Championship Matchday 31 Review

In Match Day 31 Wolves extended their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship to 13 points by beating QPR 2-1 at Molineux. Goals from Alfred N'Diaye and Helder Costa put the hosts in control at half-time before Conor Washington reduced the arrears for QPR soon after the restart. Wolves rode their luck in the closing stages, but clinched their third straight league win to put their recent home defeat against Nottingham Forest behind them.

Derby dropped to third place as they were held 1-1 at home by Norwich and Aston Villa won on Sunday. Matej Vydra's 17th league goal of the season put the Rams ahead and, although Canaries striker Nelson Oliveira's penalty shortly before the interval was saved by Scott Carson, James Maddison fired a second-half equaliser.

Aston Villa continued their charge up the Championship with a win at home to local rivals Birmingham. Albert Adomah put Villa ahead on the hour, steering home his 13th league goal of season from 15 yards. Conor Hourihane's superb dipping left-foot volley then sealed victory and second spot.

Bristol City's play-off hopes suffered another setback as they squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home against Sunderland. Aden Flint's early opener and Famara Diedhiou's quickfire double put City in control at half-time. But the Black Cats hit back through Josh Brownhill's own goal and Aiden McGeady before Marlon Pack turned the ball past his own goalkeeper Frank Fielding in stoppage-time.

In a lunchtime kick-off, Paul Heckingbottom lost his first game in charge of Leeds as Billy Sharp's double against his former club earned Sheffield United a 2-1 triumph at Bramall Lane. Sharp volleyed the Blades into an early lead and, after Pierre-Michel Lasogga headed Leeds level, the striker converted a penalty following a foul on him by Eunan O'Kane.

Barnsley responded to Heckingbottom's departure by drawing 1-1 against Sheffield Wednesday in another all-Yorkshire lunchtime kick-off, but they slipped into the bottom three. Atdhe Nuhiu's first-half penalty, following Andy Yiadom's challenge on Lucas Joao, was cancelled out by Barnsley's on-loan Swansea striker Oli McBurnie on his first start for the club.

Bolton forward Adam Le Fondre checked Fulham's march up the table with a second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Macron Stadium. Matt Targett had headed the Cottagers into an early lead, but Le Fondre equalised just after the hour mark to ensure Bolton's mini revival continued.

Middlesbrough kept in touch with the top six thanks to a 2-1 home win over struggling Reading. Adama Traore struck twice in five minutes for Boro either side of half-time and Grant Leadbitter hit a post before Reading pulled one back through Chris Martin. Britt Assombalonga fired a late penalty for Boro over the crossbar.

Florian Jozefzoon's second-half equaliser earned Brentford a 1-1 home draw against 10-man Preston. Tom Barkhuizen's opener for Preston was cancelled out by Jozefzoon six minutes later before visiting defender Greg Cunningham was shown a second yellow card.

Ipswich were held 0-0 by Burton at Portman Road leaving Ipswich in 12th and Burton bottom of the division.

Hull halted their nine-game winless run in the Championship with a 2-0 triumph at Nottingham Forest. Jon Toral quickly made amends, after his eighth-minute penalty had been saved by Forest goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, by heading the opening goal less than 60 seconds later. On-loan Liverpool winger Harry Wilson added the Tigers' second before half-time on his full debut for the club to leave Forest with one league win in their last 10 games.



Cardiff missed the chance to move level with second-placed Derby as Millwall battled to a point on the night veteran Tim Cahill made his second Lions debut.

Junior Hoilett drilled in the opener after Mahlon Romeo was caught in possession, as Millwall began sloppily.

But the hosts fought back in the first half and were rewarded when Lee Gregory turned in Jed Wallace's cross.

The Londoners edged a scrappy second half but were kept out by keeper Neil Etheridge, as Cardiff stayed fourth.



Yorkshire rivals Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday had to settle for a point at Oakwell as both sides' disappointing Championship form continued.

Barnsley, under caretaker manager Paul Harsley for the first time, had the better of the chances but have still only won once since early November.

Atdhe Nuhiu's penalty after Andy Yiadom fouled Lucas Joao put the Owls ahead.

Oli McBurnie slotted in for the Tykes midway through the first half to level, but neither side could find a winner.

This south Yorkshire derby came just five days after Paul Heckingbottom left the Tykes to take charge of Championship rivals Leeds.

The club said they were "shocked" and "thoroughly disappointed" by Heckingbottom's decision, after the 40-year-old left with Barnsley just one point above the relegation zone.


Billy Sharp's double earned Sheffield United a Yorkshire derby victory and spoiled Paul Heckingbottom's first game as Leeds United manager.

Heckingbottom, who replaced the sacked Thomas Christiansen last week, saw his side trail to Sharp's stunning second-minute volley from Mark Duffy's cross.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga's powerful header levelled the scores after the break.

But Sharp netted from the penalty spot to earn victory and ensure that Leeds' winless run stretched to eight games.


Adam Le Fondre's first goal in more than six months saw Bolton come from behind to draw with in-form Fulham.

Fulham, who had won their previous five league games, took the lead when Matt Targett headed in from close range.

Substitute Le Fondre volleyed in his first goal in 21 matches to put the hosts back on level terms.

Sammy Ameobi then had a goal ruled out for a foul before the visitors went close at the other end late on as Stefan Johansen hit the post.

The visitors are six points off the top two and remain in fifth place,


Florian Jozefzoon's second-half goal saw Brentford come from behind to draw with 10-man Preston.

Seventh-placed North End took the lead when Tom Barkhuizen's in-swinging cross found the corner of the net.

The Bees, who move up to 10th, made it 1-1 when Henrik Dalsgaard's header found Dutch forward Jozefzoon, who fired in low from 15 yards.

Preston defender Greg Cunningham was then sent off for a second booking after fouling Jozefzoon.


Championship strugglers Sunderland came from 3-0 down to rescue a point at promotion hopefuls Bristol City.




Second-placed Derby were looking to move four points clear of third-placed Villa, who faced local rivals Birmingham City on Sunday.

They looked set to do so and earn an eighth win in 12 league games after a bright start, which saw Vydra give them the lead.

However James Maddison's second-half penalty earned Norwich a deserved draw.


Bottom club Burton Albion remained four points from safety in the Championship after a low-quality draw at Ipswich.

The hosts failed to register a shot in a turgid first half, with neither keeper needing to make a save.

Former Ipswich striker Darren Bent could have broken the deadlock for the Brewers but saw his shot blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Bialkowski was forced into another top save late on when he tipped Kyle McFadzean's near-post header over.

Mick McCarthy's Tractor Boys stay 12th, eight points from the final play-off spot, following a limp display which saw them have their only attempt on target in the 85th minute.


Play-off chasing Middlesbrough held on to beat struggling Reading and raise the pressure on Royals boss Jaap Stam.

Adama Traore put the hosts ahead when he cut inside from the right and fired past Vito Mannone with his left foot.

Traore's powerful strike doubled the lead, but Chris Martin's shot pulled a goal back for Reading after the break.

Middlesbrough could have won by more, but Britt Assombalonga lifted a late penalty high and wide after Traore had been tripped by Dave Edwards.

Reading have now won only once in their past 11 league games, leaving last season's play-off finalists only four points above the relegation zone.


Hull City beat Nottingham Forest to earn a first league win in 10 matches and climb out of the relegation zone.

Jon Toral opened the scoring with a free header from a corner just a minute after seeing his penalty brilliantly saved by Costel Pantilimon.

Harry Wilson's close-range shot after a slick break made it 2-0 at half-time.

Forest, who hit the post through Matty Cash at 1-0, only managed one shot on target and have now lost four in five in the league under boss Aitor Karanka.

The Spaniard made 10 signings in as many days prior to facing the Tigers but the new faces could not bring a change of fortune despite a promising opening few minutes.



Wolves beat QPR to go 13 points clear at the top of the Championship - but they survived some nervy second-half moments to win narrowly at Molineux.

Alfred N'Diaye turned in a cross from Ivan Cavaleiro to put Wolves ahead, and Cavaleiro set up fellow winger Helder Costa for the second before half-time.

Conor Washington, who had forced two early saves from John Ruddy, hooked in QPR's reply shortly after the break.

Wolves captain Conor Coady cleared Eberechi Eze's late shot off the line.

Substitute Matt Smith fired over and Ruddy kept out an effort from Pawel Wszolek, while Ryan Bennett's last-ditch challenge denied Washington to preserve three points for the home side.

The introduction of giant striker Smith at the interval significantly increased QPR's attacking threat, but Wolves just about survived to extend their lead over second-placed Derby, who drew at home to Norwich.




Aston Villa eased to their seventh straight league win as they climbed to second in the Championship with a deserved derby triumph over Birmingham City.

Albert Adomah put Villa ahead on the hour, steering home his 13th league goal of season from 15 yards.

Conor Hourihane's superb dipping left-foot volley then sealed victory.

Cheikh Ndoye's stoppage-time red card for a second bookable offence further marred Blues' day.

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