Monday 20 December 2010

Clubs that made hay while it snowed

For all those who whinge about the lack of a winter break in English football, well, most of them have got their wish on the last week or two. Many clubs didn't play on Saturday, and won't play again until Boxing Day. Enjoy the break.

However, for those that did play there was a chance to bag some points rather than clutch onto "games in hand". Sunderland's 1-0 win over Bolton took them into sixth place in the Premier League, only four points behind Chelsea - what a boost for the Black Cats.

In the Championship, Leeds United took advantage of many other clubs near the top being unable to play, beat leaders QPR 2-0, and moved into an automatic promotion spot for the first time this season, and had a near 30,000 crowd to boot. Would they have preferred to stay in the warm?

Likewise, near the bottom, Hull City and Sheffield United enjoyed much needed wins, and Ipswich Town did all they could to get their game on - most of the first half being played with the blue lines obscured by the ever-deepening snow - and a rather bizarre 17-minute break only 15 minutes into the second half at the behest of referee Stuart Attwell to clear the lines (that were already showing better than in the first 45 minutes!) ensured that the game was completed and Roy Keane's team bagged three vital points. A 16,728 corwd would not have had it any other way.

Back to winter breaks - it's been said many times before: when would you book it? December? January? February? Our weather's not that predictable.

Play the games when you can. If you get a postponement, put your feet up. Otherwise, get the points.

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