Wally with a Brolly

In a week that saw Tiger Woods finally toppled from the pinnacle of the Golf world hierarchy by England’s Lee Westwood, a major shift of momentum at the top of the Championship table also saw QPR finally replaced as early season front-runners by on form Cardiff City, whilst several unexpected results in the notoriously hard to predict division – often touted as the most exciting in the country – lead to a league table that looked remarkably different at the end of the weekend than at the start.

Game of the Week:

This week’s game of the week was not a hard one to select. Reading’s 4-3 home triumph over Doncaster, involving seven goals and a miraculous comeback by the dogged Royals, was compelling from start to finish. With the two teams beginning the match just one place apart and playing very similar styles, many had predicted a tight contest. However, when Reading took the lead thanks to a rare Matt Mills strike, admittedly fumbled and within yards of the goal, in just the 9^th minute it looked as though Reading’s home advantage could lead to an unexpected rout. The disparity, though, did not last long and in the 26^th minute James Hayter scored a fantastic header to level matters up.

A 1-1 score-line would have been an acceptable half-time score for both teams, but Reading did not receive such luck as a 42^nd minute Martis goal sent them into the break a goal down, with manager Brian McDermott’s team-talk seeming to arouse no immediate fight-back as Shiels struck with a low drive just 5 minutes after the re-start to double the advantage. Suddenly, Doncaster looked as though the team that may be taking an unexpected and simple three points. Jem Karacan, though, had other ideas and a bullet header in the 60^th minute left Doncaster ‘keeper, 40 year-old veteran Neil Sullivan, rooted to the spot, and in the 74^th minute the teams were level again when a stunning (but quite predictable) Ian Harte free kick evaded not only the wall and Sullivan but a Doncaster man who’d positioned himself on the post.

With time running out and both managers freshening up their line-ups with a flurry of substitutions, a draw began to seem the likely result. However, Simon Church had other ideas, and with 1 minute remaining in normal time a slick one-touch passing move lead to an inviting cross buried at the near post by the Welsh frontman. A fitting finale to an incredible match.

Player of the Week

Jonny Howson. A 15 minute hat-trick and an assist in Leeds United’s impressive 4-1 away defeat of Scunthorpe mean the influential local 22 year-old fully deserves the accolade this week. An inspirational display by the midfielder turned the game on its head in the second half as Leeds regained the lead after Max Gradel’s 8^th minute effort had been cancelled out by Scunthorpe’s Byrne on 27. The midfielder notched a further 2 goals in 2 minutes (74, 75) to ensure his team three valuable points following Leeds’ 4-0 thrashing by Cardiff – with a brief, but deserved, mention going to Jay Boothroyd here, who has started the season in inspired form - the week prior.

Local boy Howson celebrates an impressive hat-trick

Individual goal of the Week

Adel Taarabt’s 30 yard screamer narrowly pips Barnsley midfielder Adam Hammill’s impressive long range effort for best individual goal this week. Picking the ball up half way inside Burnley’s half, the ex-Spurs midfielder turned several defenders inside out before unleashing an unstoppable drive that had beaten the ‘keeper before he’d even realised it was struck. Unfortunately for Taarabt and QPR, the team produced very little else for the remainder of the match and Gary Alexander’s spot-kick just before the break was enough to see both teams walk away with a point and help knock Rangers from top-spot.

Adel Taarabt celebrates with the QPR faithful

Team goal of the Week

Team goal of the week this week goes to Reading and Simon Church’s last-minute winner. A spectacular passing move at the easiest of times, but with so little time left on the clock in front of an agitated home crowd and against a team well-known for its concentration and stubbornness, the manner of substitute Church’s 3^rd goal of the season must be admired.

Team performance of the Week

Derby County’s fantastic 4-1 win over Watford. A usually unpredictable team, Derby dominated the contest from start to finish, scoring four wonderful goals in the process. A double from the ever-improving Tomasz Cywka, plus two other fine efforts from right-back Brayford and substitute Shefki Kuqi was easily enough to nullify Watford’s all too frequent goal shyness, and ruin debutant Matthew Wichelow’s day following his first goal for the club – following a Xavi-esque through ball by midfielder Stephen McGinn.

Team of the Week:

GK – Keiren Westwood (Coventry City)