Championship Matchday 25 Review
Championship leaders Wolves came from behind with 10 men to beat fellow Premier League hopefuls Bristol City 2-1. In a game which could prove vital come the end of the season

Derby's stunning run of form continued and they moved into the top two thanks to a 2-1 win at Ipswich. Sam Winnall's brace had them comfortable and, although Joe Garner pulled one back, County made it five wins from their last six.

All the other teams in the Play Off zone lost with Leeds and Sheffield United both losing to teams in the relegation zone.

Hull couldn't hold on to a two-goal lead as they drew 2-2 at home to Fulham. Top-scorer Jarrod Bowen and Nouha Dicko had Nigel Adkins' men coasting, with Fulham hauling off two men before the break in response. One of those sent on, Aboubakar Kamara, responded with a draw-earning brace, one of them from the spot and the second with four minutes left.

Tony Pulis tasted defeat in his first proper match as Middlesbrough manager as they were beaten by Aston Villa, their first win in five games. Pulis replaced Garry Monk hours before the Boxing Day win over Bolton,.

The clear improvements Chris Coleman has made to Sunderland were further evident as Aiden McGeady's goal secured a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, while managerless Sheffield Wednesday were beaten 2-0 at Brentford thanks to goals from Lasse Vibe and Florian Jozefzoon.

Yann Kermorgant's first goal of the season put Reading 1-0 up at Barnsley only for Ethan Pinnock to level in stoppage time, while Burton and Norwich drew 0-0.

Bottom-of-the-table Birmingham upset promotion hopefuls Leeds as they ended their wretched recent run with a 1-0 home win, Jacques Maghoma tapping in with five minutes to go after Felix Wiedwald spilled Jota's shot.

Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Madine silenced the Sheffield United boo-boys as his goal proved the difference in a 1-0 Bolton win at Bramall Lane.

Brentford beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 to go one point above Fulham while QPR lost away at Millwall and are bottom of the London teams.



Cardiff City failed to move back into the Championship top two as they were beaten for the third successive game at home by Preston North End.

Skipper Tom Clarke bundled the winner in stoppage time to deservedly extend the visitors' unbeaten run to nine.

The Bluebirds were well short of their best and can now only look on when leaders Wolves face second-placed Bristol City on Saturday.

Preston rise to seventh and are just a point outside the play-off berths.


Steve Morison's first goal of the season gave Millwall a hard-fought win over London rivals Queen Park Rangers.

The Lions had the better of the first half, with George Saville, Lee Gregory and Jed Wallace all going close.

Morison powered in a header at the back post from Wallace's chipped cross to break the deadlock after the interval.

QPR substitute Matt Smith went close with a late header, but Millwall held firm to ensure that Ian Holloway's return to The Den ended in defeat.



Ethan Pinnock's last-minute goal rescued a point for struggling Barnsley against Reading.

The defender headed home from a Lloyd Isgrove cross to stop the Tykes dropping into the relegation zone.

Yann Kermorgant had given the visitors a second-half lead with his first goal of the season from Tyler Blackett's cross.

Barnsleys, who are now winless in 10, almost won it but Iche Ugbo's injury-time effort was cleared off the line.


Jacques Maghoma's late goal for Birmingham City earned the Championship's bottom side victory over in-form Leeds United.

The midfielder smashed the ball in from close range after Jota's shot was parried by Felix Wiedwald to give Blues their first victory in eight games.

Leeds' best chance saw Pablo Hernandez's strike palmed onto the top of the crossbar by David Stockdale.

Thomas Christiansen's Leeds had won four-straight matches before their visit to the West Midlands but failed to create any clear cut opportunities until Hernandez was sent through by Samu Saiz.

The Spaniard could not capitalise and Birmingham went on to record just their fifth win of the season.


Brentford recorded their third successive victory at the expense of managerless Sheffield Wednesday.

The hosts took the lead when Lasse Vibe scored for the sixth time in five appearances.

Sergi Canos came close to doubling the Bees' lead after the break when his long-range shot went just over the bar.

Substitute Lucas Joao's header deflected wide for the Owls before Florian Jozefzoon wrapped up the win with a neat finish late on.

Victory for the impressive hosts moved them up to 10th in the table, four points outside the play-off places.


Burton dropped to 23rd place in the Championship after playing out a second 0-0 draw of the season with Norwich.

Tom Naylor tested Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn and hit the side-netting, while Kyle McFadzean and Ben Turner also went close for the Brewers.

Mario Vrancic forced Stephen Bywater into a save with a free-kick, but Norwich struggled to fashion chances.

Bolton's win over Sheffield United and Sunderland's victory at Nottingham Forest sees Burton slip two places.


Aboubakar Kamara scored two second-half goals as Fulham came from 2-0 down to draw at Hull City.

Hull were in control after two strikes in four first-half minutes as Jarrod Bowen and Nouha Dicko scored the Tigers' first goals in four games.

Michael Hector fouled substitute Kamara in the area soon after the break and the Frenchman blasted in the penalty.

And in the final moments he placed a shot just inside the post after patient build-up play to rescue a point.

The Tigers remain in 19th place, but are now only two points off the drop zone, while Fulham drop to 12th.


Sam Winnall's two fine goals helped an impressive Derby County move up to second place in the Championship.

The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday forward headed the Rams in front early on and added a stunning 25-yard shot into the top corner soon after the break.

Tom Lawrence had a long-range effort to make it 3-0 that went over the bar.

The Rams had a host of chances to add to their lead before Joe Garner pulled one back for Town as he headed home a Martyn Waghorn corner.

Derby, who have now won seven of their last nine matches, will stay in the promotion places as Bristol City could not beat runaway Championship leaders Wolves.


Aston Villa claimed their first win in six games as they beat Middlesbrough to spoil new boss Tony Pulis' first game in charge.

After an uneventful first half, Jack Grealish and Robert Snodgrass had efforts saved, while Jonny Howson and Patrick Bamford went close for Boro.

Villa took the lead when Snodgrass headed in from Albert Adomah's cross.

The result means Villa leapfrog Boro into seventh place, while Pulis' side drop to ninth.

Middlesbrough are now winless in five home league meetings with Villa and it is the first time Steve Bruce has claimed three points as a manager at the Riverside.

15:00

N. Forest

0-1

Sunderland

-

15:00

Sheff Utd

0-1

Bolton

-

17:30

Bristol C

1-2

Wolves

Sky

Championship Fixtures - MatchDay 26
KO	Home		Away	TV
Monday 1st January 2018
15:00	Bolton	v	Hull	-
15:00	Derby	v	Sheff Utd	-
15:00	Leeds	v	N Forest	Sky
15:00	Norwich	v	Millwall	-
15:00	Preston	v	Middlesbrough	-
15:00	QPR	v	Cardiff	-
15:00	Sheff Wed	v	Burton	-
15:00	Sunderland	v	Barnsley	-
17:30	Aston Villa	v	Bristol C	-
Tuesday 2nd January 2018
19:45	Fulham	v	Ipswich	-
19:45	Wolves	v	Brentford	-
20:00	Reading	v	Birmingham	-
League Table