Team of the Week: The Championship

With all 24 teams in action this saturday there were goals galore, shock results and plenty to talk about as fans travelled home on Saturday evening. Who made The72 Championship team of the week? Find out here.

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Chris Dunn – Yeovil Town –  After a draw at Watford and a midweek home win against Blackpool being two down at half time would have been a shock for Yeovil and it could have been worse if it weren’t for Dunn’s great work between the sticks. The most notable save coming on the hour when he prevented Simon Cox from netting a acrobatic overhead and an inspired Yeovil team went on to get back on level terms to earn another valuable point.
Jack Hobbs – Nottingham Forest – Forest managed a total of just one clean sheet throughout October and November and is one of the factors leading to their drift away from the top three. Against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday Hobbs was determined to improve that defensive record limiting an improving Wednesday side to just three efforts on target, whilst Simon Cox snatched the points with Forest’s only goal bound effort of the game.
Steve Cook – Bournemouth – When Cook featured a couple of weeks ago in the team of the week it was noted that his performances have earned him a reputation amongst the league and it seems that his exponential improvement is set to continue. From early on it was clear Cook was going to have a busy day at the heart of the Cherries defence, but he was committed till the last whistle and a much deserved clean sheet was robbed by an unfortunate ricochet falling to Adam Le Fondre to cause a nervy final couple of minutes.
Kieran Trippier – Burnley – Already putting himself in contention to retain his spot in the team of the season at right back before we even reach the New Year. Trippier’s defensive qualities are equally met by his deadly delivery and thunderous shot which can find the target from almost anywhere. Burnley had started to stutter, without a win in five, but a back to basics home victory against Barnsley returned Burnley to the summit of the Championship table. The only goal of the game came when the ex-Barnsley man Trippier played a tidy pass through to Michael Kightly who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Andre Moritz – Bolton Wanderers – Doncaster came into the game full of confidence and that showed early one, however once Moritz found his stride the Bolton machine began to step up through the gears. Moritz slid the ball across to Joe Mason to open his account for Bolton before Moritz himself doubled the lead with a scorching effort that flew in off the post with Rovers keeper Ross Turnbull nowhere near it.
Eunan O’Kane – Bournemouth – The young Irishman has seen himself go from League 2 to a Championship starter in the space of 18 months and there was now doubting his quality in Bournemouth’s 2-1 win away at Reading. The ex-Torquay midfielder was the linchpin in the Cherries midfielder breaking up play and distributing the ball across the pitch. It was only Bournemouth’s 2nd away win of the season and 1st win since the first weekend of October. Meanwhile it was Reading’s first home defeat of the season.
Liam Trotter – Millwall – The powerful midfielder was on form to help Millwall inflict Wigan’s 5th defeat in succession and left manager Uwe Rosler considering what had he walked into after taking the Wigan post in midweek with his former side Brentford right in the League 1 promotion mix. Trotter helped secure the points when his long ball split the Wigan defence for Jermaine Easter to earn the Lions their 5th win of the season.
David Lopez – Brighton – The creative Lopez played a major part in the Seagulls 3-1 demolition of Leicester who were top of the table at the start of play. It comes as a surprise that before this game Lopez had just a single goal to his name and no assists. That soon changed on Saturday when he fed the ball on a plate for the in form Ashley Barnes to sweep home. Lopez wasn’t finished there, in the 28th minute he crossed expertly for Craig Conway to chest down and fire home to double the lead.
Troy Deeney – Watford – The pressure has slowly been building on Gianfranco Zola as his side sit bottom of the form table without a win nine. A good draw at high flying Burnley steadied the ship. Although looked like it was going to be another loss away at Leeds after Watford let a two goal lead slip to trail 3-2.  Deeney saved Zola’s blushes when scored his second of the game late on, as he has on many occasions, reacting quickest to sweep home past Paddy Kenny from six yards. His first gave Watford an early lead when he fired home from ten yards after twelve minutes.
Chris Martin – Derby County – Not a lot else to say other than an exceptional performance from the Derby striker with a sublime hat trick. Derby went into this one as slight favourites especially with Blackpool’s thin squad being stretched after three red cards in their defeat to Yeovil on Tuesday. But no one saw the 5-1 romp coming before kick off, even more so when Blackpool led after three minutes. The Rams responded well and four goals in 24 minutes in the second half swung the game out of reach for Blackpool. Martin netting two penalties and a curling effort from 18 yards taking his league tally to ten.  
Ross McCormack – Leeds United It is becoming a rare sight to not see Ross McCormack score at Elland Road and this week’s visitors Watford were not lucky enough to be playing on one of those occasions. The warning signs were there when McCormack had his headed effort chalked off as he was deemed to be in an offside position and in the 78th minute it got his chance. Running on to a long ball he slotted home what he thought was the winner to complete a comeback from 2-0 down. McCormack was denied the glory however when Deeney levelled with minutes to go.

Star man

Andre Moritz: The Brazilian midfielder was at the centre of all that Bolton did well and took the game single handedly away from Doncaster with an assist and a stunning goal in a matter of minutes.
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