An exciting Championship weekend saw Leeds United move into second place after a 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
After opening the season with a 19 game undefeated streak, QPR have now lost back to back games, while Leeds are now riding a nine game unbeaten run.
Swansea City fell to fourth place after they were beaten by struggling Sheffield United, while Norwich City moved into fourth place with a 2-1 win at fellow playoff contenders Coventry City.
At the bottom end of the table, Crystal Palace remained in the bottom three after losing 3-0 at Nottingham Forest. Middlesbrough are above the relegation zone on goal difference only after they lost 2-1 at Doncaster Rovers.
It was double delight for a number of players in the Championship weekends. Grant Holt, Shane Long, Jay Simpson, Jason Scotland and Max Gradel all scored two goals in victories for their respective teams.
A dramatic injury time winner from Brian Stock gave Doncaster Rovers a 2-1 win, and leaves Middlesbrough above the relegation zone only on goal difference. Stock fired in his late winner after James Hayter had cancelled out Scott McDonald’s opener.
Middlesbrough started best in the freezing conditions, and Scott McDonald collected the ball from Marvin Emnes and fired into the bottom corner to give the visitors a 4th minute lead.
Doncaster responded well and equalized after 22 minutes when Billy Sharp’s cross was headed home by Hayter from close range. The game went back and forth but neither team could find a way through before the interval.
The visitors started fastest in the second half, and it took a good Neil Sullivan save to prevent Leroy Lita giving Boro the lead. Doncaster were sparked into life, and Billy Sharp forced a save from Jason Steele, and Stock fired wide of the target.
Both teams went in search of a winning goal and in the 77th minute James Coppinger was denied by Steele, before John Oster blazed a chance over the bar. At the other end, Tarmo Kink had his long range effort denied by Sullivan and Kris Boyd missed the ball completely when presented with a good chance to score.
Doncaster snatched the points at the death, when shortly after Steele saved from Dean Shiels in injury time, the young goalkeeper allowed Stock’s shot allowed Stock’s shot to squirm into the net and send the home fans into celebration.
Nottingham Forest beat Crystal Palace to remain the only Championship team unbeaten at home this season. The loss for Palace means they remain in the relegation zone. Luke Chambers opened the scoring for Forest with a first half header, before Marcus Tudgay and Garath McLeary rounded off the 3-0 victory.
Palace were under pressure from the opening minutes and Argentine goalkeeper Julian Speroni was twice called into action to deny Lewis McGugan. Rob Earnshaw was also a lively presence, as he was denied by a last ditch tackle from Claude Davis, and then had a goal ruled out for a foul.
Forest took a lead after 31 minutes when McGugan sent in a corner and Chambers rose highest to open the scoring with a header past Speroni. Forest pressed for a second before half-time but the impressive Earnshaw was again denied by Speroni.
Forest doubled their lead within one minute of the restart when Tudgay ran onto a lond ball behind the defense and lobbed the ball over Speroni to double the lead. Speroni prevented a massacre as he saved yet again from Earnshaw, and also pulled off an excellent save to turn away a Chambers volley.
Arsenal loanee Aaron Ramsey came off the bench with 15 minutes remaining, and almost made an instant impact as his back heel sent through Nathan Tyson, only for the strikers shot to be deflected wide.
The scoring was rounded off when McLeary was set up by Tyson and fired home for the final 3-0 score line.
John Carver experienced a dream debut as Sheffield United Caretaker Manager, guiding his team to a 1-0 win over promotion contenders Swansea City. Needing only one point to move into the automatic promotion spots, Swansea instead fell to fourth, while the win for United moves them to four points above the relegation zone.
United started quickly and thought they had taken a 10th minute lead, only for Stephen Quinn’s goal to be ruled out for offside.
Sunderland loanee Andy Reid was an influential figure for the home team, and it was he who created the games decisive goal. Reid played an incisive ball over the Swans defense and Welsh striker Ched Evans ran onto the ball and finished neatly past Dorus de Vries for a 1-0 lead just before half-time.
Craig Beattie and Jermaine Easter were introduced by Swansea Manager Brendan Rodgers at half-time, and the latter was quickly involved as he flashed a dangerous cross into the area that Kyle Bartley cleared.
Swansea turned up the pressure in search of an equalizer, and Scott Sinclair had a shot saved by Steve Simonsen before Darren Pratley guided a header just wide of the goal.
Swansea dominated possession in the final stages, but could not find a way through as the Blades held on for a precious win.
Leeds United moved into second place with a 2-0 victory over league leaders Queens Park Rangers. Max Gradel scored both goals in a victory that moves Leeds into the automatic promotion spots and within three points of QPR. After opening the season with a 19 game unbeaten streak, QPR have now suffered back to back defeats, while Leeds themselves are now on a nine game unbeaten streak.
Leeds had the first scoring opportunity of note when Robert Snodgrass sent in a cross, and Luciano Becchio had his header saved by Paddy Kenny.
QPR were sparked into life and had a number of chances to level the scores. First Adel Taarabt and Kasper Gorkks fired wide of the target, before Clint Hill had his header blocked by Neill Collins.
Leeds took the lead after 25 minutes when Becchio headed down a Snodgrass cross, and Gradel fired in a left foot half-volley. Gradel then had a chance to double the lead after he swapped passes with Jonny Howson but his shot was wide of the goal post.
The second half continued in the same pattern and Paddy Kenny made a scrambling save to keep out Becchio’s long range effort. Leeds doubled their lead 20 minutes from time as Gradel picked up possession in his own half, and dribbled at the QPR defense before beating Kenny to make the score 2-0.
Leeds continued to have the upper hand, and it needed two Kenny saves from Howson and Snodgrass to keep the score down to 2-0.
Two Jay Simpson goals helped Hull City continue their climb away from the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Bristol City.
Hull began well and England goalkeeper David James was called into action early to keep out a Kamil Zayatte free kick. Bristol had a chance when Steven Caulker fired off target, and was made to pay when Hull took the lead soon after.
Manchester United loanee Cameron Stewart beat several defenders and sent over a good cross for Simpson to score his first goal for the Tigers. Stewart went on another run soon after and found himself clean through but his finish over James was the wrong side of the goal post.
Bristol threatened early after the restart and Vito Mannone had to dive full length to keep out a long range effort from Danny Rose. David Clarkson had another big chance for the Robins but headed over the bar.
Simpson sealed the 2-0 win when he pounced on a loose clearance from Craig McAllister and slammed the ball past James.
Grant Holt scored twice as Norwich City beat fellow playoff contenders 2-1 to move up to fourth in the table. Holt scored a late winning goal for the Canaries, after Marlon King had equalized his earlier strike.
Coventry started on the front foot, and had a penalty appeal denied after Clive Platt appeared to be brought down by Michael Nelson.
Norwich then settled into the game and dominated proceedings for a long spell. Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood got to a cross just before Chris Martin, then Simeon Jackson and Korey Smith fired off target.
Things got worse for Coventry 10 minutes before half-time when Aron Gunnarsson received a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Henri Lansbury.
Norwich continued to have the better of play in the second half, but were met by a strong defensive effort from Coventry. The Sky Blues entered this game on a run of four consecutive clean sheets, and had a chance to take the lead when Richard Wood headed wide from six yards.
Coventry paid for their miss in the 64th minute when Russell Martin swung over a cross and Holt planted a header past Westwood to put the Canaries on front.
The lead did not last 10 minutes as Marlon King raced onto a long ball in behind the defense and smashed a powerful shot past John Ruddy to level the scores.
Norwich struck the decisive goal when a Danny Fox corner found Holt unmarked at the back post, and the Captain smashed the ball home for a 2-1 lead. Coventry had a late chance to equalize but Norwich held on as Freddy Eastwood smashed a shot against the goal post from a tight angle.
Reading moved above Derby County with a 2-1 win at Pride Park courtesy of two goals from Shane Long. Long headed home an 88th minute winning goal after Kris Commons had equalized his earlier goal.
Long broke open an even first half when he scored the opening goal from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute. The Republic of Ireland striker was felled in the penalty area by Shaun Barker, and got up to convert the resulting spot kick.
Derby were level at the 61 minute mark when Commons headed a Paul Green cross beyond Adam Federici to make it 1-1.
Reading responded well to Derby’s equalizer and it took a series of good saves from Federici to keep the scores level.
Derby finally broke through just two minutes from time when Long scored the winner after being set up by Jobi McAnuff.
Ipswich Town ended their six game losing streak in some style with a 3-0 victory over Leicester City. Ipswich scored all three goals before half-time with a Dovid Norris opener, followed by two strikes from Jason Scotland.
The game went ahead despite a snow covered field that led to blue lines being painted to mark the field, and an orange ball being used.
Ipswich adapted to the conditions best and opened the scoring after six minutes when Jack Colback’s long free kick was laid back by Rory Fallon, and Norris fired Ipswich into the lead from the edge of the area.
Leicester were almost gifted an equalizer when Mark Kennedy headed against his own goal post, but Ipswich remained in the ascendancy and doubled their lead before the half hour mark. Fallon was again the provider as Scotland fired a shot low past Chris Kirkland.
The scoring was completed six minutes when Shane O’Connor capitalized on a defensive error by Yuki Abe and set up Scotland to score his second goal of the game.
The game restarted but a slip by Richie Wellens while trying to defend led to the game being held up for 17 minutes as the snow was cleared. When the players emerged to resume the game Leicester thought they had quickly pulled a goal back but Curtis Davies had his volley ruled out.
Leicester manager Sven Goran Eriksson had already made his three substitutions when Angelo Miguel Vitor was forced off with a hamstring injury 15 minutes from time. Ipswich dominated possession with the extra man and held on for a comfortable 3-0 win.
Swansea City fell to fourth place after they were beaten by struggling Sheffield United, while Norwich City moved into fourth place with a 2-1 win at fellow playoff contenders Coventry City.
At the bottom end of the table, Crystal Palace remained in the bottom three after losing 3-0 at Nottingham Forest. Middlesbrough are above the relegation zone on goal difference only after they lost 2-1 at Doncaster Rovers.
It was double delight for a number of players in the Championship weekends. Grant Holt, Shane Long, Jay Simpson, Jason Scotland and Max Gradel all scored two goals in victories for their respective teams.
A dramatic injury time winner from Brian Stock gave Doncaster Rovers a 2-1 win, and leaves Middlesbrough above the relegation zone only on goal difference. Stock fired in his late winner after James Hayter had cancelled out Scott McDonald’s opener.
Middlesbrough started best in the freezing conditions, and Scott McDonald collected the ball from Marvin Emnes and fired into the bottom corner to give the visitors a 4th minute lead.
Doncaster responded well and equalized after 22 minutes when Billy Sharp’s cross was headed home by Hayter from close range. The game went back and forth but neither team could find a way through before the interval.
The visitors started fastest in the second half, and it took a good Neil Sullivan save to prevent Leroy Lita giving Boro the lead. Doncaster were sparked into life, and Billy Sharp forced a save from Jason Steele, and Stock fired wide of the target.
Both teams went in search of a winning goal and in the 77th minute James Coppinger was denied by Steele, before John Oster blazed a chance over the bar. At the other end, Tarmo Kink had his long range effort denied by Sullivan and Kris Boyd missed the ball completely when presented with a good chance to score.
Doncaster snatched the points at the death, when shortly after Steele saved from Dean Shiels in injury time, the young goalkeeper allowed Stock’s shot allowed Stock’s shot to squirm into the net and send the home fans into celebration.
Nottingham Forest beat Crystal Palace to remain the only Championship team unbeaten at home this season. The loss for Palace means they remain in the relegation zone. Luke Chambers opened the scoring for Forest with a first half header, before Marcus Tudgay and Garath McLeary rounded off the 3-0 victory.
Palace were under pressure from the opening minutes and Argentine goalkeeper Julian Speroni was twice called into action to deny Lewis McGugan. Rob Earnshaw was also a lively presence, as he was denied by a last ditch tackle from Claude Davis, and then had a goal ruled out for a foul.
Forest took a lead after 31 minutes when McGugan sent in a corner and Chambers rose highest to open the scoring with a header past Speroni. Forest pressed for a second before half-time but the impressive Earnshaw was again denied by Speroni.
Forest doubled their lead within one minute of the restart when Tudgay ran onto a lond ball behind the defense and lobbed the ball over Speroni to double the lead. Speroni prevented a massacre as he saved yet again from Earnshaw, and also pulled off an excellent save to turn away a Chambers volley.
Arsenal loanee Aaron Ramsey came off the bench with 15 minutes remaining, and almost made an instant impact as his back heel sent through Nathan Tyson, only for the strikers shot to be deflected wide.
The scoring was rounded off when McLeary was set up by Tyson and fired home for the final 3-0 score line.
John Carver experienced a dream debut as Sheffield United Caretaker Manager, guiding his team to a 1-0 win over promotion contenders Swansea City. Needing only one point to move into the automatic promotion spots, Swansea instead fell to fourth, while the win for United moves them to four points above the relegation zone.
United started quickly and thought they had taken a 10th minute lead, only for Stephen Quinn’s goal to be ruled out for offside.
Sunderland loanee Andy Reid was an influential figure for the home team, and it was he who created the games decisive goal. Reid played an incisive ball over the Swans defense and Welsh striker Ched Evans ran onto the ball and finished neatly past Dorus de Vries for a 1-0 lead just before half-time.
Craig Beattie and Jermaine Easter were introduced by Swansea Manager Brendan Rodgers at half-time, and the latter was quickly involved as he flashed a dangerous cross into the area that Kyle Bartley cleared.
Swansea turned up the pressure in search of an equalizer, and Scott Sinclair had a shot saved by Steve Simonsen before Darren Pratley guided a header just wide of the goal.
Swansea dominated possession in the final stages, but could not find a way through as the Blades held on for a precious win.
Leeds United moved into second place with a 2-0 victory over league leaders Queens Park Rangers. Max Gradel scored both goals in a victory that moves Leeds into the automatic promotion spots and within three points of QPR. After opening the season with a 19 game unbeaten streak, QPR have now suffered back to back defeats, while Leeds themselves are now on a nine game unbeaten streak.
Leeds had the first scoring opportunity of note when Robert Snodgrass sent in a cross, and Luciano Becchio had his header saved by Paddy Kenny.
QPR were sparked into life and had a number of chances to level the scores. First Adel Taarabt and Kasper Gorkks fired wide of the target, before Clint Hill had his header blocked by Neill Collins.
Leeds took the lead after 25 minutes when Becchio headed down a Snodgrass cross, and Gradel fired in a left foot half-volley. Gradel then had a chance to double the lead after he swapped passes with Jonny Howson but his shot was wide of the goal post.
The second half continued in the same pattern and Paddy Kenny made a scrambling save to keep out Becchio’s long range effort. Leeds doubled their lead 20 minutes from time as Gradel picked up possession in his own half, and dribbled at the QPR defense before beating Kenny to make the score 2-0.
Leeds continued to have the upper hand, and it needed two Kenny saves from Howson and Snodgrass to keep the score down to 2-0.
Two Jay Simpson goals helped Hull City continue their climb away from the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Bristol City.
Hull began well and England goalkeeper David James was called into action early to keep out a Kamil Zayatte free kick. Bristol had a chance when Steven Caulker fired off target, and was made to pay when Hull took the lead soon after.
Manchester United loanee Cameron Stewart beat several defenders and sent over a good cross for Simpson to score his first goal for the Tigers. Stewart went on another run soon after and found himself clean through but his finish over James was the wrong side of the goal post.
Bristol threatened early after the restart and Vito Mannone had to dive full length to keep out a long range effort from Danny Rose. David Clarkson had another big chance for the Robins but headed over the bar.
Simpson sealed the 2-0 win when he pounced on a loose clearance from Craig McAllister and slammed the ball past James.
Grant Holt scored twice as Norwich City beat fellow playoff contenders 2-1 to move up to fourth in the table. Holt scored a late winning goal for the Canaries, after Marlon King had equalized his earlier strike.
Coventry started on the front foot, and had a penalty appeal denied after Clive Platt appeared to be brought down by Michael Nelson.
Norwich then settled into the game and dominated proceedings for a long spell. Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood got to a cross just before Chris Martin, then Simeon Jackson and Korey Smith fired off target.
Things got worse for Coventry 10 minutes before half-time when Aron Gunnarsson received a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Henri Lansbury.
Norwich continued to have the better of play in the second half, but were met by a strong defensive effort from Coventry. The Sky Blues entered this game on a run of four consecutive clean sheets, and had a chance to take the lead when Richard Wood headed wide from six yards.
Coventry paid for their miss in the 64th minute when Russell Martin swung over a cross and Holt planted a header past Westwood to put the Canaries on front.
The lead did not last 10 minutes as Marlon King raced onto a long ball in behind the defense and smashed a powerful shot past John Ruddy to level the scores.
Norwich struck the decisive goal when a Danny Fox corner found Holt unmarked at the back post, and the Captain smashed the ball home for a 2-1 lead. Coventry had a late chance to equalize but Norwich held on as Freddy Eastwood smashed a shot against the goal post from a tight angle.
Reading moved above Derby County with a 2-1 win at Pride Park courtesy of two goals from Shane Long. Long headed home an 88th minute winning goal after Kris Commons had equalized his earlier goal.
Long broke open an even first half when he scored the opening goal from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute. The Republic of Ireland striker was felled in the penalty area by Shaun Barker, and got up to convert the resulting spot kick.
Derby were level at the 61 minute mark when Commons headed a Paul Green cross beyond Adam Federici to make it 1-1.
Reading responded well to Derby’s equalizer and it took a series of good saves from Federici to keep the scores level.
Derby finally broke through just two minutes from time when Long scored the winner after being set up by Jobi McAnuff.
Ipswich Town ended their six game losing streak in some style with a 3-0 victory over Leicester City. Ipswich scored all three goals before half-time with a Dovid Norris opener, followed by two strikes from Jason Scotland.
The game went ahead despite a snow covered field that led to blue lines being painted to mark the field, and an orange ball being used.
Ipswich adapted to the conditions best and opened the scoring after six minutes when Jack Colback’s long free kick was laid back by Rory Fallon, and Norris fired Ipswich into the lead from the edge of the area.
Leicester were almost gifted an equalizer when Mark Kennedy headed against his own goal post, but Ipswich remained in the ascendancy and doubled their lead before the half hour mark. Fallon was again the provider as Scotland fired a shot low past Chris Kirkland.
The scoring was completed six minutes when Shane O’Connor capitalized on a defensive error by Yuki Abe and set up Scotland to score his second goal of the game.
The game restarted but a slip by Richie Wellens while trying to defend led to the game being held up for 17 minutes as the snow was cleared. When the players emerged to resume the game Leicester thought they had quickly pulled a goal back but Curtis Davies had his volley ruled out.
Leicester manager Sven Goran Eriksson had already made his three substitutions when Angelo Miguel Vitor was forced off with a hamstring injury 15 minutes from time. Ipswich dominated possession with the extra man and held on for a comfortable 3-0 win.
