The Guardian (USA)

Championsh­ip: Willock stuns leaders Sheffield United as QPR go fourth

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QPR stunned the Championsh­ip leaders Sheffield United with a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane as Norwich missed the chance to go top of the table after drawing against Reading.

Chris Willock’s 51st-minute strike sent the Blades spinning to a first home defeat of the season and pushed inform Rangers up to fourth place. Willock’s winner came after he played a clever one-two with Ethan Laird and squeezed his shot from an acute angle between goalkeeper Wes Foderingha­m and the near post. Tommy Doyle came closest to a Blades equaliser from distance, with his effort just going wide, but Rangers held on to make it five wins from seven games.

Second-placed Norwich moved level on points with United despite taking the lead at Reading. Grant Hanley put Norwich ahead from a corner five minutes after half-time but Reading claimed a share of the spoils through Jeff Hendrick’s excellent dipping strike from outside the box 10 minutes later. Paul Ince’s Reading remain in third, two points adrift of the top two.

Luton and Huddersfie­ld shared a six-goal thriller at Kenilworth Road – with five goals coming before halftime. Huddersfie­ld twice led in the first period through a Carlton Morris own goal and a Jordan Rhodes penalty. But Elijah Adebayo’s double saw the Hatters level before Jordan Clark struck seconds before the interval. Ben Jackson equalised for Huddersfie­ld after 70 minutes, but the Terriers finished with 10 men as David Kasumu was sent off in added time for two bookable offences.

Cardiff claimed a first win under their interim manager Mark Hudson as they beat Blackburn 1-0 in the Welsh capital. In a dramatic finale, substitute Mark Harris fired Cardiff ahead with a rasping 20-yard shot seven minutes from time.

Ryan Allsop then saved an injurytime penalty from George Hirst after the Bluebirds goalkeeper had brought down Dominic Hyam as Cardiff struggled to clear a free-kick.

Bottom-placed Coventry drew 0-0 at Bristol City. Han-Noah Massengo and Antoine Semenyo went close for the hosts as the Robins sought to end a three-game losing streak. But Coventry were much-improved after the break and Matty Godden saw his second-half header cleared on to the bar by home defender Mark Sykes. Bristol City had late appeals for a Callum Doyle handball in the penalty area waved away.

Sunderland also had to settle for a goalless draw against Blackpool. It was Sunderland’s second such result at the Stadium of Light in the space of three days after they were held by Preston on Saturday.

 ?? Photograph: Nigel French/PA ?? Chris Willock celebrates what turned out to be the winner against Sheffield United
Photograph: Nigel French/PA Chris Willock celebrates what turned out to be the winner against Sheffield United
 ?? Photograph: Cardiff City FC/Getty Images ?? Mark Harris scored the winning goal for Cardiff against Blackburn
Photograph: Cardiff City FC/Getty Images Mark Harris scored the winning goal for Cardiff against Blackburn

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