Soccer

Championship round-up: Reading stay top as Blackburn thrash Derby

Joao Pedro on target for Watford as they win first meeting with Luton Town in 14 years

Wayne Rooney watches on as Bradley Johnson scores Blackburn Rovers’ second in their 4-0 thrashing of Derby. Photograph: Barrington Coombs/PA

Sat Sep 26 2020 - 17:35

Second-half goals from Michael Morrison and Lucas Joao ensured Reading maintained their place at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-1 win at Cardiff.

Morrison nodded in Omar Richards’ free-kick two minutes after half-time before Joao fired in a second to preserve the Royals’ 100 per cent start to the campaign, moving them two points clear at the summit.

The visitors held on despite Lee Tomlin giving them a fright by tapping in with nine minutes remaining.

Joao Pedro netted the winner as Watford remained unbeaten following a 1-0 victory over rivals Luton at Vicarage Road in their first derby meeting for 14 years.

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The forward celebrated his 19th birthday with his maiden goal in the 35th minute for the Hornets, who started reported Liverpool target Ismaila Sarr and brought on veteran striker Troy Deeney, to claim a third consecutive clean sheet and end Town’s 100 per cent record.

Wycombe’s difficult start to life in the second tier continued with a 2-0 home defeat to Swansea.

Andre Ayew and Jamal Lowe netted in the opening 23 minutes to maintain the Swans’ unbeaten record and leave the Chairboys pointless.

Free-scoring Blackburn found the net three times in four first-half minutes to condemn Derby to a third consecutive league defeat.

Tyrhys Dolan tapped in the opener in the 11th minute, his second goal in as many games, before Bradley Johnson returned to haunt his former employers with a quickfire double from outside the box.

Adam Armstrong’s sixth goal of the season 13 minutes from time sealed a rampant 4-0 victory.

Ivan Toney’s first Brentford goal, a 21st-minute penalty after he was brought down in the area, salvaged a 1-1 draw against Millwall after Jed Wallace’s early goal at the Den.

Chuba Akpom marked his Middlesbrough debut with the opener in a 1-1 draw at QPR.

Boro, without isolating manager Neil Warnock following a positive coronavirus test, went ahead through Akpom in the 19th minute only for Bright Osayi-Samuel to level shortly after.

Birmingham drew 1-1 with Rotherham after two late penalties at St Andrew’s.

Kieran Sadlier was successful from the spot for the Millers three minutes from time, but Jeremie Bela also converted from 12 yards at the death to keep Blues unbeaten.

Stoke took advantage of Tom Barkhuizen’s 22nd-minute red card as Lee Gregory’s tap-in — his third goal in his last three league games — sealed a 1-0 win at Preston.

Barnsley collected their first point of the campaign with a goalless draw against Coventry at Oakwell.

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