- After another busy weekend of Championship football Sportsmail reflects
- With Fulham 2-0 down at Hull, Slavisa Jokanovic took off his misfiring forwards
- He swapped Cottagers strikers Sheyi Ojo and Floyd Ayite before half-time
- One of the replacements, Aboubakar Kamara, scored twice to earn a point.
After another busy weekend of Championship football, Sportsmail’s ADAM SHERGOLD reflects on the action…
SLAV’S SHOCK TACTIC
With his Fulham side 2-0 down at Hull City after 36 minutes, manager Slavisa Jokanovic hauled off misfiring forwards Sheyi Ojo and Floyd Ayite before half-time.
‘We didn’t start the game so I tried to get a shock reaction. I was thinking even before the first goal, do something, but I didn’t do enough fast,’ said the Serb. It had the desired effect — one of the replacements, Aboubakar Kamara, scored twice to earn a point.
With Fulham 2-0 down at Hull Slavisa Jokanovic took off misfiring forwards and earned a draw
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THANK GOODNESS IT’S ALL OVER
Sunderland have played 40 League matches in 2017 and have been in the relegation places after 32 of them. So their fans must have been delighted that Saturday’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest — only their fifth League success of a real annus horribilis — lifted them out of the bottom three.
Aiden McGeady’s header settled it from their only shot on goal. ‘Some of the defending was stunning. I thought all the lads were absolutely fantastic,’ said boss Chris Coleman.
Sunderland’s loyal fans must be glad 2017 is over as they notched only their fifth league win
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Derby Sam Winnall spun inside close to the touchline to fire a 30 yarder into Ipswich’s net
MATCHES OF THE DAY
A busy Championship schedule today sees some of the promotion contenders meet. In-form Derby (second in the league) aim to pick up where they left off in 2017 at home to Sheffield United (sixth) who have won just one game since mid-November. Villa sit on the fringes of the play-offs and they host third-placed Bristol City, while the televised 3pm game sees Leeds (fifth) play managerless Nottingham Forest.
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GOAL OF THE WEEK
SAM WINNALL Ipswich v DERBY COUNTY Few can stop Derby at the moment and it’s little wonder when Sam Winnall produces goals like his second at Portman Road. There appeared little on until Winnall, 26, a striker on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, spun inside from close to the touchline and produced a 30-yard shot into the top corner. It would prove to be the winner in a 2-1 victory.
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The last dozen teams to top the Championship on New Year’s Eve have gone on to secure automatic promotion.