Royal Easter Resurrection

Three years ago Reading were relegated from the 1st division of English football, and have since been a top half championship club.

Back in December, the Royals sat 14th in the Championship and as people were beginning to speculate on who would go up and who would be in the play-off’s, Reading were rarely featured candidates.

But now, from nowhere, as we near the Championship finish line, Reading are looking destined for a play-off place at the very least.

February saw Reading take just 1 win from 7 games, at home to Millwall. March and April (so far) have seen them lose just one game, and that was Man City in the FA Cup.

Reading have won 9 of their last 10 games in the league and look sure to finish in the top 6, with another automatic place up for grabs.

Easter Round-up

All 24 teams were in action TWICE over the Easter period.

Preston have to play their remaining 2 games against Ipswich and Watford knowing they are to play league 1 football next season. It was Peter Wittingham’s early goal that relegated Preston as they lost 1-0 at home to Cardiff City.

Queens Park Rangers will have to hold fire with their promotion party as they drew 1-1 at home to Hull. Wayne Routledge opened the scoring early for Rangers but a late equaliser from David Amoo means QPR aren’t in the Prem yet. They sit five points clear at the top of the table with two games to play.

Norwich remain 2nd after Simeon Jackson’s hat-trick beat Derby 3-2.

Cystal Palace and Doncaster Rovers just need one point each from their remaining games to stay in the Championship.

Swansea and Forest have secured their play-off places after beating Ipswich and Bristol respectively.

Leeds United’s season hopes were dashed after they lost 1-0 at Palace to an 80 second goal.

Watford are now unable to clinch a play-off spot as they were beaten 4-2 away at Leicester.

Good Friday?

For many of us, Easter is a time of confusion, what does it mean? Which day do we eat chocolate? And how come it changes every year? But one thing that is a dead cert, Easter means lots and lots of football.

All 24 teams are in action twice over the Easter weekend which will leave just two more games to decide everyones fate. The Easter fixtures are as follows:

Thurs 21st

Ipswich v Norwich

Friday 22nd

Coventry v Scunthorpe; Doncaster v Cystal Palace; Nottingham Forest v Leicester; Leeds v Reading.

Saturday 23rd

Cardiff v QPR; Derby v Burnley; Hull v Middlesborough; Portsmouth v Swansea; Sheffield v Bristol; Watford v Barnsley; Millwall v Preston.

Monday 25th

Barnsley v Doncaster; Bristol v Nottingham Forest; Burnley v Portsmouth; Cystal Palace v Leeds; Leicester v Watford; Middlesborough v Coventry; Norwich v Derby; Preston v Cardiff; QPR v Hull; Reading v Sheffield; Scunthorpe v Millwall; Swansea v Ipswich.

Hornet Danny Graham is fans favourite

Watford’s Danny Graham has been crowned as the ESPN PFA fans player of the year.

This season Graham set a new club record by scoring in seven consecutive matches, and has smashed the 20 goal barrier with consistently classy performances.

25 year old Graham had a rocky start to his career. He joined Middlesborough in 2003 scoring one goal in 15 appearances. As a Borough player he enjoyed five loan spells at Darlington, Derby, Leeds, Blackpool, and Carlisle. It was Carlisle where Danny first made an impact and he joined them in 2007, going on to score 29 goals in 89 games.

He joined Watford in 2009 and has already smashed that record scoring 38 goals in 87 games.

Five Alive

Last chance saloon in our two featured games of this weekends Championship action see the bottom four sides all playing. 2nd bottom Preston host bottom placed Sheff United, and just above them, Scunthorpe travel down to Crystal Palace.

The relegation candidates have just five games left to try and cling on to their division two status.

When Preston visited Bramall lane in August this season they suffered a 1-0 loss. It was a 1-0 loss at home to Leicester on Feb 1st that pushed the Blades into the bottom three where they have remained. Two years ago this fixture was a play-off semi-final but on Saturday it looks like the losing side will be destined for 3rd tier football next season.

Palace will be looking to extend their safety cushion to nine points on Saturday. When Scunthorpe hosted Palace in August they put three past the Eagles but poor form has put them in the bottom three, Scunthorpe managed just one win in March.

Forest lose (again) and Swansea win (again)

To South Wales first where The Swans just keep on winning. They put 3 past Norwich, and a win for Cardiff means that both the Welsh sides are level on 69 points just a point behind 2nd place Norwich.

Swans boss Brendan Rodgers made two changes to the side that lost to bottom of the league Preston. It was the home goal that came under threat first with Swans keeper Dorus De Vries having to keep Dani Pacheco and Grant Holt at bay after just four minutes. But a minute later the first goal came. Fabio Borini was fouled 25 yards out and converted with a stunning curling free kick into the top corner.

Norwich pressed for the equaliser with Holt coming close on numerous occasions, but just before the half hour mark the 2nd Swansea goal came. Mark Gower took advantage of a loose clearance to hit a 25 yard screamer for his first of the season.

Still Norwich pressed, but four minutes into injury time the 3rd goal came as Priskin beat Norwich keeper Ruddy to a through ball which was tapped home for 3-0.

Nottingham Forest’s poor run continued as they were beaten 4-3 at home to an in form Reading, which sees them slide to four points off a play-off place. Grab a Cuppa and get comfy because this is a rollercoaster.

As with many high pressure games, the first 10 minutes were played in a cagey way with both having only half chances. The game gradually heated up until on 20 minutes Reading’s Long was brought down just on the edge of the box. Leeds legend Ian Harte stepped up to take the free kick that was sent curling past usually water tight keeper Lee Camp.

Forest then equalised for the first time of the afternoon when Lewis McGugan was brought down in the box. Kris Boyd converted the resultant penalty to make it 1-1.

Reading were on the front foot but despite attacking chances from Harte and Jimmy Kebe, the first half closed on even score-line.

The start to the second half was very open with both sides looking to get their noses in front. The 3rd goal of the game came from Forest’s Robert Earnshaw who produced a stunning turn and finish to beat Reading keeper McCarthy.

The Royals got back in the game just three minutes later. Ian Harte Harte Harte was involved again, providing a corner which Jem Karacan headed home to even things on 2-2.

Reading began mounting more pressure, mainly from Kebe, who got Readings 3rd goal. Ivar Ingimarsson’s shot was blocked and Kebe tapped home the rebound.

Forest then received their 2nd penalty of the afternoon when Hal Robson-Kanu was punished for a foul which Lewis McGugan sent home from the spot on 88 minutes.

Reading then nicked the winning goal in the dying stages of the game to give them seven wins in their last eight, and strengthen their ascendancy into the play-off places.

The Business End

Nottingham Forest feature again in our two selected games of the coming weekend as they have the chance to go level on points with 6th place Reading. The sides drew one all the last time they met back in October. Forest’s 4-1 thumping at the hands of Leeds last week was their 9th game without a win. With just seven  games left to play, Forest may soon begin to see their play-off hopes fade.

Reading had a poor Febuary that saw them fall out of the top six, winning just one in seven games. March and April (so far) have provided a good run, Reading have taken 18 points from a possible 21. A win for Reading at the City ground, and a loss for Leeds down in the Den, would see Reading leap-frog Leeds into 5th place.

Our other featured game is also at the top of the table as Swansea try to take an automatic spot from Norwich. With a win, Swansea will climb to just a point behind 2nd place Norwich who are on 70 points. South Wales rivals Cardiff will join Swansea on 69 points if they collect all three from Doncaster.

Norwich will take confidence into this game from their 6-0 demolision of Scunthorpe last week. Whereas The Swans will be wondering what went wrong as they lost 2-1 away to bottom of the table Preston.

The late kick off game at the Liberty stadium can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 (K.O 17:20).

Championship Goals Galore

It was a weekend of wide margins as Cardiff and Leeds both won their games 4-1, QPR put three past Sheff United, and Norwich beat Scunny 6-0.

To Elland Road first for a vital game for both playoff hunters, so much so that free to air viewers were able to watch on the Beeb:

Not much to talk about in the first half. Both sides enjoyed possession and created their fair share of chances, but a goal never came. The most notable chance was on 35 minutes where Forest fired a shot heading for goal that had to be cleared off the line. On the resultant counter attack, George McCartney was the victim of a lunging tackle which resulted in a red card for Chris Cohen.

United started the 2nd half brightest and on the front foot. The White pressure paid off as the first goal came six minutes after the restart with a Jonny Howson finish. Leeds rarely score from set pieces but just before the hour a scrambled corner found its way into the goal thanks to a Becchio header. The two goal lead lasted seven minutes. A stunning run into the box and excellent finish from Gareth McCleary made it 2-1.

Forest looked to level things but poor defending by the reds meant Gradel could execute a stunning finish from an in swung free kick to restore United’s breathing space. It was game over on 87 minutes when debutant Jake Livermore produced some fantastic weaving inside the box, and the saved shot was there for Gradel to get his 2nd of the afternoon and make it 4-1.

It was top v bottom as Sheffield United made the long trip down to Loftus Road desperately in search of something.

Both sides created chances but the best of the pressure came from Rangers. It paid off as the first goal came just before the half hour mark. Helguson brought the ball down on the wing to deliver a looped cross into the box. Routledge found himself some space and from 10 yards, volleyed passed Blades keeper Simonsen.

United responded immediately with two good attempts that had to be blocked. A frantic first half ended with United just missing the opportunity to level things.

QPR waited just seven minutes of the 2nd half to double their lead. Faurlin’s beautiful shot from the edge of the box found its way past the keeper. Routledge’s second of the match came from a stunning passing move that resulted in a shot low, to the left of the goal keeper from 18 yards.

Another win puts Rangers 9 points clear at the summit of division two as they look to sail back to the top tier.

Championship Return

After a two week international break, the Championship makes its return this weekend. With just over a month to go, and eight games left to play, it’s set to be an exciting April. On Monday the 4^th April we’ve got League leaders QPR at home to relegation scramblers Sheffield United. The Blades sit 22^nd in division two, just four points from bottom place Preston North End, who also face a tough task this weekend hosting Swansea City. With Cardiff and Swansea still to play, The Blades desperately need to take points off Preston, Barnsley and Borough unless they want to be sharing division three with their Sheffield rivals.

Nearer the top we have a vital play-off game for both Leeds United and Notts Forest. 2^nd place Forest make the trip up north to face the Whites who have a mere one point cushion in 5^th place. The Reds poor run could prove valuable for Leeds as they haven’t won a game since the 19^th February. But Elland Road has seen plenty of goals this season, 12 in the last five games.