Newcastle Sink Burton To Cement Pole Position

LONDON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Dec, 2016 ) : Championship leaders Newcastle ensured they will hold pole position at Christmas thanks to a 2-1 win at Burton Albion on Saturday.

Rafael Benitez's side took the lead in the 15th minute of their first ever meeting with Burton when former Crystal Palace forward Dwight Gayle struck for the visitors. Lloyd Dyer equalised five minutes later, but Mohamed Diame restored Newcastle's advantage before half-time and the visitors held on for a third consecutive win that kept them firmly on course for promotion back to the Premier League following last season's relegation.

Derby's seven-match winning run was finally ended as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Fulham. Tom Ince put the Rams ahead with his second goal of the week, but it was cancelled out by Floyd Ayite in first-half stoppage time.

Stefan Johansen then pounced on a poor clearance to put Fulham in front, but Alex Pearce's header from an Ince corner ensured the points were shared. Third placed Reading are nine points behind Newcastle following a dramatic 3-2 win at Blackburn.

Goals from Reading duo Dominic Samuel and Liam Moore were cancelled out by headers from Danny Graham and debutant Wes Brown before George Evans struck in stoppage-time to snatch Reading's first ever win at Ewood Park.

Sheffield Wednesday are sixth after a last-gasp 1-0 victory over bottom of the table Rotherham in the South Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough. Rotherham looked set to earn just their second away point of the season until Steven Fletcher's last-gasp spot-kick after Richard Wood, who was sent off, was adjudged to have bundled over Lucas Joao.

Leeds consolidated fifth place with a 1-0 victory over Brentford at Elland Road after captain Kyle Bartley headed home a Stuart Dallas cross in the 89th minute. Barnsley survived a seven-goal thriller to win 4-3 at Cardiff.

Sean Morrison's early header for Cardiff was followed by Sam Winnall brace and Josh Scowen goal to give Barnsley a two-goal advantage at the break. Peter Whittingham and Anthony Pilkington looked to have rescued a point for struggling Cardiff, but Ryan Williams came off the bench to grab Barnsley's winner in the fifth minute of stoppage-time.

There was similar drama at the DW Stadium where a header from David McGoldrick two minutes from time secured a 3-2 victory for Ipswich against Wigan. Paul Lambert claimed his second win as Wolves boss with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Bristol City's poor run continued as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Preston.