Championship round-up: Norwich return to summit, Aston Villa thrash Derby, Brentford earn bragging rights over west London rivals QPR

Championship round-up: Norwich return to summit, Aston Villa thrash Derby, Brentford earn bragging rights over west London rivals QPR
Norwich maintained their bid for automatic promotion with a 3-1 win at Millwall to return to the Championship summit.After being replaced at the top by Leeds following United’s 4-0 win over West Brom on Friday night, the Canaries responded in fine fashion.3

Nigel Farke’s men return to the top of the Championship

City opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with Marco Stiepermann firing into an unguarded net from 12 yards after Jordan Archer had saved a shot from Onel Hernandez.The Lions levelled just before the interval, Shaun Williams heading home his seventh goal of the season after Steve Morison flicked on a corner with his heel.But Norwich wrapped up the points in the second half with goals from Christoph Zimmermann and Teemu Pukki, the latter scoring his 24th in the league this season.The result of the day was at Villa Park where Aston Villa, who had won just one of their previous 10 league matches, hammered Derby 4-0.Conor Hourihane opened the scoring after nine minutes before Villa ran riot at the end of the first half with three goals in eight minutes. Tammy Abraham first tapped home his 21st of the season before unselfishly teeing up Hourihane for his second and Villa’s third soon after.In injury time Jack Grealish, after three months on the sidelines with injury and captaining the side for the first time, thundered home a stunning volley to hand the Rams a third straight league defeat.Two goals from Jarrod Bowen, taking his tally to 18 for the season and 14 in his last 16 games, continued Hull’s push for a play-off place as the Tigers beat Birmingham 2-0 at the KCOM Stadium.Feeding on a through-ball from Marc Pugh, Bowen stroked home the opener in the 23rd minute before adding a 60th-minute penalty after he had been brought down by goalkeeper Lee Camp.Nottingham Forest’s play-off hopes suffered a blow with a 2-0 defeat at Stoke where Peter Etebo and Benik Afobe were on the scoresheet.Brentford enjoyed a 3-0 victory, beating QPR at Griffin Park for a seventh straight win on home soil.3

Brentford’s fine form continued

Neal Maupay made it 20 goals in the league this season, stroking home a 50th-minute penalty after Grant Hall had brought down Ollie Watkins before the French striker then teed up Said Benrahma for the second in the 71st minute. Sergi Canos completed the scoring deep into injury time.Relegation-threatened Rotherham secured a precious 3-2 win over Blackburn at the New York Stadium.After drawing their last five, and with only one win in their previous 18 in the league, the Millers grabbed a second-minute lead when defender Semi Ajayi headed home a long throw from Will Vaulks for his second goal in two matches.Although Ipswich equalised in the 51st minute through Amari’i Bell, the home side regained the lead six minutes later, with substitute Ryan Williams on hand to turn home a Vaulks cross before Ajayi headed home his second in the 84th minute. Charlie Mulgrew got Rovers’ second with an injury-time penalty.Ipswich remain rooted to the foot of the table after losing 2-1 to fellow strugglers Reading at Portman Road.3

Reading secured a massive victory

Nelson Oliveira made it three goals in six games following his loan move from Norwich in January, rifling a fierce shot into the top corner in the 19th minute to put the visitors in front.Town seemed to have rescued a point when Gwion Edwards volleyed in from a narrow angle seven minutes from time, only for Mo Barrow to give the Royals the win with a fine late finish.Nine-man Bolton crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Swansea to increase their relegation fears.After Remi Matthews had saved a poor Oli McBurnie penalty in the 36th minute – his second miss from the spot this season – Bolton went into the break down to 10 men.Craig Noone, who had been booked in giving away the spot-kick, was shown a second yellow two minutes before the break for a poor challenge on McBurnie.David Wheater was then shown a straight red in the 73rd minute for a deliberate foul on Wayne Routledge, with McBurnie and Bersant Celina capitalising to give the Swans the win.Middlesbrough missed the chance to close on the top two after they were held to a goalless draw at Wigan, while fellow play-off hopefuls Bristol City could only draw 1-1 at Preston.Daniel Johnson rifled home the opener three minutes before the break, but Famara Diedhiou grabbed a point for the visiting Robins in the 69th minute.

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QPR manager Steve McClaren praised his young players after a 2-1 victory at home to Leeds secured a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Jake Bidwell's header from Luke Freeman's corner with 15 minutes remaining took Rangers through. Aapo Halme had equalised for Leeds a couple of minutes
Steve McClaren hails QPR's young guns following Leeds win

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weird one Spurs won the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final 1-0 after Kane benefited from the use of VAR David Seaman believes the match-defining VAR incident in Tottenham's Carabao Cup win over Chelsea highlights a 'grey area' in the use of technology.
Jones: Manchester United not thinking about top four - The

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Arsenal hopes of appointing Monchi as the club's new technical director appear to have been dashed.. The Gunners were confident of luring the Spaniard to the Emirates following his departure from Roma, with the offer of a lucrative three-year deal on the table.
Arsenal offer Monchi technical director job - My Arsenal Blog

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Mauricio Pochettino suggests he will not join Manchester United as he vows to stick with Tottenham 'until the end' March 1, 2019 / Mauricio Pochettino has promised to stick with Tottenham until he achieves all of the club's goals.
Mauricio Pochettino suggests he could walk away from

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A pitch invader brought the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur to a temporary halt in Madrid on Saturday evening. The scantily-clad intruder was wearing a skimpy swimsuit advertising a Russian porn pranking website and was quickly escorted off the pitch by security.
Why scantily-clad Russian model interrupted Tottenham vs

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Sadio Mane's brace inspired Liverpool to a convincing 3-1 win at Bayern Munich and a place in the Champions League quarterfinals. The Senegal forward's excellent 26th-minute opener gave Jurgen Klopp's side a priceless away goal but, in a similar vein to the goalless first leg at Anfield, the action was fitful and error-strewn for the most part.

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Leeds United winger Jack Clarke is receiving treatment in hospital after collapsing during his side's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough. Clarke needed oxygen before being taken away on a stretcher.
Leeds winger Jack Clarke released from hospital after falling ill
fifa-livescores.com/news/101680/ALL/Leeds-winger-Jack-Clarke-released-from-hospital-after-falling-ill-
Leeds winger Jack Clarke released from hospital after falling ill , Leeds winger Jack Clarke left hospital on Saturday night after being taken ill during his side's 1-1 Sky Bet Championship draw at Middlesbrough. , ,Get all the latest football news, scores, results, rumours, fixtures and live action from the Premier League and around the world with fifa-livescores.com, Latest fixtures and
Leeds winger Jack Clarke will sit out training and Swansea

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Sean Cox congratulates Liverpool on Champions League win after emotional day at home. The father-of-three joined his friends and family at his Dunboyne home in an emotional rendition of 'You
'Overjoyed' Seán Cox takes break from treatment to watch

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Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says his side have reached their mental "limit" after defeat at Everton dented their top-four hopes. had made Goodison Park a depressing place for Toffees fans.
Chelsea's Maurizio Sarri admits top-four worry after damning

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Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino says he would like to return in Spain in the future and said he welcomes his name being linked with the Real Madrid job as it speaks highly of his
Pochettino keen on return to Spain and flattered by Madrid
asianewstoday.com/blog/pochettino-keen-on-return-to-spain-and-flattered-by-madrid-interest/
LONDON,. Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino says he would like to return in Spain in the future and said he welcomes his name being linked with the Real Madrid job as it speaks highly of his achievements with Spurs.
NewsNow: Spurs News, Tottenham Transfers News & Rumours

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Andre Gray's late strike sent Watford through to the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. The game looked to be heading to extra time after Michy Batshuayi cancelled out Etienne
Watford vs Crystal Palace: Hornets' players individual

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Liverpool transfer news: Loris Karius expects to remain at Besiktas next season ruling out Anfield return The German goalkeeper was sent out to Besiktas on a two-year loan deal last August and has
Loris Karius expects to remain at Besiktas next season ruling

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