Championship roundup: Leeds United go top with win over Birmingham

Leeds United moved to the top of the Championship table with a 2-0 win against Birmingham City, who slipped into the relegation zone.
A goal in each half, from Samu Sáiz and Stuart Dallas, put Thomas Christiansen’s side on the summit, the manager saying afterwards that he was proud of their achievement after a performance that was “not the best”.
The victory took his side above Cardiff City, who were defeated 3-0 at Preston North End. Josh Harrop put Preston on their way with a superb free-kick, scoring his first since his summer move from Manchester United. Sean Maguire doubled the lead after half-time, firing in from a tight angle, and Alan Browne added a wonderful third as Cardiff lost their unbeaten record.
Sheffield United jumped into third place thanks to a 1-0 victory at the bottom club Bolton Wanderers and Wolves’ entertaining 3-3 draw with Bristol City.
Danny Batth rescued a point for Wolves, scoring with five minutes left to deny the Robins a first win at Molineux since 1931 after Bobby Reid’s late goal put them on the brink. In an exhilarating game Leo Bonatini and Diogo Jota twice put Wolves ahead but they were pegged back by Aden Flint and Famara Diédhiou’s penalty.
There was a flare-up late in the game when both benches squared up to each other after Batth and Bailey Wright collided in the area, with Wolves calling for a second-half penalty which never materialised. Some bad feeling still lingered with the Bristol City first-team coach Jamie McAllister unhappy Wolves did not return the ball to the visitors towards the end.
He said: “I felt aggrieved when Bailey went up to win a header and they’re all shouting for a penalty. You can see on the video that Bailey won the header, we were concerned about our player who was down injured and they’re looking for a penalty which was poor. Then at the end, we get the ball, their player’s down and they don’t give it us back which I think is shocking, bad sportsmanship.”
Sheffield United’s winner at the Macron Stadium was scored by the on-loan Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who fired home on his debut.
There was further joy across the Steel City as Sheffield Wednesday rose into sixth with a 2-1 win over Brentford. They fell behind when Nico Yennaris scored in the ninth minute but Gary Hooper levelled and the turnaround was complete when Ross Wallace converted a 70th-minute winner.
Aston Villa and Middlesbrough slugged out a goalless draw at Villa Park that ended 10-a-side. Boro were the first to see their numbers reduced when Adama Traoré was sent off for a poor tackle on Conor Hourihane. Things were levelled up when Henri Lansbury received a straight red card of his own.
Sunderland’s troubles worsened when a late goal from their former player Daryl Murphy gave Nottingham Forest a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light. It was their fourth league defeat in a row and the manager Simon Grayson called it “probably the most frustrating result we’ve had” after what was an improved showing.
QPR came back from two goals down to draw with 10-man Millwall at Loftus Road. Conor McLaughlin and Jed Wallace scored for the away side, who had Lee Gregory sent off in between times, but Massimo Luongo and Matt Smith levelled the scores. Norwich City and Burton Albion completed the night’s fixtures with a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road.
Shrewsbury Town moved three points clear at the top of League One, Jon Nolan’s goal earning them a 1-0 win over visiting Southend United. Meanwhile, in the EFL Cup second round Barnsley beat Derby County 3-2.

SOURCE : GUARDIAN SPORTS
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