Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Round-Up: Reid blown away on return

Geoff Brown
Sunday 12 September 2004 00:00 BST
Comments

"It is important that you defend properly, especially from set-pieces but we didn't do that. I don't think the scoreline reflected the game but we paid for our mistakes." Yes, Peter Reid was back at Elland Road for the first time since Leeds United sacked him in November, uttering fairly familiar words only now about his new charges, Coventry City, who lost there 3-0.

"It is important that you defend properly, especially from set-pieces but we didn't do that. I don't think the scoreline reflected the game but we paid for our mistakes." Yes, Peter Reid was back at Elland Road for the first time since Leeds United sacked him in November, uttering fairly familiar words only now about his new charges, Coventry City, who lost there 3-0.

Clarke Carlisle put the Yorkshire side ahead, against the run of play, five minutes before half-time. The former Sky Blues striker Julian Joachim doubled the lead before Louis Carey's sending-off ensured no comeback for Coventry. Danny Pugh added the third.

On a day when results illustrated just how open the Coca-Cola Championship is this season, second-placed Stoke City lost their unbeaten record as Richard Cresswell scored twice in Preston North End's 3-0 win at Deepdale. "Only five more games to win!" caretaker manager Billy Davies quipped of his chances of getting the permanent job.

There was an impressive win for West Ham United at Bramall Lane, the shooting of Marlon Harewood, his first League goal of the season, and Teddy Sheringham, his fifth, earning a 2-1 win over Sheffield United. The Hammers move up to fifth.

Before their trip to Gillingham, Sunderland had lost all three of their away matches, but that unimpressive start was made to look a nonsense as they sped into a 3-0 lead in 20 minutes, before running out 4-0 winners, Marcus Stewart, substituted last game, scoring a hat-trick. "He answered that emphatically today," the Sunderland manager, Mick McCarthy, said. "He ran their back four ragged."

Reading slipped back to sixth after they lost 2-1 at Derby County. Tommy Smith headed the Rams into a 70th-minute lead and Marcus Tudgay seemed to have wrapped it up with County's second seven minutes from time, but Nicky Shorey scored to ensure a nervous ending.

At the bottom of the table, Rotherham's poor start was compounded by a 2-0 loss to Leicester City at Millmoor, Lilian Nalis and Dion Dublin scoring. Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City continue to share the other two relegation berths after their 0-0 draw at the City Ground, Forest's fifth draw in seven games. "That was our best performance of the season so far," Lennie Lawrence, Cardiff's manager, said. "That's not saying much but we kept a first clean sheet in heaven knows how long."

Burnley beat Crewe 3-0 at Turf Moor, while Watford led Brighton 1-0 at Vicarage Road, but five minutes from time defender Adam Virgo justified his manager's gamble to use him as an emergency striker by equalising. It stayed 1-1. "We pushed Adam up front and have taken seven points from three games," his boss, Mark McGhee, said.

The top two at the start of the day in League One met at Kenilworth Road, and it was Luton who kept up their fine start with a 1-0 win over Chesterfield, who ended with nine men, Steve Blatherwick (75 minutes) and Shane Nicholson (90) seeing red. The League Two leaders, Scunthorpe, met the bottom side, Chester, whose rejuvenation since Ian Rush's arrival as manager continued with a 2-1 win. So Tony Adams' Wycombe, also 2-1 winners, at Southend, took over at the top.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in