Poor set of Boxing Day results add a little pressure to Newcastle v Sheffield Wednesday
Ahead of Newcastle v Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day night, there was hope in the afternoon matches that they would help make things a little bit easier for Newcastle and/or Sheffield Wednesday.
Some potentially tricky looking games but in the end three results that have gone against both clubs.
Third placed Reading had what looked a potentially difficult game at home to Norwich and with the scoreline 1-1 with 23 minutes to go it looked promising. However a red card for Norwich and a goal for Reading within the space of 60 seconds changed all that.
Likewise, fourth place Huddersfield were struggling at home to lowly Nottingham Forest. Forest led with a 25th minute goal, only for Huddersfield to score twice in six second half minutes, the winner an own goal.
For Leeds a more straightforward job, they were already leading 3-1 at Preston when Beckford managed to get himself sent off once again.
The bottom line is that Reading have at least temporarily closed to within six points of Newcastle, with Huddersfield and Leeds now only seven and eight points respectively behind.
With Brighton not playing until tomorrow, Rafa Benitez needs another big performance to help get that gap back to how healthy it looked this morning.
As for Sheffield Wednesday, they will be desperate for something tonight as the others have put a bit of daylight between the sixth placed Owls and those above them.
Results – Monday 26 December
Huddersfield Town 2 Nottingham Forest 1
Preston 1 Leeds 4
Reading 3 Norwich City 1
Current Championship Top Eight (before Newcastle v Sheffield Wednesday kicks off)
49 Newcastle (+28)
43 Reading (+3)
42 Huddersfield (+1)
41 Leeds (+7)
36 Derby (+8)
34 Birmingham (-2)
Fixtures – Monday 26/ Tuesday 27 December
Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday (7.45pm)
Brighton v QPR (12.30)
Derby v Birmingham (3pm)
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