Nationwide Round-Up: Week 12

By: Richard Lord
Date: 27/10/2002

ANOTHER week, another Town defeat. Town have got just nine points from 15 games yet they are somehow still in touch with those clubs just outside the bottom three - for now.

Grimsby have to start picking up points starting this Tuesday against Burnley. Three there and another three next Saturday against Gillingham would do. But we are Town, and things never go according to plan.

Elsewhere in the league it's more smiles in Portsmouth. Their 3-0 victory at Burnley extends their lead at the top to six points. It leaves Burnley just in the top half.

Norwich suffered their first away defeat of the season to a team who are yet to lose at home, Bradford. The Bantams are amazing everybody at the moment, sitting safely in mid-table, while the Canaries cling on to second spot.

Sheffield United could have taken advantage of Norwich's defeat and moved into second themselves but a home draw to Wimbledon was not what they wanted - or what Town wanted for that matter. That point has moved the Dons into the safety zone.

Slipping back into the bottom three is Sheffield Wednesday after their defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road. Wednesday are the only team in the league without an away win, but it leaves Watford in fifth place.

In fourth place is crisis club Leicester City. They took a 2-0 lead at an impressive Notts Forest but the home side pulled it back to 2-2 with goals from Johnson and Lester. Forest stay sixth.

Just outside the play-offs are Coventry. They were held 0-0 at home to Walsall, who are staying clear of the relegation zone for the moment. So are Rotherham, but their 4-0 victory over Stoke is giving their fans real hope of a play-off spot - if Ronnie Moore stays.

Crystal Palace have moved a couple of places and eased the pressure off Trevor Francis for the moment with a comfortable 5-0 win over Brighton, leaving the Seagulls rooted to the bottom.

Millwall have climbed their way out of a spot of bother by beating Derby 3-0. Two late goals secured the win and Derby are about as inconsistent as England's cricked team.

Ipswich are still refusing to budge out of the bottom half. Gillingham's 1-0 win at Portman Road lifts them up to ninth but leaves Ipswich lying in 16th place.

The mid-table battle of the day was between draw-specialists Preston and Reading. Preston managed to take the lead and hold on to it, and Reading failed to get a goal back.

Wolves have moved into the top half after their 4-1 victory over Grimsby. The Mariners are four points adrift of safety but five points clear of Brighton.

A quick look into the second division sees Mansfield stuck to the bottom, although they only conceded two at Swindon. Bradley Allen's Peterborough are languishing in 22nd place, with Cheltenham and Swindon occupying the other relegation places.

At the top Wigan and Bristol City lead the way (watch for Bristol City's slide down the table and a 7th place finish) with Oldham, Crewe, Cardiff and QPR in the play-off zone.

In the Third Division Scunny won 5-1 and Hull drew 1-1. Lincoln could squeeze into the play-offs if they maintain their good start to the season under Keith Alexander. Boston have pulled away from the relegation zone leaving Exeter and Carlisle in trouble.

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