Palace rout rivals Brighton
Watford thrash Barnsley 4-1
LONDON, Dec 1, (AFP): Crystal Palace regained top spot in the Championship as Glenn Murray scored twice to seal 3-0 win over his former club Brighton on Saturday.
Ian Holloway’s side moved two points clear of second placed Cardiff, who play Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, after taking advantage of the early dismissal of Brighton defender Lewis Dunk at Selhurst Park.
Dunk was sent off in the eighth minute for bringing down Palace winger Yannick Bolasie and the hosts broke the deadlock half an hour later when Murray, who joined the Eagles 18 months ago, headed home Bolasie’s corner.
Palace increased their lead in the 54th minute when Brighton goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak fouled Murray in the penalty area and the strik- er stepped up to fire home his 17th goal of the season.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 71st minute when Gordon Greer fouled Murray in the area, and with the Palace star having previously missed two penalties this season when looking for a hat-trick, it was Owen Garvan who converted the spot-kick.
Hull moved level on points with fourth placed Middlesbrough thanks to a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
Robert Koren put Hull in front with a penalty after 34 minutes before Billy Sharp equalised with a spot-kick of his own in the 43rd minute.
Paul McShane won it for the Tigers with a close-range header after 69 minutes.
In-form Watford climbed into the last play-off place with a 4-1 thrashing of Barnsley at Vicarage Road.
Troy Deeney, making his 100th appearance for the Hornets, headed home after 10 minutes and Mark Yeates increased Watford’s lead in the 59th minute.
Deeney struck again seven minutes later before Matej Vydra converted an 83rd-minute penalty after he was fouled by Jimmy McNulty.
Marcus Tudgay got one back for Barnsley in stoppage-time, but Watford are now unbeaten in seven matches.
Wolves won 4-1 at struggling Bristol City to ease the pressure on manager Stale Solbakken.
Solbakken’s team had gone nine games without a win, their worst sequence at this level for 21 years, but they blew away City in a fantastic first half thanks to goals from Sylvan EbanksBlake, Bjorn Sigurdarson and a Kevin Doyle double.
Elsewhere, Liverpool target Thomas Ince scored twice as Blackpool demolished bottom of the table Peterborough 4-1 at London Road to give new boss Michael Appleton his first win in five attempts.
Ipswich boosted their survival hopes as Michael Chopra’s last-minute goal secured a 21 win at Bolton.
Leeds won 4-2 at Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield and Millwall were held to a 0-0 draw by Charlton in the south London derby at The Den. stretcher in the first half. Bayern confirmed he damaged cruciate ligaments in his right knee.
Rising Germany star Julian Draxler rescued a 1-1 draw for stuttering Schalke against Borussia Moenchengladbach earlier Saturday.
The 19-year-old Draxler scored