Championship Review

Monday, 22/08/2011

By James Beavis

The newly promoted teams continued their fine form and are all placed in the top six after the four league matches.

Southampton are top of the league and maintained their 100 per cent record as they beat Millwall 1-0 at St Mary’s as Guly Do Prado’s first half strike ensured the team won their tenth straight league match.

Brighton are fourth, but remain unbeaten as they drew 2-2 against Blackpool at The Amex with the visitors getting a late equaliser through Kevin Phillips.

The result of the day was at London Road though as Peterborough dished out a 7-1 drubbing to nine-man Ipswich, with Lee Tomlin grabbing a hat-trick to move the Posh up to sixth.

Derby are the only other team with a perfect record and lie second following a comprehensive 3-0 victory against the only side without a point so far, Doncaster.

Middlesbrough also continued their unbeaten start as they staged a second half comeback to beat Birmingham 3-1 at the Riverside, with Faris Haroun amongst the goals on his debut.

Crystal Palace are the other side in the top six as they won their third consecutive game with a narrow 1-0 victory away at Hull, thanks to a James Chester own goal.

West Ham are just outside the playoff positions following their 2-2 draw with Leeds at Upton Park as Adam Clayton’s last minute goal rescued a point for the Yorkshire side.

Burnley and Cardiff drew 1-1 at Turf Moor and the points were also shared at the City Ground, in the reunion of former England managers Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, as 10-man Leicester squandered a two goal lead to draw 2-2 in their derby against Nottingham Forest, with veteran midfielder George Boateng levelling in injury time after goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had been dismissed.

Elsewhere, Barnsley impressively beat Reading 2-1 at the Madjeski to register their first three points of the season in a game where the Royals scored one, and missed two penalties.

There were also 0-0 draws between Bristol City and Portsmouth and Coventry and Watford as the Sky Blues picked up their first point of the campaign.

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