MX23RW : Tuesday, December 24 17:51:19| >> :120:13743:13743:

Sports Mole's Championship Team of the Week

Sports Mole chooses its best Championship XI from Saturday's games, as well as highlighting the biggest numpty and best goal.

All 24 Championship teams were in action on Saturday as 30 goals were scored, even though four games ended as goalless draws.

Leicester City's promotion is all but secure after their comeback victory over Blackpool that moved them a huge 17 points clear in the automatic promotion places.

Burnley are 10 points clear of the chasing pack in second thanks to a similar turnaround triumph against Leeds United.

At the other end of the table, bottom three Barnsley, Yeovil Town and Charlton now all have 29 points, with Millwall three clear of the drop in 21st.

Here, Sports Mole selects its best XI, highlights the biggest numpty and chooses its favourite goal from the weekend's games.

Dimitrios Konstantopoulos (Middlesbrough)
Boro's third choice keeper has now played three games in a row and on Saturday made some impressive saves as Boro held Bournemouth to a 0-0 scoreline on the South coast.

Kieran Trippier (Burnley)
It's not often that a full-back is acknowledged as one of the best players in the league, but that's what Trippier has been for Burnley this season. On Saturday he got yet another assist by sending over a dangerous cross that Leeds defender Jason Pearce turned in for an own goal.
Paul Quinn (Doncaster Rovers)
Donny got an unlikely point by keeping out playoff hopefuls Nottingham Forest and if it wasn't for Quinn, things would have been different. He produced a superb bit of defending by somehow keeping Simon Cox's shot out on the line.
Wes Morgan (Leicester)
Morgan's strength in the air saw him win a header at the back post and put Leicester in front against Blackpool for the first time.
Jordan Obita (Reading)
The Royals may have played out a goalless draw against Derby but Obita was impressive in an all-action left-back display.

Caolan Lavery (Sheffield Wednesday)
Two lovely finishes from the 21-year-old as Wednesday brushed aside Birmingham 4-1 at Hillsborough.
Ravel Morrison (QPR)
A second week in a row here for West Ham United loanee Morrison. It's surprising that the Hammers let him go and he's proving that he's better than this league with another brace against Yeovil at Loftus Road.
Cristian Battocchio (Watford)
Barnsley may have defended terribly for Watford's second and third goals, but they could do little about Battocchio's rocket to put the Hornets ahead and on their way to a 3-0 win.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
The January signing delighted the King Power Stadium with a sumptuous first home goal for the Foxes before doing superbly to dig out the cross that Morgan headed in.

Will Buckley (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Two composed finishes from Buckley as Brighton ended Bolton Wanderers's five-match unbeaten run to keep alive their hopes of reaching the playoffs.
Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers)
Former Huddersfield Town man Rhodes haunted his former club with a hat-trick at the John Smith's Stadium as Blackburn came out on top 4-2.

Numpty of the Week

Alex Smithies: Craig Conway scored the other Blackburn goal but it should never have gone in as Huddersfield keeper Smithies somehow let the rather tame shot through his grasp and inside the post.

Goal of the Week

Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) vs. Blackpool: As well as getting a spot in the best XI, French winger Mahrez claims goal of the week for his leveller against Blackpool. He tricked his way past one challenge before picking out the far corner with a pinpoint drive across goal.

ID:144764: cacheID:144764:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6235:
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes in action against Crewe Alexandra in a pre-season friendly on July 16, 2013
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Huddersfield, Blackburn level at the break
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!