Andy’s a bit handy

Monday, 03/10/2011

Premier League

by Daniel Tyler

ANDY JOHNSON, Fulham

Fulham desperately needed a victory heading into the match with local rivals QPR after failing to win this season.

Martin Jol’s men duly delivered demolishing the hoops 6-0 with striker Andy Johnson scoring the first Premier League hat-trick by a Fulham player.

The former England striker notched two goals in Thursdays Europa League victory over Odense and wasted little time adding to his seasons total of six with a poachers finish inside 70 seconds.

The 30 year-old's second was another striker’s finish from six yards, while his smart movement got him on the end of a quickly taken free-kick to complete his hat-trick.

The former Crystal Palace man’s pace and movement proved too much for the Rangers defenders as the hitman looks to be back to his best after a number of injury lay-offs.

Its good timing by the marksman as the victory took Martin Jol’s side out the drop zone and kept him ahead of £10.6m man Bryan Ruiz in the pecking order.

Championship

MICHAEL CHOPRA, Ipswich Town

Ipswich extended their unbeaten run to four games with a 3-1 victory over fellow promotion rivals Brighton.

However that mini run of form seemed under threat when Albion’s Vicente broke the deadlock with a stunning solo goal.

But up stepped the clinical Chopra, equalising with a fantastic 25-yard strike and then curling in the clincher that took Paul Jewells men within a point of the play-offs.

The summer sigNing from Cardiff proved he is deadly at this level as he seemingly popped out of nowhere to turn the game on its head.

The 27 year-old averages 15 goals a season in the Championship and has already struck four times in as many games for the Tractor Boys.

Leagues 1 & 2

LEAGUE ONE

DEAN COX, Leyton Orient

If there was a club that needed a victory even more than Fulham it was Leyton Orient. The O’s went into the weekend without collecting a point at home, or recording a win all season.

And the O’s failed to disappoint, defeating an inform Preston 2-1 with two goals from midfielder Dean Cox.

Russell Slade’s side found themselves one down within two minutes before the playmaker came up with the goods.

At 5ft 4in the former Brighton man was the smallest on the field, but still amazingly found space in the area to head home the first, while his second showcased his technical ability with a low-drive from 25 yards.

It was the dynamo’s fifth goal of the season and his overall performance helped keep the Londoners four points behind Bournemouth who sit just outside the relegation places.

LEAGUE TWO

RICHARD ROSE, Dagenham & Redbridge

Richard Rose signals the third person who stepped up to help secure his side a crucial victory this weekend.

The Daggers failed to win in five attempts during September but started October well with a hard fought 2-1 win over Crewe.

With the scores level deep into stoppage time, Rose leapt in the box to head home his first goal for the club, and only fifth of an eleven year career.

The summer singing from Hereford didn’t have the greatest game of his career, but the goal could prove to be the turning point in his team’s season.

A draw would have left John Still’s men in sight of the drop zone, but Rose’s header has them looking five points ahead at the play-off places.

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