Championship round-up: Encouraging signs for McClaren as Derby rally back to draw against Ipswich
There were encouraging signs for new Derby County head coach Steve McClaren, as he watched his side complete a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-4 draw against Ipswich at Pride Park.
The former England manager sat in the stands as Derby’s academy coach Darren Wassall took charge of the game, with the home side going into the break 4-1 down.
Ipswich striker Daryl Murphy’s brace and other strikes from Aaron Cresswell and Christophe Berra ensured a comfortable lead for the Tractor Boys, while the Rams were in with a slim chance of mounting a comeback thanks to Zak Whitbread’s effort.
And rally back they did, with Craig Bryson pulling another back just after the restart and Jamie Ward reducing the deficit to just one goal with a close-range finish in the 61st minute.
The equaliser looked to have evaded McClaren’s men as they entered the final five minutes still a goal down, but Pride Park erupted in the dying embers when Bryson netted his second with just two minutes to play to ensure they came away with a point.
Elsewhere in the second tier, Dominic Poleon’s 80th minute strike earned Leeds a 2-1 victory over ten-man Bournemouth.
Cherries stopper Ryan Allsop saw red early on after taking out Noel Hunt in the box, but substitute keeper Darryl Flahavan saved Ross McCormack’s spot kick.
McCormack made amends after the break with the opening goal which was cancelled out ten minutes later by Bournemouth striker Lewis Grabban, and Poleon netted the winner from outside the box to earn all three points for Brian McDermott’s men.
Meanwhile, Birmingham smashed four past Millwall without reply in a thoroughly one-sided tie at St Andrew's.
Two first-half strikes from David Murphy gave the Blues a comfortable lead at the break, and further goals from Tom Adeyemi and Jesse Lingard made the three points certain against a poor Lions side.
Burnley have risen above Queens Park Rangers to the top of the Championship after a 2-0 victory over Doncaster, thanks to a Sam Vokes penalty in first-half stoppage time - his seventh goal of the season - and an unlucky own goal from Rovers defender Rob Jones.
Scotland international Jordan Rhodes continued his fine scoring form with the only goal in Blackburn’s 1-0 triumph over promotion pushing Watford.
Watford had more of the possession but couldn’t get their chances away, with Rovers looking more dangerous on the ball, and it fell to the ever-reliable Rhodes to nod home the winner just after the hour-mark.
Reading have consolidated their place in the play-off positions following 1-1 draw away at bottom-placed Barnsley, while Brighton also played out a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Leicester City are up to third after a 2-1 win over Yeovil thanks to David Nugent’s winning penalty on the hour, while Charlton and Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 at the Valley.
In the evening’s later kick-off, Blackpool and Bolton played out a goalless stalemate, while Middleborough and Huddersfield also drew, with 1-1 the score at the Riverside.