Championship

Sports Mole's Championship Team of the Week

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 23 September 2014

Sports Mole highlights its best XI for gameweek eight in the Championship, as well as picking out the biggest numpty and best goal.

Eight games into the Championship season and Nottingham Forest remain on top and unbeaten with 18 points.

Stuart Pearce's side drew 0-0 at Millwall to just stay ahead of Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Charlton Athletic are the only other unbeaten side after yet another draw at Rotherham United.

At the bottom, managerless Fulham lost again after sacking Felix Magath, while Blackpool are also winless but did pick up a confidence-boosting point on the road at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Here, Sports Mole chooses its best XI for gameweek eight, as well as highlighting the biggest numpty and best goal.

Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)
Wednesday are into the top six and just three points off the top after another impressive victory, this time over Reading. Their winning goal late on was ever so fortunate and they had Westwood to thank for stopping an early penalty and making some other key saves.

Ryan Fredericks (Middlesbrough)
A really impressive debut from the Tottenham Hotspur loanee, who was strong in the tackle and also made several interceptions in the 4-0 triumph over Brentford.
Giuseppe Bellusci (Leeds United)
After scoring a gorgeous free kick in the midweek win over Bournemouth, Bellusci again impressed by both keeping a clean sheet and almost finding the net with another wonderful goal in the 3-0 victory against rivals Huddersfield Town. His surge forward resulted in a deft chip that unluckily came back off the crossbar for an easy finish for teammate Mirco Antenucci.
Michael Mancienne (Nottingham Forest)
Forest remain unbeaten and a big reason for that is the performances of Mancienne. He made a load of clearances to keep out Millwall in the stalemate at The Den.
Tyrone Mings (Ipswich Town)
Eyebrows were raised when the Tractor Boys turned down a big-money advance for Mings from Crystal Palace last month. It wasn't long ago that the 21-year-old was playing non-league football, but he has adapted to Championship life well as the Blues' number one left-back and delivered a pinpoint assist for their opener in the 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic last night. He also showed good defensive skills against the tricky duo of Callum McManaman and Shaun Maloney.

Nathan Redmond (Norwich City)
Two assists and much more from young winger Redmond as Norwich fought back from 2-0 down to earn a point against Birmingham City. Both crosses for Cameron Jerome's brace were accurate and he also created several other chances in a terrorising performance down the right.
Rodolph Austin (Leeds United)
Looks rejuvenated of late for the Whites, who are in fine form under Neil Redfearn. He lashed Leeds ahead before delivering an eye-of-the-needle through-ball for the third against Huddersfield.
Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough)
Another goal for in-form Leadbitter and this was the best of his six so far in 2014-15. After picking up the ball 30 yards from goal, he unleashed an unstoppable drive to set Boro on their way against the Bees.
Jordon Ibe (Derby County)
Is yet to start for the Rams since his loan move from Liverpool, but came on to score the first and see plenty of the ball as Derby came back to earn a point against Cardiff City. Will surely be in contention for the lineup next time.

Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers)
He may not have found the net in the 1-0 win over struggling Fulham, but Gestede was a handful up front for the Cottagers' defence. He won plenty of headers and also got all five of his shots on target.
Cameron Jerome (Norwich City)
The only man to score more than one goal over the weekend was Jerome, who now has five in four since joining the Canaries. Both finishes against Birmingham were tidy, with the first a particularly precise first-time shot.

Numpty of the Week

Owen Garvan: The recent loan signing from Crystal Palace had a golden opportunity to draw Bolton Wanderers level against Wolves from the spot but saw his penalty saved before also hitting the rebound straight at Carl Ikeme.

Goal of the Week

Harry Arter (Bournemouth) vs. Watford: A rocket of a hit from Arter, whose 25-yard piledriver put the Cherries ahead against Watford. In the end they would have to settle for a point because of Craig Cathcart's fine volley.