Sheff Utd 2 - 0 Bristol City
Sheffield United shrugged off a slow start to maintain their push for the Championship play-offs at Bristol City's expense.
Chris Iwelumo showed some promising early touches on his City debut, but United gradually grew in authority.
City keeper Dean Gerken pulled off some excellent saves, but was powerless to stop Henri Camara's vicious second-half effort from nestling in the top corner.
Darius Henderson nodded in Jamie Ward's cross on the hour to seal the points.
The win, United's first in five games, leaves the Blades a point adrift of sixth-placed Leicester City, who have played two games fewer.
City, meanwhile, are without a victory since mid-January and have now conceded 13 goals in their last six games.
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell:
"I thought everyone played really, really well.
"We used the ball intelligently and moved well off it. When you see us go out and look like that then it makes you realise our biggest problem this season is going to be keeping everybody fit.
"If we can do that then we've got every chance.
"We are trying to build something and the boys have shown out there what they can do."
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson:
"We didn't do enough to give ourselves a chance to win the game and the the first goal killed us.
"Our confidence is a bit low at the moment and it just seemed to drain - that's where we are.
"We've been drawing a lot, especially away from home, and now we're getting our fair share of defeats.
"But we've got two home games now and hopefully we can get a bit of confidence going with our fans behind us."
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Coventry 1 - 0 QPR
Gary Deegan's early strike was enough to stretch Coventry's unbeaten run to five matches, while QPR are now nine games without a win in any competition.
Deegan struck his first goal for the club early on, a shot into the bottom corner that left Rangers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme rooted to the spot.
QPR pressed either side of half time, with Lee Cook forcing Keiren Westwood to save from a free-kick.
Cook also flashed a shot across the goal, but the visitors could not level.
Coventry manager Chris Coleman:
"I anticipated that it wasn't going to be a classic but we got the job done.
"We said to them at half-time that it might be one of those games where we just had to dig in and get a result.
"This win puts us within six points of the top six and eight points off the bottom three so we are on the up."
QPR manager Mick Harford:
"You run out of words to say when you are on a run like this because you don't get the rub of the green.
"You are always under pressure as a manager. You are judged on results. I would prefer to play poorly and win, that's what we need to do at the moment.
"I don't think we deserved to lose because they had one shot on target in the whole game and it took a deflection. It's my job to pick the players up but the spirit is good."
www.bbc.co.uk
City lie at the middle of the table, at 13th place, with the same distance from play-off and relegation zone. Their previous record and recent shape suggest they’ll stay there where are now. They have just a single win (Preston at home 4-2, before Ferguson’s appointment) in past eleven games and noticed just one point. Their main problem currently is scoring goals, they scored just once in last five competitive games (Coventry at home 1-1). Major cause is absence of key striker (and probably the best player), Nicky Maynard. For today’s clash, manager Gary Johnson will also miss winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce, another striker Danny Haynes and defender Jamie McAllister. City have conceded nine goals in injury time this season - more than any other Championship team (interesting fact is United have scored more goals in injury time than any other club - six).
Bristol City 3 - 1 Plymouth
After superior season in League Two, home side is having a debut in higher level. The club’s management don’t plan to stay at League One too long, as they signed 11 new players! Most of them are experienced lower division players, but some of the are well known for English football audience, like ex Newcastle striker Carl Cort, or another striker Steve Kabba. At the first round, Brentford made an excellent performance, winning on the road, against Carlisle 3-1. One of the new signings, midfielder Myles Weston (came from Notts County) scored twice for an easy victory and announced the highest ambition for forthcoming season. For this encounter, only missing for boss Andy Scott will be first goalkeeper, Lewis Price who is away on international duty with Wales in Montenegro and Nikki Bull will take his place in goal. Mentioned Steve Kabba will have his debut in attack. Bees won’t lack in motivation. Players are full of enthusiasm that playing in higher league provokes, weekend win additionally raised their confidence and opponent from Championship is a nice opportunity for proving themselves. And, possible money reward for the next round shouldn’t be forgotten.
After twenty years spent in moving between English leagues, that brought them a nickname “yo-yo club”, in 2007. City got back to the second tier. The most of the previous season was much over the expectations, but thankfully to just a single win in last twelve games, club finished 10th and lost a play-off spot. City had to face with the budget cuts and some important players, like striker Dele Adebola left the club. It seems boss Gary Johnson will have a difficult task to repeat the results from the previous season. However the Robins started with unlucky draw (2-2), against Preston away. Two goals lead wasn’t enough, as Callum Davidson equalized from the penalty kick at 96th minute! For tonight’s encounter, Johnson can not count on six regular players. Jamie McAllister (def), Paul Hartley(mid), David Clarkson (str), Lewin Nyatanga (def), Christian Ribeiro (def) and James Wilson (def) are all away on international duty. It means four defenders. Some youngsters will get their chance, including manager’s son Lee. 500 fans will travel to Brentford to help the team to repeat a result from two season ago when they won 3-0 at the same place.
