ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP:THREE IRISHMEN scored for Reading at the weekend as the English Championship side made a stirring comeback at home to Norwich.

The Canaries had built up a 3-1 lead at the Madejski after a blitz of four goals in 16 minutes before Grant Holt was shown a straight red card in the final minute of the first half for a challenge on former Leeds left-back Ian Harte.

Harte scored the home side’s first in the 29th minute, when Brian Howard’s corner was met at the near post by Noel Hunt and, while David Fox did well to smuggle the ball off the line, it fell to Harte’s feet just four yards out and he swept home.

Norwich regained their two-goal lead three minutes later, but Reading made the extra-man count in the second half and were level after two goals in three minutes.

First Hunt chipped the goalkeeper from a tight angle in the 59th minute and then Hunt found Shane Long inside the area moments after the re-start.

The forward toed the ball away from the sliding challenge of Simon Lappin and the referee awarded the penalty. Long made no mistake to claim the equaliser.

Meanwhile, Andy Reid, on loan from Sunderland, fired Sheffield United to a surprise 1-0 win at Millwall with his first goal for the club, lifting the Yorkshire club out of the bottom three.

Barnsley held off a fightback to win 3-1 at Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town.

In yesterday’s game, Scott Sinclair claimed a late winner as Swansea eventually made their dominance over Middlesbrough pay in at Liberty Stadium.

League leaders Cardiff won 4-2 at Scunthorpe on Saturday.