Championship Talk ...........

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Sky Bet Championship round-up: Final day results (May 07 2017)



Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton
Brentford 1-3 Blackburn (Blackburn are relegated)
Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham
Burton 2-4 Reading
Huddersfield 0-3 Cardiff
Newcastle 3-0 Barnsley (Newcastle win the title)
Norwich 4-0 QPR
Nottingham Forest 3-0 Ipswich
Rotherham 1-1 Derby
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Fulham
Wigan 1-1 Leeds
Wolves 1-0 Preston

Sky Bet Championship review


Blackburn are the first Premier League winners to be relegated to League One despite beating Brentford 3-1 on the final day of the Sky Bet Championship season.

Rovers were demoted on goal difference after Birmingham and Nottingham Forest also won.

Charlie Mulgrew and Danny Guthrie gave Blackburn the perfect start as they found themselves 2-0 up inside 16 minutes, but results elsewhere soon began to go against them.

Lasse Vibe pulled one back for Brentford in the second half, before Craig Conway's penalty restored Blackburn's two-goal lead.

Che Adams grabbed Birmingham's winner 16 minutes in for a 1-0 victory at Bristol City as Harry Redknapp's side survived.

Forest thrashed Ipswich 3-0 on an eventful afternoon for Britt Assombalonga.

The striker scored a penalty two minutes before half-time and Chris Cohen netted in a second from distance after the break.

Assombalonga then had a second spot-kick saved by Bartosz Bialkowski, although he did complete his brace in the 69th minute.

Elsewhere, Newcastle snatched the title after Aston Villa equalised late on to draw 1-1 against Brighton.

Rafael Benitez's Newcastle were 3-0 winners against Barnsley thanks to goals from Ayoze Perez, Chancel Mbemba and Dwight Gayle.

Glenn Murray's penalty looked to have sealed victory and top spot for the Seagulls, with Nathan Baker sent off conceding the spot-kick, but Jack Grealish grabbed a late leveller for Villa.

The play-off places had already been decided but Reading guaranteed third in the table with a 4-2 triumph at Burton.

Goals from Joseph Mendes, Jordan Obita and Yann Kermorgant put the Royals 3-0 up before Ben Turner and Cauley Woodrow strikes threatened a comeback, only for Lewis Grabban to fire Reading's fourth six minutes from time.

Huddersfield goalkeeper Danny Ward will be suspended for their play-off encounter with Sheffield Wednesday after he was sent off in a 3-0 defeat to Cardiff in which a Joe Bennett brace added to Kenneth Zohore's opener.

Wednesday lost 2-1 to play-off rivals Fulham, with a Neeskens Kebano double turning the game around after Sam Winnall had broken the deadlock nine minutes in.

The Owls had Marco Matias sent off on the stroke of half-time.

Already-relegated pair Rotherham and Wigan bowed out with 1-1 draws against Derby and Leeds respectively, Norwich thrashed QPR 4-0 and Wolves beat Preston 1-0.


Sky Bet Championship play-off schedule:

May 13 (1730 BST) – Fulham v Reading May 14 (1200 BST) – Huddersfield v Sheffield Wednesday

May 16 (1945 BST) – Reading v Fulham May 17 (1945 BST) – Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield

May 29 (1500 BST) – Final (at Wembley)

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Sky Bet Championship round-up: Sunderland held by Derby as Nottingham Forest beat (August 04 2017)


A review of Friday's action in the Sky Bet Championship, as Sunderland and Derby drew 1-1 and Nottingham Forest beat Millwall.

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Millwall
Sunderland 1-1 Derby

Lewis Grabban struck from the penalty to save Sunderland from opening-night embarrassment as they began their Sky Bet Championship campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Derby at the Stadium of Light.

The newly-relegated Black Cats, who are 6/1 for promotion with Sky Bet and 20/1 to win the title, were served a stark reminder of the task that awaits them this season as it took Gary Rowett's Rams just 12 minutes to grab the lead when Bradley Johnson lashed home a loose ball in the box.

Grabban equalised just before the break after Jacob Butterfield was judged to have handled, and while Grabban also hit the bar for Sunderland, his side were fortunate when visiting striker Chris Martin wasted a glorious chance to win it late on.

For all the well-meaning bustle of two clubs expecting to find themselves in the promotion frame, the start of another competitive campaign was put in perspective by a pre-match minute's applause for Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who lost his battle with neuroblastoma last month.

Barrie McKay's first goal for Nottingham Forest was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Mark Warburton's side at the City Ground – but Millwall boss Neil Harris will be wondering quite how.

The winger's spectacular long-range finish, four minutes before half-time, was far from the game's only decisive moment.

Millwall had a host of chances not only to level, but to take away a win of their own – but this was one of those nights where nothing went for them, as opportunity after opportunity went begging.

Forest are now 11/1 for promotion and 33/1 to win the title.

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Norwich 1-3 Sunderland:
Lewis Grabban brace earns Black Cats victory. (August 13 2017)

Lewis Grabban came back to haunt his former club as Sunderland came away from Norwich with three points from an excellent 3-1 win.

The on-loan Bournemouth striker scored twice either side of a superb effort from Aiden McGeady to help the visitors to their first Championship success of the season and they are now 16/1 to win the title and 5/1 to be promoted.

Grabban also scored a late own goal to provide some consolation for Norwich, who deserved better, but it was Simon Grayson's side who ended up with a win to go with their opening-day draw,

Norwich made a bright start in their first home league match under Daniel Farke, with James Maddison winning an early free-kick on the edge of the box and seeing his curling effort deflected wide for a corner.

The Canaries' possession-based game was keeping the visitors pinned back in their own half for long periods, but goalkeeper Jason Steele was not exactly overworked, and it was not until the 20th minute that he had to make his first save.

He comfortably gathered a low drive from Russell Martin after a typically slick move from the hosts and seven minutes later the home fans were silenced as Sunderland took the lead against the run of play.

A routine high ball forward was flicked on by James Vaughan and Grabban shrugged off the attentions of Christophe Zimmerman before calmly slotting the ball past Angus Gunn.

It was rough justice for Norwich, but they nearly went two down five minutes before the break when George Honeyman found himself free in the area after poor marking from a free-kick, only to shoot weakly straight at Gunn.

Norwich soon began building up a head of steam again after the interval, and Martin nearly restored parity on 56 minutes after Maddison's corner had been headed on.

But it was Sunderland who scored next, making it 2-0 with a real beauty from McGeady.

The Irishman was lurking on the edge of the box when a corner was only half cleared and, after being picked out by Lee Cattermole, he fired in a superb first-time effort with his left boot to give Gunn no chance.

Farke brought on Nelson Oliveira in an attempt to get back into the game, having left the striker out for his squad in midweek following an angry goal celebration at Fulham the previous weekend.

But it would not faze the visitors, who made it three on 71 minutes when McGeady beat his man on the left before whipping in a gorgeous cross to the back post which was headed in from close range by Grabban.

Norwich looked dead and buried but pulled one back six minutes later. A deep free-kick was headed back into the danger area and Grabban managed to hit the target at the wrong end when trying to hook the ball clear in the six-yard box.

It was suddenly game on and Martin saw a fierce drive come back off an upright before Marley Watkins had a goalbound effort blocked at the death but it was not enough.

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Sky Bet Championship round-up: (August 15 2017)

Review and updated odds from Tuesday's action in the Sky Bet Championship.

Barnsley 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Birmingham 0-0 Bolton
Brentford 2-2 Bristol City
Cardiff 2-0 Sheffield United
Derby 1-0 Preston
Hull 2-3 Wolves
Leeds 0-0 Fulham
Middlesbrough 2-0 Burton
Millwall 3-4 Ipswich
Reading 2-1 Aston Villa

Tuesday review

Jordan Spence's late header secured a dramatic 4-3 victory for high-flying Ipswich as they maintained their 100 per cent start to the Sky Bet Championship at Millwall.

The Tractor Boys have now made their best start to a campaign since they last won promotion to the Premier League 17 years ago and this third straight win will be even sweeter after Millwall thought they had snatched a point.

Jed Wallace fired Millwall ahead inside 44 seconds, but Joe Garner and Martyn Waghorn turned the game around for Ipswich before Aiden O'Brien equalised for the hosts.

Waghorn added his second on the stroke of half-time before Tom Elliott levelled again with 10 minutes left, only for Spence to nod in David McGoldrick's free-kick in the 88th minute.

Cardiff maintained their 100 per cent start to stay top with a 2-0 home win over Sheffield United, but Aston Villa dropped into the relegation zone after losing at Reading.

Sean Morrison headed the Bluebirds in front from a corner just before the interval before midfielder Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, a summer signing from Rochdale, netted his fourth goal of the season 10 minutes into the second half.

That left Cardiff flying high at the summit, but Villa are still searching for their first Championship win after going down 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

Steve Bruce's men found themselves behind four minutes into the second half when Glenn Whelan deflected Adrian Popa's cross into his own net, which goal-line technology confirmed had crept in.

The Royals, beaten on penalties in last season's play-off final, then doubled their lead after 55 minutes through a close-range effort from Mo Barrow.

Villa, one of the pre-season promotion favourites under new skipper John Terry, pulled a late goal back through Conor Hourihane but it was not enough to prevent them slipping into the bottom two.

Wolves also made it three league wins in a row after they won 3-2 at Hull.

The visitors raced into an early lead through Ruben Neves, the £15.8m summer signing from Porto, but Hull were back on level terms after 27 minutes when Michael Dawson headed home a corner.

On-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder Diogo Jota put the visitors back in front two minutes ahead of the break, with substitute Ricardo Cavaleiro slotting home a third in stoppage time.

With nine minutes having been added on, Hull pulled a goal back through David Meyler's penalty, but there was to be no grandstand finale.

Barnsley picked up their first points of the new campaign with a 2-1 home win over Nottingham Forest.

The Tykers took the lead after just four minutes through a header from Matty Pearson, but Daryl Murphy nodded Forest level after 26 minutes.

A close-range strike from Ryan Hedges proved to be Barnsley's winner five minutes into the second half.

There were no goals at St Andrew's between Birmingham and Bolton, while Leeds and Fulham were also unable to break the deadlock at Elland Road.

Bristol City grabbed an equaliser deep into eight minutes of stoppage time to bag a 2-2 draw at Brentford, where midfielder Josh McEachran was taken off on a stretcher late on.

City had raced ahead after only five minutes through Josh Brownhill before Ollie Watkins headed in an equaliser after 56 minutes.

Brentford substitute Neal Maupay looked to have secured all three points with 13 minutes to go, but the visitors grabbed a last-gasp draw when Bobby Reid scrambled the ball over the line.

A 58th-minute penalty from Matej Vydra was enough to give Derby a 1-0 home win over Preston while Britt Assombalonga scored twice as Middlesbrough beat 10-man Burton 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium.

Albion's miserable night on Teesside was compounded when substitute Hope Akpan, who had not been on long, was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge after 78 minutes.

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Sky Bet Championship round-up:
Norwich beat QPR; Sheff Wed draw with Sunderland (August 16 2017)

A review and updated odds of Wednesday's action from the Sky Bet Championship.
Sky Bet Championship results

Norwich 2-0 QPR
Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Sunderland

Nelson Oliveira put his spat with new boss Daniel Farke firmly behind him by helping Norwich to a 2-0 win over QPR, their first Sky Bet Championship success of the season.

The Portuguese striker was dropped from the squad for City's recent Carabao Cup tie as punishment for his angry goal celebrations in front of Farke at Fulham on the opening day, after he had come off the bench to help the visitors secure a point.

But he returned to the fold after apologising for his antics - and marked his first start of the campaign by firing the Canaries ahead against the Hoops just after the break.

On-loan Southampton midfielder Harrison Reed later opened his Norwich account with a superb second as the Farke era got up and running at Carrow Road .

Sunderland were put to the test but they emerged with credit after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday

After a horrible campaign last year, and a pre-season littered with problems, the Black Cats were not fancied to be much of a threat on their return to the second tier, but under the guidance of streetwise Simon Grayson they took four points from their opening two games.

They looked like following up their win at Norwich on Saturday with another impressive three points at Hillsborough after George Honeyman's sweet fourth-minute strike and 70 minutes of control.

But David Jones' stunning 30-yard drive brought Wednesday level and then the Owls launched an onslaught, with Gary Hooper hitting the crossbar.

Sunderland somehow held on, though, and will be delighted to leave South Yorkshire with a point and their unbeaten record in tact, while also denying the Owls a first win.

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Sky Bet Championship round-up (October 14th 2017)

Review from Saturday's action in the Sky Bet Championship.

Wolves went top of the Sky Bet Championship by sweeping aside midlands rivals Aston Villa 2-0 .

Second-half goals from Jota and Leo Bonatini earned Wolves the three points that moved them above Cardiff at the summit.

Nuno Espirito Santo's men are two points clear after ending Villa's four-match winning run.

Chris Basham scored the only goal as Sheffield United beat Ipswich 1-0 to move level on points with Cardiff and the Blades are into 11/1 to win the division.

At the bottom end of the table, Bolton - promoted with United from League One last term - finally earned their first win since their return to the Championship by beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1.

Phil Parkinson's side had not found the net in any competition since August - a 3-2 home win in the Carabao Cup against Wednesday - and the Owls made obliging guests once more.

Sammy Ameobi put Bolton ahead in the 10th minute before Sam Hutchinson put through his own net just after the hour mark.

Kieran Lee pulled one back for Wednesday with 22 minutes left but Bolton held on for their first win in 12 league games.

Denis Odoi struck six minutes into stoppage time as Fulham came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Preston.

Jordan Hugill gave the visitors the lead in the 18th minute before Sean Maguire added a second seven minutes later.

Oliver Norwood pulled one back from the penalty spot with 16 minutes left and Odoi completed the comeback.

Fulham are 5/2 for promotion, a market in which Sunderland are 200/1 after their miserable home form continued in a 1-1 by QPR.

The hosts - without a win at the Stadium of Light since December 2016 - needed a second-half equaliser from Aiden McGeady to earn a point after Idrissa Sylla's 37th-minute opener.

A stoppage-time equaliser from Nelson Oliveira denied 10-man Hull a win at Norwich.

Nouha Dicko put the Tigers ahead before David Meyler was sent off for two bookable offences, and Norwich eventually made them pay six minutes into added time.

An explosive start at Barnsley soon fizzled out as the Tykes drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough.

Ashley Fletcher's own goal was cancelled out by Martin Braithwaite but Cameron McGeehan headed in his first goal for Barnsley to restore their lead after just nine minutes.

The game's other goal came from Britt Assombalonga on the hour mark.

Elsewhere, Leeds and Millwall both had late penalties saved as they suffered 1-0 defeats to Reading and Brentford respectively.

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Sky Bet Championship round-up: West Brom hit seven, Leeds win again (August 18 2018)

A round-up of the latest results in the Sky Bet Championship, including West Brom scoring seven and Leeds winning once again.

Sky Bet Championship results

Bristol City 0-2 Middlesbrough
Hull 0-1 Blackburn
Ipswich 1-1 Aston Villa
Leeds 2-0 Rotherham
Millwall 2-1 Derby
Reading 0-1 Bolton
Sheffield United 2-1 Norwich
West Brom 7-1 QPR
Wigan 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Preston 2-2 Stoke

Sky Bet Championship round-up

Marcelo Bielsa became the first Leeds manager to win his first four games in charge of the club as his side beat Yorkshire rivals Rotherham 2-0.

Leeds' third straight Sky Bet Championship win - they beat Bolton 2-1 in the Carabao Cup in midweek - maintained their 100 per cent start to the season and lifted them up to second in the table.

Luke Ayling's header broke the deadlock early in the second half and Kemar Roofe struck his third of the season in fine style in the 72nd minute.

Ayling's first Leeds goal was awarded with the aid of goal-line technology after referee Robert Jones had initially awarded a goal kick.

West Brom climbed up to third after thrashing Steve McClaren's QPR 7-1 at the Hawthorns.

Joel Lynch cancelled out Matt Phillips' opener for West Brom before the break, but Kieran Gibbs, Jay Rodriguez's penalty - after Josh Scowen's foul on Dwight Gayle - put the Baggies in control.

Rodriguez converted his second penalty after Matt Ingram's foul on Gayle and Phillips grabbed his second before Hal Robson-Kanu completed the rout in stoppage time.

Former England striker Peter Crouch came off the bench to score his 200th senior goal and rescue a Sky Bet Championship point for Stoke in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Preston.

Paul Gallagher's powerful penalty handed the Lilywhites the lead at Deepdale but Erik Pieters levelled with an impressive strike before the break.

Graham Burke netted deep inside first-half stoppage time as Preston regained the advantage, before substitute Crouch drew Gary Rowett's side level after half-time to salvage a point for the Potters.

Middlesbrough stay top, having played a game more, after a 2-0 win at Bristol City as first-half goals from Martin Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga secured them a third straight league win.

Aston Villa remain fourth after they were held 1-1 at 10-man Ipswich.

Jonathan Kodjia headed Villa into a first-half lead after Ipswich had hit the crossbar through Gwion Edwards' shot.

Trevor Chalobah equalised, but Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before the interval when midfielder Tayo Edun received his second yellow card.

Billy Sharp's stoppage-time header clinched Sheffield United a 2-1 home win against Norwich.

Summer signing John Egan headed his first goal for the Blades and although Jordan Rhodes' second of the season hauled Norwich level, Sharp pounced in the third minute of time added on.

Bolton moved up to fifth place after a 1-0 win at bottom club Reading extended their unbeaten league start, with Yanic Wildschut firing the only goal early in the second half.

Nottingham Forest avoided their first defeat of the season thanks to Hillal Soudani's last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Wigan.

Soudani followed up to convert a rebound after Lewis Grabban's penalty had been saved in the first minute of time added on.

Forest's Matt Cash had cancelled out Nick Powell's second-minute header, but Wigan regained the lead through Will Grigg's penalty after he had been fouled by Ben Osborn.

Bradley Dack's fourth goal of the season in all competitions secured Blackburn a 1-0 win at Hull and Derby slipped to their second defeat of the season, losing 2-1 at Millwall.

Millwall stormed into a 2-0 first-half lead through Lee Gregory and Shaun Williams before Derby responded through David Nugent in the 73rd minute.