Championship Review: Millwall deny sloppy Sunderland, Wolves back on top

Sunderland’s home woes plunged to record depths as George Saville’s free-kicks twice exposed goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter and earned Millwall a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

The news was better for Wolves as they returned to the Championship summit with a well-earned win at Reading, while Aston Villa also impressed on the road in edging QPR.

At the bottom, Birmingham City celebrated a much-needed three points over mid-table Nottingham Forest.

BLACK CATS, MILLWALL BURNED BY BLUNDERS

Sunderland gave incoming manager Chris Coleman a taste of the challenge ahead as they became the first team in English football history to go 20 competitive home matches without a win.

Coleman, who left his job as Wales boss on Friday, is expected to be appointed at the Stadium of Light as early as Monday.

His first task will be to address the side’s goalkeeping situation after Ruiter – who recently replaced the dropped Jason Steele – committed a pair of howlers in the four-goal draw with Millwall, letting two saveable Saville free-kicks through his grasp.

To the Dutchman’s relief, his errors were matched at the other end by Jordan Archer’s own failure to deal with two innocuous deliveries from wide areas.

20 – Sunderland are the first league team in the history of English football to fail to pick up a win in 20 consecutive home games in all competitions. Suffering. pic.twitter.com/8VuTay2Wv5

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 18, 2017

LEADERS EASE TO THREE STRAIGHT WINS

Wolves secured an impressive 2-0 win away at Reading to restore their two-point lead at the top of the table.

Sheffield United temporarily held the position following their win over Burton Albion on Friday night, but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side provided the perfect response with an accomplished display at the Madejski Stadium.

Ivan Cavaleiro notched the opener with a tidy finish in the 16th minute before Matt Doherty completed a third consecutive victory late in proceedings.

Elsewhere in the top six, Cardiff City comfortably accounted for Brentford 2-0 while fourth-placed Bristol City slipped off the pace in a 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

.@Nuno speaks to Wolves TV following his side’s 2-0 @SkyBetChamp win against @ReadingFC at the Madejski stadium. #REAvWOL

 pic.twitter.com/NarDiRszEA

— Wolves (@Wolves) November 18, 2017

VILLA BOUNCE BACK

Albert Adomah bagged a brace to inspire Aston Villa to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against QPR at Loftus Road.

The Ghana winger scored from the spot on the stroke of half-time to cancel out Jamie Mackie’s close-range opener.

And he continued his star turn just prior to the hour, firing a superb low shot into the bottom far corner to seal an ideal follow-up to last weekend’s home defeat against Wednesday.

The victory moved Villa three points clear of Middlesbrough, who visit Leeds on Sunday, while QPR sit 15th.

 Four chances created
 Four shots on target
 Two goals scored

Another successful afternoon for Uncle Albert #PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/WOcrcy7DFE

— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) November 18, 2017

BLUES EASE RELEGATION PRESSURE

Che Adams scored the only goal as Birmingham climbed out of the bottom three with a narrow 1-0 defeat of Forest.

The 21-year-old’s fifth-minute strike proved enough for the hosts to end a four-match winless run.

Steve Cotterill’s side are now two points clear of 22nd-placed Burton ahead of tough trips to Middlesbrough and Sheffield United.

Forest, meantime, are still within a game of the top six and are yet to draw any of their 17 league matches this term.

HT – Blues 1 (Adams 5) Nottingham Forest 0

Good half. Same again. #bluesLIVE pic.twitter.com/a9uMHdCsxm

— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) November 18, 2017