CHAMPIONSHIP

CHAMPIONSHIP leaders West Bromwich Albion moved nine points clear of third-placed Fulham in the race for promotion with a dominant victory at play-off chasing Bristol City on Saturday.

Callum Robinson gave the Baggies the lead in fortunate circumstances, the ball rebounding in off his head after Robins keeper Dan Bentley had saved the forward’s initial shot.

Bentley was then at fault for Albion’s second before the break when he failed to hold Jake Livermore’s shot, presenting Hal Robson-Kanu with a simple tap-in.

Albion had to play the final 13 minutes with 10 men after Romaine Sawyers was shown a straight red card after grabbing former Walsall teammate Jamie Paterson by the throat, pushing a steward as he made his way off.

But former Wales forward RobsonKanu sealed an 11th away win of the season for Slaven Bilic’s side, intercepting Ashley Williams’s back header and beating Bentley with a leftfoot volley.

Leeds United strengthened their position in the Championship’s top two thanks to Pablo Hernandez’s second-half winner against Reading. Hernandez struck on 57 minutes, stabbing into the top corner after his first shot had been blocked.

Two goals in four minutes from Paul Gallagher and Alan Browne saw Preston come from a goal down to beat Hull and get their play-off bid back on course.

Meanwhile, promotion-chasing Brentford fought back from 2-0 down

to draw 2-2 against Blackburn Rovers in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Adam Armstrong put play-off hopefuls Rovers ahead early on and doubled his side’s lead from the penalty spot soon after the break after Bees keeper David Raya had brought down John Buckley.

Nottingham Forest missed the chance to move up to third in the Championship as their former boss Mark Warburton steered QPR to a battling draw at a blustery City Ground.

Forest dominated the first half and thought they had taken the lead, only for Joe Worrall’s fine header to be controversially ruled out because Joe Lolley’s corner was deemed to have been delivered from outside the quadrant.

Elsewhere, Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday drew 3-3.