Nigel’s flying start thanks to Palmer
NIGEL Pearson enjoyed a winning start as Bristol City manager after Kasey Palmer scored directly from a corner in a 3-1 Sky Bet Championship victory over Swansea City.
The Robins midfielder looked as though he had gifted his old side the three points when he handled in the box to allow Andre Ayew to fire the hosts into a deserved lead.
But former Derby County boss Pearson watched his new side fight back to equalise through Nahki Wells before Palmer looped a corner all the way over goalkeeper Freddie Woodman’s head.
Antoine Semenyo sealed the Robins’ second win in a week to give Pearson a dream start.
Brentford came from behind to strengthen their automatic promotion push with a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Stoke City.
Vitaly Janelt equalised in the 56th minute after Jacob Brown had put the visitors ahead early on, then Ivan Toney’s 25th goal of the season secured the Bees a second successive victory.
Arnaut Danjuma scored the only goal as Bournemouth picked up a crucial 1-0 home win over Watford in an ill-tempered game which both teams finished with 10 men.
Danjuma fired the winner 16 minutes into the second half to end the Cherries’ two-match losing streak.
Bournemouth’s victory was marred by a multi-player stoppagetime brawl during which Watford striker Joao Pedro and Bournemouth midfielder Jack Wilshere were sent off.
Luton Town produced a stunning comeback to defeat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 at Kenilworth Road.
They were trailing 2-0 at half-time to Josh Windass’ double after an opening 45 minutes in which they had been second best by a long distance.
But Luton were level after only 15 minutes of the second period, with Kal Naismith and Ryan Tunnicliffe scoring, before Elijah Adebayo headed home a dramatic late winner.
Birmingham City scored two late goals in three minutes to earn their first home win in 13 games, coming from behind to beat QPR 2-1 at St Andrew’s.
Alen Halilovic scored a cracker for his first goal for the club after Kristian Pedersen equalised to cancel out Charlie Austin’s opener.
Paddy Mcnair’s late equaliser for Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside prevented Mick Mccarthy’s Cardiff City from winning a seventh straight match.
In a game starved of clear-cut opportunities, particularly in the second half, Mcnair’s leveller with eight minutes remaining cancelled out Sean Morrison’s 37th-minute opener for the Bluebirds.
Reading managed to kick-start their season, claiming a narrow 1-0 away victory against struggling Rotherham United.
Defeat was the fifth in a row for the Millers and they remain deep in relegation trouble after conceding midway through the first half to Michael Morrison.
Matty James’ first goal since March 2017 earned 10-man Coventry City a 1-1 draw away to Blackburn Rovers.
The on-loan midfielder’s hooked finish five minutes after the restart cancelled out Ben Brereton’s second goal in as many games and gave
Mark Robins’ men what could be a vital point in the fight against relegation.
They held on despite the 83rdminute dismissal of Leo Ostigard.
Elsewhere, Cauley Woodrow and Michal Helik scored as Barnsley won their fifth League game in a row, beating Millwall 2-1 at Oakwell, while Brad Potts, Ched Evans and Scott Sinclair were all on target as Preston North End ran out 3-0 winners over Huddersfield Town at Deepdale.
In yesterday’s Championship game, leaders Norwich City won 2-0 away against Wycombe Wanderers thanks to goals from Teemu Pukki and Adam Idah.