The latest round of Championship fixtures saw some big moves at the top as clubs seek to establish an early advantage in the league. Middlesbrough had one of the most impressive bursts of form, winning their first four fixtures, the club’s best start since the 1994/95 campaign. Sheffield United had an especially rough open to the season. They lost all four such matches out of the top tier, a rarity that has only happened once before in their history.
In another very close game, Middlesbrough managed a 1-0 win over Sheffield United. This victory not only solidified Middlesbrough’s strong position but highlighted Sheffield’s ongoing struggles as they attempt to navigate a difficult league campaign. QPR finally ended their seven-match winless run with an impressive 3-1 win over Charlton. NOTES This victory has reinvigorated Hearts’ title hopes.
Middlesbrough’s Impressive Start
Yet Middlesbrough’s run shows little signs of stopping, having established a campaign-best run of four straight top of the table wins to begin the season. No matter how you slice it, this historic achievement is their best start in almost three decades and has fans and pundits dreaming of possible playoff runs. Perhaps no match embodied that fighting spirit and tactical acumen than their most recent home win against Sheffield United. They made an incredible grassroots stand and won a stunning narrow victory.
The resulting match featured an almost complete performance with Middlesbrough controlling possession and the Lions having eight legitimate scoring chances. It was a ruthless finish from one of their talismanic forwards to bring home the victory, highlighting their attacking threat. Post-match, Chris Davies remarked on the team’s performance, stating:
“I thought we had the lion’s share of the game, were strong and dominant throughout.” – Chris Davies
With this form, Middlesbrough are well and truly in the running for promotion as they march on in their campaign in good spirits.
Sheffield United’s Struggles
Sheffield United’s majorly underwhelming start to the season has seen them rooted in a place nightmare scenario. Coming in after four defeats in a row, the club soon began to feel adrift of form and consistency. It’s just the second time since the 1995/96 season that they’ve begun a league season this badly. Troubling is their losing battle below the top tier.
Therefore, the players and their fans at the time felt the loss to Middlesbrough especially keenly. Even with promising opportunities peppered across the entirety of the match, Sheffield United couldn’t find a way to make their chances count. As the frustrations build, the team needs to re-group and closely find a way to stop the bleeding and change their luck.
With more fixtures already piling up with their next opponent, Sheffield United must reset if they are to turn things around and still have a season worth saving.
“I thought we disrupted Leicester and played well with the ball until the final bit where we couldn’t create clear chances.” – Chris Davies
The Championship sure served up some drama this weekend. After extending their unbeaten streak to seven games with a solid 3-1 victory at Charlton, QPR looked to have finally turned the corner. This victory came as a much-needed shot in the arm to the team’s confidence that helped them climb up the table.
Other Notable Matches
Stoke City were left reeling at home as they fell 1-0 to in-state rivals West Brom. The loss exposed some terrible defensive issues that must be addressed if Stoke want to be a competitive team this season.
In other third round action, Blackburn Rovers lost 2-0 at home to Norwich City. This result was particularly frustrating for Blackburn as Norwich’s Josh Sargent continued his impressive form, becoming just the second player on Opta’s records to score in each of the opening four matchdays of a Championship season.
Bristol City continued their pursuit of the playoffs with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Hull City, showing off their attacking prowess. Ipswich Town and Derby County’s exciting 2-2 draw, at Millwall, as the South London club lost 0-2 to Wrexham. Oxford United too dropped points with Coventry City in a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Other results included Portsmouth edging out Preston North End with a narrow 1-0 win and Leicester City defeating Birmingham City 2-0. Sheffield Wednesday had a difficult outing against fellow relegation battlers Swansea City, leading to a crushing 0-2 loss.
Other results included Portsmouth edging out Preston North End with a narrow 1-0 win and Leicester City defeating Birmingham City 2-0. Sheffield Wednesday faced a tough match against Swansea City, ending in a 0-2 defeat.
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