Top two move away

The Canaries and the Baggies were level on points before last night, and wins for the pair means it's still tight as the battle for the Championship continues.

Norwich remain with the slight advantage, however, as they've played a game less, but manager and TheFA.columnist Nigel Worthington is keen not to get carried away and for his team to take the remaining ten games one at a time.

"The line between winning and losing is such a fine one," he says. "If it's going well for you it's important that you keep the momentum going, and likewise, if you go the other way, it can be hard to change it around.

"Whilst your winning, you enjoy it and try and keep it going for as long as possible."

Their 3-0 win over Gillingham, who were reduced to 10-men after only 26 minutes, at Carrow Road came during a four minute spell just after the hour mark.  An own-goal from Alan Poulton, turning in a cross from England Under-19 Ian Henderson, set them on their way after a poor first-half display from Worthers' men that failed to take control following Barry Ashby's dismissal.

Phil Mulryne made it two with a header just moments later, before Paul McVeigh sent Darren Huckerby's pass curling past Steve Banks, and Worthington urged the Canary support to remain calm and patient with their team following a nervy opening forty-five.

"It was a good performance in the second half and we know it isn't always easy against 10 men," commented Nigel after the game.

He added: "At the moment we are top of the table, we all want the same thing - and that's promotion to the Premiership. That's why the players need support from the word go in their own stadium." 

"Their support is going to be vital to give the players encouragement and take us over the finishing line."
 
Gary Megson's West Brom remained hot on the heels of Norwich with a 2-1 win over promotion hopefuls Wigan.  Despite going a goal behind to Andy Liddell's 73rd minute penalty, Lee Hughes levelled, also from the spot, four minutes later.

Thomas Gaardsoe hit the winner in injury-time to keep the Baggies in a strong position for an instant return to the top flight.

"We have played on lots of occasions in the past much better than that and we haven't won," admitted Megson, "It certainly wasn't an excellent performance - we won because we kept going."

Added Megson: "Football at this stage of the season can produce a lot of strange results. There is always a lot of tension and nerves and that can produce some very poor performances."

At Millmoor, Jack Lester's penalty just after the break for Sheffield United was cancelled out by Andy Monkhouse in the 52nd minute earning Rotherham a draw. The point helps Neil Warnock's Blades leap-frog Wigan, but with the top two both winning, the gap between the play-offs and automatic promotion widens.

Nationwide Division One - Top Six

		Home					Away
	P	W	L	D	F	A	W	L	D	F	A	Diff	Pts
1 Norwich City	36	14	3	2	33	13	6	7	4	24	17	27	70
2 West Brom A.	37	11	5	3	29	14	9	5	4	24	18	21	70
3 Sheff United	36	9	4	4	30	19	8	4	7	23	23	11	59
4 Wigan Athletic	36	9	6	3	23	13	6	7	5	26	24	12	58
5 West Ham U.	36	8	6	4	30	17	6	9	3	21	17	17	57
6 Reading	37	9	5	4	25	21	7	4	8	22	28	-2	57