Championship Matchday 32 Review

On Saturday in Championship Match Day 32 leaders Wolves missed out on the chance to extend their advantage at the top of the table as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Preston. A draw ended Wolves' run of three successive victories as their lead at the top was trimmed to 11 points, while the in-form Preston remained just outside of the play-off spots.

Fulham got the better of promotion rivals Aston Villa with a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage. Neither side had lost a league game in 2018 at the start of the day but second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Floyd Ayite saw Villa's winning run end at seven.

That allowed Cardiff to move into second place with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough. Sean Morrison headed home Junior Hoilett's free-kick after 32 minutes to seal the points for the Bluebirds.

Struggling Sunderland slumped to a third defeat in four games as Brentford claimed a 2-0 win at the Stadium of Light. Kamohelo Mokotjo opened the scoring after 13 minutes and Neal Maupay fired a second 15 minutes later to leave Chris Coleman's side separated from the foot of the table only by goal difference. Brentford are now tenth and six points outside of the playoff places

Bolton also remain in trouble after a 2-0 defeat at QPR. The sending off of Mark Little for a foul on Massimo Luongo 10 minutes into the second half swung the momentum crucially in Rangers' favour, and they made their numerical advantage tell with goals from Joel Lynch and Matt Smith. Bolton are two points above the relegation places and QPR are marooned midtable.

Birmingham are also looking over their shoulders after Fred Onyedinma's goal with 13 minutes remaining secured Millwall's third successive away win with a 1-0 victory at St Andrew's.

Elsewhere, bottom side Burton picked up a welcome point with a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest, who had Eric Lichaj sent off in the first half.

On Sunday in Championship Match Day 32 Substitute Kemar Roofe scored a late equaliser as Leeds produced a storming comeback to salvage an unlikely 2-2 draw against Bristol City in Paul Heckingbottom's first home game in charge. Leaving Leeds eight points off sixth-placed City who have now won just once in their last five games.

A dramatic stoppage-time header from defender Timm Klose earned Norwich a well-deserved 1-1 draw in a hard-fought East Anglian derby against Ipswich at Carrow Road.



Millwall secured their third straight away win as Fred Onyedinma's late strike was enough to beat Birmingham.

Blues goalkeeper David Stockdale made a fine save to deny Onyedinma, but he finished at the second attempt.

The Lions went closest in the first half when Marc Roberts headed George Saville's cross-shot off the line.

City created plenty of openings, but failed to get a shot on target until stoppage time and have now failed to score in 16 of their 32 league matches.

Both sides came into the game in good form, with Blues winning four of their previous seven league matches and Millwall unbeaten in five, and their confidence showed with chances created at both ends.

Millwall, who secured their first league double over Birmingham in 19 attempts, stay 14th, while Birmingham move up a place to 19th courtesy of Bolton's 2-0 defeat at QPR.


Burton Albion's winless home run was extended to 12 matches as they failed to break down 10-man Nottingham Forest.

The Brewers were given a golden chance after half an hour when Forest's Eric Lichaj was shown a straight red card for a wild lunge on Martin Samuelsen.

Burton went on to dominate, with Darren Bent heading just over and Samuelsen's long-range strike forcing a low save from Costel Pantilimon.

But Nigel Clough's side could not turn their pressure into a precious winner.

Burton, who have not won at the Pirelli Stadium since 21 September, remain bottom on goal difference from Sunderland, while Forest - who have won just once in their past 11 league outings - stay 17th.


Cardiff City climbed up to second place in the Championship with a gritty win over Middlesbrough.

On the day an earthquake struck south Wales, Cardiff City Stadium was an epicentre of inactivity until Sean Morrison headed the hosts in front.

Chances remained rare, with the best falling to Junior Hoilett, whose shot was saved by keeper Darren Randolph.

Cardiff are now two points clear of third-placed Aston Villa, who lost at Fulham.

A sixth Championship match without defeat for the Bluebirds also means they are now 11 points clear of Preston in seventh outside the play-offs.


Fulham made it 10 league games unbeaten and boosted their Championship promotion hopes by ending Aston Villa's seven-match winning run in the league.

After a tight first half it took just seven minutes after the break for Ryan Sessegnon to sweep the hosts in front.

Floyd Ayite made it 2-0, controlling keeper Sam Johnstone's poor free-kick from out wide and firing into an empty net from inside the centre circle.

Villa slipped a place to third with the loss, while Fulham stayed fifth.

Victory extended Fulham's home run to seven consecutive wins, while they have also scored 14 goals in their past four matches at Craven Cottage.

Both teams came into the game in form and full of goals but, the absence of Jack Grealish and leading scorer Albert Adomah, Villa's attacking options seemed blunted and Fulham capitalised.


Championship leaders Wolves came from behind to draw with 10-man Preston North End at Deepdale.

Shortly after striking the post, Alan Browne put Preston ahead with a header from a Callum Robinson corner.

But North End had John Welsh sent off for a second bookable offence, leaving the hosts with 10 men for 31 minutes.

Wolves equalised quickly, Ivan Cavaleiro setting up Helder Costa to slot home, but the visitors were denied a fourth successive victory.


Two second-half headers gave QPR a deserved win against 10-man Bolton.

Bolton played most of the second half a man down as Mark Little was sent off for a mistimed tackle on midfielder Massimo Luongo.

QPR made the most of their numerical advantage shortly afterwards as Joel Lynch diverted Matt Smith's header into the net from Luke Freeman's free-kick.

And Smith made certain of the points late on with a well-timed header from Paul Smyth's cross in added time.


Brentford added to struggling Sunderland's relegation troubles by cruising to a 2-0 win on their first ever visit to the Stadium of Light.

The Bees sealed victory in the first half as Kamohelo Mokotjo crashed in from the edge of the box and then Neal Maupay flicked in from close range.

George Honeyman struck the bar for the Black Cats' best chance, but they were unable to make a breakthrough.

Defeat leaves Sunderland three points adrift in the bottom three.





Timm Klose's header deep into stoppage time for Norwich denied Ipswich a first East Anglian derby win since 2009 in a dramatic finish at Carrow Road.

The visitors thought they had snatched victory in the penultimate minute of normal time as Luke Chambers headed in from a corner after a tense, even game.

But Klose nodded in with effectively the final touch to earn Norwich a draw.

Ipswich had controlled a goalless first half, before the Canaries responded with a brighter second-half display.

Ultimately, the draw did little to help either of the mid-table sides' relatively slim play-off hopes. But the Norfolk club went home happiest after rescuing a point and denying Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy his first win in the fixture.


Bristol City threw away a lead for the second game running as Leeds came from 2-0 down to draw Paul Heckingbottom's first home game as manager.

City, who drew 3-3 after leading Sunderland 3-0 last week, netted twice in the first 16 minutes at Elland Road.

Leeds twice failed to deal with long throw-ins, allowing Famara Diedhiou and Bobby Reid to score from close range.

But Pierre-Michel Lasogga made it 2-1 before Kemar Roofe's far-post finish rescued a point for the hosts.

Lasogga may even have snatched it in the very final moments, heading against the crossbar as Leeds poured forward in search of a dramatic late winner.

It was a familiar tale for Lee Johnson's side, who, like last Saturday, were comfortably in front and looking in relative control with 20 minutes left.

Despite the morale-boosting fightback, the Whites are still without a victory in 2018 and remain 11th in the Championship - eight points adrift of the play-off spots.

The Robins, who play fifth-placed Fulham and second-placed Cardiff in their next two fixtures, remain sixth.

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Championship Fixtures - MatchDay 33
KO	Home		Away	TV
Tuesday 20th February 2018
19:45	Aston Villa	v	Preston
19:45	Barnsley	v	Burton
19:45	Brentford	v	Birmingham
19:45	Middlesbrough	v	Hull
19:45	Millwall	v	Sheff Wed
19:45	N. Forest	v	Reading
19:45	Sheff Utd	v	QPR
20:00	Bolton	v	Sunderland
Wednesday 21st February 2018
19:45	Bristol C	v	Fulham
19:45	Derby	v	Leeds	Sky
19:45	Ipswich	v	Cardiff
19:45	Wolves	v	Norwich
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