Sky Bet Championship round-up: Sheffield United go into top two as Norwich drop points again
A review of a busy afternoon across England's second tier.
Sky Bey Championship results
- Birmingham 1-2 Middlesbrough
- Brentford 3-1 Stoke
- Bristol City 2-1 Bolton
- Hull 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Ipswich 1-0 Rotherham
- Preston 1-1 Swansea
- Reading 2-0 Forest
- Sheffield United 1-0 QPR
- West Brom 1-1 Norwich
- Wigan 3-0 Aston Villa
- Millwall 0-2 Blackburn
All the Championship goals
McGoldrick on target as Sheff United enter top two
David McGoldrick's first-half strike was enough to give Sheffield United a 1-0 victory over QPR and take them into the automatic promotion places.
Chris Wilder's men dominated for large parts of the match, and they held on to win 1-0, ending the R's unbeaten run and record their fourth consecutive league victory.
The home side took the lead after early sustained periods of pressure as McGoldrick headed in from close range eight minutes before half time. The striker lost his marker to latch onto Oliver Norwood's cross and score his tenth goal of the campaign.
Norwich leave it late but drop points again
Norwich substitute Jordan Rhodes rescued a point from a 1-1 Sky Bet Championship draw with promotion rivals West Brom at the Hawthorns.
Rhodes had only been on the pitch for a short time when he converted a cross from Kenny McLean in the 83rd minute.
The point extended Norwich's unbeaten run away from home in the league to 12 games.
But they had to do it the hard way after Albion took a 12th-minute lead through Dwight Gayle.
Gayle, who had been sidelined since suffering a hamstring problem on Boxing Day, was on target for the 14th time this season.
Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul had a big hand in City rescuing a point with some stunning saves - including one in stoppage time from Hal Robson-Kanu.
Impressive away win for Boro
Middlesbrough consolidated their Championship play-off spot with a hard-earned 2-1 away success at Birmingham.
Lewis Wing was on the mark with a neat 37th-minute goal for the visitors but battling Birmingham hit back with Che Adams 79th-minute equaliser, only for Boro to pick themselves up three minutes and win it through substitute Britt Assombalonga.
It was only Birmingham's second Championship home defeat in 19 games and it was a reverse which was hardly a reflection on their committed performance.
Losing start for Jones
Nathan Jones' reign at Stoke started in disappointing fashion, losing 3-1 at Brentford.
Jones left Luton to replace the sacked Gary Rowett earlier this week, but Stoke were 2-0 behind inside 17 minutes following an own goal from Ryan Shawcross and Said Benrahma's effort.
Benik Afobe gave the visitors hope only for Rico Henry to seal the points for the Bees in the 54th minute.
Reading earn first win under Gomes against managerless Forest
Managerless Nottingham Forest suffered a setback to their Championship play-off hopes as they finished with nine men in a 2-0 defeat at struggling Reading.
Under the guidance of caretaker boss Simon Ireland, after Aitor Karanka had asked to be released from his contract on Friday, Forest went behind midway through the first half when Royals midfielder John Swift combined well with Mo Barrow to score from inside the six-yard box.
Things got worse for the visitors when captain Danny Fox was dismissed in the 62nd minute for a second booking after a mass brawl while defender Tendayi Darikwa also saw red seven minutes from time, before Forest's misery was compounded when Jack Robinson scored an own goal four minutes later.
Bowen fires Tigers to victory
Jarrod Bowen scored twice as Hull beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 to stretch their Sky Bet Championship unbeaten run to nine games at the KCOM Stadium.
Bowen added to his growing reputation as he struck in first-half stoppage-time and converted from the penalty spot shortly after the break before substitute Fraizer Campbell underlined the home side's superiority in the last 10 minutes with the third goal.
Bowen's form has reportedly attracted the attention of Premier League clubs Tottenham and Leicester although head coach Nigel Adkins has stated the Tigers would not sell any players during January.
Wednesday clearly came to frustrate and rarely threatened the home goal, having just one effort on target in the first half and doing little more in the second period.
Without several fine saves from Keiren Westwood in the first half, the margin of defeat would have been much heavier.
Bowen Player of the Month for December
Villa stunned at DW
Wigan recorded only their second win in 15 matches with a convincing 3-0 triumph over SkyBet Championship play-off hopefuls Aston Villa.
Despite their woeful form, Wigan were on top right from the off, although it took them 41 minutes to make the breakthrough via the left foot of Gary Roberts.
And the second half was more of the same, with the Latics dominating only to have to wait to find the goals their performance warranted.
Substitute Michael Jacobs - making his return after three months out with a hamstring injury - headed home the second goal on 79 minutes.
And Joe Garner made it 3-0 from the penalty spot with seven minutes left, after Josh Windass had been tripped by Glenn Whelan.
Bristol City close in on play-offs
Substitute Kasey Palmer scored within five minutes of his debut as Bristol City came from behind to boost their Championship play-off hopes with a 2-1 win over Bolton at Ashton Gate.
The visitors took an undeserved lead when a 58th-minute mistake by Lloyd Kelly allowed Sammy Ameobi to drive in a cross from the right that was headed home by Will Buckley.
But City responded to a triple substitution by head coach Lee Johnson on the hour. One of the replacements, Matty Taylor, equalised on 64 minutes with a low drive that beat Ben Alnwick at his near post.
Two minutes later the inspired Taylor latched onto a downward header from Adam Webster at a corner and volleyed the ball across goal for Palmer to nod home, the ball just crossing the line before being cleared.
The result saw the hosts move to within two points of the play-off zone, extending their unbeaten run in League and cup to 10 games, while Wanderers remain in deep trouble.
Hope for Ipswich with help of January additions
Ipswich breathed new life into their Championship survival bid with a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Rotherham at Portman Road.
On-loan Hull striker Will Keane, making his Tractor Boys league debut, netted the winner in the 31st minute to take Town to within seven points of safety.
Rotherham remain fourth bottom, just two points above the relegation zone.
Ipswich boss Paul Lambert included new signings James Collins, Callum Elder, Will Keane and Collin Quaner in his starting line-up.
Ten-man Preston hang on for point
Swansea's play-off hopes suffered a blow after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Preston despite the home side playing the final nine minutes with ten men after a red card for Josh Earl.
The Welsh side went in level at the break after being frustrated by several good saves by North End keeper Declan Rudd.
They had hit the front ten minutes into the second half when Courtney Baker-Richardson rifled home after Wayne Routledge picked him out.
But the Swans were pegged back just five minutes later when Daniel Johnson kept his nerve from the penalty spot following a handball by Connor Roberts.
And they were left thanking keeper Erwin Mulder for a brilliant double save 15 minutes from time which ensured a share of the spoils.
Rovers return with three points
Blackburn ended Millwall's four-match winning run after a dramatic finish at The Den saw the visitors snatch a 2-0 victory with two goals in two minutes.
Millwall captain Shaun Hutchinson deflected substitute Adam Armstrong's cross into his own net in the 86th minute under pressure from Rovers striker Joe Nuttall to give the visitors the lead.
Armstrong, who had only replaced midfielder Bradley Dack in the 74th minute, then wrapped up the visitors' first away win since the start of October with a memorable solo strike less than 60 seconds later.
The win moves Tony Mowbray's side up to 14th in the Championship while Millwall drop to 20th, five points above the relegation zone, despite losing only their second home game in the last 10.
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