Nigerian-born players were again at their best in the English Championship, as Daryl Dike scored for Barnsley, Elijah Adebayo struck for Luton Town and Arnaut Danjuma made hay for Bournemouth, on another evening of intense action in England’s lower division.
Danjuma scored twice and made another goal as Bournemouth moved into the Championship play-off places with a convincing 4-1 win at home to lowly Coventry, while David Brooks and Dominic Solanke were also on target as Jonathan Woodgate’s in-form Cherries picked up their fourth straight league win with Matty James replying for the visitors.
Dike scored alongside Alex Mowatt to strengthen Barnsley’s play-off push in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at Oakwell, though Boro’s coach, Neil Warnock made a single switch from the side who drew with Watford, as Chuba Akpom came in for the injured Sam Morsy.
Mowatt scored shortly after the hour mark before Dike made sure of the three points 15 minutes from time, in a game that saw Valerien Ismael also make a single change from the team who beat Luton on Monday, as Dominik Frieser replaced Victor Adeboyejo.
Dike’s goals have helped Barnsley maintain fifth spot in the Championship and they now hold a five-point advantage over Reading, who are just outside the play-off positions.
Same evening in England, Adebayo got among the thrills, as three goals in the last 10 minutes saw Wycombe’s Championship survival hopes suffer a major setback as Luton claimed a 3-1 comeback victory at Adams Park.
Anis Mehmeti’s first-half penalty had put the hosts ahead as they searched for a third-consecutive win, but Josh Knight’s red card before the hour changed the course of the match.
A long-range free-kick from substitute George Moncur and a curled Kazenga LuaLua effort five minutes later put Luton in front in the closing stages.
There was still time for Adebayo to head home his fourth goal of the season to secure all three points for a Hatters side whose mid-table finish appears set.
Wycombe also had shouts for a penalty waved away after Uche Ikpeazu picked up the ball and drove into the box, tangling legs with Matty Pearson.
Fred Onyedinma forced the first save out of Luton stopper Simon Sluga a couple of minutes later, before Wycombe were awarded a penalty.
