2019-20 Sky Bet Championship: Week 25 Roundup

Leeds United head into 2020 at the Championship summit after 2019 drew to a close with plenty of thrilling action throughout the table. 

West Bromwich Albion fell to a shock defeat as Daniel Ayala’s header and a long range stunner from Ashley Fletcher gifted Middlesbrough their first away win of the season.

Leeds therefore took advantage of the Baggies’ slip up to go top on goal difference after edging Birmingham City in a crazy nine goal thriller at St Andrew’s. 

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Early goals from Helder Costa and Jack Harrison had Leeds in control, but goals from Jude Bellingham and Lukasz Jutkiewicz had the Brummies level by the hour mark.

Luke Ayling then volleyed Leeds back in front before Jeremy Bela once again pegged them back, only for Stuart Dallas to then restore the Whites’ lead until Jutkiewicz added his second in 91st minute to make it 4-4 with minutes left. 

A point apiece therefore looked likely until Wes Harding flicked a low cross from Ayling into his own net, sealing a 5-4 win for Leeds to send them top. 

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Bobby Reid’s strike was enough for Fulham to beat Stoke and go third, ahead of Brentford who fell to an eighth minute goal from Aiden O’Brien for Millwall. 

Tobias Figueiredo’s header sent Nottingham Forest fifth as they squeezed past rock-bottom Wigan. 

Sheffield Wednesday round out the top six despite Tom Lees’ header not being enough to beat Cardiff, who initially had a two goal lead through early goals from Robert Glatzel and Junior Hoilett. 

Down in the relegation zone, Luton lost 3-0 away at Bristol City which meant that they slipped to second-bottom after Barnsley held Swansea to a goalless draw. 

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Elsewhere, Huddersfield came from behind through excellent goals from Jon Stankovic and Steve Mounie to beat Blackburn, who had led through Danny Graham’s seventh minute header. 

Reading recorded their third consecutive win after comfortably beating Preston at Deepdale, thanks to first half strikes from John Swift and Lucas Joao. 

Jason Knight’s brace helped ten-men Derby see off Charlton, who fought back with a late penalty from Lyle Taylor. 

Finally, Hull came from behind to beat QPR after goals from George Honeyman and Jackson Irvine overturned Ilias Chair’s opener for the Hoops.