Birmingham City and West Brom are fighting at opposing ends of the Championship league, and it’s been another eventful day for their opponents.
There are less than three weeks left in the regular Championship season, and there is still plenty to play for at both ends of the table. Promotion, play-offs, and relegation are far from determined, with Birmingham City and West Brom fighting at opposing ends of the table.
The Baggies had long appeared like they’d make the play-offs, but one win in five has allowed some late competitors to gain ground, while the Blues rose out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 victory over Coventry City on Saturday. There is still a lot of drama to play out, and BirminghamWorld has compiled a list of the most recent Championship headlines for this Tuesday.
Saints’ ban
Southampton forward Sekou Mara might face a three-game ban for an off-the-ball incident in Saturday’s 3-2 victory against Watford. Mara’s clash with Ryan Porteous went unpunished at first, but manager Russell Martin reveals they are anticipating potential penalties.
“We will maybe be without Sekou,” Martin told The Daily Echo ahead of his side’s midweek clash against Preston. “Maybe he gets suspended for three games. We’re waiting to find out about his off-the-ball incident with Ryan Porteous. I think Sekou might be the only one that misses out and we are likely to find out before we play Preston.”
A three-game suspension would see Mara miss this evening’s visit of Preston to St. Mary’s plus trips to Cardiff City and fellow promotion hopefuls Leicester City.
Coady admission
Leicester defender Conor Coady is keeping a regular eye on the results of his promotion rivals, whether he should be or not. The Foxes are a point behind Ipswich and one ahead of Leeds, with a game in hand over both. “Without a doubt, I think that is natural,” Coady told BBC’s Football Daily Podcast when asked if he has been watching Leeds and Ipswich. “I can come in, whether I should or shouldn’t do it, I look at the results, of course I do, seeing how they get on and hoping they’ve lost so you gain a bit of ground or to bridge a gap. 100 per cent it affects you, but over the last week we’ve spoken as a team of the results we have had at Leicester.
“We can’t concentrate on what others are doing; it’s just us. That’s how you have to be, and that’s how we believe we have to be, because you’re getting close to what you’ve worked for all season. But, as I already stated, as a human being, I would be foolish to sit here now and say I don’t consider other results.”
Bristol penalty
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes referee Rebecca Welch’s decision to award Bristol City a late penalty against Huddersfield Town was a’misjudgement’. On Saturday, Huddersfield were on course for a massive 1-0 win until Nahki Wells was awarded a penalty in the 101st minute.
Defender Ollie Turnton was ruled to have blocked Cam Pring’s cross with his arm, however replays revealed that the decision was extremely severe. Andre Breitenreiter, Huddersfield’s manager, said that some of his players were in tears after full-time and advocated for VAR technology in the Championship.
“I just don’t think it’s handball, I think it’s just a misjudgement,” Gallagher told Sky Sports. “The referee has the finest vision, but I don’t believe she makes the best choice. He turns away; if it strikes him, it strikes him low, arms into the body; this is not a penalty for me.
Leave a Reply