Championship round-up: Tony Pulis earns first win as Middlesbrough boss, Cardiff lose four in a row
Monday 1 January 2018 18:20, UK
Tony Pulis earned his first win as Middlesbrough boss, while Cardiff suffered a fourth straight defeat in the Sky Bet Championship.
Pulis saw his side move to within a point of the play-off places after they triumphed in a topsy-turvy 3-2 win at Preston.
Central defender Daniel Ayala had given the visitors the lead before Callum Robinson levelled but though Jordan Hugill put North End in front at half-time, Jonny Howson responded for Boro before Ayala headed a 73rd-minute winner.
Stuttering Cardiff suffered a fourth defeat in a row as they went down 2-1 at lowly QPR.
Joe Ralls' 54th-minute spot-kick handed the visitors the lead, but Matt Smith levelled within eight minutes to set the stage for debutant Paul Smyth to win it with 18 minutes remaining.
Elsewhere, Leon Clarke denied Derby the chance to eat into Sky Bet Championship leaders Wolves' advantage as Sheffield United claimed a point at Pride Park.
Matej Vydra had fired the home side into a 24th-minute lead from the penalty spot against the run of play after George Baldock had fouled Johnny Russell, but Clarke's header 12 minutes after the restart secured a 1-1 draw.
It proved a frustrating afternoon too for Leeds, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest at Elland Road as they failed to bounce back from Saturday's defeat at bottom-of-the-table Birmingham.
Goals from Tom Flanagan, Lloyd Dyer and Tom Naylor handed Nigel Clough's men a priceless 3-0 away win despite Lucas Akins' early penalty miss.
There was more joy for Bolton, who eased themselves out of the bottom three with a 1-0 victory over Hull, Gary Madine's first-half free-kick doing the damage.
Ethan Pinnock was the Tykes' hero with a 47th-minute header from Ezekiel Fryers' cross.
Elsewhere, James Maddison was Norwich's match-winner as they came from behind to see off Millwall 2-1 at Carrow Road.
Steve Morison put the visitors ahead shortly before half-time, but Tom Trybull headed home a 52nd-minute equaliser and Maddison won it 13 minutes from time.
