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Championship Team of the Week

Sports Mole picks out its best XI, numpty of the week and best goal from this weekend's Championship action.

With the second weekend of the Championship done and dusted, it's time for Sports Mole's weekly individual roundup.

At the top of the table lie Watford after their 6-1 drubbing of Bournemouth. Joining the Hornets with two wins from two are Blackpool and Forest, who saw off Barnsley and Blackburn respectively.

The remaining unbeaten sides are Derby, who continued Brighton's miserable run, Burnley, who added to Wednesday's woes, QPR, who could only draw at Huddersfield, Bolton and Reading, who played out a 1-1 draw at the Reebok, and Leicester and Leeds, who couldn't break each other down in today's sole fixture.

Elsewhere, Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Birmingham picked up their first wins against Millwall, Charlton and Yeovil respectively.

Here, Sports Mole picks out its best XI as well as highlighting this week's numpty and best goal.

Darren Randolph (Birmingham)
The Blues' new keeper kept his first clean sheet of the season at Yeovil and his performance between the sticks was the main reason Birmingham were able to leave Somerset with the points. One save in particular stood out. Yeovil captain Byron Webster met a free kick with a powerful downward header that Randolph somehow flicked up onto the crossbar and away with his foot.

Kieran Trippier (Burnley)
The only man to reappear in the team of the week is Burnley's right-back Trippier. Mightily impressive last week against Bolton, the 22-year-old was again happy to get forward and deliver good crosses against Sheffield Wednesday, setting up Sam Vokes for the second at Wednesday.
Jack Hobbs (Forest)
Forest are one of three teams to win both of their opening matches but the only one to have played twice and not concede. Hobbs's imposing presence at the back is one of the reasons for this.
Gary MacKenzie (Blackpool)
A towering influence in the Tangerines' defence, MacKenzie is often the target at set pieces and always a danger for the opposition when he comes forward. At the back, he helped Blackpool to their first clean sheet of the season.
Aaron Cresswell (Ipswich)
Highly-rated left-back Cresswell was out injured last week at Reading and his return was a welcome sight for Ipswich fans. It was his surge into the box that led to Shane Lowry unfortunately sliding the ball into his own net to gift Ipswich the lead.

Paul Coutts (Derby)
Left out by Nigel Clough against Blackburn last week, Coutts showed why he should stay in the team next week with an all-action performance against Brighton.
Lewis McGugan (Watford)
A rare domestic acquisition by Gianfranco Zola at Watford, McGugan was famous for his goals from midfield at Forest and opened his Hornets account in the Bournemouth rout yesterday.
Darren Pratley (Bolton)
Trotters centre-mid Pratley is the only person to score in the league for Bolton this year. Dougie Freedman's men yet again drew 1-1 this weekend and it's thanks to Pratley's charges into the area.
Junior Hoilett (QPR)
The Canadian winger had a tough debut season with QPR but he seems to be enjoying life in the Championship. He got his first goal of the season as Rangers picked up a draw at Huddersfield.

Troy Deeney (Watford)
No suprise here. Deeney scored the first hat-trick at Vicarage Road since December 1996 and is now top scorer on four after two games.
Chris Martin (Derby)
A brace from Martin won Derby the game at Brighton, compounding Oscar Garcia to yet another defeat. A partnership with Johnny Russell appears to be flourishing and could see unbeaten Derby in for a good year.

Numpty of the Week

Yann Kermorgant: The Charlton frontman took the ball away from goalkeeper Ben Hamer and gifted Middlesbrough striker Lukas Jutkiewicz a header into an unguarded net to win the game at The Valley. Charlton's home form was poor last year and decisions like this won't help this season. Notable mention for Scott Wiseman for flicking into his own net in the 94th minute to prevent Barnsley picking up their first point.

Goal of the Week

Troy Deeney's second vs. Bournemouth: Few gems in the second tier this week and Deeney's second of his hat-trick is the stand-out. He spun on the edge of the area before smashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

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Watford's Troy Deeney celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Birmingham on August 3, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5Watford168262524126
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
18Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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