Eagles top; Leeds triumph
A review of Saturday's action in the npower Championship, including victories for Crystal Palace and Leeds.
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Glenn Murray scored twice against his former club as Crystal Palace capitalised on the early sending-off of Brighton's Lewis Dunk to return to the top of the npower Championship table with a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park.
Dunk was dismissed after only seven minutes for a foul on Palace's Wilfried Zaha and although Owen Garvan hit the bar from the resulting free-kick, the Eagles quickly assumed control.
Murray headed home a Yannick Bolasie corner on 37 minutes and added his second from the penalty spot after 54 minutes. Garvan added the third for Palace - also from the spot - after Murray was fouled by Gordon Greer.
In the late game, Leicester claimed a comfortable 4-1 victory over local rivals Derby at the King Power Stadium to climb up to third.
England Under-21 international Martyn Waghorn set up Zak Whitbread for Leicester's opener, added a second with a cool side-footed finish and could have scored three more in an embarrassingly one-sided opening half-hour.
The visitors belatedly sprung into life and pulled a goal back through Theo Robinson's 38th-minute half-volley.
Leicester were not to be denied, though, and wrapped up an eighth home win of the campaign - and fifth successive league win over County - through two late goals from substitute David Nugent.
Back to the afternoon action and under-fire Wolves boss Stale Solbakken earned some much-needed respite as his side ended a run of nine games without defeat by hammering struggling Bristol City 4-1 at Ashton Gate.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake set Wolves on their way on 20 minutes, then two for Kevin Doyle and a fourth for Bjorn Sigurdarson made it safe before half-time. Neil Danns hit a late consolation for City.
| Position | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C Palace | 40 |
| 2 | Cardiff | 38 |
| 3 | Leicester | 36 |
| 4 | Middlesbro' | 35 |
| 5 | Hull City | 35 |
| 6 | Watford | 33 |
| 7 | Millwall | 33 |
| 8 | Brighton | 31 |
| 9 | N Forest | 29 |
| 10 | Leeds | 29 |
| 11 | Blackpool | 28 |
| 12 | Blackburn | 28 |
- last updated 01/12 19:17
Leeds continued their sudden improvement since the the conclusion of their takeover process as they won a feisty Yorkshire derby 4-2 at Huddersfield.
Chris Atkinson put the home side 1-0 up after 12 minutes before Michael Tonge and Luciano Becchio turned the game in Leeds' favour.
An Adam Clayton penalty brought Huddersfield level before half-time, but a second-half strike from David Norris and a late Becchio header handed the points to Neil Warnock's men.
Troy Deeney scored twice as fast-improving Watford hammered free-falling Barnsley 4-1 at Vicarage Road.
Deeney's early header put the Hornets ahead at the break and second-half strikes from Mark Yeates, Deeney and Matej Vydra wrapped things up before a late consolation from Marcus Tudgay.
Blackpool eased to a 4-1 win at rock-bottom Peterborough with two goals from Thomas Ince and further strikes from Wes Thomas and Nouha Dicko, while Dwight Gayle replied for Posh.
In-form Millwall were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with Charlton in a tough south-east London derby at the New Den.
Fellow play-off hopefuls Hull won 2-1 at Nottingham Forest. Robert Koren's penalty opener was cancelled out by Billy Sharp, also from the spot, before Paul McShane headed a 69th-minute winner for the Tigers.
Mick McCarthy's Ipswich came from behind to claim a potentially crucial 2-1 win at Bolton. Mark Davies put the hosts in front after six minutes, but a DJ Campbell penalty levelled matters on 70 minutes before Michael Chopra hit the winner two minutes from time.
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