Division 1 Round Up

By Longsider
December 22 2003

We have new leaders in the First Division with victories over local rivals the order of the day. Norwich go top whilst it's beginning to look bleak for Franchise and Bradford City at the bottom of the table.

Norwich City are the new leaders at the top of the First Division following their fine win over local rivals Ipswich yesterday. New signing Leon McKenzie got a goal in each half to seal the points for the Canaries and send them soaring to the top.

West Brom have dropped to second following their defeat at Coventry. The game was heading for a goaless draw until Johnnie Jackson scored in the last minute to keep up Eric Black's 100% record since he took over from Gary McAllister.

Sheffield United stay in third despite not playing after their game at Derby was called off.

Wigan climbed into fourth spot after a 3-2 win at Crewe. Lee McCulloch opened the scoring on eight minutes but the hosts were level almost immediately when 16-year-old midfielder Billy Jones hammered in a superb long-range effort.
Dario Gradi's men then moved ahead thanks to Steve Jones before Jason De Vos levelled the scores by firing home Jimmy Bullard's cut-back from close range on 20 minutes. Bullard won it for the visitors when he scored a wonderful goal from 30 yards out.

It was a day to forget for Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander who had a nightmare in the City goal.
Millwall went ahead on five minutes when Andy Roberts' corner went straight in. In-form striker Peter Thorne equalised for Cardiff, but second half goals from Tim Cahill and Peter Sweeney gave Millwall the points.

Sunderland moved back into play-off contention, but left it very late to clinch a 2-1 home triumph over basement boys Franchise. Sunderland went ahead through a Marcus Stewart penalty. Paul Thirlwell deflected a Wade Small cross over Mart Poom for the equaliser. Michael Proctor smashed home the winner for the home side before the referee took over. Kevin Kyle made a rash challenge before getting in a pushing match with a Franchise player. The ref appeared to show Kyle two yellow cards, one for the foul and one for the reaction, before showing the red. Manager Mick McCarthy lost it on the sidelines and begin throwing whatever he could find including his notepad that he takes everywhere.

West Ham held on for a point at Walsall, despite playing all but eight minutes of the game with ten men. The uncontrollable Jermaine Defoe saw red for the third time this term for aiming a kick at Ian Roper, but the Hammers still took the lead when Marlon Harewood converted Matthew Etherington's far-post cross. The Saddler's scored with twenty minutes remaining when Jorge Leitao beat keeper David James.

Crystal Palace beat Reading 3-0 in Kit Symons' final game as caretaker manager. Andrew Johnson grabbed the first and then set up the second for Wayne Routledge before completing the scoring himself in injury time. Iain Dowie is expected to be revealed as the man taking over at Palace after he resigned from Oldham last Friday.

Stoke continued their recent good form and completed the third straight win with a 3-1 victory at Watford. Despite falling behind to Heidar Helguson's early strike, The Potters levelled through a header from on-loan Gerry Taggart. Ade Akinbiyi then proved the match-winner with two second half strikes (54 and 72), the second after a fine individual run.

Bradford fell to another home defeat to increase their relegation worries, with Rotherham clinching a 2-0 success at Valley Parade.

Darren Byfield dispatched a penalty on 16 minutes after Martin Butler had been tripped in the box, and ex-Claret John Mullin sealed matters with a superb free kick in injury time.

The one other game to be called off was at the City Ground where Forest were due to play Gillingham