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Steve Morison scored his first goal in 25 Millwall appearances to ensure Ian Holloway had a night of misery. The former Lions boss was abused before and during his first return to his former club with new side QPR as fans refused to forgive him for his part in the South Londoners' relegation three seasons ago. And Holloway, sporting a grey flat cap, watched as Morison finally ended his own personal horror show, with his first goal of the season and first since he scored the winner over Bradford in last year's League One play-off final.
Cardiff City’s Premier League dream was dealt a major blow as Fulham knocked them out of the Championship automatic promotion places. Slavisa Jokanovic inflicted a first home defeat on Neil Warnock’s side during this league campaign as Bristol City moved into the top-two on goals scored. Floyd Ayite crossed for Tim Ream to put the visitors 1-0 ahead in the first-half before he got on the scoresheet to double the lead in the second-half.
No wonder Tony Pulis is so happy about taking over at Middlesbrough if all his afternoons on Teesside prove as straightforward as this. Having been officially confirmed as Middlesbrough's new manager around three hours before kick-off, Pulis watched on from the Riverside stands as second-half goals from Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga fired his new employers back into the heart of the promotion mix. Having won at Sheffield Wednesday in the game that preceded Garry Monk's surprise dismissal, Boro are enjoying a successful festive period despite their off-pitch upheaval.
For Tottenham, a first away win since September to displace Burnley from the top six and restore a familiar hierarchy up there. But it took a dubious stroke of fortune to get them under way before Harry Kane delivered a familiar performance of quite outstanding class. The rancour stretched from the stands to the Tottenham dug-out as the night wore on and Mauricio Pochettino's coaching staff were clearly agitated by two individuals making their feelings felt in the Burnley corporate seats. The source of it all was the penalty – won by Dele Ali, converted by Kane – which proved to be pivotal.
Mark Hughes had said that defeat here would not have cost him his job. We will never know if he was right. Somehow, Stoke weathered a second-half West Brom storm to cling on to a slender, precious victory. First-half goals from Joe Allen and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had put the Potters and their under-fire manager in the box seat. But when the wasteful Salomon Rondon finally found the net shortly after the break it set up a final 40 minutes best described as nervy. Forget Ramadan Sobhi's injury-time third – this was heartstopping stuff.
So rare had scoring a goal become for Brighton, when Pascal Gross’ shot sneaked under Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, Mathew Ryan could not resist. The Seagulls stopper sprinted the length of the pitch to celebrate with his team-mates in the opposite corner as they secured their first Premier League home win since September. Finally, Glenn Murray’s converted penalty from their 5-1 defeat by Liverpool has competition for the club’s December Goal of the Month award.
When the new broom arrives, there’s going to be just a little less mess to clean up. A pigsty, yes, but not quite as filthy as it was. A draw at home against Crystal Palace might not seem like a great deal because it isn’t. But when you are falling towards the Championship at such a mind-scrambling pace, anything other than defeat feels like a gift wrapped in a bow. The fact that this point came courtesy a late equaliser, and a screamer from Jordan Ayew to boot, means there might also be some semblance of morale in the squad over Christmas now. For that, the new manager, whoever he may be, ought to be grateful.
Two stoppage-time str1kes by Queens Park Rangers remarkably saw Ian Holloway's side save themselves from another west London derby defeat against Brentford on Monday night. The visitors were leading 2-0 after Lasse Vibe’s first goals of the season before they threw their lead away after the fourth official held up four minutes of added time. QPR substitute Matt Smith scored QPR’s first in the 93rd minute from close range before Luke Freeman equalised in the 94th