Championship Review – Matchday 15

Sheffield United returned to the top of the Championship after beating Wigan Athletic in a six-goal thriller at Brammal Lane on Saturday afternoon.

An own-goal from Cheyenne Dunkley put the Blades in front after twenty-three minutes before Kal Naismith drew the Latics level though Billy Sharp scored on the stroke of half-time to restore the hosts’ lead.

Treble

Sharp grabbed his second of the game eight minutes into the second half, then completed his hattrick soon after to put his side in control.

Joe Garner gave Wigan hope with a strike on sixty-nine minutes but that was where the scoring ended with the result enough to see Chris Wilder’s men back to the summit.

Leeds United are in second place ahead of Middlesbrough and Norwich City on goal difference though they earned a point against Nottingham Forest in controversial circumstances.

Jack Robinson put Forest in front on eleven minutes – a lead they led until eight minutes from time when Kemar Roofe connected to Mateusz Klich’s cross with the only part of his body he could – his hand.

Handball

The goal stood and Marcelo Bielsa’s side moved back into the automatic promotion places at the expense of Middlesbrough, who drew with Derby County in the day’s early kick-off.

Derby took the lead through a George Friend own goal before the Rams returned the favour with Jayden Bogle turning the ball into his own net late on.

Norwich won for a third game in succession with Emiliano Buendia’s first-half strike enough to give the Canaries all three points while West Bromwich Albion drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers at the Hawthorns.

The Baggies are in fifth place, ahead of Derby on goal difference with both sides four points off the top while Forest are two points further back, as are Swansea City, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers who all took maximum points.

Form

The Swans beat Reading 2-0 thanks to an Ollie McBurnie brace, Birmingham came from behind to win 3-1 against Millwall while QPR edged past Aston Villa on Friday evening.

Bristol City are just three points off the play-offs despite being narrowly beaten by Stoke City while Preston North End and Rotherham United played out a 1-1 draw at Deepdale to keep themselves two points above the relegation zone.

Hull City are just two points from safety after they narrowly won at Bolton Wanderers while Ipswich continue to prop up the rest of the division after they were thumped 3-0 at Millwall.

Paul Lambert, who was confirmed as the Tractor Boys’ new manager on Saturday morning watched from the stands as his new side were beaten for a fourth time in five matches, form which has seen their relegation odds close to 4/11.