Brighton replace Newcastle at Champ’ship summit

LONDON, Dec 14, (AFP): Brighton and Hove Albion provisionally usurped Newcastle United at the top of the second-tier Championship courtesy of a 3-2 victory at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday.

Goals from Shane Duffy and Dale Stephens put Brighton 2-0 up after an hour at Ewood Park before Sam Gallagher halved the deficit mid-way through the second half.

Rovers lost Gordon Greer to a red card with 16 minutes remaining before Glenn Murray restored Brighton’s two-goal advantage, with Gallagher’s second goal arriving too late for Blackburn.

Chris Hughton’s side climbed two points above Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle, who must win at second-bottom Wigan Athletic on Wednesday to resume the lead.

Leeds United rose to fifth thanks to a 2-0 win over Jaap Stam’s third-place Reading at Elland Road, with Chris Wood and Souleymane Doukara, via a stoppage-time penalty, on the mark.

Sheffield Wednesday moved back in the play-off places following a 2-0 win over Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, who had Adam Hammill and manager Paul Heckingbottom dismissed in the latter stages.

An Angus MacDonald own goal and a Sam Hutchinson strike earned Wednesday victory.

Birmingham City are below Wednesday on goal difference after a 2-1 win over Ipswich Town, with Clayton Donaldson, from the penalty spot, and Michael Morrison on target.

Norwich City sit just below the top six after Nelson Oliveira’s goal secured a 1-0 home win over Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa.

Huddersfield Town remain in the play-off places after a late header by Nahki Wells earned them a 1-0 success at Burton Albion, while Maxime Colin’s goal gave Brentford a 1-0 win at Bristol City.

Meanwhile, Cardiff City came from behind to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 and climb out of the relegation zone.

Matt Doherty put the visitors ahead after two minutes, but second-half goals in the 68th and 86th minutes by Matt Connolly and Anthony Pilkington gave the Welsh side victory.

Fulham also produced a comeback to win 2-1, Stefan Johansen and Floyd Ayite scoring either side of half-time at Craven Cottage to see off bottom club Rotherham, who had gone ahead through Joe Newell.