Peterborough started the day at the bottom but I don't think they expected to stay there after beating Bolton 5-4 at London Road. The win was even more emphatic than it looks with Bolton scoring two late goals having gone 5-2 behind.
It could have been worse too but former Claret Chris Eagles has been removed from penalty taking duties. Bolton got two and Keith Andrews scored both, his first goals for Bolton.
Another of the four Lancashire clubs (I included Bolton as they were once in the county) were beaten. That was Blackpool against Wolves on Friday but, just like us a day later, if you don't take your chances you don't win your game. Blackpool had enough but didn't score until they got a late consolation in a 2-1 defeat.
Blackpool still lead the way amongst the four but there is little between us. They have 32 points, we now have 30 with Bolton and Blackburn a further point behind on 29. I mentioned in my match report that it was nice to be above them for Christmas. It's been a long time coming and the turkey (ours will not be of an Indian variety) will taste that much nicer tomorrow.
Cardiff, as expected, go into the festive season at the top. They won a key game at Leicester and that took them three points clear of Hull who had won at Derby on Friday to go second. They held that second place with Crystal Palace only able to draw against Huddersfield.
That proved to be a fun afternoon. Both had a player sent off and for the life of me I can't see how on earth Anthony Gerrard's red card could be given. Huddersfield missed a penalty that was so badly taken by Adam Clayton I think I could have saved it and Julian Speroni, for me the best goalkeeper in the division, made some stunning saves and then let a soft one through his legs.
Keep an eye on Leeds I've been told. Having beaten Middlesbrough they are now only two points away from the play offs having just won five of their last six games. They were finally taken over last week by GFH Capital. I can see Warnock looking to spend money in January.
I think Cardiff might finally make it to the Premier League this season and maybe Hull and Middlesbrough will provide the toughest test. Somehow I can see Palace fading away.
At the other end, I think those currently in the bottom three places, Barnsley, Bristol City and Peterborough are the most likely.
Then again, I'm usually wrong.
The pre-Christmas results with the usual stats are below along with the Boxing Day fixtures.
The Results Tuesday 18th December Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Millwall 2 Friday 21st December Blackpool 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Derby County 1 Hull City 2 Saturday 22nd December Birmingham City 2 Burnley 2 Leicester City 0 Cardiff City 1 Blackburn Rovers v Brighton & Hove Albion - Postponed Millwall 1 Barnsley 2 Crystal Palace 1 Huddersfield Town 1 Peterborough United 5 Bolton Wanderers 4 Ipswich Town 1 Bristol City 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2 Charlton Athletic 0 Leeds United 2 Middlesbrough 1 Watford 2 Nottingham Forest 0The Stats Biggest Win Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 v Charlton Athletic (home)Watford 2-0 v Nottingham Forest (home) Total Goals Scored 38 (20 home - 18 away) Player Scoring Most Goals2 Luciano Becchio (Leeds United)Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Wolverhampton WanderersMatej Vydra (Watford)Chris Wood (Millwall) v Brighton & Hove Albion Highest Attendance 25,442 - Derby County v Hull City Lowest Attendance 6,600 - Peterborough United v Bolton Wanderers Total Yellow Cards 44 (these added for games up to Friday) Total Red Cards 4 Most Cards in a Game Watford v Nottingham Forest (7Y 1R) Ref: Neil Swarbrick
Leading Goalscorers (League Only) 20 Glenn Murray (Crystal Palace) - includes 7 penalties 19 Charlie Austin (Burnley) - includes 3 penalties 14 Luciano Becchio (Leeds United) - includes 4 penalties 13 Tom Ince (Blackpool) - includes 3 penaltiesJordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) - 2 with Huddersfield Town 12 Marlon King (Birmingham City) - includes 3 penalties 11 David Nugent (Leicester City) - includes 1 penaltyChris Wood (Millwall) 10 Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton & Hove Albion) - includes 2 penaltiesMatej Vydra (Watford) - includes 2 penalties 9 Troy Deeney (Watford) 8 Sone Aluko (Hull City)DJ Campbell (Ipswich Town)Craig Davies (Barnsley) - includes 1 penaltySteven Davies (Bristol City) - includes 2 penaltiesSylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton Wanderers) - includes 2 penaltiesScott McDonald (Middlesbrough)Theo Robinson (Derby County) 7 Sam Baldock (Bristol City) - includes 3 penaltiesChris Eagles (Bolton Wanderers)Heidar Helguson (Cardiff City)Darius Henderson (Millwall)Pete Whittingham (Cardiff City) - includes 3 penalties
Hat Tricks Date Player & Game 01/09/12 3: Pete Whittingham - CARDIFF CITY v Wolverhampton Wanderers 15/09/12 3: Charlie Austin - BURNLEY v Peterborough United 22/09/12 3: Glenn Murray - CRYSTAL PALACE v Cardiff City 22/09/12 4: Craig Davies - Birmingham City v BARNSLEY 23/09/12 3: David Nugent - LEICESTER CITY v Hull City 29/09/12 3: Emile Sinclair - Hull City v PETERBOROUGH UNITED 02/10/12 3: Charlie Austin - BURNLEY v Sheffield Wednesday 23/10/12 3: Marlon King - Millwall v BIRMINGHAM CITY 06/11/12 3: Glenn Murray - CRYSTAL PALACE v Ipswich Town 17/11/12 3: Jordan Rhodes - Peterborough United v BLACKBURN ROVERS
Disciplinary Record (League and Cup) Club Y R Y R Club Y R Y R League Total League Total Barnsley 31 1 34 2 Huddersfield Town 42 4 43 4 Birmingham City 30 2 32 2 Hull City 28 1 28 2 Blackburn Rovers 26 0 26 0 Ipswich Town 30 0 30 0 Blackpool 32 0 32 0 Leeds United 38 2 43 2 Bolton Wanderers 45 1 47 1 Leicester City 25 1 25 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 29 1 30 1 Middlesbrough 29 0 34 0 Bristol City 29 0 31 0 Millwall 45 2 47 2 Burnley 40 1 46 1 Nottingham Forest 40 4 40 4 Cardiff City 41 2 43 2 Peterborough United 38 0 39 0 Charlton Athletic 35 0 35 0 Sheffield Wednesday 42 1 45 1 Crystal Palace 31 2 35 2 Watford 42 4 43 4 Derby County 26 1 27 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 20 1 22 1
Highest and Lowest Attendances Highest Lowest Att Fixture Att Fixture 28,707 Nottingham Forest v Derby County (30/09) 5,435 Peterborough United v Bristol City (18/09) 28,582 Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United (19/10) 5,633 Peterborough United v Blackpool (01/12) 28,229 Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday (09/11) 5,997 Peterborough Utd v Blackburn Rovers (17/11) 27,437 Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday (18/08) 6,188 Peterborough United v Millwall (21/08) 26,684 Brighton & HA v Nottingham Forest (15/12) 6,348 Peterborough Utd v Huddersfield Town(23/10) 26,598 Sheffield Wed v Bolton Wanderers (22/09) 6,600 Peterborough Utd v Bolton Wand (23/12) 26,594 Brighton & HA v Sheffield Weds (14/09) 6,612 Peterborough Utd v Middlesbrough (08/12) 26,455 Brighton & Hove Albion v Bolton Wand (24/11) 8,088 Barnsley v Bristol City (01/09) 26,402 Brighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United (02/11) 8,195 Barnsley v Crystal Palace (23/10) 26,293 Brighton & HA v Middlesbrough (20/10) 8,227 Barnsley v Cardiff City (24/11)
The Next Fixtures Wednesday 26th December Barnsley v Birmingham City Huddersfield Town v Blackpool Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday Hull City v Leicester City Bristol City v Watford Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers Burnley v Derby County Nottingham Forest v Leeds United (12:15) Cardiff City v Crystal Palace Wolverhampton Wanderers v Peterborough United Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town (13:00)
Source: Clarets Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
