Newcastle United pair and Brighton star among top five shortlisted for the goal of the calendar year in the Championship, alongside Nottingham Forest and Hull players.
The results on HITC Sport’s poll looking for the best goal in the Championship from 2016 are in. But did your favourite strike from the second tier make the top five?
5. Mohamed Diame (Hull City vs Sheffield Wednesday)
Mohamed Diame after scoring for Hull
A tense play-off final between Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday was looking as if it would need a moment of magic to settle the game as it headed into its final 20 minutes. And it was Mohamed Diame who stepped up as his wonderful long-range strike left an inspired Keiren Westwood with no chance of keeping the ball out.
4. Gary Gardner (Nottingham Forest vs Hull City)
While Hull City were the benefactors of the previous entry, they were the team left picking the ball out of the net when Gary Gardner tried his luck from distance while playing for Nottingham Forest during his time on loan from Aston Villa. After a simple lay-off, the midfielder sent the ball viciously into the top corner from all of 35 yards.
3. Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United vs Queens Park Rangers)
Jonjo Shelvey of Newcastle United
While Jonjo Shelvey was perhaps not as far out as the previous two players on this list had been when they scored, there is no doubt that his strike against QPR deserves to be included on this list. The Newcastle midfielder is given the ball about 25 yards from goal and after clearing it out of his feet, he proceeded to curl an effort – that had begun well outside the post – into the top corner.
2. Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United vs Ipswich Town)
It was not just long-range efforts that made it into the poll compiled by HITC Sport readers as this brilliant team goal took second spot. After 60 seconds of Newcastle’s game with Ipswich, the Magpies had already taken a 1-0 lead as Ayoze Perez had smashed home from eight yards and the away side were still awaiting the chance to get their first touch of the ball after a stunning move.
1. Jiri Skalak (Brighton and Hove Albion vs Queens Park Rangers)
Jiri Skalak of Brighton
The Championship’s best goal from 2016 came from Brighton’s 4-0 win over QPR back in April. It was Jiri Skalak’s strike to make the score 2-0 that has taken top spot. The 24-year-old capitalised on a lazy defensive header into his path and took advantage of the space around him by composing himself before unleashing a sweet volley into the top corner to send the Amex Stadium into a frenzy.
With Brighton impressing towards at the top of the Championship for a second successive season, there could be more to come in 2017.
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