The pressure was eased on Gordon Strachan yesterday night as a late Tarmo Kink double helped his Middlebrough team beat Burnley 2-1, visitors who continue to suffer away woes. After a 68th minute goal from Bikey it looked bleak again for Strachan’s men, but Kink coming off the bench turned the game on its head and with a great free kick in the 94th minute saved Strachan for another game at least.
Elsewhere QPR went three points clear at the top with a fine 3-0 win over The Tractor Boys. Jaime Mackie scored twice and Heidar Helguson scored from the spot. This is the fourth time this season that QPR have won by more than three Goals. It also makes them the bookies new favourites to win the league title.
There was a shock in the Yorkshire derby as Barnsley produced the performance of the night against Leeds United. Leeds took a 3rd minute lead through Jonny Howson that was cancelled out by Garry O’Connor. Jim O’Brien gave the Tykes the lead four minutes after the break and then there was no stopping them. Diego Arismendi made it 3-1 around the hour mark, and there followed a 60 second double salvo through Neil Collins own goal and Adam Hammill. David Somma scored a late consolation but the Tykes overtake Leeds in the table up to seventh place.
Portsmouth’s troubles worsened as they were hammered 4-1 by Crystal Palace. There was a first career hat trick from on loan James Vaughan and this moves Crystal Palace up to 19th in the table. Also there was a first win in six attempts for Leicester city and Nottingham Forest.
The playoff semi-final rematch between The Foxes and Cardiff was going with form as Cardiff took the lead through Lee Naylor but two goals for Andy King in the second half gave Paulo Sousa’s men their first league win of the season. Forest won 2-1 by also coming from behind as Jon Parkin gave Preston the lead and a Lewis McGugan double gave them the win.
Life without Nigel Atkins looks good for Scunthorpe as they hammered Sheffield Utd 4-0. A brace from Chris Dagnell and goals from David Mirfin and Martyn Woolford did the damage. This result gives caretaker manager Ian Baraclough a good argument for getting the job full time. Watford also won away from home with a 2-0 win at Ashton Gate over Bristol City. Goals from Marvin Sordell and Danny Graham secured the win for Watford.
There was a victory for Swansea over Aidy Boothroyd’s Coventry City at the Liberty Stadium as 12,411 watched their 2-1 win. Meanwhile Doncaster moved up to fourth with a good 3-1 home win over Norwich. Hull city got a 2-0 win at the KC Stadium over Nigel Clough’s Derby County, whilst Millwall and Reading played out a goalless draw at The Den.
So now it is to the weekend to see if Portsmouth can get themselves a first win of the season to try and get out of the mess they are in. We will see if QPR can maintain their winning ways and keep their promotion hopes going along nicely. Cardiff however will need to get their promotion hopes back on track. Finally, could the Burnley result be the turning point in Middlesbrough’s season- Gordon Strachan will certainly hope so.