Josh Sargent was named in the Norwich City starting XI by David Wagner for the first time since his injury last August. Elsewhere, Duane Holmes‘ substitution off the field at halftime was the right move as it helped his side pick up the necessary three points.
Hull City 1 – 2 Norwich City
Despite picking up the win, Josh Sargent was a bit of an outcast in the 61 minutes given to him which saw him only completing three out of fives passes in over an hour of play. Certainly not the greatest of returns back to the first XI.
Norwich City closed to within two points of the Championship play-off places as Jonathan Rowe’s brilliant goal helped them to a Friday night victory at Hull City. His solo effort was the high point of a largely mediocre opening half at MKM Stadium in which the home side lost their own top scorer, Aaron Connolly, after only 15 minutes because of injury.
In a match where both teams aimed to press high up the pitch, Norwich had a promising opportunity early on as Sargent set up Borja Sainz. However, Sainz miscued his chance, sending the ball high over the bar. A series of fouls disrupted the flow, preventing either side from establishing a cohesive attacking threat.
The Tigers failed to produce a single effort on target before the break, but Ozan Tufan hit the post as they looked for an equaliser following the restart. Angus Gunn produced a flying save as Regan Slater’s 25-yard effort seemed to be heading for the top corner but Christian Fassnacht forced home Norwich’s second goal late on before Tyler Morton grabbed what proved to be a consolation for the Tigers in stoppage time.
Preston North End 2-0 Bristol City
Duane Holmes was substituted at halftime, along with two others, making it a triple change altogether. Ryan Lowe’s decision proved to be decisive as the substitute, Will Keane, scored a brace and propelled the club to just two points behind a playoff spot.
In the first half, both teams lacked initiative and a cutting edge, with Preston’s keeper Freddie Woodman making crucial saves from Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Anis Mehmeti. Max O’Leary, at the opposite end, displayed vigilance, extending a leg to deny Liam Millar’s goalbound volley, while Duane Holmes sent another promising opportunity over the bar.
PNE Head Coach Ryan Lowe then altered the game’s trajectory with a triple substitution at halftime, introducing Will Keane, Emil Riis, and Mads Frokjaer for Milutin Osmajic, Holmes, and Alan Browne.
Bringing on Keane was the turning point as he scored twice as a second-half substitute, breaking the deadlock in a game where both teams had neutralized each other in an uneventful first half. This marked only the second victory for the Lilywhites in their last six games. Manager Lowe, under scrutiny from some Preston supporters amid a downturn in early-season form, witnessed his team secure only their second clean sheet in 22 games.
Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Watford
QPR, with Reggie Cannon, continue their miserable run of winless games, extending to seven, which includes five losses and two draws. On top of that, they were knocked out of the FA Cup a week ago. They still sit second to bottom in the Sky Bet Championship.
QPR’s hopes of avoiding Championship relegation faced another setback as Jake Livermore scored two goals, securing victory for Watford at Loftus Road. Livermore skillfully curled the ball beyond Asmir Begovic from 25 yards on the hour mark and then drilled in his second from outside the box after a clearance from Matheus Martins’ cross fell invitingly to him.
While Sinclair Armstrong posed a threat for the west Londoners, it was Lyndon Dykes who halved the deficit by poking in substitute Paul Smyth’s cross from close range in the 77th minute.
Despite QPR’s attempts, including a brilliant denial by Ben Hamer against Jimmy Dunne, they couldn’t find an equalizer. As a result, they remain next to the bottom of the Championship table.
Colchester United 1-1 Bradford City
Jonathan Tomkinson starts once more for Bradford on loan from Norwich in the fifth tier of English football. Despite the draw, Tomkinson was much more defensively sound compared to his previous two outings against Crawley Town and Crewe Alexandria, in which he conceded four to Crawley and conceded a penalty to Crewe.
Around the half-hour mark, Bradford had a near opportunity as Andy Cook’s diving header, supplied by Harry Chapman’s excellent cross, sailed over the bar. Cook’s downward header at the far post from Richie Smallwood’s deep cross narrowly missed the target for the visitors.
Nonetheless, Bradford took the lead in the 35th minute when Cook fired a first-time shot with his right foot off the far post, taking advantage of Ash Taylor’s delivery into the area, redirected towards him by Bobby Pointon.
Shortly after halftime, Harry Chapman almost extended the lead to 2-0 for the visitors when his shot landed on the roof of the net. However, Colchester equalized in the 59th minute as Hopper controlled Tom Dallison’s pass and skillfully placed a shot past Sam Walker inside the far post.
Both teams pursued a winning goal, and in stoppage time, Walker made a remarkable save, tipping over Arthur Read’s attempt, resulting in the points being evenly distributed.
Notes:
Daryl Dike makes his return for West Bromwich Albion after sustaining an Achilles injury last year. Dike scored in WBA’s FA Cup match against the 5th-tier English side Aldershot Town and recently came off the bench in West Brom’s 4-1 win against Blackburn Rovers.
Kristian Fletcher is expected to return to DC United after a successful loan spell in the Swansea academy. Interest for him are said to be high.
Charlie Kelman was not in the QPR matchday squad that lost to Watford.
Haji Wright will face an undetermined period on the sidelines following a scan that confirmed a ‘tear’ in his adductor muscle. He missed out on Coventry City’s 3-1 win against the league leaders, Leicester City.
Lynden Gooch continues to be absent from Stoke City’s squad due to injury, causing him to miss their 1-0 match against Rotherham.
Vaughn Covil didn’t play in any of Hull City’s squad these past weeks.
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