This weekend’s latest action in the Championship was all about derbies.
There were four of this nature and while two of these games ended with honours even, Leeds United and Leicester City enjoyed getting one over their local rivals.
Leeds rising up the table
After a rocky period last month, Leeds have recovered well and are now beginning to rise up the table.
They won the Yorkshire battle on Saturday lunchtime, triumphing 4-2 at Huddersfield Town.
The win takes Neil Warnock’s side into 11th after three successive victories; just four points shy of the play-off positions.
It was an action-packed match as the hosts took the lead through a Chris Atkinson strike early on.
Michael Tonge levelled matters and Luciano Becchio (pictured) scored the first of his two goals in the 37th minute to have the Elland Road side ahead.
Former Leeds man Adam Clayton made it 2-2 before half-time from the penalty spot but David Norris volleyed the visitors back infront in the second half, before Becchio's late header wrapped up the outcome.
The result will be disappointing for former Leeds boss Simon Grayson, who was sacked by the club in January and replaced by Warnock.
Warnock said afterwards: “They dominated early on but then we got back into it, although we were fortunate with the equaliser.
“The lads have been on fire all week and you can see today (Saturday) how good some of the finishing was.
“The Championship is wide open. If we win our next three we’ll be talking about promotion and if we lose the next three then we’ll be talking about relegation.”
Foxes overwhelm the Rams
In the East Midlands clash on Saturday night, Leicester climbed into the top three after demolishing Derby County 4-1 at the King Power Stadium.
Zak Whitbread’s early header gave Nigel Pearson’s side control of the match and the lead was doubled in the 23rd minute by Martyn Waghorn.
Although Theo Robinson pulled a goal back for the Rams before the interval, two goals from substitute David Nugent in the final quarter of an hour sealed an impressive victory for the Foxes.
In the Lancashire showdown at Turf Moor on Sunday, Sam Vokes scored a dramatic late equaliser to ensure Burnley and Blackburn Rovers shared the spoils.
The 1-1 draw was a fair result on the balance of play but leaves Henning Berg with just one win in seven matches since he succeeded Steve Kean in late October as Rovers boss.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche told Sky Sports afterwards: “The draw was the least we deserved.
“We dominated the first half on every level, physicality was excellent, organisation was good and we created a lot of chances.
“They had a good spell in the second half but we finished the game strongly. Overall I’m pleased with the point but looking at the barrel, it could have been three.”
Berg commented: “Burnley were the better team in the first half. We played better defensively in the second half, a bit higher up the pitch and we used the ball a lot better in the second half than we did in the first half.
“When you concede in the 88th minute, it is always going to be disappointing but overall, I think it was a fair result.”
Unhappy return for Jones
Dave Jones’ return to Cardiff ended in another shattering defeat for Sheffield Wednesday.
They are now second from bottom after the 1-0 defeat in Wales. Craig Conway’s late goal was enough to take Cardiff back to the top of the table.
Crystal Palace held the position for 24 hours after coming out on top in a stormy game with Brighton at Selhurst Park.
The Seagulls were always up against it when Lewis Dunk was sent off after only eight minutes for a professional foul.
They lost their discipline completely in the second half, conceding two penalties and ultimately lost the match 3-0.
Dougie Freedman is finding life at Bolton to be tough going. Wanderers haven’t won since his first match in charge and in a tame game at the Reebok; they were shamefully beaten 2-1 at home by Ipswich Town.
Although 10 points clear of relegation trouble, 18th place is well below the expectations set at the start of the season for the Trotters. Ipswich lifted themselves five points clear of the drop zone, as other teams lost around them.
Bristol City had a first half to forget at home to Wolves, shipping four goals in the first 45 minutes to an out-of-form side that before the trip to Ashton Gate, had recorded just one win in nine matches.
Wolves ended up as 4-1 winners. The Robins remain the only club in the entire Football League to have not kept a clean sheet this season.
The fourth and final major derby of the weekend saw local pride remain intact for Millwall and Charlton after a 0-0 draw at the New Den.
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Friday, 30 November
Birmingham City 3-2 Middlesbrough
Saturday, 1 December
Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Ipswich Town
Bristol City 1-4 Wolves
Crystal Palace 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Huddersfield Town 2-4 Leeds United
Leicester City 4-1 Derby County
Millwall 0-0 Charlton Athletic
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Hull City
Peterborough United 1-4 Blackpool
Watford 4-1 Barnsley
Sunday, 2 December
Burnley 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Cardiff City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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