Weekend Reports

Bradford 1 Nottm Forest 0

Bradford ended a run of 7 straight defeat against a totally out of sorts Forest at Valley Parade.

The only goal of the game came just before half time, Robert Molenaar's header somehow managing to find the net.

Forest's best chance was from Micheal Dawson who managed to head over when the goal was gaping , the game was scrappy throughout but Bradford managed to end there dismal run and avoid a record eight straight defeats.

Man Of The Match

Rob Molaneer - Bradford

Burnley 2 Rotherham 6

Rotherham romped to a fine away victory scoring 6 at Turf Moor , in an action packed game the Millers were 3-0 up before half time goals courtesy of Alan Lee(12) , John Mullin (27,30).

15 minutes into the second half Alan Lee grabbed his second and Rotherham's fourth when from a great cross from Monkhouse he collected and swept a shot into the net.

Burnley grabbed two goals in just over ten minutes from Steve Davis, but the day belonged to Rotherham and they grabbed 2 goals in the last 6 minutes from Darren Byfield, to take the Millers within touching distance of a playoff spot.

Man Of The Match

Alan Lee - Rotherham

Crystal Palace 2 Norwich 0

Norwich suffered another away defeat going down to two first half strike from Palace , the first from Dele Adebola (6) , from a square pass from Black along the edge of the box Adebola blasted a firece shot past Andy Marshall , the second on 27 minutes was this time scored by Tommy Black.

Norwich having lost at Wolves last week looked out of touch in the first half , but with set pieces that was there best way into the game with plenty of crosses being whipped in by the dangerous Mark Rivers , the breaks never came for Norwich  and only for saves by Alex Kolinko it could have been different.

Man Of The Match

Alex Kolinko - C Palace

Derby 1 Brighton 0

Brighton will be feeling down in the dumps after being edged out by a bad refereeing decision , the only goal of the game went to Derby and it came from the penalty spot , Higgenbottom converted the spot kick but the decision of the award was a tad harsh , the referee saw a hand ball from Adam Hinshelwood and the rest you know.

Brighton were outplayed throughout most of the game and Derby really deserved there victory , Zamora and his fellow strikers were finding life hard as both Chris Riggot and Steve Elliot marshalled the back line with ease.

Man Of The Match

Danny Higginbottom - Derby

Ipswich 4 Watford 2

Ipswich got back into the winning habit by brushing past a struggling Watford side who continue to slide down the table.

Tommy Miller put Ipswich 1-0 up on 23 minutes and just before half time doubled there lead from a Richard Naylor drive , those goals were slightly against the run of play , Watford were strong from the off but the luck there having lately counted against them.

Watford were thrown a lifeline to get back in the game , Neil Smith couldn't believe his luck as the defence parted for him to stroll into the box and net for 2-1 , but on 67 minutes Pablo Counago eased Ipswich's nerves when he netted from a rebound.

Watford scored there second on 75 from Neil Cox to set up a grandstand finish but Bent stopped that scoring just before the end.

Man Of The Match

Tommy Miller - Ipswich

Leicester 4 Millwall 1

Dennis Wise's return to Leicester ended up being a terrible nightmare , it all started well for the Lions as within 15 seconds Steve Clarigde put them ahead from close range.

Thats about as good as it got for Millwall - ten minutes later Jamie Scowcroft levelled up and on 26 minutes Matt Elliot put them ahead , by now Denis Wise's every touch was soundly jeered and a few objects were thrown at him from a corner kick.

Leicester started to boss the game and Millwall were nowhere in sight , Scowcroft increased there lead to 3-1 and with 10 minutes remaining Paul Dickov got on to a through ball to poke the ball home for 4-1.

Man Of The Match

Jamie Scowcroft - Leicester

Preston 3 Grimsby 0

Preston eased there mid table rut with a fine victory over struggling Grimsby , the Mariners are sitting perilously close to the drop zone and not sure were there next pionts will come from.

Preston were brilliant today scoring three times and keeping a clean sheet after shipping in 10 goals in the last 2 matches , they got off the mark when Graeme Alexander neeted a penalty after a foul from keeper Danny Coyne.

It didn't take long after to extend there lead when Richard Creswell's mazy run ended with a great goal from the in form striker , David Healy put the game well in the bag on 60 , ten minutes later Alan Pouton was red carded after his second booking of the day to pile more misery on sad Grimsby.

Man Of The Match

David Healy - Preston

Reading 0 Sheff Utd 2

Reading's amazing run came to an end against a powerful Blades side , the home side haven't conceded a goal in 12 hours of football but a fine defensive display and a second half attacking show from Utd brought it to an abrupt end.

The two goals from Utd were scored in the second half of a pulsating game , firstly Jon Harley traded passes with Steve Kabba and then nipped it round the keeper to score on 59 minutes , and the killer goal for Reading was scored by on loan striker Dean Windass who headed home easily from a fluffed save by the Reading keeper.

Man Of The Match

Michael Tonge - Sheff Utd

Sheff Wed 0 Gillingham 2

Sheffield Wednesdays miserable season continues as Gillingham recorded a rare Hillsborough win , the Gills took the lead early on when Rod Wallace headed home a Marlon King cross.

Bottom of the league Wednesday gave the game a fight and chances went begging from Kuqi and the best chance from Tony Crane who saw his piont blank header well saved by the Gills keeper Jason Brown.

For all the chances the home side had they fell further behind on 74 , Paul Smith leaped onto a chance after a great save from Pressman and stroked the ball into an empty net.

Man Of The Match

Jason Brown - Gillingham

Stoke 1 Portsmouth 1

Stoke were a heartbreaking 16 minutes away from winning under Tony Pulis for the first time and ending Pompeys excellent run.

Stoke played some great football throughout and gave the leaders Pompey plenty of frights along the way , Brynyar Gunnarsson put stoke ahead on 34 minutes with a sweet header past Hislop.

Pompey huffed and puffed and were finally rewarded for a good second half display when Jason Crowe stole into the box to shoot into the bottom corner.

Man Of The Match

Paul Merson -Portsmouth

Walsall 2 Wimbledon 0

Walsall recorded yet another home victory and continued there climb up the table leaving , the Saddlers got off to a great start on 11 minutes when from a flick on by the impressive Junior sent Wrack through and he calmy poked the ball past the Dons keeper.

Wimbledon were not playing well and there first effort on goal didn't come until the 20 minute mark but Connellys effort didn't trouble Walker in the Walsall goal.

Into the second half and Walsall made the pionts safe when from a set piece man of the match Junior curled a Beckhamesque free kick over the wall and plum top corner.

Man Of The Match

Junior - Walsall

Wolves 0 Coventry 2

Coventry performed the perfect hit and run display against unbeaten Wolves today , player manager Gary Mcallister hit a fine first goal from outside the area after the Wolves defence backed off at there peril.

Wolves were never out of the game and played some neat football at times but all afternoon lacked the killer instinct.

A host of chances went begging for Wanderers and Coventry with possibly there third shot on goal scored to ease there mid table problems ,  Dean Holdsworth received the ball on the edge of the box and layed off the ball to Richie Patrigde who curled a shot around Murray and in the net.

Man Of The Match

Gary Mcallister - Coventry