Championship Review – Matchday 9

Birmingham City provided the shock of the weekend in the Championship after beating title favourites Leeds United by two goals to one.

The Blues, who themselves had not won this term were two goals in front at half-time thanks to a brace from Che Adams.

Ezgjan Alioski pulled one back for the leaders late on though Garry Monk’s men held on for all three points, with the win moving them up to seventeenth place.

Middlesbrough are level on points with Leeds after only managing a goalless draw against Swansea City, who failed to score for a third game in succession and fifth from eight overall.

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Meanwhile Tony Pulis’ side continue their remarkable defensive record with another clean sheet while they have conceded just three league goals all term.

West Bromwich Albion are just a point off the top two after beating Millwall 2-0 at the Hawthorns – a result which sees the Lions drop into the relegation zone.

Having failed to score in each of their last two games Sheffield United beat Preston North End 3-2, though they did it the hard way after allowing their opponents back into the game.

With just ten minutes left to play the Blades were two goals to the good but two goals in two minutes look to have earned Alex Neil’s men what would have been a much-welcomed point.

However, David McGoldrick grabbed a winner three minutes from time to put Chris Wilder’s side within touching distance of the top two.

Pressure

Wigan Athletic are also just two points off the top after edging past Bristol City on Friday evening while Derby County leapfrogged Brentford after coming from behind to beat the Bees.

Nottingham Forest are just two points off the top six after Lewis Grabban’s late penalty saw the Reds past Rotherham United while Sheffield Wednesday are level with Aitor Karanka’s side after beating Aston Villa.

John McGinn scored what will surely be a contender for Goal of the Season for Villa, though that will be of little comfort for manager Steve Bruce, who’s side drop into the bottom half.

Teemu Pukki got the only goal of the game in the evening’s late kick-off as Norwich City ended Queens Park Rangers’ recent unbeaten run while Blackburn Rovers managed to hold on for all three points at Stoke City despite a late fightback from the hosts.

Struggle

Reading climb out of the relegation zone after thumping Hull City by three goals to nil while Ipswich Town are off the bottom after drawing 0-0 with Bolton Wanderers, who played almost an hour with ten men following Marc Wilson’s red card.

The Trotters and the Tractor Boys are joint favourites with Rotherham to be relegated to League One at a price of 10/11.