Championship round-up: Nottingham Forest continue strong start with thriller against Fulham

A look at this week's midweek games in the Championship

James Stronach
Thursday 18 September 2014 14:36 BST
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Britt Assombalonga celebrates his hat-trick
Britt Assombalonga celebrates his hat-trick (GETTY IMAGES)

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Wednesday night provided goals galore in the Championship, with the two matches seeing a total of thirteen goals between them. Top of the table Nottingham Forest continued their unbeaten start with a 5-3 win over struggling Fulham at the City Ground. The London side were 3-2 midway through the second half, but Forest's firepower proved too much - summer signing Britt Assombalongo grabbing the plaudits with his hat-trick.

Bitter East Midland rivals Derby were also in action on Wednesday night, the Rams defeating Blackburn Rovers 3-2 at Ewood Park. Just as Forest did, Derby had to come from behind and two goals from Jamie Ward and one from Will Hughes secured three points and moves Steve McClaren's side up to seventh in the table.

The two sides from either side of Brian Clough way would both consider themselves promotion candidates, and the pressure was on following the previous night's football. Watford and Norwich have both started the season well and continued their fine form, the Hornets winning away to lowly Blackpool while the Norfolk side won by three goals to nil at Brentford. The results sees Watford and Norwich in the top three, with the latter in second a point off leaders Forest.

Surprise package of the season Charlton remain unbeaten after drawing one apiece with fellow playoff chasers Wolves. The remaining team in the playoffs Reading required a late winner from Simon Cox to beat Millwall and secure their third successive league win.

At the other end of the table Huddersfield have slipped into the relegation zone after Bolton earned their first win of the season. A second half hat trick from on loan forward Joe Mason was enough for Wanderers to beat Rotherham 3-2 and climb to safety after Huddersfield's goaless draw with Wigan.

Fans of Mason's parent club Cardiff must be wondering why they are loaning him out after drawing a blank against Middlesbrough. The Welsh side lost one nil at home to the Teesiders - a result that puts increasing pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and leaves the Bluebirds in seventeenth.

Elsewhere Birmingham lost 2-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds grabbed a 3-1 win on the south coast over Bournemouth and Ipswich battled to a 2-0 victory over Brighton.

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