Trotter’s double eases Millwall’s relegation worries.

Two goals from the stand in Captain Liam Trotter inspired Millwall to 3-2 victory over fellow Championship strugglers Doncaster.

An entertaining match saw both sides defensive frailties exposed as the game could’ve finished any score.

Trotter opened the scoring from the penalty spot after the youngster John Marquis was felled, only for Doncaster’s prolific striker Billy Sharp to level from another spot kick on 40 minutes. Doncaster however failed to reach the interval level as Trotter scored to make it 2-1 just before half-time, with Carl Ikeme in the Doncaster goal at fault.

Substitute Darius Henderson headed a third from a free-kick with just eight minutes remaining only for Sharp to get his second of the game with a back post header; but Millwall held on and moved up three places in a tight bottom half of the Championship table.

On the back of a good point away to Crystal Palace, Millwall started the stronger with the impressive Marquis causing the experienced Habib Beye problems in the first half. And the first real talking point occurred between these two as Beye appeared to hit out at Marquis, yet despite seeing the incident Andy D’Urso only cautioned the Senegalese defender.

Millwall deservedly opened the scoring after Marquis went over a Hertia Ilunga tackle in the box. The resulting penalty was a confident one from Trotter who gave Ikeme little chance.

Despite dominating the match, Millwall threw Doncaster the chance to level the game up on forty minutes as Sharp won and converted a penalty; smashing the spot-kick down the middle to bring the scores level at 1-1.

Ikeme, who was on loan at Middlesbrough earlier in the season, gifted Millwall their advantage back just three minutes later as he allowed Trotter’s tame effort to go under his body.

Doncaster felt they should’ve had a second penalty on the stroke of half-time; however Dean Saunders was left frustrated after the apparent foul on Giles Barnes wasn’t given.

The second half saw an open game as both sides were guilty of missing chances. Firstly Shane Lowry missed the chance to extend the Lions’ lead as he hit a post; before Marc Antoine Fortune saw his goal bound effort well blocked.

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett brought on both Hamir Bouazza and Henderson in an attempt to kill Doncaster off. And the attacking changes paid dividends as the latter headed home expertly from a free-kick to make it 3-1.

Doncaster’s sub of their own got his side back into the match as Kyle Bennett did superbly to glide past two Millwall defenders, before finding Sharp at the back post to half the deficit margin.

Bouazza missed a great chance to make it four late on; however it mattered not as Millwall ended a run of three games without a win.

DEENEY STRIKES TO EXTENT BRIGHTON’S POOR RUN

Watford’s Troy Deeney scored the match winner just seconds after coming on as a second half substitute, as Brighton’s winless run was extended to nine games.

The goal was perhaps fortunate, but Sean Dyche won’t worry one bit as his Watford side won back-to-back matches for the first time this season in extending their cushion above the drop zone to four points.

Brighton never really found their passing game, something iconic in a Gus Poyet side, and the Uruguayan was very critical of his side afterwards claiming “We were poor. I don’t remember the last time we were so poor.”

A confident Watford, on the back of a vital three points against Peterborough on Saturday, came out of the traps the quickest and their man in form Marvin Sordell wasted two good early opportunities; seeing one shot blocked and the other comfortably saved by Steve Harper.

A dominant Watford again nearly opened the scoring as the stand in captain Adrian Mariappa headed against a post from another high quality delivery from Lee Hodson, who was a consistent threat down the Watford right.

Brighton rarely threatened in the first half; however their one source of quality came through Craig Noone who looked lively. Noone in fact was the closest to a Brighton goal in an otherwise disappointing first half for the South coast side, after his long range effort had Scott Loach worried.

After the break however, Poyet’s side were the better, and despite failing to trouble Loach in the Watford goal, were dominating possession for the first time in the match.

Poyet gambled by bringing on a third striker as Ashley Barnes was introduced in place of Ryan Harley, however it was a Dyche change that had the most affect as Deeney came on for the quiet Craig Forsyth.

Immediately after the former Walsall man opened the scoring. Chris Iwelumo did brilliantly to engineer a chance for the sub as his knock down feel perfectly for Deeney. The forward’s first shot was blocked, however Greer’s attempted clearance rebounded of the fortunate Deeney and went in.

Barnes wasted Brighton’s best chance at getting back into the match as he woefully put fellow sub Kazenga Lua Lua’s cross wide.

Brighton failed to create any chances late on as Watford held on for a vital three points.

Who will win promotion from the Championship?

The Championship this year is a strong league with a huge percentage of teams fancying their chances of winning promotion to the promise land that is the Premier League.

My favourites for promotion are Leicester City who have been bankrolled heavily by the Thailand company King Powers, and with Sven Goran Eriksson at the helm he has already used his status in the game to bring in players from abroad. Already adding Neil Danns, Lee Peltier, Kasper Schmichel, Sean St Ledger and David Nugent, the club have used their financial muscle to beat of competition from arguably bigger clubs.

Predicition: 1st.

Of the three relegated teams I believe West Ham have the best chance of bouncing back straight away. The shrewd appointment of Sam Allardyce has given many people the belief that they won't be in the second tier for too long. Abdoulaye Faye and Kevin Nolan are fantastic additions with Premier League aspirations. The club will obviously have to sell some of their players on high wages in Carlton Cole and Scott Parker, however with Allardyce at the helm the club will be there or there abouts.

Prediction: 2nd.

Nigel Pearson did a terrific job at Leicester in returning them to the second tier of English football, and after a year consoldating himself at Hull City this is the year I feel Hull will kick on with a promotion bid. After signing no less then three players from his former club Pearson obviously now has got the players he wants in the team. And with money to spend and a strike force of Matty Fryatt and Aaron McClean there will be goals.

Prediction: 3rd.

Nigel Atkins down a terrific job with Southampton, and he'll be hoping to copy the likes of Leicester and Norwich City over the past two years who have been promoted and then more then challenged for back-to-back promotions. The club is full of young English talent and the club are well finaced after years of trouble in that context, and with the right signings I feel Southampton are the best of the three promoted teams to challenge, despite the likes of Brighton and Peterborough having strong sides and spending well.

Prediction: 4th.

Chris Hughton inherits a Birmingham side that is likely to be picked apart by the Premier League voltures due to the clubs relegation from the Premier League. The one worry again is the lack of goals which cost them so dearly in their the unsuccesful bid to survive, and the addition of Marlon King for me isn't going to change that. Hughton will hopefully be given a good percentage of the money made from probable sales and bring it new faces.

Prediction: 5th.

The recent trend of the League one clubs being succesful in the Championship will definately be extended this year with the three promoted teams arguably the best collectively they've been. And I feel Gus Poyet's Brighton will sneak into the final play-off spot. The additions of Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Buckley will give them an extra attacking dimension, and if Brighton were to add a couple of defensive additions I see now reason why they can't make the play-offs.

Prediction: 6th.

7th- Burnley
8th- Nottingham Forest
9th- Leeds United
10th- Ipswich Town
11th- Middlesborough
12th- Reading