Barnsley off the bottom; Foxes rise
A review of Saturday's action in the npower Championship, including Cardiff's draw with Ipswich and a win for Barnsley.
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Managerless Barnsley climbed off the bottom of the npower Championship with a 2-0 win at home to Leeds.
Tykes caretaker boss David Flitcroft, in charge of his third game following the recent sacking of Keith Hill, had Chris Dagnall to thank for the three points with a timely brace.
Dagnall opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 63 minutes after being brought down by Sam Byram and sealed the win with his second just three minutes later.
That lifted Barnsley above Bristol City, who were thrashed 4-0 at home by Leicester, who climbed to third in the table as a result.
Chris Wood scored a 30-minute hat-trick in the first half and Matty James (49) completed the rout for the Foxes, which also prompted the Robins to sack Derek McInnes later in the day.
League leaders Cardiff were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Ipswich.
| Position | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff | 57 |
| 2 | Hull City | 49 |
| 3 | Leicester | 47 |
| 4 | C Palace | 47 |
| 5 | Middlesbro' | 47 |
| 6 | Watford | 43 |
| 7 | Millwall | 41 |
| 8 | Brighton | 40 |
| 9 | N Forest | 40 |
| 10 | Burnley | 39 |
| 11 | Leeds | 38 |
| 12 | Derby | 37 |
- last updated 12/01 19:28
However the Bluebirds increased their lead to eight points at the top after second-placed Hull slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the evening game.
The Owls won it thanks to a goalkeeping howler from the Tiger's Eldin Jakupovic, who inexplicably dropped Miguel Llera's corner over the line and then had to leave the field wearing a neck brace after Reda Johnson had clattered into him.
Hull wanted a foul for Johnson's challenge, which led to a 10-minute stoppage, but referee Mark Haywood waved away appeals and Wednesday made sure of the points in the seventh minute of injury time when Michail Antonio raced clear and rolled home.
Wednesday's second goal had come just four minutes after Hull had drawn level thanks to Robert Koren's header, which cancelled out Johnson's first-half opener for Wednesday.
Crystal Palace slipped to fourth after going down 1-0 at Burnley, with Junior Stanislas (81) scoring the only goal, while Middlesbrough dropped to fifth after a rare home defeat.
Tony Mowbray's side went down 2-1 to Watford, for whom Matej Vydra scored twice (45 and 83). Scott McDonald scored a last-gasp consolation for Boro.
Elsewhere, it was a tale of two penalties at the Reebok Stadium as Bolton and Millwall drew 1-1.
Andy Keogh gave the visitors a ninth-minute lead from the spot, but Keith Andrews equalised 10 minutes before half-time.
Brighton are up to eighth after a 2-1 home win over Derby, with Ashley Barnes scoring after just two minutes and Andrea Orlandi (25) doubling the lead before Jeff Hendrick (70) pulled one back in the second half.
Alex McLeish claimed his first win as Nottingham Forest manager with a 2-1 victory over Peterborough.
Greg Halford (28) headed the home side in front, but Scott Wootton levelled things up before Elliott Ward powered home from a corner with seven minutes left to hand Forest victory.
Charlton moved up to 14th, and above their opponents, with a 2-1 win over managerless Blackpool at The Valley.
Johnnie Jackson (23) and Scott Wagstaff (45) put the home side in command, while substitute Nathan Eccleston scored a last-minute consolation for Blackpool.
Huddersfield and Birmingham fought out a dramatic 1-1 draw at the John Smith's Stadium, with the goals coming in injury time in each half.
Birmingham boss Lee Clark looked like having the last laugh on his return to his former club thanks to Callum Reilly (45), but Adam Hammill snatched an equaliser in the third minute of injury time in the second period.
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