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Scratch that Leicester winner… Ben Wilmot has bagged his second of the afternoon from centre-back to draw Stoke level at 2-2.
Meanwhile, it’s Plymouth 5-2 Cardiff in League One. The league leaders have taken a beating from Tom Cleverley’s improved side.
What a goal from teenage Aussie winger Daniel Bennie for QPR! A stunner from 20 yards or more has stolen the lead for the Rs at Hull. You probably have to consider Julien Stéphan’s men among the (many) playoff contenders if they see that 201 scoreline through.
Looking back on that Premier League team news… there’s some serious strength in depth in the division these days isn’t there? You’ve got Tammy Abraham and Jadon Sancho – who have both been leading goal scorers/makers in other top European leagues – on the bench at Villa.
On the opposite bench at Villa Park sit Daniel James and Willy Gnonto, two livewire wingers who have been highly rated in their time. And I personally think Ao Tanaka is one of the most underrated midfielders in the league.
A big goal for Leicester and Gary Rowett in his first game in charge! Harry Winks has made it 2-1 at Stoke. That means West Brom drop into the bottom three…
At The Hawthorns, the home fans chant: “Eric Ramsay, your football is sh*t.”
“We’re top of the league,” is the response from the Coventry contingent.
Leicester, who have got themselves back on level terms at Stoke via Manchester City loaneee Divine Mukasa, may now be eyeing all three points at the bet365 Stadium. 1-1 there.
There haven’t been loads of goals in the second half of these EFL games, though Crewe leading 2-1 at high-flying Swindon in League Two is a bit of a surprise.
Chelsea v Burnley team news
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernández, Neto; Pedro.
Subs: Slonina, Tosin, Delap, Sarr, Hato, Acheampong, Guiu, Lavia, Garnacho.
Burnley: Dubravka; Walker, Esteve, Worrall, Humphreys; Ugochukwu, Laurent, Hannibal; Edwards, Flemming, Anthony.
Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Bruun Larsen, Luis, Tchaouna, Ekdal, Ward-Prowse, Pires, Barnes.
Brentford v Brighton team news
Brentford: Kelleher; Hickey, Ajer, Van den Berg, Henry; Janelt, Henderson, Jensen; Ouattara, Lewis-Potter, Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Schade, Nelson, Yamoliuk, Collins, Damsgaard, Donovan, Furo.
Brighton: Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Milner, Wieffer, Gross; Gomes, Mitoma, Welbeck.
Subs: Steele, Rutter, Minteh, Baleba, Kostoulas, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Veltman, Howell.
Aston Villa v Leeds team news
Aston Villa: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Bailey, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins.
Subs: Wright, Lindelof, Barkley, Digne, Torres, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Bogarde.
Leeds: Darlow; Justin, Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Gruev, Stach, Ampadu, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Perri, James, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto.
Hold onto your hats, here comes the Premier League team news …
There are swathes of empty seats at The Hawthorns today. Clearly the West Brom faithful are voting with their feet as the club slides into the relegation mire. It hasn’t gone to plan under Eric Ramsay since the former Manchester United coach arrived from MLS … Coventry look comfortable at the moment.
Let’s have a look ahead to the Premier League weekend. Team news for the 3pm games will be dropping in 15 minutes or so.
Half-time scores in the EFL early games
Championship
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Hull 1-1 QPR
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Stoke 1-0 Leicester
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Swansea 1-0 Bristol City
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West Brom 0-2 Coventry
League One
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Plymouth 3-2 Cardiff
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Rotherham 1-0 Doncaster
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Wycombe 1-0 Stevenage
League Two
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Fleetwood 0-2 Barrow
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Swindon 0-1 Crewe
Plymouth v Cardiff in League One was goalless the last time I checked, just before the half hour mark. Then the following happened:
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28 mins – Lorent Tolaj makes it 1-0 Plymouth
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31 mins – Aribim Pepple doubles the hosts’ lead
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33 mins – 2-1 as Omari Kellyman reduces the deficit
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34 mins – Pepple scores again for 3-1
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43 mins – Kellyman scores again, 3-2
Football!
Blackburn’s win over Preston last night means they’ve now gone on a spurt of three wins in four games, a much-needed new manager bounce under Michael O’Neill. It also means, with Portsmouth in decent form themselves – they’ve only lost two of their past seven – that one of Leicester or West Brom looks likely to drop into League One.
Oxford are second bottom but not completely out of the hunt for survival, though they have a tough task today away at Middlesbrough. Pompey also have their work cut away, away at Millwall.
As for Sheffield Wednesday, their fate could be sealed as early as tomorrow against their bitter city rivals. It’s been an annus horribilis for the Owls.
Current scores in the Championship:
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Hull 0-1 QPR
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Stoke 1-0 Leicester
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Swansea 1-0 Bristol City
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West Brom 0-2 Coventry
Around 40 minutes or so have gone in these games – a dream start for Frank Lampard’s table-topping Cov! Goals from Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni will be putting the Sky Blues four points clear as it stands.
Preamble
Right, we’re starting a bit early on today’s clockwatch to cover the intriguing EFL lunchtime games, which include leaders Coventry away at midlands rivals West Brom. It’s hard to believe the Baggies and Leicester are now among this season’s relegation contenders; the Foxes are currently away at Stoke, by the way.
The Premier League stuff begins later on with a trio of matches – Aston Villa v Leeds is surely the standout. Can Villa keep their feint title hopes alive, or at least keep the chasing top four/five pack at bay with a win? Or will Daniel Farke’s side continue their march away from trouble? There’s also Chelsea v Burnley and Brentford v Brighton. There’s also a full schedule of fixtures in League One, League Two and the National League. And in Scotland, Hearts must see off Falkirk to keep their noses in front in the title race, with Rangers and Celtic lurking.
Let’s get cracking, shall we? It should be a brilliant day of football – remember to drop me an email or a message on Bluesky to keep the chat going through the day.
