Divsion 1 Round Up

By Longsider
December 1 2003

Most of the sides at the top won on Saturday whilst quite a few at the bottom also picked up 3 points. Burnley are now just 4 points above the drop zone.

Jason Koumas scored twice as West Brom maintained their lead at the top of the First Division with victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
An own goal by Forest defender Matthieu Louis-Jean seperated Koumas' two goals to confirm Albion's win - their fourth success in five away games.

Former Forest striker Marlon Harewood tormented Wigan on his home debut for new club West Ham, having a hand in Jason Jarrett's own goal and scoring his first goal for the Hammers from the penalty spot. The £500,000 signing then added his second after Wigan were reduced to nine men. This was all too much for the Latics after seeing Harewood score against them the previous week when he was at Forest. Matt Jackson and Lee McCulloch were both sent off although Jackson can consider himself a little unfortunate at his decision.

Ipswich kept up their excellent recent run by winning at Cardiff, despite Robert Earnshaw's 16th league goal of the season for the home side. Earnshaw struck from the spot after Tommy Miller and Georges Santos had given Joe Royle's side a two-goal advantage. Chris Bart-Williams restored Ipswich's two-goal lead when he added a third goal eight minutes from time and although Peter Thorne pulled another goal back Ipswich held on.

Darren Huckerby scored to keep Norwich in second place as they beat Crewe at Carrow Road, while a Michael Brown penalty gave Sheffield United the lead against Preston at Bramall Lane, with Stuart McCall adding a second.

A goal from on-loan defender Rob Edwards looked likely to keep up Crystal Palace's impressive run under caretaker manager Kit Symons against Coventry at Selhurst Park, but the Eagles had to settle for a point when Johnnie Jackson equalised for the Sky Blues in the last minute. Gary McAllister's men have now drawn six consecutive matches.

Struggling Derby saw off bottom-of-the-table Wimbledon thanks to two goals in two minutes from Marcus Tudgay and 16-year-old Lee Holmes. Nigel Reo-Coker had earlier cancelled out Nico Herzig's own goal to send the teams in level at half time.

Chris Swailes set Rotherham on their way to a precious win over Walsall at Millmoor, with Martin Butler sealing the points for the Millers with a goal against his former club.

First half goals from Paul Shaw and Chris Hope put Gillingham in command against Stoke at the Priestfield Stadium, and Andy Hessenthaler's side made sure of the points through Mamady Sidibe after John Eustace had pulled a goal back.

Finally to Valley Parade(or whatever its called) for Bryan Robson's first game in charge of Bradford. Tim Cahill and on-loan striker Nick Chadwick gave Millwall a two goal cushion by the interval but a tremendous second half turnaround saw the Bantams fight back to claim all three points thanks to goals from Danny Cadamarteri, Andy Gray and a late winner from substitute Michael Branch(cousin of Graham).