Christian Pulisic was a late cameo in Chelsea’s narrow win, but Jesse Marsch got his first win as Leeds manager against Josh Sargent and Norwich.
Leeds United 2 – 1 Norwich
Josh Sargent started and went the distance with Jonathan Tomkinson on the bench, but it was American manager Jesse Marsch that stole the headlines, picking up his first win as Leeds new boss.
Leeds have been notorious for scoring goals, and forgetting to defend, conceding a league high 65 goals. Marsch’s main task seems to have been to add stability to the team structure, and it looks to have been panning out as Leeds had the majority of the chances in the game. They struck first through Raphina after being set up by Dan James, a goal having a deflection before beating Tim Krul in the 14th minute.
While either team hit the cross bar and had several near chances, it looked to be heading to full time with just the goal separating the two teams. However, in the 90th minute Kenny McLean scrapped for a close range finish after Teemu Pukki played him in.
With six minutes added on, it seemed to be the same old Leeds United. Marsch looked to his bench, and turned to 19 year old Joe Gelhardt for a last minute winner. Subbing on in the 92nd minute, Gelhardt showed the passion that his manager embodied on the sideline, clicking a long ball on to Raphina and making a lung busting run in to the box to score the game winner.
Norwich look destined for relegation, having not won a Premier League match since January. They will look to change that script after the International Break when they face off against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Watch the game highlights here:
Barnsley 1 – 1 Fulham
Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson went the distance for Fulham as they continued their charge for promotion to the Premier League.
Carlton Morris opened the scoring in the 44th minute after Barnsley earned a (soft) penalty, the front man slamming the resulting penalty kick down the middle in the 44th minute. Just two minutes later he had appeared to beat keeper Marek Rodak, but Ream ran to clear the shot off the line before clattering in to the upright.
Fulham clawed a goal back in the 86th minute from Harry Wilson after being found by Fabio Carvalho. Wilson got the ball on the edge of the box, and curled an incredible left footed shot in to the top corner at the far post.
Fulham are 12 points above second place Bournemouth, who have two games in hand, and take on 14th place West Brom on Tuesday.
Watch the game highlights here:
Millwall 0 – 0 Middlesbrough
Folarin Balogun went the distance in Middlesbrough’s goalless draw away at Millwall.
Both teams hit the crossbar and Balogun had a first half chance get deflected out for a corner kick, nothing able to separate the teams.
Boro stay in eighth place, and take on 19th place Birmingham City on Tuesday.
Watch the game highlights here:
Nottingham Forest 4 – 0 Reading
Ethan Horvath kept a clean sheet for Nottingham Forest in their dominant performance over Reading.
Forest showed their intentions early as they immediately attacked down the right flank, Djed Spence finding Keinan Davis in the box to score with only 17 seconds played. It took until the 62nd minute to find the second, with Davis picking the ball up in midfield and thumping a shot off the far post after a surging run down the middle.
Ryan Yates made it three with a vicious long range effort in the 75th minute, while Sam Surridge rounded off the scoring with 10 minutes left to play. The final goal was a quick counter attack from deep in Forest territory, the ball wide then being played in for a Surridge calm finish in the 80th minute.
Horvath will surely keep his place in the starting line up against QPR on Wednesday.
Watch the game highlights here:
Sunderland 2 – 0 Crewe Alexandria
Lynden Gooch played 59 minutes for Sunderland as they won at home over Crewe Alexandria.
Crewe had the opening chances but it was Sunderland who broke the deadlock in the 84th minute through Dan Neil, who replaced Gooch, after a clever lay off from Ross Stewart. Sunderland added the insurance goal just five minutes later as Jack Clarke had a give and go with Patrick Roberts who thumped home the final goal.
Sunderland will look to continue their winning ways, now fifth place, with bottom placed Crew Alexander up next on Saturday.
Watch the game highlights here:
Notes
Christian Pulisic was a late cameo in Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Newcastle, playing the final 12 minutes.
Duane Holmes was an unused substitute in Huddersfield Town’s 2-2 draw against West Brom, Daryl Dike still out with injury.
Matthew Olosunde was not on the bench for Preston North End’s 0-0 win at Cardiff City.
