The Championship: What We Learnt This Weekend

This weekend, the automatic promotion race showed no signs of changing, as Leicester and Burnley both won despite conceding the first goal. Brighton are improving this March, with ten points from their last four, we will look at their play-off chances. Watford won their fifth consecutive home game, with yet another clean sheet, so we’ll examine their prospects under Sannino next season, as well as the factors behind Caolan Lavery’s development at Sheffield Wednesday. Here is our review of the key issues behind yesterday’s games.

Will Buckley boost Brighton’s goals?

Will Buckley

A lack of goals is Brighton’s main problem, and you’d have to look down as far as eighteenth place to find a team who has scored less than them. The Seagulls have been extremely reliant on their ability to keep clean sheets to pick up points.

This season, Brighton have only won three games in which they conceded a goal. They drew six of those games, and lost nine times. A total of fifteen points from eighteen matches that they conceded in, is not a return which suggests Brighton play with much attacking confidence. The other problem is, they are lacking a player in the Lampard mould – someone who can chip in with goals from midfield.

Striker Leonardo Ulloa has netted ten times this season. The second top scorer is Ashley Barnes, who left for Burnley in January, and the third top scorer is midfielder Andrew Crofts, who is out for the rest of the season. However, Brighton might have found a goalscorer in Will Buckley, who netted twice in the win at Bolton on Saturday.

Buckley will be known by supporters for being the first Brighton player to score at the AMEX stadium, netting a brace against Doncaster to give Brighton a dramatic win back in August 2011. In both of his first two seasons on the south coast, he chipped in with a respectable eight goals, and he is known to be the kind of player who always has an eye for a shot. Buckley has suffered from a hamstring injury for long spells of this season, but if he can build on his two goals on Saturday and add to his tally, that will help Brighton’s play off chances.

In addition, the recent loan signing of Jesse Lingard from Manchester United could offer Oscar Garcia’s side some flair, but more of an attacking contribution will also be required from the likes of Andrea Orlandi and David Lopez. It often takes just one goal for Brighton to win a match, so a higher rate of goals from midfield will be key.

Could Watford be promotion contenders next season?

Giuseppe Sannino

Watford beat Barnsley 3-0 on Saturday. While a late play-off surge is still seeming unlikely for the Hornets, that result might give us something to think about, in terms of how well Watford can do under Giuseppe Sannino next season. You might think that, by appointing another Italian manager to replace Gianfranco Zola, Watford are continuing with the same tactical philosophy. In fact, since Sannino took office back in December, their style of play has changed radically.

Under Zola last season, Watford were a counter-attacking team which had the ability to blow opponents out of the water with pace and guile. That system was not working so effectively this season. This was partly because opponents had learnt lessons from last season, and would not push so many players forward against Watford. And partly, perhaps, due to an overly light training regime from Zola, which may have made players unable to counter-attack at the same speed.

Since Sannino came in, Watford’s style of play has changed to a slower tempo, and they have become more organized. Watford have conceded just one goal in Sannino’s first eight home games, which is a very solid base to build from. Defender Gabrielle Angella has put in some solid performances, while Daniel Tozser has given them some composure in midfield, and his positional sense has helped protect the defence. Going forward, Watford have at times looked lacklustre, often relying on long shots and set pieces to score goals. However, recent high-scoring victories over Blackpool and Barnsley will induce confidence that Watford can score enough goals to compete at the top of the table next season.

How has Lavery developed under Stuart Gray?

Caolan Lavery

Just a few months ago, Caolan Lavery was sent out on loan. Not fancied by the then Wednesday manager Dave Jones, Lavery had a brief spell at League Two Plymouth Argyle, and even there, he was initially just used as a fringe player. However, the Northern Irishman had a change of luck. A combination of three goals in four starts for Plymouth, a change of manager at Sheffield Wednesday, and expiring loan spells of Matty Fryatt and Connor Wickham, meant Lavery was recalled.

Now, he has scored four goals in just five starts at Hillsborough, and netted a brace against Birmingham on Saturday, earning him a man of the match award. A big factor in his development has been the appointment of Stuart Gray. Previous manager Dave Jones, who favoured a long ball game and favoured the more experienced players, saw little value in Lavery’s subtle, clever movement off the ball. However, Stuart Gray has since transformed Wednesday, developing a more fluid, progressive style of play, and Lavery has benefitted.

Having two more defensive-minded midfielders Kieran Lee and Sam Hutchinson, in the centre of the park, gives the attacking players more creative freedom. Wednesday’s wide men, two of Lavery, Jacques Maghoma, and Chris Maguire, are given the licence to cut inside and interchange behind the strikers. Stuart Gray has done an excellent job so far at Sheffield Wednesday, and you can expect him to at least stabilise the Owls as an established Championship club.