Soccer

Joe Allen earns Stoke a point and denies Sheffield United top spot

Championship round-up: Middlesbrough held; Rhodes scores two as Norwich beat Villa

Stoke City’s Joe Allen celebrates scoring his side’s equalising goal in the Sky Bet Championship match against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA Wire

Tue Oct 23 2018 - 22:27

Joe Allen’s late free-kick salvaged a 1-1 draw for Stoke at Sheffield United, who were denied top spot in the Sky Bet Championship.

Leon Clarke’s first goal of the season midway through the second half appeared to have clinched victory for the Blades, but Allen buried an 88th-minute free-kick into the bottom corner.

The Blades, beaten at Derby on Saturday, are second in the table behind leaders Middlesbrough on goal difference.

Boro were held to a goalless stalemate at the Riverside by Rotherham, who have drawn four of their last five league games and registered their first away point of the season.

READ MORE

Jordan Rhodes scored twice as Norwich made it back-to-back wins with a 2-1 home victory against Aston Villa.

Rhodes cancelled out James Chester’s first-half opener for Villa early in the second period and struck the winner with his seventh of the season to ensure defeat for visiting boss Dean Smith in his second game in charge.

Swansea came from behind in a 3-1 home win against Blackburn for their first victory in four.

Charlie Mulgrew's first-half penalty, after Kyle Naughton's foul on Amari'i Bell, gave Rovers the lead, but the Swans turned it around through goalkeeper David Raya's own goal, Connor Roberts (68) and Bersant Celina (85).

Millwall hit back to beat Wigan 2-1 and secure their third league win of the season thanks to Steve Morison's late winner.

Republic of Ireland international Shaun Williams fired home a penalty on the hour for Reece James's foul on Aiden O'Brien, which cancelled out Jed Wallace's own goal in first-half stoppage-time and Morison struck with eight minutes remaining.

Wigan's Josh Windass blazed a 58th-minute penalty over the crossbar.

QPR made it four games unbeaten as they won 3-0 at home against Sheffield Wednesday.

Tomer Hemed and Luke Freeman scored with headers in either half and Nahki Wells added a late third to secure Rangers back-to-back wins, while Wednesday slipped to two straight defeats.

Birmingham extended their unbeaten league run to 10 matches and secured their third straight win with a 2-0 victory against Reading.

Gary Gardner gave Birmingham the lead early in the second period and Lukas Jutkiewicz headed their second with 20 minutes remaining.

Garry Monk’s Blues have climbed up to ninth in the table, while Reading have lost three of their last four.

LATEST STORIES