West Brom overhaul Newcastle at the top of the ChampionshipWritten by: Editor on 10th February 2010
 
• Midlands club go top for first time since November West Brom last night went top of the Championship with a 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe at the Hawthorns, however their manager Roberto Di Matteo has vowed not to get carried away after overhauling Newcastle at the summit of the table for the first time since November. “The table is important at the end of the season not now. There is no reason to get carried away,” he said. “I believe that everything will be decided in the last couple of games of the season. I don’t think anyone will pull away. There are still so many games to go.” Roman Bednar’s sixth goal in seven games after 13 minutes put Albion in control, with Gianni Zuiverloon sealing their fourth successive win four minutes from time. Scunthorpe’s miserable night was then summed up when their captain Cliff Byrne was dismissed for his challenge on Abdoulaye Méïté. Newcastle United’s 3-0 defeat at Derby County saw Albion take over at the top of the table on goal difference after Di Matteo’s side recorded four wins in just over a week. “We are very pleased with the last nine days. We have played four games and we have managed to get away with maximum points. That is excellent for us. “We didn’t expect an easy game against Scunthorpe and they made it hard for us but they didn’t quite hurt us. The first goal settled us down and fortunately the second killed the game off.” The only thing that disappointed Di Matteo was the angry reaction of Robert Koren when he was substituted in the 65th minute. Koren made his anger clear by refusing Di Matteo’s handshake. Di Matteo added: “It is about the team and not individuals. It is disappointing and a selfish act as you are disrespecting the player who is coming on.” The Scunthorpe manager, Nigel Adkins, who has now seen his side lose their last two games after putting together a four-match unbeaten run, was pleased with the efforts of his team and hopes they will learn from the experience. “I am very pleased with the players. They have realised how hard they will have to work against a good side. It is a level they want to get to and it is a great learning curve for the younger boys,” he said. Newcastle’s 15-game unbeaten league run was ended by Derby County at Pride Park by goals from Rob Hulse, Kris Commons and Shaun Barker. Meanwhile Leicester City’s play-off ambitions were dealt a double blow as they slumped to a 0-0 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers and the Foxes’ top scorer Matty Fryatt was taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw. Cardiff City beat Peterborough 2-0 at home, gaining ground on third-placed Nottingham Forest, who lost 1-0 at Coventry. Elsewhere Reading beat fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle, QPR lost at home to Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough beat Barnsley at the Riverside, Crystal Palace’s woes mounted with a 1-0 loss at home to Swansea City and Watford won while hosting Bristol City. On a night of contrasting fortunes for the Steel City Sheffield United were beaten 2-1 at Preston North End but Sheffield Wednesday inflicted a third straight defeat on Ian Holloway’s Blackpool, winning 2-0 at Hilsborough.
|
Latest Headlines
In The News
Andy Murray may decide who becomes Davis Cup captain• LTA may ask Murray for his input • World No4 likely to favour Maclagan or Smith Andy Murray is emerging as the kingmaker of ...
Andy Murray may decide who becomes Davis Cup captain• LTA may ask Murray for his input • World No4 likely to favour Maclagan or Smith Andy Murray is emerging as the kingmaker of British tennis as the LTA agonises over who should...
Fabio Capello can relax: this England spying game lacks intelligence | Marina HydeWhy the bugging affair should be the least of the FA's worries in the lead-up to the World Cup Behind closed doors, you can't imagine. Behind closed doors, is where it happens...
Fabio Capello can relax: this England spying game lacks intelligence | Marina HydeWhy the bugging affair should be the least of the FA's worries in the lead-up to the World Cup Behind closed doors, you can't imagine. Behind closed doors, is where it happens. That's...
Fabio Capello can relax: this England spying game lacks intelligence | Marina HydeWhy the bugging affair should be the least of the FA's worries in the lead-up to the World Cup Behind closed doors, you can't imagine. Behind... |
|