Goals galore in Division One

Last Updated : 30-Oct-2002 by

Izale McLeod scored for Derby against Sheffield United
Burnley’s 5 goals in defeat takes some believing as they went down 6-5 to Grimsby at Blundell Park but there as another big scoring game at the Bescot Stadium between Walsall and Crystal Palace.

Walsall made a superb start and were two goals up inside five minutes but Palace pulled one back through Andy Johnson on the half hour. Having restored their two goal advantage in the second half Walsall looked good for the points but Palace came storming back to 3-3 before winning it with a goal in stoppage time. Johnson picked up a hat-trick, his second of the week.

His wasn’t the only hat-trick either and Nathan Blake scored three for Wolves in an easy 4-0 win at Gillingham, a good result this where the Gills don’t drop too many points.

League leaders Portsmouth picked up maximum points again with a 3-2 win against Preston at Fratton Park, it was a far more comfortable win than the scoreline suggests. With second place Norwich dropping points Portsmouth are now seven points clear at the top with Leicester in 2nd place.

Action from Norwich v Forest
Norwich in fact were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Forest where the division’s leading scorer David Johnson had an off night – missing the target on three occasions when he looked set to score.

Tonight’s matches have seen Derby pick up a much needed home win coming from behind to beat Sheffield United at Pride Park whilst Millwall won at the home of Sheffield Wednesday.

Stoke, expected to appoint their new manager tomorrow with George Burley the favourite, were beaten 2-1 by high-flying Watford at the Britannia Stadium.

The highlight though has to be the game between Franchise and Rotherham at Selhurst Park. The result was a bad one and keeps Franchise out of the bottom three but they were watched but the lowest crowd ever for a Division One game, just 849.

Franchise Chairman Charles Koppel has tried to suggest today that this is nothing exceptional and they are doing better financially than last season. Koppel must surely realise soon that he has backed a loser with no future.

As the date for the move to Milton Keynes suffers another embarrassing delay the hopes of them never making it increase – hope yet that football can be the winner.

This weekend’s fixtures (3:00 p.m. kick off unless otherwise shown)

Saturday 2nd November

Brighton and Hove Albion v Bradford City
Coventry City v Rotherham United
Franchise v Norwich City
Grimsby Town v Gillingham
Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United
Portsmouth v Leicester City
Preston North End v Burnley (5:35 p.m.)
Reading v Millwall (12:00 noon)
Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County
Walsall v Stoke City
Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sunday 3rd November

Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace

Leading Goalscorers (League only)

14: David Johnson (Nottm. Forest)
10: Alan Lee (Rotherham)
9: Nathan Blake (Wolves)
8: Darren Byfield (Rotherham)
8: Paul McVeigh (Norwich)
7: Carl Asaba (Sheffield United)
7: Richard Cresswell (Preston)
7: Brian Deane (Leicester)
7: Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace)
7: Steve Kabba (Grimsby including 1 for Crystal Palace)
7: Neil Shipperley (Franchise)
6: Malcolm Christie (Derby)
6: Jamie Cureton (Reading)
6: Paul Dickov (Leicester)
6: Svetoslav Todorov (Portsmouth)
5: Darren Ambrose (Ipswich)
5: Robbie Blake (Burnley)
5: Jay Bothroyd (Coventry)
5: Pablo Counago (Ipswich)
5: Dougie Freedman (Crystal Palace)
5: Heidar Helguson (Watford)
5: Paul Merson (Portsmouth)
5: David Nielson (Norwich)
5: Vincent Pericard (Portsmouth)
5: Michael Tonge (Sheffield United)