It's Round and It's White
Liam O’Connor rounds up the action from matchday twelve of the Championship.
Terry Pashley continued his fine start in caretaker charge of Burnley, with Chris McCann’s last-gasp winner making it two wins on the bounce for the Clarets as they beat Bristol City 4-3 on their travels. Charlie Austin opened the scoring after just 9 minutes, then Steve Davies evened things up on 17 minutes. The rest of the goals came in an action-packed second-half, Austin bagging his 18th of the season to restore Burnley’s lead from the spot and just minutes later Martin Paterson made it 3-1 on the hour. Bristol City then had a penalty of their own which Sam Baldock converted, then the Robins found a last minute equaliser as Paul Anderson followed up Albert Adomah’s free-kick. Burnley weren’t finished there though, as McCann headed in a 96th-minute winner to seal the points.
Birmingham came from 3-0 down to earn a point away at Millwall as Marlon King hit a hattrick. The Lions got off to a dream start, scoring three times in the opening 20 minutes. Chris Wood broke the deadlock after 11 minutes with a close-range header, then two minutes later Chris Taylor doubled Millwall’s lead. Wood then scored his second of the night after 18 minutes, with Birmingham looking defeated. However, King’s tap-in at the far post gave Birmingham something to build on for the second-half, which they did as King produced two more goals after the break to complete the comeback.
George Boyd bagged two goals as Peterborough moved off the bottom of the Championship, earning their first home win of the season after beating Huddersfield 3-1. Saido Berahino was the provider for both of Boyd’s goals, the second a stunning 35-yard effort which caught Alex Smithies off his line. Boyd then set-up Kgosi Ntlhe after the re-start, and two minutes later substitute Adam Hammill found the far corner to pull one back for Huddersfield.
Dexter Blackstock came off the bench to equalise in the last minute to salvage a point for Nottingham Forest in a 2-2 draw at Blackpool. Billy Sharp scored his second in as many games to open the scoring, capitalising on deflected effort from Danny Collins. Blackpool’s equaliser didn’t arrive until the 70th minute, Elliot Grandin heading in a Matt Phillips cross. Five minutes later and the scores were turned on it’s head, with Gary Taylor-Fletcher putting the home side infront. However, Blackstock came to Forest’s rescue, chesting the ball down and slotting the ball past Matt Gilks to seal a point.
Former Wolves man Mark Davies bagged a last minute equaliser against his old club to earn Bolton a point in a 2-2 draw at Molineux. Benik Afobe put the visitors ahead after poking in Martin Petrov’s corner after 21 minutes. Kevin Doyle then scored twice in three minutes to put Wolves infront. His first came on 27 minutes, sliding the ball in following Roger Johnson’s effort which came off the bar. Doyle then headed in his and Wolves’ second, but Davies had the last laugh late on, volleying home from 12-yards.
Aron Gunnarsson struck a 90th-minute winner as Cardiff maintained their 100% record at home this season, coming from a goal down to beat nine-man Watford 2-1. Tommie Hoban put the visitors ahead from close-range just before the half-hour mark, but then Watford had a man sent off when Daniel Pudil was dismissed for striking out at Craig Noone. Peter Whittingham equalised from the spot, then just after that Nathaniel Chalobah was sent off as Watford were reduced to nine. Cardiff made their man advantage count late on, with Gunnarsson heading in from Noone’s cross.
Barnsley earnt a point thanks to curled effort from David Perkins four minutes from time, with managerless Crystal Palace having to settle for a point after Dougie Freedman’s departure from the club. Palace got off to a good start with Glenn Murray putting them infront on 11 minutes, but Perkins curled the ball past Julian Speroni to bag the home side a point. Kasper Schmeichel’s penalty heroics ensured Leicester secured a narrow 1-0 over Brighton. Andy King scored the game’s only goal after 10 minutes, but Schmeichel saved Ashley Barnes’ 55th minute penalty, as Barnes then smashed the follow-up over the bar.
Middlesbrough moved up to third in the Championship as goals from Faris Haroun and Ishamel Miller sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hull City. Haroun latched onto George Friend’s brilliant ball through to slot past Ben Amos, then Miller bagged Boro’s second to make sure of the win. Nathan Tyson’s late winner ensured that Derby came from behind to beat Ipswich 2-1 away from home, a result which sent Ipswich bottom of the Championship and left manager Paul Jewell with no choice but to step down from his position. DJ Campbell had put the home side ahead from close-range in the first-half, but Theo Robinson made keeper Stephen Henderson pay for his mistake to make it 1-1 before the break. Derby’s winner came in the last minute, with Tyson condeming Ipswich to yet another defeat.
Leeds stretched their unbeaten run to six games after playing out a 1-1 draw against Charlton at Elland Road. David Norris opened the scoring for Leeds after 37 minutes, latching onto Luke Varney’s knockdown to fire past Ben Hamer in the Charlton goal. The Addicks got their equaliser five minutes into the second-half, Dorian Dervite getting on the scoresheet to bag his first goal for the club.
The only game on Wednesday night came at Ewood Park as Eric Black got his first win as caretaker boss of Blackburn, Grant Hanley scoring the only goal of the game after five minutes against strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.
