Championship roundup: Sheffield United briefly take 1st place

London, Nov 12, 2022 (AFP) - George Baldock scored the only goal as Sheffield United briefly moved to the top of the English Championship with a 1-0 win at Cardiff on Saturday.

The Blades climbed above Burnley on goal difference with Blackburn third two points back, but those two neighbours meet on Sunday in a Lancashire derby and one of them must end up on top after the last Championship game before the World Cup break.

Cardiff had the edge in the first half but failed to take their chances.

The Blades were better after the break and took the lead in the 64th minute when Baldock fired powerfully home.

The six teams below Sheffield United at the start of Saturday all failed to win. Tenth-place Birmingham had set the pattern when they lost at home to Sunderland on Friday night.

Millwall jumped into the top six with a 4-2 victory at Preston as Zian Flemming scored a hat-trick.

The Dutch midfielder scored twice in the first 16 minutes. Preston fought back to level by half time with goals from Andrew Hughes and Ched Evans.

Flemming completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute and Charlie Cresswell finished off the scoring.

Watford, in fourth, drew 0-0 at Bristol City.

Matt Crooks' late strike gave Middlesbrough a 2-1 win at fifth-placed Norwich.

Luton, under interim Luton boss Mick Harford after Nathan Jones left for Premier League Southampton on Thursday, snatched a late point at home to Rotherham as they drew 1-1.

The full Championship programme resumes on December 10, the day of the second pair of World Cup quarter-finals, although Sunderland and Millwall meet on December 3 in a game originally scheduled for September 10 but postponed after the death of Queen Elizabeth.