HENDRICK THE READING HERO
READING 1 NORWICH 1
JEFF HENDRICK scored his first Reading goal to deny Norwich top spot last night.
The Ireland midfielder, on loan from Newcastle, steered in a 60th-minute equaliser for Paul Ince’s side, who are proving the surprise package this term.
That came after Canaries captain Grant Hanley had scored his first goal for a year 10 minutes earlier.
But Dean Smith’s team were not able to take full advantage of leaders Sheffield United’s home slip-up in this all-action clash.
Reading remain in third spot, while this was just a second draw in nine games for the visitors – having won the other seven.
SUNDERLAND 0 BLACKPOOL 0 TONY Mowbray will have to improve Sunderland’s home form if they are to make an impact in the Championship.
Six games this season at the Stadium of Light have yielded just one win.
Sunderland have lost just once at home, against high-flying Norwich.
But this stalemate made it consecutive goalless draws in the space of four days in front of a massive second-tier crowd.
An amazing last-minute reflex save from Blackpool keeper Chris Maxwell from Jack Clarke’s header kept it level.
Michael Appleton’s Tangerines had a strong second half and could have won it but for Anthony Patterson in goal.
After the break, home keeper Patterson made a double save from Marvin Ekpiteta and Callum Wright, then another from a near-post Wright header to continue his solid form. Ekpiteta was a big threat at set-pieces.
Blackpool No.9 Jerry Yates grazed the crossbar with a long-range effort from out wide as the visitors had a strong spell.
SHEFFIELD UTD 0
QPR 1
CHRIS WILLOCK drove a knife through the heart of Sheffield United’s unbeaten run as QPR underlined their promotion potential with an impressive victory.
The Blades had not lost in 10 Championship games but Michael Beale’s men destroyed that sequence with an ultimately deserved win.
Willock was the goal hero, driving a low shot past United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham in the 51st minute for his sixth of the season, before being forced off with injury soon after.
George Baldock headed wide at the far post from Jayden Bogle’s deep cross but six minutes into the second half, Willock swapped passes with Ethan Laird before driving home.
LUTON 3 HUDDERSFIELD 3 ELIJAH ADEBAYO ended an 11-game goal drought by scoring twice — but it was not enough to end Luton’s Huddersfield hell.
The Hatters failed to beat the Terriers in all four of their meetings last term and were knocked out at the Championship play-off semi-final stage by them.
They looked to have gained revenge when Adebayo struck twice and Jordan Clark added a third in a pulsating five-goal first half.
But Ben Jackson rescued a first point for new Huddersfield boss Mark Fotheringham with a second-half equaliser. BRISTOL CITY 0
COVENTRY 0 COVENTRY City’s Viktor Gyokeres squandered the two best chances of an Ashton Gate stalemate.
Twice the striker broke clear on goal in the second half, only to shoot wide on 48 minutes and have his 64th-minute effort parried by Bristol City goalkeeper Dan Bentley.
With better finishing, the Sky Blues would surely have gone home with all three points – Matt Godden also saw a 50th-minute header cleared off the line by Mark Sykes, and had a shot blocked with seven minutes to go.
CARDIFF 1 BLACKBURN 0 CARDIFF’S wait for a home win finally came to an end as Mark Harris turned into a supersub as he hammered home an 83rd-minute screamer.
The striker gave Wales boss Rob Page a nudge ahead of World Cup selection as he fired in a 20-yard rocket that broke the deadlock after the Bluebirds had dominated the majority of the game. It was Harris’ second goal in four games since teaming up with new signing Callum Robinson up front.
Robinson had a number of chances to put his side ahead and add to his first goal for his new club in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley, but in the end had to settle for an assist.