Sky Bet Championship round-up: Winning start for Dean Smith at Aston Villa, Leeds suffer set back
A review of Saturday's action in the second tier...
Sky Bet Championship results
- Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Middlesbrough (Friday)
- Blackburn 2-1 Leeds (Early)
- Aston Villa 1-0 Swansea
- Brentford 0-1 Bristol City
- Hull 1-1 Preston
- Ipswich 0-2 QPR
- Nottingham Forest 1-2 Norwich
- Reading 3-1 Millwall
- Rotherham 1-1 Bolton
- Stoke 0-1 Birmingham
- Wigan 1-0 West Brom
- Derby 2-1 Sheff United
Dean Smith's first game as Aston Villa head coach saw his side pick up three points with a 1-0 home win over Swansea for only their second victory in 11 games.
Making a perfect start to his new job Smith bucked the trend as he became the first of the last seven Villa managers to win his first match in charge.
It was also Villa's first win in their last six league games against the Welsh club to inspire hopes of a much needed revival and climb up the Championship table.
Villa's belated home success, on a day ex-owner Doug Ellis was remembered, was created by an early strike from their on-loan striker Tammy Abraham with a quality eighth minute finish.
It was, however, a typical Villa performance. Urged on by a near capacity crowd of 41,336 they dominated the early exchanges only to lose the initiative in the second period when they sadly lacked the killer instinct to finish off the opposition.
At Griffin Park, Smith's old Brentford side were unable to mark Thomas Frank's first game in charge in similar vein.
Chris Mepham was sent off in the second half and then Niclas Eliasson scored a 90th-minute winner as Bristol City ruined Frank's day with a 1-0 win.
West Brom missed the chance to return to the top of the table as they went down 1-0 at Wigan.
The previously free-scoring Baggies, overtaken by Middlesbrough on Friday night, were denied at one end and then saw Josh Windass net a 74th-minute winner. Jake Livermore was sent off for Albion late on.
In the day's early kick-off, Blackburn continued their impressive start to life back in the Championship as they toppled faltering Leeds 2-1.
Danny Graham opened the scoring for Rovers two minutes in, but Mateusz Klich levelled for United, who are some way off their early-season form, on the stroke of half-time.
Darragh Lenihan would win it for Blackburn, though, his header from a corner enough.
Timm Klose's brace helped Norwich come from behind to win 2-1 at Nottingham Forest, for whom Lewis Grabban had opened the scoring, while Will Vaulks' goal for Rotherham was cancelled out by Christian Doidge as Bolton secured a 1-1 draw on the road.
An own goal from Dean Gerken and Tomer Hemed's penalty allowed QPR to win 2-0 at Ipswich.
Gary Rowett continues to struggle for consistency as Stoke boss, Che Adams' goal ensuring former side Birmingham beat his Potters 1-0, while strugglers Hull and Preston drew 1-1, Louis Moult's goal three minutes into time added on coming after Jarrod Bowen's penalty (85) looked to have won it for City.
Yakou Meite scored a brace as Reading beat Millwall 3-1. Sam Baldock scored the other from the spot with Murray Wallace on the mark for the Lions.
Jack Marriott's second goal in as many games sealed Derby's 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
The Rams striker flicked home Craig Forsyth's cross at the near post as Frank Lampard's men claimed a first league win in four matches.
Midfielder Craig Bryson handed Derby the lead after just 19 seconds, sweeping home his second goal in three games to cap a flowing move.
The Blades hit back through Chris Basham, though, who netted his second goal of the campaign.
But just when the visitors were shaping up to grind out a draw, up popped Marriott to steer home the winner.
In case you missed it...
🚀 Here is that stunning volley from Adam Reach
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 19, 2018
💷 He was 16/1 to score from outside the box!
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