Sky Bet Championship review: Leeds hammer Stoke, Luton earn first win

Sky Bet Championship

• Derby 1-1 West Brom - full report
• Barnsley 1-3 Luton
• Blackburn 0-0 Cardiff
• Charlton 1-0 Brentford
• Fulham 1-2 Nottingham Forest
• Huddersfield 0-2 Reading
• Hull City 1-3 Bristol City
• Middlesbrough 1-1 Millwall
• Preston 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
• QPR 3-1 Wigan
• Stoke City 0-3 Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship table

Stoke 0-3 Leeds

Leeds crushed rock-bottom Stoke 3-0 to retain their place at the top of the Sky Bet Championship and pile further pressure on manager Nathan Jones.

Despite Jones making six changes following his side's dismal 3-1 defeat at Preston last time out, including dropping England goalkeeper Jack Butland to the bench after conceding 10 goals this season from just 14 shots on target, Stoke had no answer to Leeds' pace, power and panache.

All three goals, from Stuart Dallas just before the break and then Ezgjan Alioski and Patrick Bamford in the second half, were beautifully crafted and finished, with Jones' record now standing at just four wins from 25 matches in charge since taking over in January.

Three minutes from the interval the visitors deservedly grabbed the lead, carving open Stoke's defence with a series of one-touch passes involving Adam Forshaw, Bamford and Hernandez, with the latter feeding Dallas who comfortably slid the ball home past Federici from 12 yards for his first goal of the season.

Any hopes of a Stoke revival were over in the 50th minute when another incisive exchange of passes involving Hernandez and Bamford culminated in the striker's slide-rule ball into the six-yard box being tapped home by Alioski.

Shots from Jack Harrison, Klich and Hernandez then all whistled past Federici's right-hand post as Leeds sought a third which arrived in the 66th minute, with Hernandez the instigator with a long cut-throat ball into the feet of Alioski running on into the area.

Although his acutely-angled shot was blocked by Federici, Bamford swiftly pounced on the rebound to half-volley home his fourth of the season from the corner of the six-yard box.

Barnsley 1-3 Luton

Jacob Butterfield, James Collins and Harry Cornick all scored as Luton recorded their first Sky Bet Championship win of the season at Barnsley.

Mallik Wilks pulled a goal back for Barnsley during the second half but the Tykes could not swerve a 3-1 home defeat.

The visitors got off to a flying start with two goals in the opening five minutes.

Butterfield was the first to strike with a well-struck effort from the edge of the area two minutes in.

It was 2-0 three minutes later when keeper Sami Radlinger failed to cut out a cross, James Bree drilled in a low shot which was blocked and Collins was on hand to force the ball over the line.

It was no surprise when the visitors added a third goal in the 31st minute as a free-kick was headed down and Cornick hammered the ball into the net.

Luke Thomas had an opportunity to reduce the arrears shortly before the interval when he received the ball inside the area but put his shot off-target.

The home side posed an attacking threat in the opening stages of the second half, with Mamadou Thiam in the thick of the action, first heading just wide and then firing in a shot from the left-hand side of the area which was palmed wide by Simon Sluga.

Wilks on 72 minutes did find the back of the net, firing in after Mowatt played the ball across the box.

Barnsley, who beat Fulham on the opening day of the season, have now lost four of their last five games.

Fulham 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Two goals by Lewis Grabban saw Nottingham Forest defeat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

The forward netted twice before Aleksandar Mitrovic got what turned out to be a consolation goal for the home side.

The visitors started brightly, and they went ahead after just four minutes. Jack Robinson took the ball on the left flank and sent his delivery into the box for Grabban to connect first time past Marcus Bettinelli.

Bobby Reid replaced Stefan Johansen for the hosts at half-time, although the first effort after the break fell to Anthony Knockaert, whose tame effort was held by Samba.

Knockaert was matched again by the Forest keeper after 53 minutes when his header was tipped away at full strength.

Although Forest were on the backfoot, they managed to double their advantage just after the hour mark.

Grabban picked up a loose ball outside the area and was able to take advantage of some slack defending to fire home.

The home side put themselves back in contention with a goal on 84 minutes, after Mitrovic put his effort to the left of Samba.

The goal rejuvenated both the home crowd and the team who showed a burst of energy in the sweltering conditions at Craven Cottage.

Mitrovic missed out on a second just before the end when he was unable to glance his header on target.

Preston 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Daniel Johnson scored twice from the penalty spot as Preston moved into the Sky Bet Championship top six with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale.

Johnson scored from the spot either side of half-time as Wednesday lost their second game of the season.

Wednesday defender Moses Odubajo, who was later hauled off, will want to forget his performance as soon as possible having been responsible for both penalties.

In contrast, Alex Neil's men will now be full of confidence after adding another three points following a resounding 3-1 win over Stoke on Wednesday night.

It is nearly 70 years since Wednesday, who had enjoyed a stellar start to the season, recorded a win at Deepdale in the second tier.

Preston took the lead in the 32nd minute when striker Sean Maguire was brought down in the area by Wednesday right-back Odubajo.

Referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot, with Johnson hitting the ball under Keiren Westwood, although the Wednesday goalkeeper got a hand to it.

The home side made it two in the 65th minute after Odubajo again fouled Maguire in the box and Johnson stepped up to score his second penalty of the afternoon - and his fourth goal of the campaign.

Wednesday pulled one back in the 78th minute when former Preston loanee Adam Reach's cross was headed home by Steven Fletcher.

Charlton 1-0 Brentford

Conor Gallagher's first-half goal maintained Charlton's unbeaten start to the new campaign with a 1-0 London derby victory over Brentford.

The visitors were the better team for long periods but it was Gallagher's strike which ultimately proved the difference at a sweltering Valley as promoted Charlton went second in the table.

Sergi Canos almost capitalised on confusion in the Charlton box between goalkeeper Dillon Phillips and defender Ben Purrington in the 10th minute only to blaze wildly over.

Canos should have broken the deadlock two minutes later but instead headed over despite being completely unmarked.

Despite all their first-half dominance, Brentford fell behind four minutes before the interval from what was the Addicks' only real attempt on goal up until that point.

Jonny Williams did well to win the ball and then set Gallagher through on goal, with the on-loan Chelsea youngster confidently smashing home beyond David Raya.

Purrington was well placed to block Henrik Dalsgaard's stoppage-time effort to ensure the hosts went in at the break with their advantage still intact.

Charlton looked much more threatening from the restart.

Gallagher placed a header straight at Raya early in the second half and Lyle Taylor was within inches of connecting with a dangerous Purrington delivery.

Brentford sent up keeper Raya for an injury-time free-kick and the ball fell to the unmarked Said Benrahma, whose effort sailed harmlessly behind.

There was more woe for the visitors when a trio of shots were blocked by Charlton's gallant defence.

Hull 1-3 Bristol City

Bristol City claimed a third Sky Bet Championship victory in a row with a 3-1 win over Hull at the KCOM Stadium.

The visitors made the definitive breakthrough when Reece Burke deflected substitute Jack Hunt's cross into his own net after 78 minutes.

And Benik Afobe confirmed the away win just two minutes later when he squeezed Andreas Weimann's cross into the far corner of the net.

Afobe had earlier claimed first blood for Bristol City when he scored a penalty after 41 minutes.

But Hull always looked a threat on the counter-attack and teed up an intense second half when Jarrod Bowen equalised three minutes later.

The hosts had several good chances after the interval, but Bristol City had a greater sense of composure when it mattered.

Kevin Stewart and Tommy Rowe crashed into one another following Han-Noah Massengo's flighted cross from the left, with Whitestone adamant the former had committed a penalty offence.

Afobe did the rest with a powerful strike into the middle of the net.

It felt unimaginable Hull would get back into the game before half-time, but Bowen had other ideas.

Stewart was given too much space to loft the ball into the right channel, in which Bowen, in a one-on-one position with Bentley, coolly slotted the ball into the bottom-left-hand corner of the goal.

Hull went for the jugular in the second half.

Kamil Grosicki hit the outside of the left post with a skidding attempt, while Bowen should have headed home George Honeyman's crisp, ranging cross.

But just when it looked like Hull would cut loose, Bristol City dramatically turned up the heat to secure an impressive away win.

Huddersfield 0-2 Reading

Managerless Huddersfield's winless run in all competitions stretched to 16 games as they lost 2-0 at home to Reading.

Second-half goals from Ovie Ejaria and Michael Morrison sealed a first away win of the season for the Royals and ensured another miserable result for the Terriers in their first home game since sacking Jan Siewert last week.

Huddersfield, relegated from the top flight last season, have won just once in the whole of 2019 and have taken just seven league points since January 1.

Despite their woeful run of form the hosts started brightly and at a high tempo.

Midfielder Alex Pritchard tried his luck from distance but saw his daisycutter go just wide of goal.

But despite their toil, it was a familiar tale for Huddersfield as they conceded limply on 71 minutes. Ejaria exchanged passes with John Swift and found the bottom-left corner of the goal from just inside the box.

It could have got worse for the beleaguered Terriers when the impressive Swift then marched forward and saw an attempt deflected just wide of goal.

It was looking like a matter of when, not if, Reading would double their advantage and it duly arrived as centre-half Morrison rose to deftly nod in from a corner - a goal that knocked the stuffing out of the hosts.

Blackburn 0-0 Cardiff

Blackburn and Cardiff were both denied by the woodwork as they played out a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park.

There was little to separate the sides in a game that struggled to ebb and flow, though Neil Warnock's men looked the most likely to snatch a winner and rattled the frame of the goal in both halves.

A combination of the post - which thwarted Leandro Bacuna and Joe Ralls respectively - and a couple of smart stops by Christian Walton ultimately meant the Bluebirds couldn't find a way through.

Rovers struggled to penetrate Cardiff's organised defence but Adam Armstrong's second-half introduction gave them more urgency and they could have snatched it at the end but Derrick Williams saw his volley strike a post.

Rovers are now unbeaten in three and have kept clean sheets in all those games. Cardiff are still yet to taste victory on the road in the league this season, but have ended their run of defeats.

Middlesbrough 1-1 Millwall

Neil Harris was sent to the stands after appearing to strike a member of Middlesbrough's coaching staff as his Millwall side battled back to claim a 1-1 draw at the Riverside.

Tom Bradshaw scored with his first touch as a substitute to cancel out Paddy McNair's opener for Middlesbrough, but the most dramatic incident of the day occurred on the touchline shortly before the break.

Harris appeared to strike Middlesbrough first-team coach Leo Percovich in the back as he wrestled to try to get hold of the ball, and referee John Brooks sent him from the dug-out as he showed a red card.

Harris' loss of composure was completely out of the blue, with his Millwall side having dominated the first half on Teesside.

Boro thought they should have had a penalty in the second half, but while Britt Assombalonga's header from Jonny Howson's cross appeared to strike Mahlon Romeo on the arm, nothing was given. Had VAR been operational in the Championship, it would almost certainly have been a spot-kick.

The hosts were furious at that stage, but their mood changed markedly when McNair opened the scoring with 20 minutes left. Ashley Fletcher's through ball released the Northern Ireland international into the area, and he slotted a precise low finish into the corner.

Middlesbrough's lead lasted just six minutes though, with Millwall substitute Bradshaw scoring within a minute of coming on to the field. Smith nodded a corner back across goal, and Bradshaw prodded home from close range.

The visitors came close to claiming a winner with three minutes left, but Smith headed Connor Mahoney's free-kick wide from no more than three yards out.

QPR 3-1 Wigan

QPR came from behind to beat Wigan 3-1 and clinch their first home league win under boss Mark Warburton.

Cedric Kipre's first goal for Latics put them ahead after just two minutes at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

But Nahki Wells equalised early in the second half, Ebere Eze netted with a free-kick just after the hour and Jordan Hugill sealed the win with nine minutes remaining.

Wigan, who have now lost on 18 of their past 24 visits to London, went in front when Rangers failed to deal with Danny Fox's right-wing corner and Kipre blasted in.

The home side responded with some slick football and created a number of chances before Wells hauled them level four minutes after the interval.

Goalkeeper David Marshall misjudged Ryan Manning's ball from the left and Dominic Ball nudged it back from the far post towards Wells, who finished from close range.

The home fans wanted a penalty rather than a free-kick when Kipre clattered into Ilias Chair on the edge of the area.

But the jeers turned to cheers when Eze stepped up and steered the ball low past Marshall and into the far corner.

Hugill was guilty of an astonishing miss shortly after coming on as a substitute. Wells did well on the left to tee-up the on-loan West Ham striker, who was unmarked a couple of yards from a gaping goal yet contrived to lift the ball over the crossbar.

But Hugill made amends by collecting Eze's pass and side-footing beyond Marshall and in off the far post.

Derby 1-1 West Bromwich

Full report

Kenneth Zohore kept his cool before Slaven Bilic lost his as West Brom fought back to draw 1-1 in a pulsating Sky Bet Championship encounter at Pride Park.

Zohore scored a late penalty to cancel out Derby's early spot-kick converted by Martyn Waghorn, who then missed another penalty near the end of the first half.

On a sweltering afternoon, Bilic's temper boiled over near the end and he was sent off for protesting but his team continued their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Waghorn's run into the box was ended by Gibbs' trip and he sent Sam Johnstone the wrong way with a sixth-minute penalty.

Gibbs was replaced in the 21st minute by Darnell Furlong, who went close with a near-post header from a corner before Derby were controversially awarded another penalty when the linesman flagged for handball against Filip Krovinovic.

Buchanan's cross looked to have hit his shoulder and after Bilic was booked for protesting, Johnstone kept his side in the game when he dived to his left to deny Waghorn in the 43rd minute.

Johnstone kept his side in it in the second half when he saved Waghorn's volley but Grady Diangana had a low drive pushed away by Roos in the 67th minute.

Albion's final ball had lacked quality but their pressure told in the 84th minute when Max Lowe brought down Matheus Pereira near the byline and Zohore sent Roos the wrong way to level.