Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town (English Championship)

Smith gets to lead off Flying Kiwis this week, after his Ipswich side claimed a late, late victory over Charlton. With Christophe Berra suspended, Smith started in the middle with club captain and the man who briefly replaced him in the middle, Luke Chambers.

Although it took almost 95 minutes for a goal, this wasn’t a cagey affair. Both keepers were forced to make a bunch of saves from some powerful shots. Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was probably the man of the match. There were plenty of chances, Tommy Smith even attempting an ambitious bicycle kick! He scored one last season, but this one wasn’t even close. With time running out in a game full of shots, lost possession and average finishing, Mick McCarthy threw on substitute Noel Hunt, who’d only been at the club a couple of days after signing on loan from Leeds, and guess who pops up with the dramatic winner with almost the last kick of the game? He didn't even have a number on his shirt!

Ipswich are on fire, it’s not 6 games in a row without a loss and they’ve shot up to second on the table! That’s automatic promotion as it stands. This from a squad that only cost around £10k.

Smith had a very solid one. A few sloppy passes but otherwise impressive. He's also on the verge of a little record... 

Up Next: Leeds drop by, 4am Sunday (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eredivisie)

As far as individual performances go, however, Ryan Thomas takes the cake this week. His PEC Zwolle side ran riot with a 5-0 win away to Excelsior. Thomas didn’t score, but he set up two in an involved performance – just look at this pass!

Zwolle were without their top scorer, Thomas Necid, due to suspension. In his place was Stefan Nijland, who bagged a double, with Mustafa Saymak (2) and Jesper Drost also getting on the score sheet. The game was long since over when Thomas was subbed off with 20 minutes left. The result moves the team up to sixth, and just two points back from Feyenoord in third.

Up Next: Home to ADO Den Haag on the 8th (NZT)

Winston Reid – West Ham United (English Premier League)

There’s a problem you face with a no-nonsense defender like Winston Reid, and that problem is suspensions. Winnie missed the game against Newcastle after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season the week before.

The team did well in his absence though. The Hammers snapped Newcastle’s streak of five straight wins with a hard fought One-Niller at home. James Tomkins came in for Reid, although Alex Song was still out and West Ham struggled to control the game without him. There weren’t too many chances in this one, still Ayoze Perez dragged a couple shots for Toon and Andy Carroll was a bully in the air against his old club.

The only goal came early in the second half when Cheikhou Kouyaté horribly mishit his shot… right into the path of fullback Aaron Cresswell who buried it. And WHU were able to hold on after Moussa Sissoko picked up two yellows in 45 seconds – one for kicking the ball away, the next for a late foul on Carroll. 

Up Next: 9am Wednesday at West Brom (NZT)

Chris Wood – Leicester City (English Premier League)

Leicester City finally broke their goal drought this week against QPR, though they still lost and are now dead last. Chris Wood, after a few consecutive subs appearances, wasn’t even on the bench. We’ll keep fingers crossed to see if he makes a cameo midweek, as the Foxes host Liverpool.

Up Next: ‘Pool, at 8.45am Wednesday (NZT)