Championship Review – Matchday 19

Norwich City saw their six-game winning run end on Tuesday evening after they were held to a goalless draw by struggling Hull City, though the Canaries remain on top of the table going in to matchday twenty.

Promotion favourites Leeds United are just a point behind the Canaries after edging past Reading at Elland Road – Stuart Douglas scoring the only goal of the game on the hour mark while third place Middlesbrough drew 1-1 with Preston North End.

Alan Browne put Alex Neil’s side in front just ahead of the break, with Marcus Tavernier levelling shortly after the restart to maintain his side’s unbeaten run, which now stands at eight games.

Comeback

West Bromwich Albion came from behind to beat Swansea City, while Sheffield United also emerged victorious after conceding early and ended a winless run of three games by triumphing at Brentford by three goals to two.

The game at Griffin Park was topsy-turvy, but it was nothing compared to events in the West Midlands where Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest shared out no fewer than ten goals.

Goals from Lewis Grabban and Joao Carvalho gave the visitors a two-goal lead inside six minutes, while a quick-fire brace from Tammy Abraham saw the hosts level less than ten minutes later.

Matty Cash restored Forest’s lead on twenty-two minutes though a penalty from Abraham sealed his hattrick and ensured that Villa would go in level at the break.

Thriller

After providing three assists in the first half, Villa fan Joe Lolley got himself on the scoresheet six minutes into the second-half before Abraham equalised again shortly after Tobias Figuerido was sent off.

Dean Smith’s men then took the lead for the first time through Anwar El Ghazi only for Lewis Grabban to give the Reds a share of the spoils with his second of the game, and twelfth of the campaign.

The former Bournemouth man is just one behind leading scorer Neal Maupay and is now the 4/1 favourite to finish the season as the division’s top scorer.

Bite

Derby County were beaten at Stoke City with former Ram Tom Ince hitting the winner, though the headline from the game was the clash between Joe Allen and Bradley Johnson – the latter appearing to bite the Welshman in an altercation that followed the sending off of Etebo.

Elsewhere, Queens Park Rangers draw at Rotherham United, with Birmingham City moving into the top ten after beating Millwall at The Den.

Tom Lees scored the only goal of the game as Sheffield Wednesday edged past Bolton Wanderers, while Wigan Athletic beat Blackburn Rovers by three goals to one at the DW Stadium.

Finally, Ipswich Town twice led against Bristol City, only to eventually lose 3-2 – a result that keeps them at the foot of the division.