It's Round and It's White
Liam O’Connor rounds up the action from matchday thirteen of the Championship.
Cardiff’s winning run at home stretched to seven games as they thrashed managerless Burnley 4-0 to go top of the Championship. Joe Mason got thing’s going after just 3 minutes, scoring from close-range following up Craig Noone’s effort which came off the far post. Noone then got one for himself just before half-time with a drilled 25-yarder. Cardiff had to wait until the 82nd-minute for their third, Matthew Connolly heading in. Five minutes from time Aron Gunnarsson scored his second in as many games to secure the rout.
Three goals in 10 minutes from Nottingham Forest ensured that they came from behind to see off Barnsley at Oakwell by a 4-1 scoreline. Marlon Harewood put Barnsley ahead after 24 minutes, scoring against his old club. Greg Halford’s deflected strike from outside the area on 35 minutes levelled the scores, then Forest found themselves in front as keeper Ben Alnwick could only parry Billy Sharp’s effort into Simon Cox who tapped in. Chris Cohen’s 25-yard strike made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time, then loanee Jermaine Jenas completed the scoring on 77 minutes by adding a fourth.
Chris Wood scored his fourth goal in two games as Millwall extended their unbeaten run to six games, beating Huddersfield 4-0 at the Den and securing their first clean sheet of the season. Darius Henderson’s square-ball fell to Wood in the area who made it 1-0 from just a few yards out before the half-hour mark. Wood then added a second on the break, chipping Terriers keeper Alex Smithies on the hour. James Henry made it three with 10 minutes remaining, then Huddersfield saw Jack Hunt sent-off for dissent. Finally Liam Trotter’s curling effort on the edge of the area made it 4-0, bagging his fifth goal of the season with two minutes left to play.
Sheffield Wednesday earnt their first away win of the season as they recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over bottom side Ipswich. Ross Barkley scored twice either side of half-time, the second a fierce 20-yard drive which flew past Stephen Henderson. Michail Antonio added a third ten minutes from time to heap misery on Ipswich caretaker boss Chris Hutchings on his first game in charge.
First-half goals from Damien Delaney and Peter Ramage extended Crystal Palace’s unbeaten run to ten games, ending Leicester’s unbeaten home record as the Foxes lost 2-1. Kasper Schmeichel failed to deal with a Mile Jedinak corner and Delaney was on hand to capitalise and lash the ball home. Ramage then headed in a Yannick Bolasie cross to double Palace’s lead on 28 minutes. Julian Speroni saved the visitors on a number of occassions, but he couldn’t keep out Andy King’s stoppage-time header. Nonetheless, Palace held on to continue their fine unbeaten run despite being managerless.
Peterborough climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season on goal-difference as they defeated Derby 3-0 to record back-to-back home victories. Michael Bostwick put Peterborough ahead in the first-half, then Lee Tomlin saw his second-half penalty saved by Rams keeper Adam Legzdins. Derby were reduced to 10-men as Jake Buxton was sent off for a second bookable offence. Two long-range strikes late on from Saido Berahino ensured Posh earnt all three points as Derby’s five match unbeaten run came to a halt.
Substitute Scott McDonald bagged a brace as Middlesbrough came from a goal down to beat Bolton 2-1 at the Riverside. Chung-Yong Lee put the visitors infront after 42 minutes, but Boro were always on top. McDonald took the place of Marvin Emnes, the former capitalised on a mistake by keeper Adam Bogdan to poke the ball home to make it 1-1. Emmanuel Ledesma’s cross then met the head of McDonald who powered it past Bogdan to complete the turn-around.
Birmingham picked up a much-needed three points as a stunning 30-yard strike from Leroy Lita was the difference at Elland Road. There was little to talk about during the game, until Lita struck the winner with 14 minutes to go to wrap up a 1-0 away victory for the Blues.
A 90th-minute winner from Jordan Rhodes made it two wins in two games for Blackburn caretaker boss Eric Black as they overcame Watford 1-0 at Ewood Park. Blackburn had a penalty 15 minutes from time after Tommie Hoban handled the ball in the area. Colin Kazim-Richards stepped up, however he slipped and saw his spot-kick strike the crossbar. Rhodes saved Blackburn’s blushes in stoppage-time, rifling home from 12-yards.
Bristol City fell into the Championship relegation zone after losing 2-1 at home to Hull City. Sone Aluko put the visitors into an early lead after combining with Jay Simpson, but Steve Davies levelled following Stephen Pearson’s cut-back. Hull found their winner just after the hour, Stephen Quinn poking in with a little help from Cole Skuse who was credited with the own-goal, the win moving Hull back into the top-six.
Wolves let a half-time lead slip for a second time in a week as Charlton came from a goal down to snatch a point at Molineux. Bakary Sako scored his fifth goal of the season after 12 minutes to put Wolves ahead, but Lawrie Wilson poked home to level the scores after some hesitant defending from the home side in the second-half.
Despite dominating the game for large periods, Blackpool were forced to settle for a point at home to Brighton. Ashley Barnes put the visitors infront against the run of play just before the hour, but Elliot Grandin headed in a Matt Phillips cross with 18 minutes left on the clock. Blackpool put pressure on the Brighton goal, but to no avail.
