LONDON, Dec 30, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Championship leaders Norwich dropped
points for the second time in four days as they were held 1-1 by struggling
QPR while Wayne Rooney’s Derby climbed out of the relegation zone by
thrashing Birmingham 4-0 on Tuesday.
After losing 1-0 at Watford on Saturday, Norwich slipped up again as the
visitors recorded a hard-earned point in a game of two penalties.
The Canaries were dominant throughout and looked as though they had won it
when Teemu Pukki scored his 11th goal of the season from the spot with 15
minutes remaining, but were pegged back nine minutes later as Bright Osayi-
Samuel followed suit for the visitors.
Swansea and Bournemouth have the chance to close the gap on Daniel Farke’s
men on Wednesday.
At the other end of the table, Derby recorded their biggest win of the
season to climb out of the bottom three for the first time since the end of
October.
Three goals in 10 first-half minutes from Krystian Bielik, Graeme Shinnie
and Colin Kazim-Richards, did the damage for Rooney’s side before Jason
Knight completed the scoring.
The Rams have lost just once in eight games to bolster the former England
and Manchester United captain’s chances of turning his stint in temporary
charge into a permanent appointment.
Sheffield Wednesday responded to the sacking of Tony Pulis by beating
playoff chasing Middlesbrough 2-1.
Pulis left the club on Monday night having been in charge for just 45 days
and 10 games.
First-half goals from Callum Paterson and Liam Shaw secured victory at
Hillsborough, with the hosts holding on after Duncan Watmore pulled one back.
Stoke moved to within a point of the playoff places with a 1-1 draw with
Nottingham Forest as James Chester’s own goal cost Michael O’Neill’s men
victory.
Huddersfield made it five home wins in a row as Naby Sarr’s double earned a
2-1 victory over Blackburn.
Preston beat Coventry 2-0 to move within four points of the playoffs thanks
to goals from Daniel Johnson and Sean Maguire.
At the bottom of the table, Wycombe earned just their third win of the
season as headers from Ryan Tafazolli and David Wheeler beat Cardiff 2-1.
Luton and Barnsley were 2-1 victors over Bristol City and Rotherham
respectively.