Championship Fixtures (and Postponements) 18th December 2010 (Part 2)

Ipswich Town v Leicester City
Six defeats on the spin have left Ipswich just three points from the relegation zone. I seem to have recollections of them being unbeaten in the league, then unbeaten at home… but that seems like such a long tme ago and it probably seems like even longer if you’re an Ipswich fan.
Even more worryingly, Roy Keane thinks he’s been too nice to his players. Now there’s a scary thought.
Leicester could be feeling confident after thrashing Doncaster Rovers 5-1 last weekend. Or they could be feeling worried after losing their last two away games.
Troy Brown could keep his place in Ipswich’s defence but considering they can only beat Premier League teams at the moment, Roy Keane might make a few changes.
Andy King will start for Leicester.
Elliott Chamberlain is apparently on trial with Blue Square Premier club Oxford United. I did wonder if it was an old article but I think they just got the league wrong.


Leeds United v Queen’s Park Rangers
QPR’s long unbeaten run came to an end last weekend when Watford beat them 3-1. They can’t even comfort themselves by remembering that they still remain unbeaten at home. Not when this match is away. Leeds are unbeaten in eight matches. So they’ve still got a way to go before they match what QPR achieved.
Sanchez Watt is apparently in contention for a place in the squad but I know what Leeds are like, I’ll believe it when I see it. He scored in a behind-closed-doors match where Leeds beat Newcastle United 4-1.

Millwall v Barnsley
Barnsley are unbeaten in five matches – three points from the play-offs, and not forgetting their game in hand. But Millwall are just one point behind them and unbeaten in four. They also have the home advantage: Barnsley have only won twice away.
Millwall’s striker crisis has probably eased a bit by now but even so, they’ll almost certainly pick Steve Morison. And Kenny Jackett says Nottingham Forest haven’t made a bid for Steve which is good news.

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace
I don’t want to speak to soon but for the moment it looks like Nottingham Forest might actually be able to play their match this time. Their last two have fallen victim to the weather.
Forest are the only team in the Championship who are still unbeaten at home and they’ll be hoping things stay that way. If they draw again they’ll still be unbeaten but they’ll have drawn half their league matches this season. Palace have only one win – and one draw – from away games this season.
Aaron Ramsey is probably struggling to build up match fitness as there have’t been any matches but he should get a substitute appearance in this one. If it happens.
Chris Gunter and Robert Earnshaw should start.
Lewis Price and Andy Dorman will probably be on the bench for Palace.

Wales v Austria Under-21 match Squad Updates

Wales v AustriaFour players have withdrawn from the under-21 friendly between Wales and Austria.
Tom Bradshaw (Shrewsbury Town) still hasn’t recovered from the last time he played for Wales. He has an ankle injury but he should return to full training next week.
Jake Taylor (Reading) is recovering from knee surgery
Joe Allen (Swansea City) has a dead leg.
Adam Matthews (Cardiff City) has also withdrawn but I don’t know why.

Robert Ogleby (Heart of Midlothian), Elliott Chamberlain (Leicester City), James Bloom (Falkirk) and Tom Bender (Colchester United) have been called up to replace them – though Elliott and James weren’t on the original stand-by list.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Rhys Taylor (Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Chelsea), David Cornell (Swansea City)
Defenders: Daniel Alfei (Swansea City), Tom Bender (Colchester), James Bloom (Falkirk), Ashley Richards (Swansea City), Paul Dummett (Newcastle United), Troy Brown (Ipswich Town), David Stephens (Hibernian)
Midfielders: Elliott Chamberlain (Leicester City), Nathan Craig (Everton), Lee Lucas (Swansea City), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town), Joe Partington (AFC Bournemouth), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Ryan Doble (Southampton), Robert Ogleby (Hearts), Casey Thomas (Swansea City)
Stand-By Players: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Joe Walsh (Swansea City), Jonathan Meades (FK Moss, on loan from Cardiff City)

Wales under-19s qualiify

The Wales under-19s have qualified for the Uefa Under-19 Championships after winning one and drawing two matches in their group. Turkey have also qualified, while Kazakhstan and Iceland are both out.

Wales 3-3 Turkey
Turkey opened the scoring early on and when Wales eventually found an equaliser through Aaron Holloway, Turkey went ahead two minutes later which is not what we like to see. In the 88th minute, Turkey were leading 3-1 but Wales didn’t give up and they were rewarded with two goals in two minutes, from Tom Bradshaw and Adam Matthews.
Wales: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Daniel Alfei (Swansea City), Joe Walsh (Swansea City), Adam Matthews (Cardiff City), Tom Bender (Colchester United), Lee Lucas (Swansea City), Aaron Holloway (Bristol City), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town), Reece Jones (AFC Wimbledon), Josh Dawkin (Norwich City), Elliott Chamberlain (Leicester City)
Subs: Daniel Ward (Wrexham), Max Penk (Wrexham), Kieron Freeman (Nottingham Forest), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Kayelden Brown (West Bromwich Albion), Ibrahim Farah (Cardiff City), Tom Bradshaw (Shrewsbury Town)

Wales 2-1 Iceland
Adam Matthews missed an early penalty when Billy Bodin was fouled and Iceland went ahead after winning a penalty of their own. But this only meant that when Wales were awarded a second penalty, Wales knew how it was done and Billy Bodin stepped up himself and stuck it in the net in the 56th minute.
Substitute Elliot Chamberlain scored the winner in the 79th minute after a pass from Kieron Freeman and gave Wales a deserved win.
Wales: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Daniel Alfei (Swansea City), Joe Walsh (Swansea City), Adam Matthews (Cardiff City), Kieron Freeman (Nottingham Forest), Lee Lucas (Swansea City), Aaron Holloway (Bristol City), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Kayelden Brown (West Bromwich Albion), Tom Bradshaw (Shrewsbury Town).
Subs: Daniel Ward (Wrexham), Max Penk (Wrexham), Tom Bender (Colchester United), Reece Jones (AFC Wimbledon), Josh Dawkin (Norwich City, Ibrahim Farah (Cardiff City), Elliott Chamberlain (Leicester City)

Wales 1 - 1 Kazakhstan
Wales drew in their final match but it was enough to send them through. Elliot Chamberlain was promoted to the starting line-up following his supersub performance against Iceland. It paid off when he found the net again to put Wales ahead after 50 minutes, with an assist by Lee Lucas. Unfortunately Kazakhstan found an equaliser shortly after the hour mark but Wales are through – and also unbeaten.
Wales: Daniel Ward (Wrexham), Daniel Alfei (Swansea City, Max Penk (Wrexham, Adam Matthews (Cardiff City), Kieron Freeman (Nottingham Forest), Lee Lucas (Swansea City), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town), Reece Jones (AFC Wimbledon), Kayelden Brown (West Bromwich Albion), Tom Bradshaw (Shrewsbury Town), Elliott Chamberlain (Leicester City)
Subs: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Joe Walsh (Swansea City), Tom Bender (Colchester United), Aaron Holloway (Bristol City), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Joshua Dawkin (Norwich City), Ibrahim Farah (Cardiff City)

I don’t know much about Aaron Holloway, other than the fact he’s a defender, he plays for Bristol City and it was thought he could be in one of Bristol City’s squads during an injury crisis. But anyone who says ‘I love playing for Wales’ is very much in my good books.

Pre-season Friendlies (Part One)

AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Millwall
Steve Morison scored a penalty to give Millwall a win over rivals AFC Wimbledon. Millwall manager – and former Welsh international – Kenny Jackett has apparently told John Toshack to pick Steve for Wales. I second his motion.

Arka Gdynia 1-0 Notts County
Just because I haven't heard of Arka Gdynia, it doesn't mean this is a bad result for Notts County. They are in the top Polish division.
Ben Davies missed out on this match due to a slight groin problem.

Basingstoke 2-1 Aston Villa
Goalkeeper Elliott Parish played for Aston Villa as they lost to Blue Square South team Basingstoke. James Collins came off the bench but that wasn’t the Welsh one. The Welsh one didn’t play.

Basingstoke 2-1 Southampton XI
If Basingstoke can beat Aston Villa, they ought to be able to beat Southampton and this is exactly what they did. Anthony Pulis came off the bench in the second half but Ryan Doble didn’t play.

Bohemians 0-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wayne Hennessey finally got back where he belonged for Wolves (between the sticks) when they played Irish side Bohemians. David Jones also played and got the header for the opening goal. Sam Vokes came off the bench and nearly scored. I’m not sure about Dave Edwards but this article suggests he was a substitute.

Boston United 1-0 Grimsby Town
Grimsby continue to show off their transfer-listed players, including striker Chris Jones, who nearly scored. Grimsby lost but as they left all their first-team players behind, maybe that wasn’t a huge surprise.

Wales Player News 21st May

Premier League
Owen Hargreaves wants a word with Sir Alex Ferguson about exactly what he said to put Fabio Capello off picking him for the World Cup. Or at least, the Sun says he does.

Ryan Giggs will be supporting England at the World Cup. As long as he doesn’t support them in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, I’m happy.

Manchester United and Liverpool are just two of the clubs that have shown an interest in Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross, who began his career at Man Utd. However, Stoke are confident he’ll stay with them.

Wayne Hennessey could move to Burnley on a season-long loan as they fight to bounce back into the Premier League. The goalkeeper has also been linked to Liverpool.

Sam Vokes was tipped to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers after barely featuring this season. However the striker has just signed a new three-year contract, despite having two years left on his current deal. Sam hopes to play a much bigger part for Wolves next season. I really hope he does too.

Championship
Darcy Blake’s season began with his hoping to get a contract with a club who ended up being relegated (Plymouth Argyle). Instead, he has a very good chance of playing for Cardiff City in the play-off final. It’s fair to say things have turned out better than he expected.

Joe Ledley has been dodging questions about his future with Cardiff. He says he’ll decide after the play-off final and that it’s up to the chairman to give him a new contract. I thought Joe has already been offered a new contract but I could be wrong. The fact he isn’t thinking of tomorrow as his last match with Cardiff is probably a good sign.

Andrew Crofts has attracted the attention of League One Champions Norwich City after some excellent performances for Brighton & Hove Albion. Brighton are hoping to persuade Andrew not only to stay but to sign an extension to his current contract, which runs out at the end of next season.

Ipswich Town and Rangers are both interested in signing Andy Dorman, whose contract with St Mirren runs out this summer.

League One
Mark Bradley is hoping to feature for Wales against Croatia and that lots of managers will be watching. Mark is without a club after being released by Walsall.

Elliott Chamberlain, recently named as Leicester City’s Academy Player of the Year, has signed his first professional contract.

League Two
Peter Gilbert has signed a new contract which will keep him at Northampton Town until the end of next season.

FA Cup Third Round Draw Part 4

Staines Town or Millwall v Derby County
Staines or Jason Price v Robbie Savage

Plymouth Argyle v Newcastle United
Carl Fletcher & Kyle Letheren v Newcastle

Leicester City v Swansea City
Nicky Adams, Andy King & Elliott Chamberlain v Ashley Williams, Joe Allen & Ashley Richards

Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
Sam Ricketts v Anthony Pulis (if permitted to play)

Accrington Stanley or Barnet v Gillingham

Manchester United v Kettering Town or Leeds United
Ryan Giggs v Kettering or Leeds