Top of the league position lost after Birmingham defeat
After a good run without defeat, the youth team lost for a second successive game last Saturday at bottom club Birmingham and that cost us first place in the northern group of the U18 Professional Development League.
Although Tristan Jumeau (pictured) and Kian Yari scored for the Clarets, the goals coming late in each half, we were twice two goals behind at 2-0 and 3-1. With three teams kicking off the day just one point behind us it was inevitable that we’d drop down.
Bolton, one of those three, were without a game while Hull were beaten at Sheffield United. That left Nottingham Forest whose draw at home against Leeds has seen them go above us on goal difference.
We’re joined now by this week’s opponents Huddersfield who won at Sheffield Wednesday to move into third place but the league is so tight now with Sheffield United, currently seventh in the table, just one point behind the current top three and only seven points between top and bottom.
It’s not like that in the south group although leaders Crystal Palace did have their lead at the top reduced from five to two points. The big game of the day was their home game against second place Millwall but it ended in defeat enabling Millwall to move closer to them.
Watford beat QPR 4-0 in what was the biggest win of the day. That means QPR remain next to bottom ahead of Coventry whose 1-0 loss to Ipswich was their eight consecutive defeat with their search for a first point of the season moving to Bristol City this weekend.
As for the north group – wins or defeats this weekend could see teams move up or down several places in the league, and it would be good to see Burnley back to winning ways after picking up just one point from the last three games.
The League Tables are updated as results are confirmed and can be found with our Fixtures and Results in U23/U18 Stats on the top menu.
Last week’s results are below with this week’s fixtures, our goalscorers and the current league table.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
Saturday 21st October
Barnsley 2 Crewe 1
Birmingham 3 Burnley 2
Nottingham Forest 2 Leeds 2
Sheffield United 2 Hull 0
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Huddersfield 2
Cardiff 3 Colchester 0
Charlton 0 Bristol City 2
Coventry 0 Ipswich 1
Millwall 3 Crystal Palace 2
QPR 0 Watford 4
THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES
Thursday 26th October
Crystal Palace v Cardiff
Saturday 28th October
Barnsley v Nottingham Forest
Birmingham v Leeds
Bolton v Hull
Burnley v Huddersfield
Bristol City v Coventry
Colchester v QPR
Ipswich v Millwall
Watford v Charlton
BURNLEY’S GOALSCORERS (League & Cup)
5: Jordan Cropper, Tristan Jumeau
3: Michael Fowler, Kian Yari
2: Dwight McNeil
1: James Clarke, Leighton Egan, Oliver Younger, own goals
CURRENT LEAGUE TABLES
| Team | pld | w | d | l | f | a | pts |
| Nottingham Forest | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 19 | 17 |
| Burnley | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 17 | 17 |
| Huddersfield Town | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 23 | 17 |
| Leeds United | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 16 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 19 | 16 |
| Hull City | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 20 | 16 |
| Sheffield United | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 14 |
| Barnsley | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 23 | 12 |
| Birmingham City | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 22 | 10 |
| Team | pld | w | d | l | f | a | pts |
| Crystal Palace | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 9 | 18 |
| Millwall | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 18 | 16 |
| Watford | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 13 | 13 |
| Cardiff City | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 12 |
| Bristol City | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 15 | 12 |
| Charlton Athletic | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 24 | 11 |
| Colchester United | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 10 |
| Ipswich Town | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 33 | 8 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 6 |
| Coventry City | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 0 |
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