Haji Wright and Josh Sargent each found the back of the net to help their respective teams earn points in a heated promotion battle in the EFL Championship, while Gio Reyna had a promising cameo for Forest despite their otherwise disappointing loss to Newcastle.
Fulham 3 – 1 AFC Bournemouth
Both Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson went the distance alongside each other in Fulham’s defense on Saturday, as a straightforward home win over Bournemouth kept them well clear of danger.
Tyler Adams is still out for the foreseeable future for the visitors due to injury and did not suit up in their losing effort.
Bobby Reid put the Cottagers ahead after five minutes, recovering the ball inside the Bournemouth area after a defender slipped, and targeting his low shot to the lower left corner.
Several minutes after a shot by Robinson from the left forced a save, Reid turned provider in the 36th, heading a long cross from the left flank towards the center of the area, where Rodrigo Muniz stormed in for the emphatic finish.
While Marcos Senesi momentarily cut the lead after 50 minutes with a spinning shot after Fulham were unable to clear a corner, the hosts were back in control two minutes later with Muniz leaping in to put away a Willian cross near the right upright to secure the 3-1 victory.
The result leaves Fulham in 12th place, currently ten points clear of the bottom three, ahead of Saturday’s home game against fifth-place Aston Villa. Bournemouth are just below Fulham in 13th, and next visit Newcastle on Saturday.
Nottingham Forest 2 – 3 Newcastle United
Gio Reyna was once again a late sub Nottingham Forest, and despite a decent showing in his 17 minutes, was unable to help the team avoid a home loss against Newcastle United on Saturday.
Matt Turner continued to be stuck on Forest’s bench, watching his replacement Matz Sels concede three goals in another subpar performance.
Bruno Guimaraes already gave Newcastle the advantage after ten minutes, putting away Kieran Trippier’s diagonal, back-post cross from the right flank into the far side of goal with a nifty one-timed strike.
Forest’s Anthony Elanga equalized in the 26th minutes after he powered through two defenders and beat the keeper with a low shot from just outside the area, however Fabian Schär restored Newcastle’s lead two minutes before the half with a head-up strike from ten yards out.
The host still kept fighting, and had momentum on their side heading into the break thanks to a curling, 18-yard shot by Callum Hudson-Odoi to the upper left corner in the sixth minute of added time.
Still, Newcastle demonstrated their superiority after the intermission, Guimaraes netting the eventual winner in the 66th minute with a powerful shot from outside the area.
Reyna entered the fray in the 73rd minute as the team pushed to equalize for a third time, and had another promising showing with 19 touches, 11 out of 12 passes completed, one shot, one chance created ad one interception on the defensive side.
Forest finish the round of games in 16th place, two points out of the relegation zone. They next welcome eighth-place West Ham on Saturday.
Coventry City 2 – 1 Millwall
Haji Wright continued his strong run as of late, scoring both of Coventry’s goals in their 2-1 home win over Millwall on Sunday.
While the visitors did take an early lead in the 12th minute after Romain Esse pommeled the ball with a 12-yard shot that thoroughly rattled the nets, the Sky Blues held strong and owned the second half.
Wright netted the first of his two goals in the 67th minute after being tripped by Japhet Tanganga in the area, sending his spot kick towards the right side, and the keeper in the opposite direction.
Then three minutes later, he found the winner on the counter, receiving Callum O’Hare’s diagonal pass just inside the area, and sweeping a right-footed shot to the lower left corner, grazing the keeper’s hands on its way over the line.
Now in sixth, Coventry momentarily occupy a coveted playoff place, amidst a crowd of six teams within a handful of points all reasonably duking it out for the last two spots. They next visit Plymouth on Wednesday.
Queens Park Rangers 2 – 2 Norwich City
Not to be outdone by his 2022 World Cup teammate, Josh Sargent once again scored for Norwich on Saturday in his 69-minute outing, but his go-ahead goal ended up being wasted in a disappointing draw at Queens Park Rangers.
Reggie Cannon started for QPR, playing the full game at right back for the otherwise struggling team.
QPR held the 1-0 halftime lead thanks to a powerful, 27th-minute strike by Jack Colback, but the Canaries pulled even three minutes after the break when Kenny McLean put away Gabriel Sara’s tricky, low corner to the back half of the QPR area.
Josh Sargent then gave Norwich the 2-1 advantage two minutes after the hour, going airborne to head in Jack Stacey’s cross to the left side.
With an eye to their upcoming midweek fixture amidst their promotion battle, Norwich head coach David Wagner pulled Sargent in the 69th minute, and then the hosts proceeded to equalize with 13 minutes left, with Michael Frey redirecting a curling cross by Lucas Andersen to the left side of goal.
Norwich end the weekend in ninth place, within reach of the playoff. They next host Watford on Tuesday. QPR are at the opposite end of the table in 22nd, with a visit to Stoke awaiting on Wednesday.
Notes
Luca Koleosho is still injured for Burnley, and sat out their 3-1 road loss at Liverpool on Saturday.
Auston Trusty lost his starting spot in the Sheffield United defense, and watched from the bench as they pulled off a surprising 3-1 road win over Luton Town.
Chris Richards was in the Crystal Palace starting lineup on Monday night, going the distance at center back in their disappointing 3-1 home loss to Chelsea. The team blew a first-half lead, collapsing to give up trio of second-half goals including a 91st-minute winner to the Blues.
Daryl Dike saw his current season come to an early end, and is expected to miss the first few months of the 2024-25 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon on Saturday in West Brom’s 2-2 road draw at Ipswich Town. The injury happened several minutes after he entered the game as a 55th-minute attacking sub.
Duane Holmes was listed as injured for Preston North End, and missed their 2-0 road win over Cardiff City on Saturday in Championship action. Ethan Horvath, who recently joined Cardiff, watched the game from the bench.
Lynden Gooch started at left back for Stoke City, playing the first hour of the game as they fell on the road by a 3-1 margin to Blackburn Rovers.
Matthew Hoppe was not in uniform for Middlesbrough on Friday for their 1-1 home draw against visiting Sunderland.
Vaughn Covil was not in uniform for Hull City on Saturday for their 1-0 home loss to Swansea City.
New Barnsley arrival Donovan Pines didn’t make it off of his team’s bench as they beat visiting Leyton Orient by a 2-1 score in League one action on Saturday.
Charlie Kelman had a good outing for Wigan Athletic on Saturday, entering at halftime and scoring a 71st minute goal for his team. However, it was not enough to see them end the game empty-handed in a 2-1 loss at home against Exeter City.
Alex Mighten was a 58th-minute sub for Port Vale on Saturday, picking up a yellow card in their 2-2 home draw against Stevenage.
Jeremy Kelly was entered Crawley Town’s away match against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday in the 70th minute, and was unable to help them overcome a 1-0 deficit in League Two action.
Jonathan Tomkinson started at right center-back for Bradford City, picking up a yellow card and playing the full game in their 1-0 road win over promoted media darlings Wrexham.
