Queens Park Rangers headlined an exciting weekend of Championship action by reclaiming top spot with a 3-1 win over Preston North End.
Adel Taarabt scored two long range strikes for QPR in their 3-1 win over Preston, while Cardiff city were knocked out of top spot as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Nottingham Forest. Third place Swansea City gained ground on South Wales rivals Cardiff courtesy of a 93rd minute Angel Rangel equalizer at Doncaster Rovers.
At the bottom end of the table, Sheffield United beat fellow relegation strugglers Crystal Palace in a turbulent game that featured five goals, three penalties and two red cards. Bristol City climbed out fo the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Leicester City, while Middlesbrough fell further into the relegation battle as they were beaten 1-0 by visiting Millwall.
Struggling Middlesbrough fell into the bottom three as they were beaten 1-0 by visiting Millwall. The defeat leaves Middlesbrough in deep trouble while Millwall gained three points that gave them some breathing space from the bottom three.
In an entertaining first half Millwall keeper David Forde was twice called into action to deny Gary O’Neil and Luke Williams respectively. For the Lions, Steve Morison fired over before Danny Shittu forced an excellent save from Jason Steele.
The decisive goal was scored in the 25th minute when midweek loan signing Jason Puncheon fired past Steele from 10 yards out to cap an impressive debut. Middlesbrough pushed for a second half equalizer, but the closest they came was a missed Leroy Lita header in the final minute.
Playoff contenders Leeds United and Norwich City shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road. Max Gradel opened the scoring for Leeds United before Leon Barnett equalized for Norwich.
Gradel opened the scoring with a cool finish onto the bottom corner, and soon almost doubled the lead but his shot was saved by John Ruddy. Chris Martin threatened for the Canaries but was denied by a Kasper Schmeichel save.
Norwich bounced back and played well in the second half. They were rewarded when Barnett headed home a David Fox corner to ensure a point for the Canaries. The result leaves Leeds in the playoff spots, with Norwich only one point behind.
Queens Park Rangers reclaimed top spot with a comfortable 3-1 win over rock bottom Preston North End. Powerful striker Rob Hulse opened the scoring before Adel Taarabt scored twice to give QPR a three goal cushion. A late Matthew Connolly own goal provided consolation for Preston.
Preston got off to a nightmare start when goalkeeper Andy Lonergan dropped a regulation cross from Kyle Walker. Hulse tapped the loose ball into an unguarded net. Rangers created a host of chances in the first half but failed to add to their lead before the break.
PNE started the second half well and Adam Barton forced a good save from Paddy Kenny. Their momentum was killed in the 56th minute though when Taarabt doubled the home side’s lead. Taarabt collected possession and curled home a stunning right foot strike from outside the area.
Taarabt made the score 3-0 with only six minutes remaining with another excellent long range strike. Though the won was sealed, Preston managed a late consolation when Iain Hume’s free kick was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Matthew Connolly.
Watford and reading shared the points in a result that was the third consecutive draw for Reading. Noel Hunt gave Reading the lead before Troy Deeney equalized for the hosts before half time.
Jobi McAnuff of Watford created the first chance but could not finish after a slaloming run through the Reading defense. Reading responded by going ahead in the 15th minute. Shane Long raced in behind down the left flank and sent over a good cross for his Republic of Ireland teammate Noel Hunt to fire past Scott Loach for his third goal in three games.
Reading remained in the ascendancy but Watford leveled the scores against the run of play when Deeney headed home a Jordon Mutch corner.
Reading pushed forward for a winner in the second half but Long and Hunt both found themselves denied by Loach. Reading were also denied a penalty when Loach appeared to barge Long while collecting a cross.
Hull City pulled themselves away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over visiting Ipswich. Robert Koren’s excellent goal lit up an otherwise unspectacular affair and awarded the Tigers a vital three points.
In a scoreless and unspectacular first half, Hull midfielder Kevin Kilbane came closest to scoring when his header bounced twice off the woodwork. After the restart chances remained few and far between in a tense affair.
Ipswich were limited to long range shots and showed no ability to penetrate the Hull defensive line. Hull eventually settled the game when Slovenian World Cup star Koren picked up possession and lashed home an excellent goal from 25 yards.
Third place Swansea City grabbed a point at Doncaster Rovers courtesy of a dramatic equalizer by Angel Rangel. James Hayter had given Doncaster the lead and it looked to be enough for the win until Rangel struck in the third minute of injury time.
Doncaster started on the front foot and thought they had taken the lead in the 5th minute, only for David Healy’s strike to be ruled out for offside. Two minutes later Swansea had a chance to open the scoring but Craig Beattie skewed his shot wide when clean through on goal.
Doncaster took the lead on 16 minutes when Hayter rose to meet John Oster’s chipped cross and plant a firm header beyond Dorus De Vries. After half time Rovers continued to push forward and Healy was twice denied by De Vries to keep the score at 1-0.
With the clock ticking down Doncaster hearts were broken as Rangel volleyed into the top corner in the third minute of injury time to snatch a dramatic point for the Swans.
Bristol City climbed out of the relegation zone with an impressive 2-0 win over Leicester City. Robins goalkeeper David James saved a penalty, before Brett Pittman and David Clarkson condemned Leicester to defeat.
The deadlock was almost broken in the 21st minute when Foxes striker Andy King was hauled down by James. The England World Cup goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving the resulting penalty from Steve Howard. Paul Gallacher beat James with a header just five minutes later but the ball sailed wide of the goal post.
Pittman was introduced at half time and made an impact just 12 minutes later when he deflected home a Jamie McAllister cross. Sven Goran Eriksson threw on Darius Vassell and Martyn Waghorn but Leicester could not break down the Robins.
Clarkson wrapped up the victory for Bristol in injury time when he fired home a 30 yard pile driver.
Nottingham Forest produced an impressive 2-0 win at Cardiff City to knock Cardiff off top spot in the league. A goal in each half from Lewis McGugan and Dexter Blackstock was enough to give Forest a win that sees them climb into the playoff places.
The home side started on the front foot and Craig Bellamy and Peter Whittingham both threatened from long distance. Forest had a long range effort of their own when Chris Cohen fired a shot just wide.
Forest took the lead in the 23rd minute; fittingly the goal came courtesy of a long range strike. McGugan was fed by Dele Adebola and fired an excellent strike from 25 yards beyond Tom Heaton for a 1-0 lead. McGugan found himself with a similar chance only three minutes later but fired wide.
Forest remained in the ascendancy after half time and the won was sealed six minutes from time when McGugan turned provider and played in Blackstock, who fired a good finish from 12 yards to double the lead.
A slight dampener was put on the proceeding for Forest late on as Blackstock collided with Seyi Olofinjana and was stretchered off with a serious looking leg injury.
Coventry achieved a 1-0 win that sees them leapfrog Burnley in the playoff race. Nathan Doyle’s well struck 25 yard effort handed the Sky Blues the win and Burnley are left still searching for their first away win of the season.
An uneventful first half ended scoreless with few scoring chances of note. Gary McSheffrey had a free kick saved, and Chris Eagles fired over with Burnley’s best chance.
Doyle opened the scoring 12 minutes after the restart when a McSheffrey corner was cleared but fell to Doyle, who fired the ball low past Lee Grant for the lead.
Steven Thompson was presented with Burnley’s best chance to level the scores but blazed his shot high over the bar.
Barnsley beat Portsmouth 1-0 courtesy of an Adam Hamill wonder goal. The win moves Portsmouth to within two points of the playoff spots.
Barnsley started the game brightly putting pressure on the Pompey backline and winning a succession of corners. The Tykes took a 13th minute lead when Birmingham loanee Garry O’Connor set up Hammill, and the midfielder scored his seventh goal of the season with an excellent strike.
Barnsley continued to play well and Portsmouth were limited to a long range strike from John Utaka and a number of Liam Lawrence crosses that were dealt with by the Barnsley back line.
Hamill and Jim O’Brien had second half chances to double the lead but failed to do so. They were not punished however as Joel Ward squandered two late chances for the visitors.
Derby County consolidated their position in the playoff spots by recording their sixth consecutive home win over struggling Scunthorpe United.
Tomasz Cywka opened the scoring for the homes side before Jonathan Forte equalized in the 27th minute. Parity lasted for only 10 minutes as first a Kris Commons penalty, and then a Luke Moore strike gave the Rams a 3-1 lead. Michael O’Connor halved the deficit with a penalty but Derby County held on for a 3-2 win.
Cywka opened the scoring in only the 3rd minute with a neat finish after he was fed by Alberto Bueno. Scunthorpe leveled matters when O’Connor played in Forte to beat Frank Fielding.
At the 37 minute mark, Bueno waltzed into the Scunthorpe area and went down under seemingly minimal contact. The penalty was awarded amid furious Scunthorpe protests. Scotland international Commons stepped up to slam home the penalty and give derby the lead. Derby took a 3-1 lead before the hour mark when Cywka turned provider and played in Moore, who placed a neat finish into the top corner.
Scunthorpe were granted a path back into the game with 15 minutes remaining when Rams defender Gareth Roberts conceded a penalty and was dismissed for his second booking. O’Connor converted the penalty to set up a nervy final 15 minutes, but despite being a man down Derby clng on for the three points.
Sheffield United gained an exciting 3-2 win over fellow relegation strugglers Crystal Palace in a game that featured five goals, three penalties and two red cards. The win helps United pull clear of the relegation zone while leaving Palace drifting three points from safety.
Palace started well and a surging run forward by Neil Danns saw him felled in the penalty area by Jean Calve, Danns stepped up to slot home the resulting spot kick and put the Eagles ahead. Wilfred Zaha was put in with a chance to double the lead in the 34th minute but was denied by Steve Simonsen’s save.
United were awarded awarded a 39th minute penalty when Nathaniel Clyne was adjudged to have fouled Ched Evans. Palace midfielder Owen Garvan was sent off for dissent in the resulting arguments with the referee. Richard Cresswell kept a cool head to convert the penalty and level the score.
Cresswell had a good chance at the start of the second half but his close range header was well saved by Julian Speroni. Only a minute or so later Palace took a 2-1 lead when James Vaughan headed home from a Clyne cross.
The Blades responded well to going behind and put relentless pressure on Palace in search of an equalizer, their persistence paid off with only five minutes remaining. Kyle Bartley’s header was topped onto the crossbar by Speroni, only for Evans to hook home the rebound. The fact that Evans appeared to be offside did not help referee Anthony Taylor who had been previously abused by Garvan.
Seeming unphased by the Palace criticism, Taylor awarded a penalty two minutes later when Claude Davis fouled substitute Daniel Bogdanovic from behind. The Maltese striker got up to fire home the penalty and wrap up the 3-2 win. Bogdanovic was sent off deep into injury time for a rash foul on Vaughan, but the Blades held on for an important win.
At the bottom end of the table, Sheffield United beat fellow relegation strugglers Crystal Palace in a turbulent game that featured five goals, three penalties and two red cards. Bristol City climbed out fo the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Leicester City, while Middlesbrough fell further into the relegation battle as they were beaten 1-0 by visiting Millwall.
Struggling Middlesbrough fell into the bottom three as they were beaten 1-0 by visiting Millwall. The defeat leaves Middlesbrough in deep trouble while Millwall gained three points that gave them some breathing space from the bottom three.
In an entertaining first half Millwall keeper David Forde was twice called into action to deny Gary O’Neil and Luke Williams respectively. For the Lions, Steve Morison fired over before Danny Shittu forced an excellent save from Jason Steele.
The decisive goal was scored in the 25th minute when midweek loan signing Jason Puncheon fired past Steele from 10 yards out to cap an impressive debut. Middlesbrough pushed for a second half equalizer, but the closest they came was a missed Leroy Lita header in the final minute.
Playoff contenders Leeds United and Norwich City shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road. Max Gradel opened the scoring for Leeds United before Leon Barnett equalized for Norwich.
Gradel opened the scoring with a cool finish onto the bottom corner, and soon almost doubled the lead but his shot was saved by John Ruddy. Chris Martin threatened for the Canaries but was denied by a Kasper Schmeichel save.
Norwich bounced back and played well in the second half. They were rewarded when Barnett headed home a David Fox corner to ensure a point for the Canaries. The result leaves Leeds in the playoff spots, with Norwich only one point behind.
Queens Park Rangers reclaimed top spot with a comfortable 3-1 win over rock bottom Preston North End. Powerful striker Rob Hulse opened the scoring before Adel Taarabt scored twice to give QPR a three goal cushion. A late Matthew Connolly own goal provided consolation for Preston.
Preston got off to a nightmare start when goalkeeper Andy Lonergan dropped a regulation cross from Kyle Walker. Hulse tapped the loose ball into an unguarded net. Rangers created a host of chances in the first half but failed to add to their lead before the break.
PNE started the second half well and Adam Barton forced a good save from Paddy Kenny. Their momentum was killed in the 56th minute though when Taarabt doubled the home side’s lead. Taarabt collected possession and curled home a stunning right foot strike from outside the area.
Taarabt made the score 3-0 with only six minutes remaining with another excellent long range strike. Though the won was sealed, Preston managed a late consolation when Iain Hume’s free kick was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Matthew Connolly.
Watford and reading shared the points in a result that was the third consecutive draw for Reading. Noel Hunt gave Reading the lead before Troy Deeney equalized for the hosts before half time.
Jobi McAnuff of Watford created the first chance but could not finish after a slaloming run through the Reading defense. Reading responded by going ahead in the 15th minute. Shane Long raced in behind down the left flank and sent over a good cross for his Republic of Ireland teammate Noel Hunt to fire past Scott Loach for his third goal in three games.
Reading remained in the ascendancy but Watford leveled the scores against the run of play when Deeney headed home a Jordon Mutch corner.
Reading pushed forward for a winner in the second half but Long and Hunt both found themselves denied by Loach. Reading were also denied a penalty when Loach appeared to barge Long while collecting a cross.
Hull City pulled themselves away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over visiting Ipswich. Robert Koren’s excellent goal lit up an otherwise unspectacular affair and awarded the Tigers a vital three points.
In a scoreless and unspectacular first half, Hull midfielder Kevin Kilbane came closest to scoring when his header bounced twice off the woodwork. After the restart chances remained few and far between in a tense affair.
Ipswich were limited to long range shots and showed no ability to penetrate the Hull defensive line. Hull eventually settled the game when Slovenian World Cup star Koren picked up possession and lashed home an excellent goal from 25 yards.
Third place Swansea City grabbed a point at Doncaster Rovers courtesy of a dramatic equalizer by Angel Rangel. James Hayter had given Doncaster the lead and it looked to be enough for the win until Rangel struck in the third minute of injury time.
Doncaster started on the front foot and thought they had taken the lead in the 5th minute, only for David Healy’s strike to be ruled out for offside. Two minutes later Swansea had a chance to open the scoring but Craig Beattie skewed his shot wide when clean through on goal.
Doncaster took the lead on 16 minutes when Hayter rose to meet John Oster’s chipped cross and plant a firm header beyond Dorus De Vries. After half time Rovers continued to push forward and Healy was twice denied by De Vries to keep the score at 1-0.
With the clock ticking down Doncaster hearts were broken as Rangel volleyed into the top corner in the third minute of injury time to snatch a dramatic point for the Swans.
Bristol City climbed out of the relegation zone with an impressive 2-0 win over Leicester City. Robins goalkeeper David James saved a penalty, before Brett Pittman and David Clarkson condemned Leicester to defeat.
The deadlock was almost broken in the 21st minute when Foxes striker Andy King was hauled down by James. The England World Cup goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving the resulting penalty from Steve Howard. Paul Gallacher beat James with a header just five minutes later but the ball sailed wide of the goal post.
Pittman was introduced at half time and made an impact just 12 minutes later when he deflected home a Jamie McAllister cross. Sven Goran Eriksson threw on Darius Vassell and Martyn Waghorn but Leicester could not break down the Robins.
Clarkson wrapped up the victory for Bristol in injury time when he fired home a 30 yard pile driver.
Nottingham Forest produced an impressive 2-0 win at Cardiff City to knock Cardiff off top spot in the league. A goal in each half from Lewis McGugan and Dexter Blackstock was enough to give Forest a win that sees them climb into the playoff places.
The home side started on the front foot and Craig Bellamy and Peter Whittingham both threatened from long distance. Forest had a long range effort of their own when Chris Cohen fired a shot just wide.
Forest took the lead in the 23rd minute; fittingly the goal came courtesy of a long range strike. McGugan was fed by Dele Adebola and fired an excellent strike from 25 yards beyond Tom Heaton for a 1-0 lead. McGugan found himself with a similar chance only three minutes later but fired wide.
Forest remained in the ascendancy after half time and the won was sealed six minutes from time when McGugan turned provider and played in Blackstock, who fired a good finish from 12 yards to double the lead.
A slight dampener was put on the proceeding for Forest late on as Blackstock collided with Seyi Olofinjana and was stretchered off with a serious looking leg injury.
Coventry achieved a 1-0 win that sees them leapfrog Burnley in the playoff race. Nathan Doyle’s well struck 25 yard effort handed the Sky Blues the win and Burnley are left still searching for their first away win of the season.
An uneventful first half ended scoreless with few scoring chances of note. Gary McSheffrey had a free kick saved, and Chris Eagles fired over with Burnley’s best chance.
Doyle opened the scoring 12 minutes after the restart when a McSheffrey corner was cleared but fell to Doyle, who fired the ball low past Lee Grant for the lead.
Steven Thompson was presented with Burnley’s best chance to level the scores but blazed his shot high over the bar.
Barnsley beat Portsmouth 1-0 courtesy of an Adam Hamill wonder goal. The win moves Portsmouth to within two points of the playoff spots.
Barnsley started the game brightly putting pressure on the Pompey backline and winning a succession of corners. The Tykes took a 13th minute lead when Birmingham loanee Garry O’Connor set up Hammill, and the midfielder scored his seventh goal of the season with an excellent strike.
Barnsley continued to play well and Portsmouth were limited to a long range strike from John Utaka and a number of Liam Lawrence crosses that were dealt with by the Barnsley back line.
Hamill and Jim O’Brien had second half chances to double the lead but failed to do so. They were not punished however as Joel Ward squandered two late chances for the visitors.
Derby County consolidated their position in the playoff spots by recording their sixth consecutive home win over struggling Scunthorpe United.
Tomasz Cywka opened the scoring for the homes side before Jonathan Forte equalized in the 27th minute. Parity lasted for only 10 minutes as first a Kris Commons penalty, and then a Luke Moore strike gave the Rams a 3-1 lead. Michael O’Connor halved the deficit with a penalty but Derby County held on for a 3-2 win.
Cywka opened the scoring in only the 3rd minute with a neat finish after he was fed by Alberto Bueno. Scunthorpe leveled matters when O’Connor played in Forte to beat Frank Fielding.
At the 37 minute mark, Bueno waltzed into the Scunthorpe area and went down under seemingly minimal contact. The penalty was awarded amid furious Scunthorpe protests. Scotland international Commons stepped up to slam home the penalty and give derby the lead. Derby took a 3-1 lead before the hour mark when Cywka turned provider and played in Moore, who placed a neat finish into the top corner.
Scunthorpe were granted a path back into the game with 15 minutes remaining when Rams defender Gareth Roberts conceded a penalty and was dismissed for his second booking. O’Connor converted the penalty to set up a nervy final 15 minutes, but despite being a man down Derby clng on for the three points.
Sheffield United gained an exciting 3-2 win over fellow relegation strugglers Crystal Palace in a game that featured five goals, three penalties and two red cards. The win helps United pull clear of the relegation zone while leaving Palace drifting three points from safety.
Palace started well and a surging run forward by Neil Danns saw him felled in the penalty area by Jean Calve, Danns stepped up to slot home the resulting spot kick and put the Eagles ahead. Wilfred Zaha was put in with a chance to double the lead in the 34th minute but was denied by Steve Simonsen’s save.
United were awarded awarded a 39th minute penalty when Nathaniel Clyne was adjudged to have fouled Ched Evans. Palace midfielder Owen Garvan was sent off for dissent in the resulting arguments with the referee. Richard Cresswell kept a cool head to convert the penalty and level the score.
Cresswell had a good chance at the start of the second half but his close range header was well saved by Julian Speroni. Only a minute or so later Palace took a 2-1 lead when James Vaughan headed home from a Clyne cross.
The Blades responded well to going behind and put relentless pressure on Palace in search of an equalizer, their persistence paid off with only five minutes remaining. Kyle Bartley’s header was topped onto the crossbar by Speroni, only for Evans to hook home the rebound. The fact that Evans appeared to be offside did not help referee Anthony Taylor who had been previously abused by Garvan.
Seeming unphased by the Palace criticism, Taylor awarded a penalty two minutes later when Claude Davis fouled substitute Daniel Bogdanovic from behind. The Maltese striker got up to fire home the penalty and wrap up the 3-2 win. Bogdanovic was sent off deep into injury time for a rash foul on Vaughan, but the Blades held on for an important win.
