Championship Review – Matchday 27

Leeds United strengthened their grip at the top of the Championship with a comfortable 2-0 win over Derby County.

Kemar Roofe put the leaders in front on twenty minutes with Jack Harrison getting the second shortly after the break, though the focus both just ahead of the game and in its aftermath surrounds an admission from Marcelo Bielsa, that he had sent someone to spy on the Rams whilst the prepared for the game.

Derby manager Frank Lampard made no secret of his views on the incident though it remains to be seen what the Football League can and will do in response to the situation.

Sharp

The result was enough to see the division’s title favourites move four points clear at the summit after Norwich City were held to a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion, while Sheffield United are level on points with the Canaries after they edged past Queens Park Rangers.

David McGoldrick got the only goal of the game, and that was enough to see them move into the automatic promotion places ahead of Daniel Farke’s side on goal difference.

The Blades have won their last four league games on the spin and are now second favourites to finish in the top two at 1/1.

Middlesbrough kept themselves in touching distance after coming through a tough game at Birmingham City – Britt Assombalonga grabbing the winner late on just after Che Adams had cancelled out Lewis Wing’s opener.

Bristol City are up to seventh after extending their unbeaten run to nine league games with victory over Bolton Wanderers, and they will be keen to make it ten without defeat as they travel to a Nottingham Forest side who were beaten 2-0 by struggling Reading in matchday twenty-seven.

Run

Hull City are level on points with Forest after they eased past Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday at the KCOM Stadium – their sixth straight triumph.

The Tigers are one of four sides just four points off the play-offs, while Aston Villa are only a point further back despite being thumped by three goals to nil at Wigan Athletic, who are now six points clear of the drop zone.

Swansea City and Preston North End shared the spoils at Deepdale, while in the days late kick-off Blackburn Rovers left it late to secure victory at Millwall.

Push

Goals in the eighty-sixth and eighty-seventh minutes from Joseph Nuttall and Adam Armstrong sealed the win for Tony Mowbary’s side, who themselves are just six points off the top six.

Nathan Jones had a first game to forget as Stoke City manager after the Potters were beaten 3-1 at Brentford while bottom-of-the-table Ipswich Town won for just a third time this season, beating Rotherham United by a goal to nil.