Winners & losers from gameweek 29 in the Championship
By Mitch Wilks
After 29 fixtures, it starts to feel like you're heading towards the final stretch of the season, right?
Not in the Championship. That 46 game mark still feels an eternity away, which is great for some teams, but hell for others who are desperately trying not to drop off the pace.
It's all a bit mental when you think about it. Even more so this season, with the football calendar being so heavily congested. 29 games is a solid middle ground between the first and final thirds of the season though, so it feels like an appropriate time to see how sides are cracking on and try to differentiate the good from the bad.
That is difficult in the Championship, however, because the current table could look entirely different and flip on its head with the way the English second tier likes to throw up surprises.
Here are your winners and losers from gameweek 29 in the Championship.
1. Winners - Watford
Watford were tired of playing games and decided to treat a fixture with Bristol City like a complete squash match, demolishing them 6-0.
Like a prime Carlito would once say every week on WWE RAW, that's cool. Anyone that can win a game 6-0 is a winner.
2. Losers - Bristol City
On the contrary, there's nothing remotely less cool than losing 6-0. Unless you're Southampton and enjoy losing 9-0.
Shameful from Bristol City. FIFA scoreline. Public apology needed.
3. Winners - Norwich
It's not quite 6-0, but Norwich did a solid job of asserting their dominance atop of the league table with a 4-1 romping of Stoke.
Teemu Pukki was at the double, while Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia were also on target as the Canaries made the most of others dropping points around them.
They only hold a one point lead at the top, but it's one they won't be giving up without a fight.
4. Losers - Bournemouth
After gameweek 15, Bournemouth sat second in the league and were only a point behind Norwich.
The Cherries now sit sixth, 12 points off the pace of the league leaders following a goalless draw away to Nottingham Forest, who have relegation to worry about.
An immediate return to the Premier League is still on, but boy are they making hard work of it.
5. Winners - Derby
Derby sat plum last after gameweek 15 at the beginning of December, and while their relegation troubles are far from gone, a turn around in form now sees them in a much better spot to fight the battle.
Wayne Rooney's side now sit 19th and are three points clear of the drop zone following a hard fought 2-1 victory against Middlesbrough.
It could prove to be a huge three points come the end of the season.
6. Losers - Brentford
Brentford had the chance to stay top of the Championship and knock Norwich off their perch with a favourable fixture against Barnsley.
They lost 2-0, at home. It's simply not good enough for a side in the hunt for the league title; these are the games you cannot afford to lose and it now means Swansea sit just four points behind them with two games in hand.
Bag fumbled.