And to finish things off, Celtic’s draw with Aberdeen in Scotland.
A timely win for Bournemouth, more of the same for Huddersfield.
Sachin Nakrani saw Saints surge and Spurs fold.
Stuart James was at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Ben Fisher saw a big win for Leeds.
Michael Walker saw a classic comeback at St James’ Park.
The reports are dropping in.
Paul Doyle was at the King Power.
A brief word on Scotland, where Celtic surrendered their 100% home record with a 0-0 draw with Aberdeen.
Leeds United’s 1-0 win at Bristol City puts them two behind Norwich at the top of the table, and two clear of Sheffield United, who won their early game with Rotherham 1-0. With both Middlesbrough and West Brom losing, it’s between those three now for automatic promotion spots. Derby’s draw with Sheffield Wednesday put them into sixth, but Nottingham Forest, who beat Hull 3-0, are coming up on the rails.
More from Scotland.
40’| ARB 0-0 STE #warriors
— Stenhousemuir FC (@StenhousemuirFC) March 9, 2019
PENALTY MISSED !!
Bobby linn puts his penalty over the stand and into the sea
Meanwhile, here’s the latest from Europe.
And that’s a final score at Wycombe: 1-1. Plenty to unpick there. George Honeyman was sent off, having already been substituted, as had Nathan Tyson. Marcus Bean was sent off for two bookable fouls in quick succession, and all while Duncan Watmore had scored that late equaliser.
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Sunderland are still playing at Wycombe, with club captain George Honeyman sent off in the 98th minute. An injury has delayed play for that long. And what’s this? Two Wycombe players off in the 100th and 101st minute, respectively, Marcus Bean and Nathan Tyson. Probably best not to ask Cowdenbeath’s manager his views on that one.
Forget all that excitement at Southampton and Newcastle, it appears the place to be was the draw between Berwick Rangers and Cowdenbeath in Scottish League Two.
Ugly scenes in the dugout as Cowdenbeath’s manager has just told Johnny Harvey to “take his face for a sh*te” #BRFC
— Berwick Rangers (@OfficialBRFC) March 9, 2019
A very late goal indeed to mention, with Duncan Watmore grabbing a late equaliser for Sunderland at Wycombe. An even later goal from Reading, who are now winning 3-2 in injury time against Wigan, having scored a very dodgy second goal.
Full-time: Cardiff 2-0 West Ham
A great result for Cardiff after that horror recent run, though West Ham were obliging.
Full-time: Newcastle 3-2 Everton
Another comeback, but justice done after the great Jordan Pickford moral panic of March 2019? Probably. Magic Marco is on thin ice at Everton.
Full-time: Leicester 3-1 Fulham
Good home start for Brendan, and getting an early tune out of Jamie Vardy is a good sign. Scott Parker will have to save his miracles for next season.
Full-time: Southampton 2-1 Tottenham
What a comeback, and what effect could that have on Tottenham’s hold on a top four place? And it’s also a vital win for Southampton in the relegation battle.
Full-time: Huddersfield 0-2 Bournemouth
Nice and easy for Bournemouth, who don’t like away matches. Huddersfield are heading down.
Leeds United are still winning against Bristol City. That could be a vital win, with Norwich going five points clear last night.
A word for League One strugglers Bradford City, now 3-0 up on Peterborough in Gary Bowyer’s first game in charge.
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The Notts County revival is at an end, as they are now losing 4-1 to Cheltenham. The National League beckons.
Spurs losing their heads here? Sissoko looked to have stuck the nut on Nathan Redmond but has escaped a red-card punishment. With Pochettino sat in the stands, Tottenham have come apart.
Goal! Leicester 3-1 Fulham (Vardy, 86)
It didn’t take 101 too long to arrive. Fulham are always obliging. Nice win for Brendan on day one in his new home.
Goal! Newcastle 3-2 Everton (Perez, 84)
Wow. Perez escapes that ailing Everton defence, with a hint of offside, though phases of play means by the time he was through to score, he was back onside. Oh dear, Everton.
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Goal! Newcastle 2-2 Everton (Perez, 80)
Oh well, at least Jordan Pickford’s unwarranted stay on the field will now be welcomed by Toon fans. It was his catastrophic error that gifted Newcastle an equaliser. Someone who looked so confident last summer has become a nervous wreck.
Goal! Southampton 2-1 Tottenham (Ward-Prowse, 81)
Lucky escape for Kyle Walker-Peters, who has only been red-carded for a foul on galloping Josh Sims. No escape for Tottenham, though, when Ward-Prowse steps up to smash in a typically excellent free-kick.
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Goal! Leicester 2-1 Fulham (Vardy, 78)
For his 100th goal for Leicester, Vardy is played through Fulham’s gaping gate by James Maddison and slots home. Oh Fulham.
Goal! Southampton 1-1 Tottenham (Valery, 76)
Why don’t you come over, Yann Valery? The second goal in a week from the Frenchman, and Tottenham, so dominant in the first half, have been pegged back.
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Big goal in the Championship! Brentford, scoring a typically good goal, are 2-1 up at Middlesbrough, thanks to Said Benrahma.
The Pickford debate takes our brains to another dimension, pay close attention. Enter Trevor Byrne: “Triple jeopardy’ (penalty conceded, down to 10 men, ‘keeper sent off) is over-egging things as, by that logic, a ‘regular’ red card is always ‘double jeopardy’ (down to ten men, striker sent off). People may argue that a goalkeeper is a specialist position, but teams have ‘keepers on the bench. Sure, maybe not as good a ‘keeper as the no. 1, but so what? If Liverpool have Salah sent off, they don’t have an exact Salah clone (created by a science-y Saruman in Melwood from DNA in Salah’s beard) on the bench to come on (after Lovren, say – best to go with subbing Lovren, always – gets hooked so Klopp can bring on a forward).”
AFC Wimbledon, bottom of League One, are leading Doncaster, down to ten men after a goal from Steve Seddon. Notts County meanwhile have a goal back against Cheltenham.
Goal! Huddersfield 0-2 Bournemouth (Fraser, 66)
Lovely goal from Bournemouth, set up by Callum Wilson, returning the favour from his opener.
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Goal! Newcastle 1-2 Everton (Rondon, 65)
A sweet volley from the Venezuelan puts Rafa’s Toon Army back in the game. Good work from Perez set him up.
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Ooh, what’s this? Mansfield have a goal back against Port Vale through Nicky Ajose.
More on Jordan Pickford, from JR in Illinois: “I must say I don’t understand all the debate about whether or not Pickford should have been sent off. That was an absolute “stonewaller” as they say. Why don’t we just take a quick look at the laws of the game?”
Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offending player is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off.
Sheffield Wednesday equalise against Frank Lampard’s Derby County through Dominic Iorfa. Steve Bruce is yet to lose a game as Owls boss.
Peter Raleigh on Joey Barton, sorry, Jordan Pickford: “I personally never understood the problem with the rule as it previously existed or why “double” or “triple punishment” are regarded by so many as unfair. It’s the offending team’s problem that the offense was committed at a crucial moment and the offending team’s problem that it was committed by a crucial player. If a keeper doesn’t want his team down a goal and a man it’s fairly clear what he can do about it.”
Oh Joey! Walsall are beating Fleetwood 1-0, and this is becoming a Herculean task for Town to get promotion. As Joey would tell you, that means needing great strength and determination. Hercules is a Roman hero and god. He was the equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the son of Zeus.
More on that basement battle: Port Vale now 2-0 up on Mansfield, while Cheltenham lead Notts County 3-0. This spells doom for Notts County and Macc.
Goal! Cardiff 2-0 West Ham (Camarasa, 52)
More horror defending from the Hammers, as Camarasa, who had a hand in Cardiff’s first goal, squeezes the ball past Fabianski.
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At the bottom of League Two, Port Vale have scored against Mansfield, which is very bad news for Notts County and Macclesfield, who are now losing to MK Dons.
Goal! Leicester 1-1 Fulham (Ayite, 51)
Oh Brendan. Ayite’s solo run and a deflected finish makes it another surprise equaliser. Leicester had been comfortable.
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Jon Nolan has just struck a surprise equaliser for Ipswich against West Brom. 1-1 at the Hawthorns.
We are back underway in the Premier League, and Ralf Hasenhüttl had seen enough, making two subs for Southampton at the break. Off go Oriol Romeu and Charlie Austin for Josh Sims and Shane Long. Manuel Pellegrini takes off Felipe Anderson for Marko Arnautovic for West Ham, and Rafa Benitez has taken off Jamaal Lascelles for Paul Dummett.
Simon McMahon continues his good work in Fitba Corner: “Celtic 0-0 Aberdeen, Motherwell 3-0 Hamilton, Dundee 0-1 Hearts. Partick 1-0 FFS Dundee United, Ross County 0-0 Morton.”
The debate rages on Jordan Pickford. First, Chris in Nottingham: “Gary Naylor is correct I believe. If the defending play makes a genuine attempt for the ball then a penalty is severe enough punishment (although, I suppose that’s reliant on the attacking team putting away the penalty).”
Next, David Wall: “I thought the rules had changed on red cards for goalkeepers conceding a penalty when denying a goal scoring opportunity, that unless it was a violent foul then the keeper would just get booked so as to avoid the ‘triple jeopardy’ of being reduced to ten players, conceding a goal (from the penalty, assuming it recreated that goal scoring opportunity), and losing your keeper in particular. So Benitez can fume all he likes, he should keep up to date with FIFA guidelines.”
Hubert O’Hearn on the Pickford affair: “Neutral here, in that I Hate Everybody. That was an absolute rugby tackle by Pickford. The only way he was playing the ball was if Rondon had swallowed it.”
Half-time League Two scores
Northampton 2-1 Exeter (FT)
Cambridge 0-1 Oldham
Carlisle 1-1 Swindon
Cheltenham 2-0 Notts County
Colchester 2-0 Newport
Crawley 2-1 Grimsby
Macclesfield 1-1 MK Dons
Morecambe 2-0 Forest Green
Port Vale 0-0 Mansfield
Stevenage 0-0 Bury
Looking like a Sisyphean task for Joey Barton at Walsall there, and Wycombe beating Sunderland is a significant scoreline.
Half-time League One scores
Barnsley 2-0 Accrington
Blackpool 1-1 Southend
Bradford City 0-0 Peterborough
Gillingham 0-0 Oxford Utd
Plymouth 0-0 Luton
Rochdale 1-0 Shrewsbury
Scunthorpe 0-1 Bristol Rovers
Walsall 0-0 Fleetwood
Wimbledon 0-0 Doncaster
Wycombe 1-0 Sunderland
Half-time Championship scores
Blackburn 0-1 Preston (FT)
Sheffield United 2-0 Rotherham (FT)
Bolton 0-0 Millwall
Bristol City 0-0 Leeds
Derby 1-0 Sheff Wed
Middlesbrough 1-0 Brentford
Nottm Forest 0-0 Hull
QPR 0-0 Stoke
Reading 1-1 Wigan
West Brom 1-0 Ipswich
Port of Brandon on Jordan Pickford, who just left the St James’ Park field with a cheeky, Kepa-style, smile: “DOGSO in the penalty area is downgraded to a caution if the player made a genuine attempt to play the ball. Pickford didn’t do that here, and should have been sent off.”
Half-time Premier League scores
Cardiff 1-0 West Ham
Huddersfield 0-1 AFC Bournemouth
Leicester 1-0 Fulham
Newcastle 0-2 Everton
Southampton 0-1 Spurs
Matt Burtz emails in on the first halves’ most controversial incident: “I’m admittedly biased as an Everton fan but it should be noted that Lee Mason didn’t even show Pickford a yellow card, and the announcers we’re listening to here in America didn’t think it merited a red card. The ball was still bouncing and I don’t think Rondon was about to tap it in or anything resembling that. Just my two cents.”
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Macclesfield Town concede to MK Dons, who have scored through David Wheeler to make it 1-1. That League drop zone plot thickens. Or not, as the case probably is.
Barnsley are 1-0 up on Accrington, as they forge on in second place in League One.
Question to the floor from Gary Naylor: “Hard to keep up with the rules these days, but didn’t they remove double jeopardy from the DOGSO when it results in a penalty.”
Any ideas out there? All input appreciated.
At Cardiff, Javier Hernandez has been booked for simulation after a swan dive. Good to have West Ham back. Great one week, a circus act the next.
Down at the bottom of League Two, Cheltenham Town now lead Notts County 2-0; great news for Macclesfield Town, even better for Port Vale, currently drawing 0-0 with Mansfield.
Newcastle’s official account describes the penalty farrago in bathetic style. As Joey Barton would say: “Bathos is a literary term, coined by Alexander Pope in his 1727 essay “Peri Bathous”, to describe amusingly failed attempts at sublimity. In particular, bathos is associated with anticlimax, an abrupt transition from a lofty style or grand topic to a common or vulgar one. This may be either accidental or intentional.”
31' - Ritchie fails to convert, as Pickford - who gave the penalty away after bringing down Rondón - guesses the right way. 0-1. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 9, 2019
Referee Lee Mason may need to escape Newcastle tonight in disguise. Perhaps an Owen Oyston fancy dress costume might suffice. Rafa Benitez’s face like thunder, even more thunderous than normal. He is a big advocate of VAR, and it is more than likely that will form part of his post-match press duties. Jordan Pickford meanwhile is a very lucky man indeed.
Goal! Newcastle 0-2 Everton (Richarlison, 32)
The controversy deepens. Everton went down the other end of the field and scored. Newcastle fans raging.
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Saved penalty! Pickford denies Newcastle's Ritchie
Pickford probably should not have been on the field but he redeemed himself there, at least in Evertonian eyes, by saving that. St James’ Park rings out in boos.
Penalty to Newcastle!
Rondon is brought down by Pickford as he is set to score...but what will happen to Pickford...? No red card when he had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Goal! Southampton 0-1 Tottenham (Kane, 26)
It had to be Harry, set up by Dele Alli for a calm finish. Spurs have been purring on the South Coast.
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While all that elite stuff was going on, Macclesfield Town took the lead against MK Dons through Lewis Durrell. That could be a big goal at the bottom of League Two, or alternatively, Macc could concede late, as they normally do.
Goal! Leicester 1-0 Fulham (Tielemans, 21)
Jamie Vardy was sent through by James Maddison, rounded Sergio Rico, and then unselfishly played the ball back to Youri Tielemans, unmarked, to slot it. That’s champagne stuff from Brendan’s boys.
Goal! Huddersfield 0-1 Bournemouth (Wilson, 20)
Callum Wilson, with Gareth Southgate looking on, has bundled home for his 50th league goal for Bournemouth, with Ryan Fraser setting up that.
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Goal! Newcastle 0-1 Everton (Calvert-Lewin, 18)
Lovely work from Bernard and Lucas Digne results in a delicate header from Calvert-Lewin.
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Hope not hate: Blackpool fans begin the first day of the rest of their lives, with the Oyston family now gone.
Newcastle have gone close against Everton. A dodgy punch from Jordan Pickford gave Ayoze Perez a chance to score he really ought to have taken.
Simon McMahon provides this blog’s Fitba Corner: “Afternoon, John. Some big games in Scotland today, where, after Rangers and Hibs drew 1-1 last night, Celtic can increase their lead at the top of the Premiership to 10 points with victory over Aberdeen at Parkhead. Brendan who?. There’s also a Lanarkshire derby with Hamilton v Motherwell, and relegation threatened Dundee meet Hearts. In the Scottish Championship promotion chasing Dundee United travel to Partick Thistle and Ross County welcome Morton.”
Thank you, Simon.
Big goal in the Championship! Wannabe Irishman Patrick Bamford has scored for Leeds at Bristol City, though has injured himself in the process. Meanwhile, Frank Lampard’s Derby County lead Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 thanks to a goal from Bradley Johnson.
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Oh Brendan. Fulham are looking solid and comfortable and Leicester are pushing on, pressing high but doing very little damage. Scott Parker has got his team organised by the looks of it.
At Loftus Road, Stoke’s Sam Clucas has been dismissed for a combination of a handball and kicking out at an opponent. Not the brightest course of action.
David Wall on Joey Barton: “Part of the idea of a Sisyphean task is that it’s not just pointless but unending. But a football management job always ends, usually in the sack. Perhaps trying to improve Lee Cattermole’s disciplinary record is a better example.”
At Southampton, Harry Kane has twice gone close for Tottenham, the second a dipping volley.
In the Championship, West Brom have the lead, after a deflected free-kick off Stefan Johansen put the Baggies ahead of the desperate strugglers.
Goal! Cardiff 1-0 West Ham (Hoilett, 4)
Ryan Fredericks made a horrible mess of that and Cardiff have what has to qualify as a shock lead for Neil Warnock’s team. Víctor Camarasa set up Hoilett after some very West Ham defending.
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It's live....
The whistles have sounded and the games can begin....who knows what awaits on this magical odyssey?According to Joey Barton odyssey means: “Ever since Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey told the story of warrior Odysseus’ ten-year journey home from Troy, odyssey has meant any epic journey. As with the word journey, odyssey has both a literal meaning and a figurative one.”
Cheers, Joey.
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Brendan Rodgers is being introduced to the Foxes faithful at the King Power, and he’s given it the single-armed Bill Shankly wave.
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In the National League, there’s been a big lunchtime result, with Leyton Orient beating previous leaders Wrexham 1-0 at Brisbane Road to climb to the top. The O’s also have a game in hand.
David C Hunter on, yes, Joey Barton: “Whatever happened to painting the rail bridge over the Firth of Forth as a Sisyphean reference?”
Would guess Joey doesn’t wish to be reminded of Scotland.
Interesting piece here from John Duerden on European clubs and the Asian market.
Here’s Jacob Steinberg’s match report from Selhurst Park.
Important reminder from Alberto Argentini: “I’m mildly surprised you failed to mention the return of the Tangerine Army to Bloomfield Road against Southend now that the insidious Oyston family have finally been forced out. Up the Mighty Pool! Hopes of promotion to the Championship are truly alive and well.”
Everyone’s on board with that one, surely. End-of-season fancy dress must surely have an Owen Oyston theme. Lots of fun to be had there. Just think of the hats.
What has Brendan been up to with that Leicester team selection? Wes Morgan has been dropped, and it looks like four at the back. That’s a significant change from the three at the back last week at Watford, through which Andre Gray waltzed through to score the winner.
More on Joey Barton, this time from Ben Bellamy: “Painting the ‘San Francisco Bridge’? As someone who lives in San Francisco, I can agree that truly would be a Sisyphean task, since first you’d have to build a bridge that doesn’t exist.”
Perhaps Joey meant the Golden Gate Bridge, or perhaps he overdid it that time at Haight-Ashbury.
Brighton are celebrating victory at Crystal Palace, and those doubts over their Premier League status have been allayed by successive wins.
Ian Sargeant emails in on philosopher king Joey Barton: “Other Sisyphean tasks? Getting certain ill-disciplined players to clean up their act?”
It’s currently Crystal Palace 1-2 Brighton in that historic derby of Croydon versus East Sussex. Anthony Knockaert scored a pearler.
To complete the Premier League set:
Huddersfield: Lossl, Bacuna, Jorgensen, Schindler, Durm, Stankovic, Mooy, Billing, Pritchard, Mounie, Kachunga.
Subs: Hamer, Lowe, Ahearne-Grant, Hadergjonaj, Daly, Puncheon, Rowe.
AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Mepham, Ake, Daniels, Brooks, Lerma, Surman, Fraser, Wilson, King.
Subs: Mousset, Rico, Clyne, Simpson, Begovic, Solanke, Surridge.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
As suggested, Dele Alli does return for Tottenham, which puts Son Heung-min on the bench. Not that you wouldn’t back him not to make an impact. He spoke to David Hytner for today’s paper.
Southampton: Gunn, Yoshida, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Valery, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Austin, Redmond.
Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Long, Armstrong, Targett, Sims, Slattery.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Sissoko, Lucas Moura, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.
Subs: Son, Lamela, Wanyama, Llorente, Foyth, Gazzaniga, Davies.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Cardiff: Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Arter, Hoilett, Victor Camarasa, Josh Murphy, Niasse.
Subs: Ralls, Zohore, Smithies, Paterson, Reid, Bacuna, Harris.
West Ham: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Snodgrass, Noble, Lanzini, Felipe Anderson, Hernandez.
Subs: Balbuena, Arnautovic, Adrian, Obiang, Nasri, Masuaku, Antonio.
Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)
Newcastle: Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Ritchie, Perez, Hayden, Ki, Almiron, Rondon.
Subs: Dummett, Shelvey, Diame, Kenedy, Manquillo, Joselu, Darlow.
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Andre Gomes, Gueye, Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Walcott, Mina, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Stekelenburg, Lookman,
Kenny.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
The teams are rolling in
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Maguire, Evans, Chilwell, Tielemans, Ndidi, Gray, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy.
Subs: Morgan, Iheanacho, Ward, Okazaki, Mendy, Fuchs, Ghezzal.
Fulham: Sergio Rico, Odoi, Nordtveit, Ream, Bryan, Chambers, McDonald, Babel, Cairney, Ryan Sessegnon, Mitrovic.
Subs: Ayite, Vietto, Le Marchand, Christie, Seri, Zambo, Ramirez.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
Before we fully enter the melee, time to take on the sage words of the Fleetwood Town manager, Joey Barton, who has been reading wikipedia this week. From the Blackpool Gazette.
[Pep] Guardiola was talking about when he was at Barcelona B. Did he make mistakes? Thousands. He says he still makes loads now and I think that is management. It is not like bricklaying. For me football management is very much a Sisyphean task. Sisyphus was punished by Zeus to roll a rock up a hill for eternity. Every time he rolled it up to the top it rolled back down. Painting the San Francisco bridge would be a Sisyphean task. By the time you finish it you have to start again. It never ends. I see football management as that.
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The early word ahead of the teams being announced is that Dele Alli is due to start for Tottenham at Southampton. What with their new stadium finally getting an opening date, it’s been a good news week for Spurs, just when matters looked to be on a downturn.
Preamble
Hello, good afternoon and welcome.
Five fixtures in the Premier League, and each of them have plenty riding on them. Southampton v Tottenham takes the eye as Saints are now in desperate trouble now that the neu manager bounce of Ralf Hasenhüttl has slowed to a flatlining, aside from beating Fulham two weeks ago, and Spurs revived themselves once more with that immensely professional win in Dortmund on Tuesday.
Until last week’s defeat to a Billy Bonds-inspired West Ham, Newcastle were edging their way to safety, and today they take on Magic Marco Silva’s Everton, a team and club with an almost permanent question mark against them. Tenth place is not good enough for the eponymous holders of the Everton trophy.
Speaking of West Ham, Cardiff welcome Manuel Pellegrini’s men to the principality and are in a bit of trouble. Neil Warnock’s men have conceded ten goals in their last three matches and scored just one. At this point, they are looking for Spurs to do them a favour, and an unlikely win against a team who have the capacity to do great damage to opponents with a leaky defence.
And then there’s Brendan Rodgers, who has had a harrowing week, and who needs his new Leicester team to put the pain of last Sunday’s last-gasp defeat at Watford behind them. Fulham represent the most accommodating of opponents, in this, the inaugural staging of the Claudio Ranieri trophy. Roma are set to make that a round-robin some time next season, before on his retirement, it becomes a league of all 17 clubs he has dilly-dinged and donged at.
And to complete the set, Huddersfield, more doomed than a Private Frazer prediction, welcome Bournemouth, that team you all think are doing better than they actually are because they are Bournemouth, but have collected just seven points in 2019. The reason you (OK, I) thought they were doing better was because they walloped Chelsea 4-0 that time.
Dropping down the divisions, and the big games in the Championship are a very dangerous Bristol City welcoming a most vulnerable Leeds United, the John Harkes derby between Derby and Sheffield Wednesday.
And how about Plymouth v leaders Luton in League One, and chasers Barnsley v Accrington Stanley. In League Two, where Lincoln beat Yeovil last night, the onus is on their chasers, Bury, are at Stevenage. At the bottom, Notts County are at Cheltenham, while Macclesfield Town welcome MK Dons. Both could do with a favour from Mansfield, who are in third, and at Port Vale.
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