Championship Review - Boxing Day

Last updated : 26 December 2014 By Bournemouth Co-Ordinator

AFC Bournemouth reach the half way stage of the season on top of the pile following a 2-0 win over Fulham at Dean Court as goals from Pitman (9th min) and Arter (91st min) seal victory to keep the Cherries on course for an unlikely promotion to the Premiership!! AFC Bournemouth 1st, Fulham 15th.

The game of the day came at Griffin Park as 3rd came up against 2nd Brentford faced Ipswich Town in a tussle for the top, which the Tractorboys came on top. A Murphy double in the 1st and 21st minutes got the ball rolling was followed by a 3rd from Anderson on the half hour. Saunders bagged his first in the 80th minute, before Smith restored the 3-goal advantage in the 82nd minute, leaving Saunders to complete his brace in the 90th minute. Brentford 5th, Ipswich Town 2nd.

Birmingham City migvht have been excused if they had feared the worsed as Derby County rattled up a 4-0 win at St Andrews. Goals from Ibe (9th min), Martin (23rd min), Forsyth (77th min), Russell (89th min) proved more than enough for the Rams to take the points home. Birmingham City 16th, Derby County 3rd.

Middlesbrough piled more misery on to Nottingham Forest, whose chances of making the play-offs were dented yet further as Friend (53rd min), Vossen (79th min) and Leadbitter (88th min pen) proved to be more than enough for the points. Middlesbrough 4th, Nottingham Forest 10th.

In the late kick off Wolves nicked the points from Watford at Vicarage Road as Dicko scored the only goal of the game in the 57th minute. Watford 6th, Wolves 9th.

Norwich City made light work of Milllwall at Carrow Road as the Canaries flew off with 6-1 win! Goals from Whittaker (13th min), Jerome (18th min), Johnson (54th and 61st mins), Hooper (69th & 91st mins) with Easter bagging a consolation in the 86th minute. Norwich City 7th, Millwall 21st.

Bolton Wanderers managed to continue their revival with a 2-1 win over local rivals Blackburn Rovers at the Macron Stadium even though King gave Rovers the lead in the 21st minute. Heskey levelled in the 59th minute, with Pratley scoring the winner 3 minutes later. Bolton Wanderers 14th, Blackburn Rovers 8th.

A mid table clash came at The Valley as Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City had to settle for a share of the points as Adeyemi gave the Blues the lead in the 12th minute only to see Gudmundsson level in the 88th minute. Charlton Athletic 12th, Cardiff City 11th.

Blackpool reach the half way stage of the season some 11 points adrift of safety having collected a mere 13 points so far this season. Their cause wasn't helped with a 1-0 victory for Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough - Maguire bagged the only goal in the 39th minute from the penalty spot. Sheffield Wednesday 13th, Blackpool 24th.

Reading threw away a 2-goal lead at the Amex as a Murray brace in the 1st and 26th minutes amounted to nothing as Brighton & Hove Albion managed to bounce back through Forster-Caskey (40th min) and Calderon (90th min) to salvage a point. Brighton & Hove Albion 23rd, Reading 17th.

Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town battled out a 2-2 draw at the New York Stadium. Vaughan (35th min) and Coady (61st min) put the Terriers in to a 2-goal lead while Clarke-Harris (88th min) and Frecklington (90th min) salvaged an unlikely point for the Millers. Rotherham United 18th, Huddersfield Town 19th.

Lastly Leeds United slipped closer to League One following a 2-0 for Wigan Athletic at Elland Road. A Cooper own goal (11th min) and a McClean 83rd minute strike sealed the points for the Latics. Leeds United 20th, Wigan Athletic 22nd.