The Sky Bet Championship took centre stage this weekend and it certainly delivered. Here are five talking points from all the action...
Birthday celebrations
Blackburn Rovers made it a birthday weekend to remember as the Lancashire team celebrated their 147th anniversary in style.
Ben Brereton’s ninth league goal of the season – to take the Chilean international level as the Championship’s top scorer – was enough to wrap up all three points in a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town.
Goal number 9️⃣ for @benbreo this season 💥#EFL | @Rovers pic.twitter.com/8LM7RL8XmK
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) November 6, 2022
That victory also made it six home wins on the bounce at Ewood Park for Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side as Rovers moved up to second in the standings, capping off a memorable day for Blackburn supporters.
Climbing the table
Sheffield United’s 5-2 triumph over Burnley at Bramall Lane had just about everything as the Blades came from behind twice to beat the table toppers home soil and bring about an end to the Clarets’ 16-game unbeaten streak and make it three wins in a week for the hosts.
After falling behind early on, Iliman Ndiaye restored parity for United on the half-hour mark, only for Burnley to retake the lead on the stroke of half-time.
But Sheffield United fought back in the second period. Oli McBurnie levelled once again just minutes after the restart. Jack Robinson and Anel Ahmedhodzic, who both made the scoresheet for the South Yorkshire side, turned it around with two goals in five minutes to make it 4-2, before McBurnie bagged his second of the afternoon to complete a 5-2 victory.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) November 5, 2022
Enjoy your afternoon, @SheffieldUnited fans! #EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/UChOGBmPCp
Big victories
There was a big win for Coventry City, who edged high-flying Watford in a 1-0 win on Saturday, with Viktor Gyokeres’ strike the difference between the two teams at Vicarage Road. It’s now back-to-back wins for the Sky Blues, who ran out 1-0 winners over Blackburn Rovers in midweek.
And Birmingham City moved up two places to sit 11th in the table after coming away 2-1 victors over Stoke City on the road. Goals either side of the break from Scott Hogan and Harlee Dean handed the Blues a comfortable advantage and, despite Lewis Baker’s 75th minute penalty, John Eustace’s side held on for the spoils.
Selfless support
Despite suffering defeat to Norwich City at the weekend, one Rotherham United supporter showed his dedication to the cause, offering up his jumper for Millers defender Wes Harding to dry the ball off with and resume play.
Anything for the team! 👏#EFL | @OfficialRUFC pic.twitter.com/RVTqPnTOpT
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) November 7, 2022
The Canaries claimed a 2-1 win over Rotherham. Kenny McClean opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Ollie Rathbone got Matt Taylor’s side back into the contest with an equaliser. But Aaron Ramsey made it 2-1 in the second half to win it for Norwich.
Worth the wait
West Bromwich Albion defender Kyle Bartley was made to wait over a year to see the net ripple once again, with the 31-year-old’s last league goal for the Baggies coming in October 2021 in a 3-0 victory over Bristol City.
His header proved to the matchwinner on Saturday as West Brom secured a slender 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.
A first goal in over a year for Kyle Bartley and a big three points for @WBA!#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/I5MgnNQays
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) November 6, 2022
Bartley nodded in the only goal of the game in the 68th minute to set Carlos Corberan and the Baggies on course for consecutive victories.