Championship Review – Matchday 15

West Bromwich Albion remain top of the Championship after they eased past bottom-of-the-table Stoke City at the Bet 365 Stadium on Monday evening.

Matt Phillips had the Baggies ahead inside eight minutes, with Hal Robson-Kanu making sure of the points from the penalty spot twenty minutes from time.

Slaven Bilic’s side remain two points clear of the chasing pack, while the managerless Potters slip back to the bottom of the division after Barnsley came from two goals down to salvage a point against Bristol City on Friday evening.

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The Robins had looked like they were, at least momentarily head into the automatic promotion places though late strikes from Aapo Halme and Cauley Woodrow gave the Tykes a share of the spoils, and a point that saw them move up to twenty-third place.

Middlesbrough’s woes continued after they stretched their winless run two eight games with a 2-0 defeat at Derby County, who are just four points off the top six ahead of Saturday’s East Midlands derby.

Their rivals Nottingham Forest bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a 2-1 victory over Luton Town that saw them move up to fifth place while there were also wins for promotion chasing Swansea City and Leeds United, who beat Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers respectively.

Hopes

Preston North End boosted their own hopes of climbing out of the second tier by edging past Charlton Athletic on Sunday afternoon – a Paul Gallagher penalty just shy of the hour mark the only goal of the game.

Alex Neil’s side, who have lost just one of their last twelve league games are currently priced at 10/3 to secure promotion by any means.

Hull City made it a hattrick of fine wins by sweeping Fulham aside at Craven Cottage – Tom Eaves putting the icing on the cake late on after Josh Bowler and Jared Bowen had the Tigers in control with goals either side of half time.

Thriller

Sheffield Wednesday are one point and one place outside of the top six despite falling to a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers while perhaps the game of the weekend took place in South Wales, with Cardiff City beating Birmingham City by four goals to two.

A Joe Ralls hattrick and a strike from Curtis Nelson did the damage for the hosts, while both sides finished the game with ten men after Daniel Ward and Harlee Dean were given their marching orders.

A goal from Karlan Ahearne-Grant was enough to see Huddersfield Town past Brentford – their fourth win in six while Reading pulled themselves away from the drop zone by beating Millwall 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium.