Championship roundup: Norwich back on top after Pukki sinks Reading
Norwich returned to the top of the Championship with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
In an entertaining first half, Norwich went ahead through Emiliano Buendía early on only for Michael Olise to level soon after. Their top-scorer Teemu Pukki took his tally for the season into double figures when he stroked home a penalty in the 55th minute. A fourth successive 2-1 win sent City three points clear.
Earlier, Cardiff’s captain, Sean Morrison, secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Birmingham with a 90th-minute header. The Bluebirds defender scored from close range after Harry Wilson levelled the scores 10 minutes earlier. It looked as if Neil Etheridge was going to deny his former side after he produced a stunning penalty save after Iván Sánchez had given Blues the lead with a solo goal, but Birmingham let their lead slip late on.
Derby celebrated a first home victory in the Championship since June as they beat Swansea 2-0. It was also the first time this season that they had scored twice in a game and stretched their unbeaten run to six matches since Wayne Rooney became interim manager. Colin Kazim-Richards gave the home side the perfect start after such a barren run at home by scoring inside five minutes and Swansea never recovered from that setback.
It was no more than Derby deserved when the Poland winger Kamil Jozwiak finished impressively for his first goal for the club and only the crossbar denied Kazim-Richards a second just before half-time.
Chuba Akpom ended a 13-match wait for a goal in a dramatic 1-0 win for Middlesbrough against Luton at the
Riverside Stadium. But that was only the start of the drama as James Collins’ penalty 15 minutes later was ruled out when the referee’s assistant, Akil Howson, spotted a double touch by the Republic of Ireland striker.
Middlesbrough - who had a penalty from Marcus Tavernier ruled out against Norwich on 21 November for the same offence - also had their midfielder Sam Morsy sent off in the penalty incident for handling Collins’ initial shot. Despite having to finish the game with 10 men and Luton desperate for a change in fortune, Middlesbrough withstood late pressure to seal the points, including a late save from Marcus Bettinelli to keep out Luke Berry’s header.
Adam Armstrong scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time as Blackburn came from behind to snatch a 2-1 win over Rotherham. Rovers’ leading man had endured a quiet evening but was alert to react quickly in the final minute to slam home from close range.
Coventry were held to a goalless draw for the third time in five home games as they fought out a drab game with Huddersfield at St Andrew’s.