It’s another match week where we saw our Yanks in the EFL face-off. This time, it’s Queens Park Rangers, with Reggie Cannon and Charlie Kelman facing off against Duane Holmes and his playoff-seeking Preston North End. Elsewhere, Haji Wright got the nod to lead the line once again for Coventry City against high-flying Ipswich Town, and Lynden Gooch’s Stoke City took on Plymouth Argyle.
Preston North End 0-2 Queens Park Rangers
Despite creating chances for his teammates, Duane Holmes failed to secure another win with PNE, albeit not playing in the midweek game. They lose three games in a row as their poor run of form continues, falling to a QPR side in the relegation zone.
Reggie Cannon retained his right-back spot and played for over an hour, continuing to build up his fitness. It was a solid shift for the 25-year-old, boasting a perfect tackle rate of 2/2, winning five duels, three clearances, three recoveries according to FotMob, and, most importantly, securing a shutout. Charlie Kelman was named on the bench but only entered the game as a 90th-minute substitute.
Preston looked more dangerous of the two, with Holmes notably orchestrating. The USMNT international set up Will Keane with a dangerous cross into the box but couldn’t get the end of it. QPR didn’t seem to be that threatening, but the two teams head into the break goalless.
Rangers secured the much-needed breakthrough in the 55th minute. Paul Smyth made no mistake this time, swiftly moving into the six-yard box to tap in substitute Ilias Chair’s threatening in-swinging cross.
Chair once again works his magic for QPR, assisting Chris Willock who finishes from close range with Chair’s low cross, making it 2-0 for QPR. Rangers are now four points from safety with this famous win, in cold conditions at Deepdale.
Ipswich Town 2-1 Coventry City
After being experimented with as a left-winger for the past few matches, Haji Wright gets the nod to lead the line once again for the Sky Blues but falls just short against an Ipswich side that is challenging Leicester at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
It only took just six minutes for Hirst to open the hosts’ account. Nathan Broadhead’s pass sliced through the Coventry defense, and the striker, under close attention from City’s center-back Liam Kitching, calmly side-footed the ball home past Brad Collins.
American international Haji Wright had the ball in the Ipswich net after 36 minutes, but he was ruled offside as the Sky Blues once again threatened. Ipswich extended their lead six minutes later in an impressive fashion.
Wes Burns, with one of the best goals you’ll see all season, curled a right-footed shot with the outside of his boot, initially appearing to go wide, before bending into the top left corner and past a stunned Collins to double Ipswich’s lead. Ricardo Quaresma would be so proud of that trivela.
It took until the 96th minute to see Coventry get a goal back, forced in via an own goal by Manchester United loanee, Brandon Williams.
Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Stoke City
Defense first is the word, as it was a busy day in the office for Lynden Gooch defensively. Despite making the most successful tackles in the game with four, six recoveries, three interceptions, four clearances, and a big chance created, it wasn’t enough to hold off Plymouth, who snatched all three points in the 97th minute.
A loose back pass in the 23rd minute enabled the lively Campbell to beat central defender Lewis Gibson to the ball. He made no mistake, drawing out Cooper before side-footing past the keeper into the corner of the goal, giving Stoke City the lead.
Plymouth equalized in the 43rd minute when Finn Azaz played in the impressive Kaine Kesler-Hayden down the right. The wing-back’s pacy near-post cross was superbly converted into the roof of the net by Bundu, who allowed the ball to run across his body before converting with his left foot past Bonham.
Randell hammered the ball home after Stoke cleared Luke Cundle’s attempt off the line in a crowded box in the seventh minute of stoppage time. What a way to end the game on his 100th club appearance.
Notes
There is some positive Josh Sargent injury news as Norwich City Head Coach, David Wagner, updates us on the striker’s fitness progress.👇
Vaughn Covil started for Hull City’s U21s, but came out empty-handed with a 2-5 home loss.
Kristian Fletcher is on fire for the Swansea U21s, scoring back-to-back hat-tricks. Many are wondering when Swansea will purchase him from DC United, as he’s still on loan. Three goals against Colchester United’s academy on the weekend, with the other three coming against Ipswich Town’s academy in midweek.
Jonathan Tomkinson’s Bradford City take on Liverpool’s Academy in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, the fifth of December.
Daryl Dike is still recovering from his injury.
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