Derby extend hoodoo over Leeds

30 December 2014 22:16

Derby County moved up to third in the Sky Bet Championship as they maintained their stranglehold over Leeds United with a 2-0 victory that leaves the Yorkshire club just one point above the relegation zone.

The Rams won the match thanks to a first-half own goal from Alex Mowatt and a Jake Buxton header early in the second on a bitter night at the iPro Stadium.

It was another dominant display by Derby who had won seven of their last eight games at home against Leeds so losing captain Stephen Warnock to injury in the opening minutes was a serious setback for the visitors.

Warnock appeared to twist a knee challenging Cyrus Christie near the touchline in the third minute and - although he tried to continue - Gaetano Berardi replaced him in the eighth minute.

In second place, in-form Ipswich kept the pressure on at the top as they recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Charlton.

Tommy Smith and Daryl Murphy continued their fine form in front of goal with a goal in each half before David McGoldrick netted a deserved third in injury time to maintain the pressure on leaders Bournemouth.

The win moved Town a point behind the Cherries, while the Addicks dropped down to 13th.

Also on Tuesday night, Winger Callum McManaman saw red nine minutes after coming on as Wigan were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield Wednesday to leave Malky Mackay's men rooted in the bottom three at the turn of the year.

McManaman, who came under fire for a wild studs-up challenge on Newcastle's Massadio Haidara in 2013, jumped at fellow substitute Claude Dielna with both feet in the 68th minute to earn his marching orders and Wednesday promptly took full advantage.

Atdhe Nuhiu nodded beyond Wigan goalkeeper Scott Carson nine minutes after McManaman's rush of blood to the head as the hosts suffered a third-straight home loss, with Mackay having taken just one point from the 12 on offer at the DW Stadium since his controversial appointment last month.

Source: PA