Norwich forced to play without him

This was a game that Norwich didn’t want to and didn’t think they would have to play. They were without three players on international duty with Northern Ireland in Paul McVeigh, Phil Mulryne and David Healy but with Healy only being on loan they were not allowed to call off the game.

Ipswich meanwhile picked up maximum points at the weekend coming from a goal down at Gillingham to record a 3-1 win. The Tractor Boys had to sell both Darren Ambrose and Herman Hreidarsson this week and given the circumstances this was a fantastic win for them.

Ipswich and Norwich are now seven points clear of Gillingham in ninth place and are beginning to look like the only two sides who could get into the play offs. Following the weekend’s results they are now the only two sides in the league who cannot catch Leicester (currently second) and can neither be caught by Stoke (third bottom).

The top two haven’t played this week and the only one of the top six to get in a game were Sheffield United. They drew 2-2 at home last Tuesday against Gillingham. Having gone in front with a goal from Steve Kabba it was Paul Peschisolido with his first goal of the season who equalised late to earn the point.

Down at the bottom neither Stoke nor Grimsby have played but Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday have both picked up home points. Brighton drew 0-0 with Palace last Tuesday in a game they really should have won and Sheffield Wednesday provided Watford with their first point since 1^st March when the two sides met at Hillsborough.

It was a stoppage time goal from Danny Maddix that earned the point for Wednesday, Lee Bradbury had earlier equalised from the spot only for Watford to go back in front. The Watford goals were scored by Tommy Smith and Jason Norville.

Our 2-0 defeat at home to Bradford was the only game not involving the top group or the bottom group and was a game where youth triumphed over experience. Bradford had seven players in their squad 20 years or younger.

There are no midweek fixtures in Division One this week but a full fixture list at the weekend with one of the games on the Friday. This one is of particular interest to Burnley fans with Glen Little set to make his Reading debut, he is expected to be named as a substitute.

The fixtures are shown below with kick off 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise shown,

Friday 4^th April

Reading v Brighton and Hove Albion

Saturday 5^th April

Bradford City v Millwall
Burnley v Watford
Crystal Palace v Sheffield United
Derby County v Norwich City
Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest
Leicester City v Grimsby Town
Preston North End v Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday v Franchise
Stoke City v Gillingham
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Rotherham United
Walsall v Portsmouth

The leading goalscores are shown below and we have also been asked which players have scored 3 or more in a game this season. They are also shown below.

Leading Goalscorers (League Only)

22: David Johnson (Nottm. Forest)
19: David Connolly (Franchise)
18: Marlon Harewood (Nottm. Forest)
18: Svetoslav Todorov (Portsmouth)
17: Paul Dickov (Leicester)
17: Kenny Miller (Wolves)
15: Neil Shipperley (Franchise)
14: Richard Cresswell (Preston)
14: Andy Gray (Bradford)
13: Michael Brown (Sheffield United)
13: Darren Byfield (Rotherham)
13: Nicky Forster (Reading)
13: Steve Kabba (Sheffield United inc. 1 for Palace & 6 for Grimsby)
13: Alan Lee (Rotherham)
12: Brian Deane (Leicester)
12: Paul McVeigh (Norwich)
12: Paul Shaw (Gillingham)

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