Seldom can there have been a Championship season when there have been so many changes to the leading positions in such a short period of time. After the latest set of fixtures over the weekend, the top four teams are now level on 66 points and can only be separated by goal difference, with just ten games remaining of the season. Bournemouth are now in pole position, followed ever so closely by Derby, Watford and Middlesbrough.
Norwich fans will look back ruefully on their missed opportunity during the week, when they were surprisingly defeated at Carrow Road by Wigan, but are still breathing down the necks of the top four, just one point further back in fifth.
Bournemouth went top of the league on Friday evening, with a convincing 5-1 away victory at Fulham. Two goals apiece for Brett Pitman and Matt Ritchie, plus a late score from Steve Cook confirmed the points for the Cherries, as Fulham had Fernando Amorebieta sent off. Their consolation goal came from Matt Smith. Eddie Howe's men have been the dark horses for many throughout this season, hitting the top position for several weeks, before seeming to stutter, but then gathering themselves perhaps for the final push.
Their attacking style is epitomised by the fact that they have scored the most goals in the division at 74 and are now six goals better off than second placed Derby on goal difference.
Derby County lie second, but must wonder how they managed to throw away a two goal advantage at home on Saturday to Birmingham City, ultimately earning just a point in a 2-2 draw. Steve McClaren's men took the lead through Jamie Ward in the first-half, with Thomas Ince adding the second just after the interval. That was how it stayed until the last minute of normal time, when Paul Caddis converted a penalty for the visitors to halve the deficit. Unbelievably, they then found an equaliser deep into injury time as Clayton Donaldson fired home.
Watford also drew 2-2 on Saturday away at Wolves, coming back from a goal behind on two occasions before securing a point. Benik Afobe and Jack Price were on the mark for Wolves, with Watford's goals coming from Matej Vydra and Troy Deeney. The two sides also lost a player each in injury time as Tommie Hoban for Watford and Bakary Sako for Wolves were dismissed.
Middlesbrough lie fourth in the table, with the same goal difference as Watford but well behind them on goals scored. With the meanest defence in the league, it was perhaps a surprise that they lost 2-1 to Notts Forest on Saturday, especially after taking the lead at the City Ground through Grant Leadbitter. That was cancelled out by Gary Gardner's superb shot from distance and then Dexter Blackstock completed the comeback to net the winner midway through the second-half.
Norwich City piled on the misery for Millwall at the bottom of the league with a 4-1 demonstration, as they closed up to just a point behind the leading teams in fifth place. The Lions are now eight points from safety and one wonders about the future for manager Ian Holloway, but Alex Neil for the Canaries would have been more than pleased with his side's performance. Two goals for Jonny Howson, a penalty for Gary Hooper and another for Wes Hoolahan completed their goalscorers, with Lee Gregory snatching a late penalty in reply for home side, Millwall.