Soccer

Canaries win thriller against Bristol City to stay on top perch

Championship round-up: Leeds go second with victory over Bolton; Middlesbrough keep up winning momentum

Kenny McLean scores Norwich City’s second goal during the t Championship match against Bristol City at Carrow Road. Photograph: Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Sat Feb 23 2019 - 17:29

Norwich kept their lead at the top of the Championship table with a thrilling 3-2 win against in-form Bristol City.

Jamie Paterson put the visitors ahead at Carrow Road, firing across Tim Krul and into the far corner.

Norwich levelled after 36 minutes through Kenny McLean, but City were back in front straight from the kick-off as Callum O’Dowda dribbled through the Canaries’ defence before firing home.

Ben Godfrey drew things level once more for Norwich in the 55th minute, tapping in Maximillian Aarons's cut-back.

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And Daniel Farke’s side won it thanks to McLean’s stunning 25-yard strike midway through the second half.

Leeds moved up to second ahead of the late kick-off with a 2-1 win against Bolton at Elland Road.

The hosts took the lead from the penalty spot after 16 minutes. Tyler Roberts was upended by Pawel Olkowski and Patrick Bamford stepped up to put the hosts ahead.

But that lead lasted just six minutes. David Wheater's header was cleared off the line but centre back partner Mark Beevers was on hand to bury from close range.

Ezgjan Alioski proved to be the match-winner, firing in from Mateusz Klich's cross. Bolton boss Phil Parkinson was sent to the stands moments after the goal.

Middlesbrough maintained their automatic promotion hopes with a 2-0 win against QPR.

Jonny Howson fired Boro ahead in the opening minute, latching onto Muhamed Besic's pass to fire low past Joe Lumley.

Ashley Fletcher doubled the lead as QPR slipped to a seventh successive league defeat.

Bottom club Ipswich were denied just a third win under Paul Lambert by Joe Garner's late equaliser for Wigan.

Ipswich's Jonas Knudsen was given his marching orders after 25 minutes for pulling down Leon Clarke when through on goal.

But Ipswich rallied through Will Keane’s 33rd-minute penalty, only to see the three points snatched away after 90 minutes.

Semi Ajayi snatched a point for Rotherham in a 1-1 draw with fellow relegation strugglers Reading. Ovie Ejaria gave the hosts the lead just after the half hour with his first Reading goal.

Ireland internationals Shaun Williams of Millwall is challenged by Alan Browne of Preston North End during the Championship match at The Den. Photograph: Harriet Lander/Getty Images

Preston extended their unbeaten run to eight games by beating Millwall 3-1.

The visitors were 3-0 up inside half an hour as Andrew Hughes, Tom Clarke and Ireland international Seán Maguire all found the net – with Paul Gallagher involved in setting up all three.

Millwall pulled a goal back after 67 minutes through substitute Ben Thompson.

Sheffield Wednesday kept up their unbeaten start under Steve Bruce with a resounding 3-1 win over Swansea.

Adam Reach’s double and Steven Fletcher’s strike gave the Owls a 3-0 half-time lead. Oli McBurnie’s 69th-minute finish proved nothing but a consolation for Swansea.

Stoke and Aston Villa drew 1-1. Sam Vokes grabbed his first Stoke goal to claim a sixth-minute lead, before Albert Adomah equalised just after the hour from Anwar El Ghazi's pass.

Brentford came from behind to thrash Hull 5-1, meaning the Tigers have now won just one of their last six games.

Fraizer Campbell fired Hull ahead after 24 minutes, but Kamohelo Mokotjo, a hat-trick from striker Said Benrahma and Neal Maupay’s 19th league goal of the season secured an emphatic win.

Che Adams took his Championship tally to 21 goals as Birmingham drew 2-2 with Blackburn.

Adams opened the scoring before Charlie Mulgrew and Danny Graham looked like they had won it for Blackburn in the closing stages, only for Adams to strike again.

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