David Dunn good

Sunday, 15/01/2012

Premier League

by Daniel Tyler

DAVID DUNN, Blackburn Rovers

How times change so quick in football. Just a month ago everyone was against Rovers boss Steve Kean, but four weeks and a win at Old Trafford later and the tide is beginning to turn.

And Saturday brought up another good opportunity with the visit of away day strugglers Fulham.

However when top goal-scorer Yakubu was sent off just 22 minutes in, the task became tougher for the former Premier League champions.

But they, and especially playmaker David Dunn, rallied superbly to record a 3-1 victory.

The 32-year-old won the free kick which led to the opening game and scored the second on what could prove to be a vital three points in the club's fight against relegation.

Apart from his involvement in the goals the former England Under-21 star worked tirelessly in the middle of the park, showing the passion and determination needed in a relegation battle.

Championship

ROBERT KOREN, Hull City

Hometown Hero Nick Barmby kicked off his first game in permanent charge of Hull with the visit of Peterborough.

Despite being serious play-off contenders the Tigers were on a run of four straight league defeats.

However the KC outfit changed that all around with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Robert Koren goal.

The Slovenia star showed his quality once again with an arrowed strike from outside the area, his eighth goal of the season.

The former West Brom man's guile and movement was a problem for the opposition all afternoon and he proved to be the difference in a tight contest.

Leagues 1 & 2

League One

JOHNNIE JACKSON, Charlton

Arguably the game of the day in the top four divisions came at Hillsborough as third place Sheffield Wednesday hosted leaders Charlton Athletic.

And the game failed to disappoint, hosting the kind of football that wouldn’t look out of place in a higher division.

Although the game was full of quality it wasn’t full of goals as just the one strike divided these promotion rivals.

The killer blow came from the left foot of Addicks' skipper Johnnie Jackson.

His 20-yard free kick was worthy of winning any game and handed Chris Powell’s side a massive three points in their promotion pursuit.

The former Tottenham man now has nine goals this season, while the Londoners have taken a remarkable 32 points from 14 games away from The Valley.

League Two

SIMON WALTON, Plymouth

Basement side Plymouth hosted play-off chasing Burton Albion in what was expected to be another difficult afternoon for the Green Army.

Carl Fletcher’s side’s performance had greatly improved over the past six weeks, but they were still on a run of three straight league defeats.

But when a win was much needed their skipper Simon Walton came up with the goods to notch a brace in a 2-1 victory.

The former Leeds man’s first was a terrific 20-yard shot, while he showed fantastic composure to slot away a 90th-minute penalty.

The 24-year-old now has eight goals from midfield this season, the highest at the club.

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