IF THE PREMIER LEAGUE title race is a bit of a damp squib owing to Chelsea’s ruthlessness and Manchester City’s decline, the same criticism can’t be levelled at the second tier of English football.
After another dramatic weekend and with just ten rounds of fixtures left, four teams all sit on 66 points with Bournemouth holding top-spot on goal difference. Six goals behind are Derby while Watford and Middlesbrough are both well in contention in their quests to claim the crown.
Just one point further back is Norwich while Brentford round out the top-six.
Meanwhile, Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich will still fancy their chances of promotion – their 61 points is good enough for seventh place.
Typifying the drama and intensity of the division, Derby seemed certain to take control of the table on Saturday when they led Birmingham by two goals with the the clock ticking towards injury time. But, Paul Caddis scored from the penalty spot to pull a goal back for Brum before Clayton Donaldson grabbed an equaliser deep in additional time.
It followed Friday night’s goal-fest as Bournemouth layed down a marker and thumped five past a hapless Fulham with Brett Pitman and Matt Richie both scoring twice.
Elsewhere across Saturday, Boro’s loss away to Nottingham Forest enabled Watford to leap-frog into third after Troy Deeney’s leveller ensured they picked up a point against Wolves.
Norwich moved into fifth thanks to a 4-1 away win over Millwall while Ipswich failed to jump into a play-off place, only managing a point against Brentford. Ireland’s Daryl Murphy continued his terrific campaign by netting his 22nd of the season but it was his compatriot, former Irish international Jonathan Douglas, who made it 1-1.
Speaking afterwards, Mick McCarthy said:
It is a bonkers league with Derby drawing today and Middlesbrough losing. It is going to go to the last game, the last minute.”
