Championship Review – Matchday 8

Leeds United thumped Preston North End by three goals to nil at Elland Road on Tuesday evening to tighten their grip at the top of the Championship.

Liam Trotter put the hosts in front eight minutes before the break before teenager Tyler Roberts bagged a late brace on only his second start for the club to make sure of the points.

The result keeps Preston in twenty-third place, though they are just a point from safety ahead of the weekends fixtures.

Middlesbrough reclaimed second spot after beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium, the goals coming from George Saville and Britt Assombalonga while Brentford had to settle for a point from their trip to bottom-of-the-table Ipswich Town.

Clinical

Neal Maupay put the Bees in front with his eighth goal of the campaign – a tally which is greater than seven of teams in the division including the Tractor Boys – however Kayden Jackson managed to net to give the hosts a share of the spoils.

West Bromwich Albion are up to fourth after thumping Bristol City 4-1 at the Hawthorns.

Jay Rodriguez scored either side of a Dwight Gayle strike to put the Baggies three-up by half time with Lloyd Kelly pulling one back on the hour mark to give the Robins hope.

However just three minutes later Harvey Barnes, who once again the star of the show for Darren Moore’s side added a fourth, rendering Famara Diedhiou’s sixty-eighth minute strike no more than a consolation.

Sheffield United are back in the play-off places but only managed to draw 0-0 with Birmingham City.

That is the sixth stalemate of the season for Garry Monk’s men and they are also the lowest scorers in the division so you may be tempted to back them for relegation at 5/2.

Off the mark

Aston Villa beat Rotherham United 2-0 thanks to goals from new boys Tammy Abraham and Yannick Bolasie while Nottingham Forest also saw two of their summer signings open their accounts in their 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Lewis Grabban netted four minutes before the break before record signing Joao Carvalho added a sublime second to hand the Reds just their second league win of the season.

The Reds are now up to eleventh place, leapfrogging Wednesday who did pull one back late on through Steven Fletcher.

Having recently pieced together three straight league wins, Derby County have now failed to score in back-to-back games after drawing 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers while Swansea also haven’t netted since before the international break after losing to Stoke City, Joe Allen with the only goal of the game against his former club.

Resurgent

Wigan Athletic bounced back from their defeat at the weekend with a 2-1 win over Hull City while Norwich City have moved into the top half following their 2-1 win at lowly Reading.

That’s seven points from the last nine available for the Canaries which is a resurgence only bettered by Queens Park Rangers who after losing their opening four games are now unbeaten in four after beating Millwall by two goals to nil.