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Championship roundup: Preston North End retain lead, Southampton lose again

Championship roundup: Preston retain lead, Southampton lose again
© Reuters
Preston North End retain their lead at the top of the Championship with victory over Birmingham City, while Southampton lose out at home to Ipswich Town.

Preston North End have continued their outstanding start to the new Championship campaign with a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City.

Ryan Lowe's side went into Tuesday's fixture as the surprise leaders, but that spot appeared to be in doubt when Jay Stansfield put Blues in front at Deepdale.

However, an own goal from Krystian Bielik and a first Preston strike for Milutin Osmajic secured a sixth successive win for the North West outfit.

Ipswich Town remain on Preston's coattails at the top of the table after they posted a 1-0 triumph away at Southampton, who lost their third consecutive match in the process.

A first-half goal from Omari Hutchinson proved to be the difference, with the Chelsea loanee sending a smart low finish into the far corner from 14 yards out.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna celebrates after the match on August 19, 2023© Reuters

At a time when Southampton have dropped down to 11th position, Bristol City have catapulted themselves into fifth courtesy of thrashing Plymouth Argyle by a 4-1 scoreline.

Sam Bell and Matty James put the Robins two goals in front by the eighth minute, and although Adam Randell halved the deficit, Mark Sykes soon added a third before Harry Cornick's win-sealing strike 10 minutes from time.

Cardiff City's charge up the standings continued under Erol Bulut as they came through a five-goal thriller with Coventry City, prevailing 3-2 in South Wales.

Matt Godden cancelled out Dimitrios Goutas's early effort, but Karlan Grant and Kion Etete put the game beyond the Sky Blues in the second half before Godden's 95th-minute consolation.

Swansea City must wait for a first Championship win under Michael Duff after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Duff had seen his side lead from the seventh minute onwards through a Josh Ginnelly effort, only for Lyndon Dykes to equalise for the Hoops in the first minute of added-on time.

Despite sitting in 22nd place, Swansea stay ahead of Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough who had to settle for a share of the spoils at Hillsborough.

Anthony Musaba had put the home side in front seven minutes before the break, but Darragh Lenihan levelled things up soon after half time to leave both teams with just two points from seven matches.

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Written by
Darren Plant

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Ipswich Town's Conor Chaplin celebrates scoring their first goal on August 19, 2023
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds382311476255180
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd38257653282580
3Burnley382115252114178
4Sunderland381912755371869
5Coventry CityCoventry38178135548759
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381318748341457
7Bristol City38141594941857
8Middlesbrough38159145748954
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn38157164240252
10Watford38157164751-452
11Millwall381312133739-251
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38149155359-651
13Norwich CityNorwich381213136054649
14Preston North EndPreston381017113944-547
15Queens Park RangersQPR381112154450-645
16Swansea CitySwansea38128183849-1144
17Portsmouth38119184661-1542
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd381012163955-1642
19Hull City381011173947-841
20Stoke CityStoke38912173751-1439
21Cardiff CityCardiff38912174262-2039
22Derby CountyDerby38108204051-1138
23Luton TownLuton3898213460-2635
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth38712194077-3733


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