Millwall celebrated a come back to the second tier with a trashing of Bristol City, away (3-0). Ok there’s a fact City were without a bunch of regular players, but they’re also tipped as a contender for a play-off. Boss Jackett has a team that looks like entity, hard working side that rarely waste the points. Especially at the Den where they won 10 of last 11 games and in whole previous season (season in League One though) lost just once (in last November)! No injury concerns for Jackett as he has again striker Steve Morison and midfielder Darren Carter after international duty and a suspension. After slight injuries, Liam Trotter and Jimmy Abdou are back in contention as well.
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Hull are tipped as one of the strongest team in Championship and they started well beating Swans 2-0. Nigel Pearson has a decent player for the second tier, but first problem is his key man, Jimmy Bullard, who doesn’t seem interested in playing for Hull any more. Other, probably bigger problem, is their away shape. Last season they were, only team without a win in Premier (6 draws, 13 defeats), in total 24 away league games without a win! Also, their only victory in 17 visits to Millwall was a 1-0 win in the old Second Division in August 1986. Promoted teams have a “first season” syndrome, at demoted teams symptoms are opposite. This could be a painful waking up and crash with the second level reality.
Lions surely like to look at themselves at 2nd spot. They have never stopped to dream about Premier and they’ll be putting maximum effort as long as their dream last. I expect a tight game, elbow in the favorite’s teeth and 1-0 home win.
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Bet: Millwall 0.0ah
Odd: 1.84 188bet
Stake: 8/10
Birmingham 1 - 0 Fulham
Plymouth made a run of three games without a defeat. Home draw against drowning Kean and Ipswich wasn’t unexpected, but making a nightmare from Strachan’s debut in Boro really was. 1-0 win at Riverside gave them the wings and lads defeated Doncaster (2-1) at home in next round. Manager Paul Sturrock is keen to stick with the formula that has provided two excellent wins, but his plans, however, may be disrupted by injury concerns over two of the heroes from those victories. Plymouth biggest strength are counter attacks through the flanks and excellent execution by Rory Fallon. Appearance of both wingers, Alan Judge and Craig Noone, will need to be assessed. I guess one will play. Also, Fallon scored the winning goal for his New Zealand and led them to WC. Long trip and lack of focus could reflect on his performance at Walkers. On-loan right-back, David Gray, will have a late fitness test, while captain Carl Fletcher is available again after serving a one-match ban.
Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Portsmouth
Oppositely from tonight’s hosts, Peterboroug find it’s very difficult to collect points in the second tier, noticing their worst start to a season for 21 years. Three draws and same defeats from opening six rounds, with six goals scored and big ten conceded (just Scunthorpe have managed to concede more – 13). Strategy for backing on own forces hasn’t brought anything good, so far. Squad hasn’t been strengthened during the transfer market and visitors will face a tough season to avoid return to League One. However, yet they can consider themselves unlucky following a series of some good displays that have gone unrewarded. Last one was in Saturday’s draw (1-1) against favored QPR on the road. Lads showed some courage, attacked the hosts and took a lead in the opening stage of the game. Conceded a goal later, but was closer to victory. One their goal was cancelled in stoppage time and even QPR’s boss Jim Magilton said that his side were lucky to avoid defeat. Now Posh have to turn good displays in collecting the points. Well, Walkers Stadium is not the best place for improving the points balance, but maybe their luck will change. Boss Darren Ferguson will again be without his key defender Charlie Lee as his ankle injury has not yet healed and striker Ben Wright is also out.
New campaign in the second tier of English football, Leicester started with a win against Swansea at their Walkers stadium. Home fans passed through the torture during the first half, as visitors took a lead and Steve Howard missed to equalize from a penalty kick. Under the guidance of Nigel Pearson, thankfully to excellent physically condition of the players, Leicester became known as a “second-half team”. And once again, they decided a game in the second period with two strikes by two substitutions, Martyn Waghorn and Danny N'Guessan. During the mid-week, Leicester also had a successful appearance in Carling Cup, against League Two side – Macclesfield (2-0 win). It is still far from any kind of euphoria, but though nobody at Walkers isn’t saying loud, play-off became a season objective. Players are full of confidence and all hope they can make a serious impact in the Championship this season. In League One, Leicester used to attack and there’s no doubt, they’re traveling to Portman Road for a win. Beside they don’t know to defend, boss Nigel Pearson will try with attacks to use the holes in Ipswich’s shaky defence line. Right-back Robbie Neilson has served a ban and is likely to make his debut, while midfielder Andy King and defender Aleksandar Tunchev are both pushing for a place after returning from midweek international duty.
In the previous season, Swansea had a dream debut in Championship, playing much over the expectations and at the end almost caught a play-off, finishing at 8th place. Now have to cope with the “second season” syndrome when teams usually lost all enthusiasm that playing in higher league provokes and the majority of pre-season opinion is that they will struggle to replicate last season's results. Beside that, Welsh side suffered three significant losses over the summer, with maybe the best manager in Championship last year, Roberto Martinez and top scorer Jason Scotland both moving to Wigan. Excellent midfielder Jordi Gomez, little later also joined Wigan. The biggest signing is ex QPR manager Paulo Sousa. From the same club came midfielder Jordi Lopez, striker Stephen Dobbie came from Queen of the South, while last season on loan winger Nathan Dyer signed a permanent deal. Sousa has some injury concerns for the season opener. Winger Tom Butler is out following hernia surgery, as are midfielders Ferrie Bodde (knee) and excellent Darren Pratley (shoulder). The Welsh club have lost their opening league fixture in each of the last three years.
