Tuesday night Championship round-up: Leeds go top as Cardiff falter

(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)

By Alex Beard

There’s a new league leader in the Championship, as Cardiff were emphatically knocked off their perch at Deepdale – leaving top spot free for Thomas Christiansen’s Leeds.

Josh Harrop opening the scoring for Preston with a stunning free kick, before further strikes from Sean Maguire and Alan Browne secured a shock victory for the hosts and consigned the Bluebirds to their first league defeat of the season.

Alex Neil’s side are themselves up to fifth in the table, but the story of the night was Leeds’ ascension to the top spot with victory over Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham. Summer signing Samuel Saiz fired them in front in the 17th minute, but the Whites had to wait until stoppage time for Stuart Dallas to secure them all three points. Christiansen’s fantastic start to life at Elland Road has reached its early zenith, with his side now leading the pack.

Wolves missed the chance to join Cardiff on 16 points as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Bristol City in an eventful game at Molineux. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looked set for a comfortable night when they twice went ahead courtesy of goals from Leo Bonatini and Diogo Jota, either side of an Aden Flint strike.

But the visitors drew level through a Famara Diedhiou penalty – and went ahead for the first time when Bobby Reid struck. Wolves were able to recover a share of the spoils, however, as Danny Batth denied the Robins victory.

Instead of Wolves it was Sheffield United who moved up to third, as Tottenham loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers marked his debut with the only goal of United’s 1-0 win over struggling Bolton. In contrast to the Blades terrific start to the season, Brentford are still awaiting the first win of their campaign after a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Bees went ahead through Nico Yennaris but the Owls hit back with strikes from Gary Hooper and Ross Wallace to secure victory for Carlos Carvalhal’s men. Sunderland’s tough return to the second tier continued at the Stadium of Light last night as they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest, Daryl Murphy with the goal.

Ian Holloway’s QPR side managed to rescue a point at home to Millwall, as Conor McLaughlin and Jed Wallace seemingly put the Lions in control before Massimo Luongo and Matt Smith struck back.

And there were a pair of goalless draws as well, with both Aston Villa-Middlesbrough and Norwich-Burton ending scoreless.

Full List of Results:

Aston Villa 0-0 Middlesbrough

Leeds United 2-0 Birmingham City

Norwich City 0-0 Burton Albion

Preston North End 3-0 Cardiff City

Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Millwall

Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Brentford

Sunderland 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-3 Bristol City

Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Sheffield United