Championship - Team of the week

Eurosport - Mon, 15 Dec 10:47:00 2008

Watford midfielder John-Joe O'Toole may only have made a dozen starts this season, but with eight goals in those matches he's the first name on the team sheet in our Championship team of the week.

FOOTBALL - John-Joe O'Toole Watford - 0

Not only did the Irishman score a 72nd-minute winner at Vicarage Road, he almost beat Coventry keeper with a Beckham-esque lob that Kieran Westwood just managed to tip over the crossbar.

Alongside O'Toole in midfield is Burnley's Wade Elliott. The Clarets might have made heavy weather of beating lowly Southampton, but Elliott's goal and marshalling of midfield earn him his place in this week's side ahead.

Southampton's resistance was masterminded by Andrew Surman, who also makes the line-up in the middle of the park, as does QPR's Martin Rowlands, for his dominating performance that helped the North London club grind out a draw at Plymouth.

Goalkeeping duties this week go to Paul Rachubka of Blackpool. His heroic performance frustrated Nottingham Forest throughout the match; we just hope he sleeps well at night if those efforts lead finally to the sacking of Forest boss Colin Calderwood.

In front of Rachubka are Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan , whose 87th minute equaliser gave his team a point at Swansea, and Crystal Palace's Nathaniel Clyne, who was brilliant in defence for a team that has now lost just once in nine matches.

Wolves right-back Kevin Foley also makes the side after contributing the cross for Bobby Hassell's own goal before adding his own contribution with four minutes left.

And Bristol City's Jamie McCombe is also in there for his display in the otherwise dull 0-0 at Sheffield Wednesday.

Finally, the strike partnership this week is Cardiff's Jay Bothroyd, who scored the goal that put his side in control against Ipswich.

And for the last slot, we'll be playing Joey Gudjonsson in a floating role between defence and attack. The Burnley midfielder's two goals against Southampton demonstrate a killer instinct that easily earn him his place in this week's team.

GOALKEEPER

Paul Rachubka (Blackpool)

DEFENCE

Chris Morgan (Sheffield United)

Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace)

Kevin Foley (Wolves)

Jamie McCombe (Sheffield Wednesday)

MIDFIELD

John-Joe O'Toole (Watford)

Wade Elliott (Burnley)

Andrew Surman (Southampton)

Martin Rowlands (QPR)

STRIKERS

Jay Bothroyd (Cardiff)

Joey Gudjonsson (Burnley)

Toby Keel / Eurosport

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  1. why are people interested in talking about him even­ though these are fake things? you
    should have known­ the fake news about his affair with Miss New York and­ even his joining
    the famous dating place____TallLoving­ com___.. he is a completely play boy. ...

    From li J, on Mon 15 Dec 2:13AM
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