[ad_1]
The championship trio Norwich City, Leeds United and Sheffield United have all maintained their auto promotion challenges with victories on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the strong pbad of an attacker keeps the dam bid in Birmingham City, but Portsmouth seems to be fading in Ligue 1 as spring approaches.
A celebration of Gordon Banks, a milestone birthday for a League Two player and different fortunes for Oxford and Rotherham away from home are also things you may have missed in the English Football League.
Stoke tribute to Gordon Banks
It was a poignant afternoon in Stoke City, where the Potters paid homage to legendary England goaltender Banks when they entertained Aston Villa.
The winner of the World Cup – arguably the club's most famous player – died this month at the age of 81. Current goalkeeper Jack Butland wore a special green goalie jersey as the club celebrated his life and career.
The jersey, which was not wearing a badge, sponsor or name, was a replica of the one Banks wore when Stoke beat Chelsea in the 1972 League Cup final – their only major trophy in club history.
Banks' Statue on the outside of Bet365 was adorned with scarves and flowers, while Stoke supporters brandished pieces of cardboard to create a mosaic-like giant number one before the kickoff.
Butland, himself an English international, made two crucial saves for the Potters to draw 1-1, although Nathan Jones's men now have six games without a win.
The pompey promotion challenge fluttering
When 2019 started, everything seemed so rosy for Portsmouth.
They started the year with a home win against AFC Wimbledon, leaving them five points ahead of the top of Ligue 1.
Since then, the turn of events has not been favorable alongside Kenny Jackett.
The seven winless games had seen their automatic promotion challenge falter, but Barnsley's second visit to Fratton Park offered them the opportunity to breathe new life into their season.
Pompey striker Omar Bogle received a penalty in the second half against Adam Davies of the Tykes goaltender who drew 0-0.
With Barnsley now 14 unbeaten games and a Sunderland 12 undefeated, Portsmouth is fourth, five points from the first two.
Hampshire still has a 10-point buffer that keeps him inside the roadblocks, but Jackett hopes for renewed hope as soon as possible.
"I thought we had the best pbading match today, so the performances come in. With 12 games to play, we're all looking for this spring to finish the season in style," he said. he declared.
Anniversary disappointed for Ellison
Midfielder Kevin Ellison of Morecambe celebrated his 40th birthday on Saturday and the Shrimpers made him a cake to mark the occasion.
The end product was something Mary Berry would have been proud of, with a mini Ellison – with a walking frame.
Ellison was also photographed with similar support in a moment of self-deprecation, but he did not need to face the leader of the League 2, Lincoln City.
However, he did not get the result that would have made the celebrations all the more successful as he was replaced late when the Imps won 2-0 at the Arena Globe.
Despite his years before, Ellison is not even the oldest field player in fourth place of the season.
Crawley Town veteran Dannie Bulman has one more month and played the 90 minutes while the Reds tied 1-1 at home against struggling Macclesfield.
Gareth Barry celebrated his 38th birthday in the West Brom midfielder while the Baggies lost 1-0 at home against Sheffield United, although Ellison and Bulman may consider the former England man to be a simple drummer compared to them.
Adams finds the contact to revive the blues
Birmingham City faces a late challenge for the championship playoffs and Che Adams is the man who makes Blues fans dream of ending their eight-year exile.
The 22-year-old striker has struck twice to allow Blackburn to draw 2-2 at home and score 21 goals in the league this season, including 10 in his last eight league appearances.
This type of form has seen some supporters of the city overthrow the former Chele of Sheffield United after the big Brazilian Pele and have put in the pretense of winning the golden shoe of the championship.
He has just two goals behind Teemu Pukki of Norwich with captain Billy Sharp of the Blades in front.
Adams, for his part, has also become the first blues player to surpbad 20 league goals since Trevor Francis scored 25 in 1977-78.
The former English international Francis was famous for the first player of a million pounds, but Adams could be worth a few more balls if Birmingham planned to sell it this summer.
Oxford waits for the end of Rotherham's wait
This season was tough for Oxford United, but their hopes of survival in League One were well received when they recorded their first win away from the campaign.
Before their trip to Blackpool, the U had played 17 games without a win in the Kbadam stadium championship.
But Jordan Graham's free kick before halftime was enough to give Karl Robinson's team the three points and move them away from the last four.
This win means that Rotherham United is the only EFL team to expect an away win this season.
The Millers have scored a point in Reading thanks to Semi Ajayi's equalizer, but they are playing 17 away games without a win in the championship, though they have drawn seven times.
In fact, Rotherham will play 42 games without a win since AESSEAL Stadium in New York in the second third, a race that dates back to April 2016.
The only goal difference is to keep United in the relegation zone, but his boss, Paul Warne, will probably want a win outside the country before the end of the campaign.
Source link
