Team of the week: The Championship

The weekend finally came where Leicester’s winning run was finished although they remained unbeaten, whilst Sheffield Wednesday picked up the points against 10 man Reading. Elsewhere in the Championship there were 21 goals in the other 9 games and plenty of talking points. Find out who made the Championship team of the weekend.

(SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH DERBY V QPR GAME)

CHAMP TOTW

Paul Robinson – Blackburn Rovers – The experienced shot stopper was right on form for his team as they travelled to the Riverside that has become a tough ground to get a result since Aitor Karanka took over at Middlesbrough. Robinson was on hand to deny Carayol, Chalobah, Graham and finally Adomah who all had good chances to give Boro the lead. The draw kept Rovers in touch with the top six and stretched their unbeaten league run to four games.
Kieran Trippier – Burnley – The marauding full back had another great game down the right flank at Turf Moor. He was on hand to set up Danny Ings to net the opener with a crisp cross. He was not finished there. In the second half he combined with Ings again, this time with a long ball that the forward controlled before slotting away to give Burnley a two goal lead. Trippier now has nine assists for the season and is a vital asset for Burnley at both end of the pitch.
Miguel Llera – Sheffield Wednesday – The experienced Spaniard was at the heart of the Wednesday defence that managed to keep out the recently free-scoring pair of Pogrebnyak and le Fondre. In fact, the Reading attack were not able to mount a single effort on target meaning Kris Kirkland played the role of spectator for the day. Wednesday have now gone unbeaten in eight Championship games and kept five clean sheets, four of those resulting in victories.
Joel Lynch – Huddersfield Town – The home side dominated the game overall and Lynch enjoyed his day going up and down the left flank for Huddersfield. He also played a key role in the Town defence in keeping out a Wigan side that has picked up some good results on the road since Uwe Rosler took over. A massive result for Huddersfield coming off the back of three consecutive league defeats on the road including the embarrassing 5-1 loss at rivals Leeds.
Dean Marney – Burnley – One of the unsung heroes in the Burnley side who have been providing the chances for Ings and Vokes to grab the headlines up front. Marney took centre stage himself against Millwall in a solid home performance after a slow start. The Tottenham youth graduate fired Burnley into a 2-1 lead with a fierce drive from 25 yards. In the second half he put in a workmanlike display to ensure that Burnley maintained the lead and leapfrog Q.P.R., who play on Monday, into second place.
Danny Drinkwater – Leicester City –  The Championship is too harder division for any team to beat everyone although Leicester were making it look easy over the past few months. Watford proved a tough test at the King Power as they raced into a two goal lead in the first half. Drinkwater ensured his team-mates kept their heads and did not let the game get away from them. Before half time the deficit was reduced to a single goal. Watford seemed to holdout the onslaught in the second half, however Drinkwater smashed a volley from 20 yards in the 94th minute to break Watford hearts. The winning run is over, but the Foxes remain unbeaten and clear of the chasing pack.
Oliver Norwood – Huddersfield Town – Norwood was the creative hub of the Town team as they came up against Wigan in a tough battle at the Galpharm in horrid conditions. Town struggled to assert themselves on the Lactics at home in the early stages and it seemed one of those days where it wasn’t to be. Wigan cleared off the line and James Vaughan could not quite get on the end of a couple of Adam Hammill crosses. Norwood remained determined and nearly scored what would have been goal of the season. His free kick from all of 40 yards rattled the cross bar after he had set up Danny Ward with a precise through ball minutes earlier for him to miss wide.
Andy Reid – Nottingham Forest – Identified as the key man in the Championship preview, Reid did not disappoint as Forest travelled to the out of form Blackpool. Reid’s precise free kick should have seen Greg Halford open the scoring, but Matt Gilks in the Blackpool goal denied him. Late on in the first half another Reid freekick was this time put away by Jamaal Lascelles. Forest suffered from their missed chances, however, when late on Andy Keogh headed a late equaliser. On a positive note Forest have now gone twelve Championship games unbeaten.
Danny Ings – Burnley – Last weekend Craig Bryson was identified as a candidate for player of the season. Without a doubt Ings is another real contender. Another brace from the lethal striker was enough to see off lowly Millwall at Turf Moor. Ings levelled the scoring with a smart finish. He then went on to miss a penalty to take the lead, although Dean Marney saved his blushes. With Ings being the predator he is he took his next guilt edge chance to kill the game off, taking down a long ball from Trippier and slotting passed Bywater.
Ross McCormack – Leeds United – A slight return to normality on the pitch for Leeds as they got the business done at Huish Park with the help of their captain and goal-machine McCormack. The forward nearly scored a thunderous drive from range in the opening 15 minutes, but his effort flew just over the bar. His first effort was just a sighter when he curled a beautiful shot passed Stech in the Yeovil goal to level the scoring. Leeds got the winner when Stephen Warnock used the windy conditions to bamboozle Stech from all over 35 yards. 
Federico Macheda – Birmingham City – The Manchester United loanee has hit the ground running for the Blues. After netting a late equaliser last week when coming off the bench the forward was given a starting berth away at Charlton. He opened the scoring with an emphatic header from close-range halfway through the first half. In the second half he put the game to bed when Birmingham caught Charlton on the break and Macheda calmly finished just taking a touch to steady himself. A huge win for Birmingham who had previously won just one of their last eight Championship games.

Star man

Danny Ings: A brace from the striker was more than enough to see off Millwall and reclaim second place in the Championship table for the time being. Ings now has 19 Championship goals this campaign.
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