Hammers take advantage

Monday, 23/01/2012

by James Beavis

With Championship leaders Southampton not in action until tonight, second placed West Ham took full advantage to move to the summit.

The Hammers went top with a narrow 2-1 victory against strugglers Nottingham Forest at Upton Park. Two penalties from Mark Noble sealed all three points.

Cardiff needed a last minute winner from Craig Conway to ensure a 3-2 win over Portsmouth in the Welsh capital; a result that moved City to within one point of the automatic promotion places.

Nine-man Middlesbrough suffered a 3-1 defeat at basement side Coventry, with their disappointing performance compounded by red cards for Kevin Thomson and Julio Arca.

Hull moved level on points with the Teessiders following their impressive 1-0 triumph on their travels at fellow play-off hopefuls Reading. Robbie Brady struck the winner for the Tigers.

Birmingham continued their rise up the table and now lie in the top six following their comprehensive 3-0 victory against Watford at St. Andrews.

Blackpool netted twice in the last five minutes to snatch a 2-1 success over a weakened Crystal Palace team at Bloomfield Road with Chris Basham completing the turnaround in injury time.

Leeds defeated ten-man Ipswich, who had keeper Alex McCarthy dismissed for handling outside of his area, 3-1 at Elland Road.

Brighton remain on the fringes of the promotion race as Will Buckley’s brace sealed a 2-1 win away at Peterborough.

Derby registered their fourth successive clean sheet in their goalless draw on the road at Burnley.

Barnsley suffered a shock 3-1 loss at home to lowly Millwall, for whom Darius Henderson notched his second hat-trick of the week, and his third of the campaign.

Ten-man Doncaster were beaten 2-1 at Ashton Gate against Bristol City and remain in just one point off of the bottom.

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