Championship Review – Matchday 5

Leeds United underlined their status as favourites to win the Championship with a fine 3-0 victory at Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.

Poland international Mateusz Klich opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the campaign on twenty-one minutes with Ezglan Alioksi doubling the visitors’ advantage soon after.

After getting a late equaliser against his former club on Tuesday evening, Pablo Hernandez capped off a fine week with a third in the second half to see Marcelo Bielsa’s side leapfrog Middlesbrough back into first place after the North East side had beaten West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium on Friday evening.

Late winner

Daniel Ayala’s stoppage-time strike was enough to separate the promotion hopefuls, with Darren Moore’s side slipping to eleventh place following their second defeat of the campaign.

Bolton Wanderers remain in third place despite being comfortably beaten by Sheffield United at the Macron Stadium – Mark Duffy, Kieran Freeman and John Fleck with the goals while fourth place Aston Villa were denied all three points against Reading thanks to a stoppage time penalty from Sam Baldock.

Blackburn Rovers secured an impressive win over Brentford with Kasey Palmer getting the winner nine minutes after the break while Derby County have moved into the play-off places after easing to a 2-0 victory over Preston North End.

Resurgent

Frank Lampard’s side are about Sheffield United on goal difference and can currently be backed at a price of 9/4 to finish in the top six.

Bristol City are in ninth and tenth place respectively after the Robins nudged past the Swans at the Liberty Stadium – Andreas Weimann with the game’s only goal inside the first minute while Nottingham Forest slip down to the bottom half despite maintaining their unbeaten start with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City.

That is now four draws from five games for Aitor Karanka’s side, who trailed by two goals until the seventy-fifth minute before substitute Joe Lolley and Daryl Murphy netted – the former having only been on the pitch for a few seconds.

First win

A Lucas Joao brace saw Sheffield Wednesday beat Ipswich Town 2-1 at Hillsbrough while Stoke City recorded their first win of the season against Hull City – James McLean and an own goal from Jordy De-Vijs securing the points for Gary Rowett’s side.

Rotherham United beat Millwall by a goal to nil in Sunday afternoon’s sole second-tier fixture – Sean Raggett netting for the hosts on twenty minutes while Queens Park Rangers ended their losing start to the campain by beating Wigan Athletic at Loftus Road.

New signings Nakhi Wells and Tomer Hemed both started for the Hoops, and it was the latter who got the game’s only goal ten minutes before half-time.