Football
PA Sport 9y

Bournemouth return to top of Championship, Blackpool relegated

Bournemouth fought back from two goals down to return to the top of the Championship with a thrilling 4-2 triumph over 10-man Birmingham.

Strikes from Steve Cook, Callum Wilson, Charlie Daniels and a Yann Kermorgant penalty helped Bournemouth equal their club record of 104 goals in a single season.

Birmingham, who had captain Paul Robinson sent off late on, had looked to be heading for a surprise win when Clayton Donaldson and David Cotterill struck twice in three first-half minutes.

Bradley Johnson's season to remember continued as Norwich recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday to move into the top two for the first time since October.

The midfielder netted his 12th and 13th goals of the season late in the first half and they now sit just one point behind the table-topping Cherries.

Troy Deeney became the first Watford player in history to score 20 goals in three consecutive seasons as the Hornets beat leaders Middlesbrough 2-0 to stay just goal difference away from the automatic spots.

The Watford skipper's historic moment came in the 37th minute before the home side made the points safe with a stunning second from Odion Ighalo.

Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards grabbed a last-gasp winner to fire the team into the play-off zone as they beat Leeds 4-3 in a pulsating encounter at Molineux.

After Charlie Taylor had stunned Molineux by giving Leeds an 11th minute lead, Nouha Dicko and Benik Afobe took charge to put Wolves on course for what looked to be a routine fourth successive victory.

But a 65th minute own goal from Wolves captain Danny Batth gave Wolves the jitters and Alex Mowatt cashed in on their nerves to fire Leeds level before substitute Edwards pounced two minutes from time.

Two goals in the final 10 minutes saw Brentford salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

Tyler Walker, son of Forest hero Des, put the visitors ahead before Todd Kane's second, only for Andre Gray and then Jota to earn the Bees what could be a crucial point.

At the other end of the table, Blackpool became the first team in the Football League to have their relegation confirmed as Rotherham's 1-0 win over Brighton sent Lee Clark's Seasiders out of the second tier.

Matt Derbyshire's early goal lifted the Millers to 43 points, leaving the gap between themselves and Blackpool, who only have 24 points with six games to spare, too big to overturn.

Strikes from Chris Martin and Darren Bent gave Derby a first Championship win in eight and piled the pressure on Malky Mackay's Wigan, who now sit eight points from safety after a 2-0 defeat.

In contrast, Bolton look to have secured their Championship status as they shocked Cardiff to claim a 3-0 triumph thanks to a Craig Davies brace after Eidur Gudjohnsen hammered the Trotters in-front.

Elsewhere, Nahki Wells' classy opener helped secure Huddersfield's first win in eight games with a 2-1 success over Ipswich. James Vaughan grabbed a second before Luke Varney's consolation.

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