Championship wrap: Reading continue winning run

3 March 2012 20:49

Southampton held off Leeds 1-0 at Elland Road on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the Championship to four points.

Rickie Lambert's fierce first-half strike against the run of play gave the league leaders the early advantage, a lead they clung to thanks largely to the superb Kelvin Davis who pulled off a string of second-half saves for the visitors.

Lambert converted on the volley after Tadanari Lee's cushioned header in the 16th minutes before Davis twice denied substitute Danny Webber and Luciano Becchio as the home side also twice hit the bar.

In-form Reading edged Millwall 2-1 to move within a point of second-placed West Ham ahead of their away trip to Cardiff on Sunday.

Brian McDermott's side won their sixth match in a row with their victory at The Den, coming from behind to earn all three points.

Republic of Ireland striker Andy Keogh gave Millwall the lead on 16 minutes and it looked like being an advantage they would take into the break.

But in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Hal Robson-Kanu equalised and it gave Reading a considerable boost.

Substitute Adam Le Fondre continued Reading's winning run when he came off the bench to score with 14 minutes remaining.

Meanwhile, goals from Barry Robson, Matthew Bates and Marvin Emnes in the second half gave Middlesbrough an impressive 3-1 win at Portsmouth.

Derby County came from two goals down to salvage a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Birmingham City.

Erik Huseklepp and Marlon King scored before the hour mark for Birmingham, but Steve Davies produced a quick response for Derby.

And Theo Robinson's 66th-minute strike was enough to give Nigel Clough's side a well-deserved point.

David Nugent and Jermaine Beckford scored for Leicester City in a comfortable 2-0 home win over Coventry City, Barnsley drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace defeated Peterborough United 1-0.

Nyron Nosworthy, Alexander Kacaniklic and Troy Deeney scored in the second half as Watford came from two goals down to defeat Burnley 3-2, Ipswich Town defeated Bristol City 3-0 and Doncaster Rovers and Brighton and Hove Albion shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

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