Brighton lose to hand Boro top spot

17 September 2011 18:05

Promotion favourites Leicester broke Brighton's unbeaten npower Championship record with a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium.

After enjoying the better of the first half, Japan international midfielder Yuki Abe put the Foxes ahead soon after the re-start, meeting Darius Vassell's ball to earn his side just their third win of the season.

Marcos Painter's late dismissal rounded off a miserable day for the Seagulls, who slipped to second.

Middlesbrough went top with a spirited 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace. Tony Mowbray's impressive side took the lead at Selhurst Park through dangerous front-man Marvin Emnes in the 65th minute. Their cause was not helped by the dismissal of Joe Bennett for a second caution but Boro held on for the points.

Derby recovered from the second-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Frankie Fielding to beat east midlands rivals Nottingham Forest 2-1 at the City Ground. Fielding was sent off for bringing down Ishmael Miller in the box in the opening stages. Andy Reid scored the resulting penalty but Jamie Ward and Jeff Hendrick handed Derby the win.

David Bentley missed a sitter as West Ham dropped points on their travels for the first time this season after a bruising goalless draw at Millwall while Hull produced a fairly straightforward 1-0 win at home to 10-man Portsmouth thanks to a Robert Koren goal.

A decent scrap at Bloomfield Road saw Blackpool and Cardiff share a 1-1 draw. Don Cowie's header put the Welsh side a goal up early in the second half but veteran poacher Kevin Phillips salvaged a point for the Seasiders with a well-taken finish in the 62nd minute.

Ten-man Leeds took the spoils with a turbulent 2-1 win at home to Bristol City. Adam Clayton's left-footed effort fired Leeds ahead in only the third minute but just eight minutes later City were level as Neil Kilkenny, sent packing by Leeds in the summer, levelled. Ross McCormack produced an 86th-minute winner.

Emile Sinclair's first-half double helped Peterborough to a 2-1 home win against Burnley, who had pulled one back through Keith Treacy while Andy Gray's 57th-minute header earned Barnsley a 1-1 draw at home to Watford, who had led through Marvin Sordell, eight minutes before half-time.

Simon Church and Adam Le Fondre capitalised on some static Doncaster defending to give Reading a 2-0 win at the Madejski Stadium.

Source: PA