Sky Bet Championship round-up: Brighton move top, Garry Monk secures first point at Leeds

By James Dale

Wednesday 17 August 2016 07:32, UK

Brighton went top of the Sky Bet Championship table on goal difference thanks to a convincing 3-0 win over Rotherham at the Amex Stadium, while Leeds secured their first point of the season.

Albion, who agonisingly missed out on promotion last season after finishing level on points with automatically-promoted Middlesbrough, have started this campaign with two wins and a draw.

Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray struck in a four-minute spell midway through the first half and Tomer Hemed added a third from the spot just before the hour to give Brighton all three points over the Millers.

Huddersfield are third thanks to a howler from Aston Villa goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, which saw Town substitute Michael Hefele equalise late on to earn a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

It was an emotional night at Villa Park as fans broke into a minute's applause in the 10th minute of the game in recognition of former No 10 Dalian Atkinson, who died on Monday.

Ross McCormack started to repay his £12m summer fee with his first Villa goal, heading home from close range in the 25th minute after Jack Grealish's misplaced shot found its way to the former Fulham striker.

However, in the 86th minute Hefele charged down goalkeeper Gollini's attempted clearance from outside the box with the ball flying into the net.

Fulham are fourth after being held 1-1 at Leeds, who struck late on to avoid a third straight defeat for new manager Garry Monk.

The London club went ahead when Tom Cairney's fine curling effort found the bottom-left corner in the 77th minute. However, Chris Wood levelled in the 90th minute with a spectacular overhead kick to ease pressure on Monk, who is yet to win with his new side.

The point takes them ahead of Newcastle though, who now sit in the relegation zone ahead of their game against Reading on Wednesday night.

Norwich, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, sit second after a 1-0 home win over Bristol City at Carrow Road.

Jonny Howson found the top-left corner from the centre of the box in the 38th minute and despite threatening throughout, the single goal was enough for Alex Neil's side to continue their solid start to the season.

Burton, promoted last season, stunned expected promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at the Pirelli Stadium.

Kyle McFadzean gave Albion a seventh-minute lead but Gary Hooper equalised from the spot five minutes later.

On the stroke of half-time Jackson Irvine restored the hosts' advantage with a header into the bottom left corner, before Lloyd Dyer made sure of three points 13 minutes from the end.

Derby picked up their first league win of the season, with Craig Forsyth's late header seeing off Preston at Deepdale.

Brentford beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 thanks to Scott Hogan's first-half finish from close range. Damien Perquis was sent off late on for Forest, who now have two defeats from their opening three games.

Newly-promoted Wigan rescued a late point against Gary Rowett's Birmingham at the DW Stadium.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan saved Clayton Donaldson's 44th-minute penalty but David Davis was quick to tuck in the rebound. However, Craig Davies finished from very close range to deny the Blues in the 90th minute.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson's 24th-minute penalty miss proved costly for Wolves, who were held to a goalless draw by Ipswich at Molineux.

Bartosz Bialkowski impressively saved a right-footed effort that was heading for the bottom-left corner.