Norwich City scored two injury time goals as their dramatic 4-3 victory over Millwall moved them back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table.
Leeds United dropped down into third place after being battered 4-1 by West Bromwich Albion during Saturday’s late kick-off at The Hawthorns.
Friday night saw the first ‘steel city derby’ of the campaign, where a resolute defensive performance from Sheffield Wednesday saw them hold Sheffield United to a goalless draw at Bramall Lane.
Preston North End moved two points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 away victory at Ashton Gate over Bristol City.
Five of this weekend’s 12 matches in the Championship had four or more goals in, whilst two matches ended goalless.
Based on the events of this weekend, here our own Championship Team of the Week using average match ratings from WhoScored.com.
Formation: 3-4-3
Goalkeeper: Cameron Dawson (Sheffield Wednesday) 8.21
Wednesday’s first clean sheet in 18 attempts in all competitions this season was largely down to an impressive performance from Cameron Dawson. The Owls’ stopper saved David McGoldrick’s first-half penalty kick superbly, one of five times that Dawson denied Chris Wilder’s side on Friday.
Defender: Chris Basham (Sheffield United) 7.98
United defender Chris Basham won nine aerial duels, made one block and one tackle to help his side keep their first clean sheet for five matches.
Defender: Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) 7.99
Middlesbrough earned a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, with England Under-21s defender Dael Fry making eight clearances to help Tony Pulis’ side keep their fourth clean sheet in the space of five matches.
Defender: Tom Lees (Sheffield Wednesday) 7.85
Tom Lees was Wednesday’s highest-rated outfield player in the all-Sheffield derby, winning five aerial duels and three tackles to help Wednesday to leave the red side of the steel city with a point.
Midfielder: Gwion Edwards (Ipswich Town) 7.92
Gwion Edwards got Ipswich Town’s opening goal after five minutes in their 2-2 draw with Reading in Berkshire. The Welshman also won six tackles against the Royals, the joint-most out of Paul Lambert’s side, alongside Flynn Downes.
Midfielder: Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) 8.00
Whilst the Blades were unable to beat the Owls on home soil, midfielder Oliver Norwood was their highest-rated player. He completed 90% of his attempted 121 passes, as well as winning two tackles for his side.
Midfielder: John McGinn (Aston Villa) 8.53
Aston Villa were surprising 3-0 winners over Derby County, with midfielder John McGinn starring the show at Pride Park. He headed in Dean Smith’s side’s opener and created Tammy Abraham’s goal minutes later, unsurprisingly earning him WhoScored’s star man award.
Midfielder: Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) 8.36
Matt Phillips got the second of West Brom’s four goals in the space of 32 second-half minutes against Leeds. The Scottish winger has netted five goals this season, the same total he mustered in each of the 2017/18 and 2016/17 seasons.
Striker: Che Adams (Birmingham City) 9.48
Birmingham City striker Che Adams continued his rich vein of form by netting a hat-trick during the Blues’ 3-3 draw with Hull City. Adams has netted eight league goals this term, five of which have come in his last five appearances.
Striker: Lukas Jutkiewicz (Birmingham City) 8.38
The Championship’s Player of the Season so far may have failed to score against Hull, but his 23 successful aerial duels total was just eight fewer than the 31 managed by the whole of the Tigers’ side.
Striker: Yakou Meite (Reading) 9.22
Reading’s French forward netted both of Paul Clement’s side’s goals as they were held to a 2-2 draw at the Madejski Stadium by the bottom of the table side Ipswich. Meite’s form has come at a crucial time for Reading, with all six of his Championship strikes this term coming in his last five appearances.
