Sun 3rd May - Vicarage Road
By Rob Parrish Last updated: 4th October 2008
Phillips: Winning strike
Birmingham climbed back to the summit of the Championship with victory over QPR as Wolves were beaten at Swansea.
Reading continued their red-hot home form as they cruised past Burnley at the Madejski Stadium, while Sheffield Wednesday were well beaten at Plymouth.
Kevin Phillips scored the only goal of the game in front of the Sky Sports cameras in the lunchtime kick-off as Birmingham took all three points against out-of-form QPR.
Wolves would have gone back top with a point at Swansea, but they left Wales empty-handed with Roberto Martinez's men claiming a 3-1 victory as two goals from Jason Scotland extended their unbeaten home run.
Reading had found the net 16 times in four straight home league victories at the Madejski Stadium, and they made short work of seeing off fellow high-flyers Burnley 3-1 with brothers Noel and Stephen Hunt on target again.
Ten-man Barnsley triumphed 4-1 in their battle against fellow strugglers Doncaster at Oakwell, coming from behind to romp to victory with an astonishing comeback after Darren Moore had been dismissed early in the second half.
And Derby overcame the dismissal of goalkeeper Roy Carroll to take all three points with a 2-1 victory at Norwich as Nathan Ellington hit the winner five minutes from time.
Sheffield Wednesday slipped down the table after suffering a 4-0 reverse at Plymouth, with three of the goals coming in the first half of the game as Paul Sturrock enjoyed the meeting with his former club.
Blackpool snatched a point from their lunchtime home meeting against Cardiff with Alan Gow lashing home an injury-time equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw.
Sheffield United climbed into the play-off places with an impressive 3-0 victory over last season's beaten finalists Bristol City at Bramall Lane with James Beattie bagging a brace.
Watford recovered from the setback of conceding an early goal at home to Preston, with Jon Harley and Tommy Smith on target in their 2-1 win.
Nottingham Forest's woes continued as they suffered their seventh defeat in 10 Championship games, going down 2-0 at home to fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.
Moritz Volz put through his own net to hand Charlton victory as the Addicks defeated Ipswich 2-1 at The Valley to climb away from the wrong end of the table.
Coventry moved up to sixth in the table as they brought Southampton's four-game unbeaten run to an abrupt end with a 4-1 victory at the Ricoh Arena, thanks to two goals from Jay Tabb.

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 11th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Burton Albion vs Derby |
| Tuesday 14th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Arnold Town vs Derby |
| Saturday 18th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Chesterfield vs Derby |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Yeovil vs Derby |
| Thursday 23rd July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Torquay vs Derby |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Exeter vs Derby |
| Monday 27th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Matlock vs Derby |
| Tuesday 28th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Notts County vs Derby |
| Thursday 30th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Burton Albion vs Derby |
| Friday 31st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 19:45 | Alfreton Town vs Derby |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| 15:00 | Derby vs Stoke |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Derby vs Peterborough |
| Tuesday 11th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Rotherham vs Derby |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Scunthorpe vs Derby |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Blackpool vs Derby |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Derby vs Plymouth |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Nottm Forest vs Derby |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 13:00 | Derby vs Sheff Utd |
| Tuesday 15th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Derby vs Barnsley |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Derby |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 3rd May | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Watford 3 - 1 Derby | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 1 - 0 Charlton | |
| Tuesday 21st April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 0 - 2 Reading | |
| Saturday 18th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Derby | |
| Monday 13th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 2 - 3 Wolverhampton | |
| Saturday 11th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Sheff Wed 0 - 1 Derby | |
| Wednesday 8th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Cardiff 4 - 1 Derby | |
| Saturday 4th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 1 - 1 Burnley | |
| Saturday 21st March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 0 - 0 Barnsley | |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Sheff Utd 4 - 2 Derby | |
| Tuesday 10th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 1 - 1 Derby | |
| Saturday 7th March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 2 - 1 Bristol City | |
| Tuesday 3rd March | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 2 - 2 Swansea | |
| Friday 27th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Doncaster 2 - 1 Derby | |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Nottm Forest 1 - 3 Derby | |
| Wednesday 18th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 4 - 1 Blackpool | |
| Sunday 15th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Derby 1 - 4 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Plymouth 0 - 3 Derby | |
| Wednesday 4th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Nottm Forest 2 - 3 Derby | |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Derby 2 - 1 Coventry | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Coventry City | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Derby County | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Doncaster Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 0 | 0 |
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has applauded the attitude of Derby target Shaun Barker.
Derby County have rejected two bids from Norwich City for striker Liam Dickinson.
Derby County boss Nigel Clough is ready to make new offers for Shaun Barker and John Brayford.
Derby insist they have not received any approach from Celtic for winger Kris Commons.
Burnley have expressed their delight after completing the signing of Tyrone Mears from Derby.