Round-up: Pearson starts with a victory

NIGEL PEARSON was provided with a winning start to life as Bristol City manager after Kasey Palmer scored directly from a corner in a 3-1 Sky Bet Championship victory at Swansea.

An Andre Ayew penalty had given Swansea a deserved lead. But Pearson watched his new side equalise through former Town man Nahki Wells, before Palmer looped a corner over goalkeeper Freddie Woodman’s head and Antoine Semenyo sealed the win with a third.

Brentford came from behind to strengthen their automatic promotion push with a hardfought 2-1 win over Stoke.

Vitaly Janelt equalised in the 56th minute after Jacob Brown had put the visitors ahead early on, but 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 win over Watford in an ill-tempered game which both teams finished with 10 men.

Luton produced a sensational comeback to defeat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 at Kenilworth Road. They were trailing 2-0 at half-time to Josh Windass’ double, but drew level after just 15 minutes of the second period, with Kal Naismith and Ryan Tunnicliffe scoring, before Elijah Adebayo then headed home a dramatic late winner.

Birmingham scored two late goals in three minutes to earn their first home win in 13 games as they came from behind to beat QPR 2-1 at St Andrew’s.

Paddy McNair’s late equaliser for Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside prevented Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff from winning a seventh straight match.

Reading claimed a 1-0 victory at struggling Rotherham.

Matty James’ first goal since March 2017 earned 10-man Coventry a 1-1 draw at Blackburn. And Cauley Woodrow and Michal Helik scored as Barnsley won their fifth league game in a row by beating Millwall 2-1 at Oakwell.