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Sports Mole's Championship Team of the Week

Sports Mole selects its best XI, biggest numpty and favourite goal from Saturday's Championship action.

It was a brilliant day for the top and bottom three in the Championship as all 24 sides played on a jam-packed Saturday.

League leaders Leicester City maintained their eight-point lead at the top by seeing off Ipswich Town 3-0, while Burnley and Derby County kept up the pressure with wins over Notttingham Forest and Bournemouth respectively.

Down the other end, Yeovil Town, Barnsley and Charlton Athletic all picked up much-needed wins.

Below, Sports Mole picks out its best XI as well as highlighting the biggest numpty and the best goal from Saturday's games.

Ali Al-Habsi (Wigan Athletic)
Wigan closed to within a point of the playoff places by snatching victory at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Latics were second-best for much of the game and had Al-Habsi to thank for several key saves.

Kieran Trippier (Burnley)
Another week, another appearance for Trippier at right-back. The Burnley man now has 13 assists this season, and his skill and cross for Vokes's second against Forest was delightful. The division's standout right-back this season.
Shane Duffy (Yeovil)
Bottom club Yeovil ended a run of five games without a win by edging out Doncaster Rovers at Huish Park, with Duffy a rock at the back.
Martin Cranie (Barnsley)
Like Duffy, Cranie was solid as the Tykes came past Millwall. He also provided the pass for Jim O'Brien to score the winning goal.
Stephen Warnock (Leeds United)
A dogged display from the experienced left-back as Leeds played out a goalless draw against Middlesbrough.

Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers)
Conway opened his account for Blackburn and what an important goal it was as Rovers won at Reading to reignite their playoff hopes.
Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers)
Bolton were in danger of being dragged towards the bottom three but ended a run of nine winless games with victory over Watford. Spearing was a composed figure in the middle and also provided an assist.
Johnnie Jackson (Charlton)
Jackson found the net in the dying moments for a crucial goal as the Addicks shocked promotion-chasing Queens Park Rangers.
Jeremy Helan (Sheffield Wednesday)
Helan's persistence resulted in the opening goal as the Owls produced an excellent away performance to beat Huddersfield Town and continue their charge away from the drop zone.

Lee Novak (Birmingham)
Novak scored a match-winning brace against Blackpool as the Blues, like Wednesday, ensured that the lowly sides winning didn't suck them towards the bottom three.
Sam Vokes (Burnley)
Vokes's strike partner Danny Ings has now gone three league games without a goal, but it hasn't hurt Burnley too much. Vokes provided two goals in the first half as Burnley swatted away fellow high-flyers Forest.

Numpty of the Week

Jay Tabb: A trip to Leicester was never going to be easy for Ipswich but they didn't help themselves by defending poorly and Tabb's weak back-pass gifted the opener to Jamie Vardy.

Goal of the Week

Chris Martin (Derby) vs. Bournemouth: Known for his persistence and tenacity in attack, Martin showed that he can take free kicks too by curling home an 85th-minute winner for Derby against Bournemouth.

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Written by
Pascal Lemesre
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Burnley right-back Kieran Trippier looks on during a Championship match on August 3, 2013
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Championship Team of the Week
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


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