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FL72 Review: Garry Birtles reviews the weekend action in the Football League

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Goldsands Stadium, Bournemouth.

Each week, Sky Sports experts review the Football League action on FL72. Check out Garry Birtles' thoughts on the latest round of fixtures...

Bournemouth still in the hunt

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Bournemouth returned to the top of the Championship after a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield but were left ruing chances.

BIRTLES SAYS: It’s probably a good point at this stage of the season. The most important thing is to be not losing games. When you know you have players who can create goals like the one against Huddersfield on Saturday, then you don’t worry as much. The way that Bournemouth play and knock it around the box is very inventive, and it took some terrific saves to deny them. It depends on the mentality of the players how they do now. Other teams around them are winning games, and starting to catch up. If they start to drop down the table, that’s when the pressure really starts to tell. They are still up there, and deserve to be up there. I still think they have enough to beat most teams in this division.

Goals from everywhere at Watford

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Troy Deeney's late winner earned Watford a dramatic 4-3 win over resurgent Sky Bet Championship rivals Bolton at the Macron Stadium.

BIRTLES SAYS: I’ve said it before. But you need to spread the goals around to be successful. If you want to compete at the top, it is important that you don’t over rely on one striker. Watford have got nobody near the top of the scoring charts at the moment, but they are still doing a lot right. Ighalo gets a huge slice of luck for his first goal at Bolton, but you have to take advantage of that luck. The composure is superb. When you have someone like Troy Deeney to bring on,  it shows how strong the Watford squad is. They cannot be ruled out.

Murphy can fire Ipswich

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Ipswich striker Daryl Murphy netted a brace as Town beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage in their Sky Bet Championship clash.

BIRTLES SAYS: What strikers possess at the highest level is the composure to finish in tight situations. 21 league goals for Murphy, no cup goals, and it shows you why Ipswich are in the position they are in. He will be delighted to hear his manager challenge him to get 30 league goals, and that is the target he will set himself. Strikers are always very self critical, and selfish at times, but that is the nature of the beast with a striker. He cannot stop scoring at the moment.

Warburton treated badly by Brentford

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Guy Luzon celebrated his first victory as Charlton boss as his side recorded a 3-0 Championship win against Brentford.

BIRTLES SAYS: Why don’t you just leave Mark Warburton to do the job he has been doing, which has been fantastic? To get them promoted, and keep them in contention at this stage for another promotion is incredible. The owners should just keep their mouths shut, and assess the situation at the end of the season. But to disrupt everything at this stage, it just doesn’t make any sense. Be careful what you wish for. It is obviously affecting the dressing room, and events like what is happening at the moment will do that.

Blades on the march

Jamie Murphy of Sheffield United is congratulated
Image: Sheffield United: Win at Bristol City moved Blades up to fifth

BIRTLES SAYS: They are another team who build their goals. One or two touch, there is always plenty of movement ahead of the man on the ball. The third goal at Bristol City was fantastic. Jamie Murphy had to run a long way, and believe me, when you have run that far, it is hard work to remain composed. The defender made it easy for him, but it was a tremendous finish.

Wycombe struggling under pressure

Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth looks on during the Sky Bet League Two match between Wycombe Wanderers and
Image: Gareth Ainsworth: Seen his side struggle of late

BIRTLES SAYS: As one of the pre-season favourites to be up there, Wycombe are struggling. When you go on a run where you lose a few games, it gets into the players’ minds. The coaching staff have got to say to the players that they are up there by rights and deserved to be classed as favourites at the start of the season. At times you just need a little bit of luck. You don’t become a bad team overnight. There is still plenty of points to play for.

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