Newz Forum: SOCCER: Coca-Cola Championship Results 18/09/04

Wigan 4 Sheff Utd 0
Rampant Wigan reclaimed top spot in the Coca-Cola League Championship in style as deadly duo Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts scored a brace apiece in a 4-0 demolition of Sheffield United. Ellington took advantage of Phil Jagielka's poor clearing header to open the scoring after 29 minutes and Roberts doubled the lead four minutes later.

Ellington raced clear to score a third for the Latics and put the game beyond Neil Warnock's Blades. Roberts doubled his own tally in injury time to compound United's misery as Wigan went a point clear at the top of the table.

Stoke 0 Nottm Forest 0
Stoke missed out on the chance to retain their position at the top after being held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest as Ade Akinbyi and Gifton Noel-Williams failed to find the net.

West Ham 1 Ipswich 1
Pablo Counago scored a vital leveller to hand Ipswich a 1-1 draw at West Ham. Scotland international Malky Mackay had put the Hammers ahead after 11 minutes but the resurgent Counago repaid manager Joe Royle's faith in him with a 57th-minute equaliser.

Plymouth 1 Wolves 2
Wolves came away from the West Country with a victory after coming from behind to beat Plymouth 2-1, despite playing with only 10 men after Kevin Cooper was sent off in the 77 minute for serious foul play. David Friio put Plymouth ahead with a 62nd minute goal and forced Wolves to come out in search of an equaliser, and it came when Carl Cort stepped up to score his first goal of the season from the penalty spot after Cooper had been fouled. Dean Sturridge completed the comeback five minutes from time, scoring to hand Dave Jones' side all three points.

Brighton 2 QPR 3
Resurgent QPR emerged 3-2 winners in a dramatic match against Brighton. In an action-packed first half, veteran Kevin Gallen fired QPR ahead 16 minutes into the game before Adam Hinshelwood equalised after 23 minutes. But Darren Currie soothed the home crowd with a goal a minute before the break. Gallen's fellow veteran Paul Furlong brought the visitors level on 74 minutes, and Matthew Rose curled a beautiful 25-yard effort into the back of the net in the 90th minute to wrap up a thrilling match and hand Ian Holloway's men all three points.

Crewe 2 Leeds 2
Crewe's Gresty Road also played host to a cracking game as Leeds came from behind twice to rescue a 2-2 draw. After a goalless first half, Crewe took the lead when Leeds defender Clarke Carlisle stunned everyone in the ground by handling the ball in the box. Dean Ashton stepped up to score the penalty on 48 minutes. But Leeds found a quick reply when defender Danny Pugh was on the mark to level five minutes later. Leeds went behind again as Steve Jones displayed Crewe's determination, but remarkably Pugh popped up again to rescue Kevin Blackwell's side and give them a share of the spoils as the game drew to a close.

Cardiff 0 Derby 2
The pressure on Cardiff manager Lenny Lawrence continues to build as Derby ran out 2-0 winners at Ninian Park. Striker Marco Reich put Derby ahead after 34 minutes, and the home side's defence were to blame as midfielder Ian Taylor doubled the lead four minutes into the second half.

Reading 3 Gillingham 1
Fans' favourite Dave Kitson scored a first-half hat-trick as Reading emerged comfortable winners against Gillingham. Kitson scored the fastest goal of the day with less than a minute gone. And he doubled his and Reading's tally from the spot after 16 minutes before completing his hat-trick with a second penalty, after Gillingham 'keeper brought down Steve Sidwell to give away the spot kick. Darren Byfield pulled a goal back but it was too late.

Sunderland 3 Preston 1
Sunderland showed no signs of missing injured striker Kevin Kyle as they beat Preston 3-1. Stephen Elliott put the Black Cats ahead but Preston got a controversial equaliser before half time when Graham Alexander scored from the spot. But Sunderland themselves were awarded a penalty which Marcus Stewart missed before new loan signing Darren Carter slammed the rebound home. And shortly after the re-start Elliott got another to put Sunderland further ahead after 52 minutes.

Leicester 0 Burnley 0
Coventry 0 Rotherham 0
Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore will be the happier of the two managers as the Millers took a point from a 0-0 stalemate at Highfield Road against Coventry while 10-man Leicester played out a goalless draw at home to Burnley.

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