Holloway sees Eagles soar
A review of Tuesday's action in the npower Championship.
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Ian Holloway could hardly have wished for a better start to his new job as Crystal Palace boss as a Glenn Murray hat-trick helped the Eagles soar to the top of the npower Championship with a 5-0 thrashing of Ipswich.
| Team | Score | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C Palace | 5 - 0 | Ipswich |
| Bolton | 0 - 0 | Leicester |
| Charlton | 5 - 4 | Cardiff |
| Burnley | 1 - 0 | Leeds |
| Hull City | 2 - 1 | Wolves |
| Sheff Wed | 0 - 2 | Blackpool |
| Watford | 0 - 0 | Millwall |
| N Forest | 0 - 0 | Middlesbro |
| Huddersfld | 2 - 2 | Blackburn |
| Derby | 2 - 0 | Barnsley |
| Birmingham | 2 - 0 | Bristol C |
| Brighton | 1 - 0 | Peterboro |
Palace's win, coupled with another shocking away day capitulation by Cardiff and just a point for second-placed Middlesbrough, sent Holloway's new side flying high into pole position.
| Position | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C Palace | 30 |
| 2 | Middlesbro' | 29 |
| 3 | Cardiff | 28 |
| 4 | Hull City | 28 |
| 5 | Leicester | 26 |
| 6 | Blackburn | 24 |
- last updated 06/11 22:02
Yannick Bolasie opened the scoring for Palace on 24 minutes and then two penalties in five second half minutes by Murray sealed the win. Murray completed his hat-trick after 61 minutes, and substitute Andre Moritz netted a fifth in injury time.
Cardiff's away day woes continued in a bizarre match against Charlton at The Valley, with the visitors blowing an early 2-0 lead to trail 5-2 before two injury-time strikes made the result a mere 5-4 in the Addicks' favour.
It had all started so well for the Bluebirds, with Heidar Helguson and Joe Mason easing the visitors into a 2-0 lead inside 24 minutes, before two Johnnie Jackson goals brought the Londoners level at half-time.
The home side, hovering just one place above the drop zone after an humiliating 4-1 home loss to Boro on Saturday, then charged towards victory with further goals from Dale Stephens, Danny Haynes and a Rob Hulse header.
Craig Noone and Aron Gunnarsson both scored in injury time to give Cardiff hopes of a dramatic rescue mission, but the home side held out for a much-needed victory.
Boro failed to extend a run of six straight wins but will consider a point a good return as they were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Leicester were held to a goalless draw by Dougie Freedman's Bolton at the Reebok Stadium, allowing Hull to jump to fourth with a 2-1 win over Wolves at the KC Stadium.
Sone Aluko's 29th-minute free-kick put the Tigers in front and Jay Simpson added a second in the 51st minute before James Chester's 67th minute own goal gave the visitors hope.
Lee Novak's strike five minutes into injury time salvaged a point for Huddersfield in a 2-2 draw with Blackburn at the John Smith's Stadium.
Novak opened the scoring after 15 before Jordan Rhodes and a Danny Murphy penalty appeared to have swung the game in Rovers' favour. But Novak poked home from close range to snatch the Terriers a point.
Managerless Blackpool proved there is life after Holloway with a 2-0 win at struggling Sheffield Wednesday. Tom Ince put the Seasiders in front after 18 and Ludovic Sylvestre added a late second.
Charlie Austin scored his 17th goal of the season with an 83rd-minute header which earned Burnley a 1-0 win over Leeds at Turf Moor.
Substitute Stephen Dobbie struck in injury time to give Brighton a 1-0 home win over Peterborough, while second-half goals from Chris Burke and Marlon King saw Birmingham to a 2-0 win over Bristol City.
James O'Connor and Nathan Tyson gave Derby a 2-0 win over Barnsley at Pride Park, and the game between Watford and Millwall ended goalless.
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