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Championship round-up

Image: Gray: Opening goal for Burnley

Watford remain top despite a 2-1 defeat to Burnley, while Sheffield United beat Charlton 3-0 at The Valley.

Clarets stun leaders at Vicarage Road

Watford remain five points clear at the top of the Championship despite a surprise 2-1 home defeat against Owen Coyle's Burnley. Sheffield United bounced back from their defeat to Plymouth at the weekend to stun Charlton 3-0 at The Valley, while Ipswich are back up to fourth after beating Southampton for their 11th straight home win. Bristol City held on with 10 men for a point at Hull, while Scunthorpe went one better, earning a draw at Coventry despite having two men sent off.

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Blackpool 1-3 Norwich City
Dion Dublin scored twice to earn Norwich their second win in four days, although they remain bottom of the Championship. Glenn Roeder's side had scored only twice away from home all season, but they went one better at Bloomfield Road as they inflicted a first home defeat of the campaign on Blackpool. Dublin opened the scoring after half an hour when he turned in Matty Pattison's corner, but Blackpool were level when Bartosz Slusarski deflected in Gary Taylor-Fletcher's shot. On-loan defender Martin Taylor met Mark Fotheringham's corner with a diving header to restore Norwich's lead, but they were then indebted to keeper David Marshall for saving Wes Hoolahan's penalty before Dublin slotted in his second.
Charlton Athletic 0-3 Sheffield United
Charlton's winning run came to an end as they lost 3-0 to Sheffield United at The Valley. The Addicks had won four successive games but they came unstuck as James Beattie, with his 12th of the season, Gary Cahill and Chris Armstrong scored for the visitors. Bryan Robson said his United team had produced their worst performance of the season in their 1-0 home defeat to Plymouth, but they were much improved at The Valley and they went ahead through Beattie's penalty after Jerome Thomas fouled Dave Carney. Carney later forced a fine save from Nick Weaver and Beattie had a goal disallowed for offside, before Cahill set the seal on United's win. Chris Iwelumo and Zheng Zhi went close for Alan Pardew's side, but they could not find a way past Paddy Kenny. United then broke clear for a third just moments from the final whistle, Beattie releasing Chris Armstrong to beat Weaver.
Coventry City 1-1 Scunthorpe United
Nine-man Scunthorpe held on for an impressive point against Coventry at the Ricoh Arena. The Iron fell a goal behind after 51 minutes when Michael Doyle scored from the penalty spot after Joe Murphy had been sent off for bringing down Jay Tabb. However, they equalised in the 68th minute when Paul Hayes crossed for 18-year-old Jack Cork to score his first senior goal. Scunthorpe were reduced to nine men for the final five minutes when Kelly Youga was sent off for bringing down Wayne Andrews, his second bookable offence, but they held on to draw.
Crystal Palace 2-1 Preston North End
Alan Irvine suffered a second defeat as Preston manager as Crystal Palace's revival under Neil Warnock continued with a second straight win. Irvine's first game ended in a 2-0 loss against Charlton on Saturday but he saw his side score for the first time in his reign when Youl Mawene headed them in front after 38 minutes. However, North End found themselves behind at the interval thanks to goals from Clinton Morrison and Clint Hill. Morrison scored the first on 40 minutes after Julian Speroni's long kick was flicked into his path by James Scowcroft. He was then involved again five minutes later as his shot was blocked by Andy Lonergan and Hill headed in the rebound.
Hull City 0-0 Bristol City
Hull were frustrated by 10-man Bristol City as they missed out on a fourth consecutive league victory. The visitors had suffered three successive defeats without scoring and they appeared to be heading for a fourth when Jamie McAllister was sent off moments before half time. Gary Johnson's side had largely been in control but they were forced to re-organise when McAllister was shown his second yellow card. Hull had the upper hand throughout the second half, but they were unable to find a way to goal.
Ipswich Town 2-0 Southampton
Ipswich made it 11 home wins in succession with a 2-0 cruise against Southampton at Portman Road. Jim Magilton's side dominated the struggling Saints, who have now scored only once in five games. Town took the lead in the 34th minute when Tommy Miller's free-kick was deflected into the path of Jon Walters, who wrong-footed Kelvin Davis for his eighth goal of the season. Midfielder Owen Garvan hit the bar as Ipswich sought to extend their lead and further chances went begging for Walters and Pablo Counago. The killer goal finally arrived in the 69th minute, when substitute Gavin Williams sent in a free-kick and Counago headed past Davis from close range.
Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Barnsley
Sheffield Wednesday's revival continued with a narrow derby victory over South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley. The visitors arrived at Hillsborough after a thrilling 3-2 victory over leaders Watford, but with a dismal record of 12 straight defeats at their neighbours' home. Akpo Sodje scored the only goal of the game with a header on the hour to lift Wednesday into 13th place. Barnsley slip to 10th place after another dismal away day - they have failed to score in their last four matches away from Oakwell.
Stoke City 3-1 Queens Park Rangers
QPR are now without a win in four matches after they crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Stoke. Two goals in the first 20 minutes put the Potters firmly in the driving seat before Rangers striker Dexter Blackstock was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Ryan Shawcross. Richard Cresswell scored the first in the fifth minute, stabbing in from close range before Liam Lawrence curled in a fine second from the edge of the area. Rangers only stirred after they had been reduced to 10 men and they hit back through Rowan Vine's impressive strike. But City made sure of the points 13 minutes from time when Lawrence crossed for Leon Cort to head his first goal for the club.
Watford 1-2 Burnley
Leaders Watford sank to a second successive defeat as Owen Coyle secured his first win as Burnley manager. The visitors enjoyed the better of the first half and hit the woodwork through David Unsworth, but they were under the cosh when Andy Gray broke clear to open the scoring 13 minutes into the second half. Watford pushed for an equaliser, with Steve Kabba missing their best opportunity when he headed off target, before Robbie Blake released Joey Gudjonsson, who rounded Mart Poom for the second. Aidy Boothroyd's side hit back five minutes from time when Dan Shittu smashed in his third goal in two games, but they were unable to force an equaliser.

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