Championship Results 16th February Part 1

Blackpool 2-0 Middlesbrough
A win for Blackpool brought them level on points with Middlesbrough and ahead of them on goal difference. It could have been very different – if Middlesbrough had scored their penalty the score would have been 1-1 and then Blackpool’s second goal might never have happened.
Ian Holloway still wouldn’t let naughty Neal Eardley play but maybe he really is injured (it’s his knee) although Ollie could be wanting him back next week as Rob Edwards has earned himself another red card.
David Vaughan was one of Blackpool’s key players for the first 81 minutes (I really hope that was a tactical substitution) but Daniel Nardiello is still out with a groin injury.
Daniel says his dream is to play for Coventry City. It would be a bit of a step-down but I can understand. If I was playing for Manchester United and Arsene Wenger showed an interest I’d come running.
Danny Coyne did make some good saves for Boro - without him, it could have been more than 2-0. But that might not be a lot of comfort for Boro fans.

Bristol City 1-1 Leicester City
Poor Bristol City. When David Clarkson scored in the first minute of injury time, they probably thought they’d won it. But a minute later, it was Leicester’s turn to put the ball into the back of the net. Last-minute equalisers are always cruel but when the opening goal came so late, perhaps it hurts even more.
Lewin Nyatanga gave a strong defensive performance for Bristol City but Gavin Williams was back on the bench. And so was James Wilson – either he’s changed his squad number or I wrote it down incorrectly on my spreadsheet or possibly I forgot to change his squad number when he returned from his loan spell at Brentford. So it’s probably my fault isn’t it?
Nicky Adams was on the bench for Leicester after being forced to return from lovely Leyton Orient where he was so happy but Leicester put him on after 73 minutes so at least it seems as though they really want him. Andy King did well in Leicester’s three-man midfield. He might not be scoring at the moment but he’s still creating chances.

Cardiff City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
It’s actually a pretty good point for an injury-ravaged Cardiff, who probably didn’t really want to be facing any automatic promotion contenders at this time. But they went ahead after 8 minutes when they won a penalty (naturally West Brom think it wasn’t one) and they were really quite unlucky to be in a match with four minutes of added time at the end of the first half. That really was adding insult to injury.
But it happened and Cardiff survived. Aaron Wildig, who is still troubled by back problems, had an excellent first half before tiring in the second and being replaced by Darcy Blake, who also played well having recovered (I hope!) from his own back injury. Manager Dave Jones feels Aaron needs to bulk up but he can’t lift weights because of his back. Adam Matthews was on the bench.