Sky Bet Championship Review: December 29

With 2013 drawing to a close, here is a quick recap of what happened on the final weekend of the calendar year in the Sky Bet Championship.

Leicester City 5  Bolton Wanderers 3

Leicester went four points clear at the top of the Sky Bet Championship, as they twice came from behind before seeing off Bolton at the King Power Stadium.

Four points clear: Leicester

Danny Drinkwater opened the scoring, before goals from Andre Moritz and former Foxes striker Jermaine Beckford put the visitors 2-1 up.

Anthony Knockaert headed home to make it 2-2, but Moritz was on hand again to regain the Trotters’ lead.

A Matt Mills own goal brought the contest all square once more just before half-time, and second-half strikes from Lloyd Dyer and Gary Taylor-Fletcher sealed victory for Nigel Pearson’s side.

They go into 2014 on 48 points, while Dougie Freedman’s Bolton are 18^th with 26.

Watford 0  Queens Park Rangers 0

It was honours even as Watford and QPR played out a stalemate at Vicarage Road.

Niko Kranjcar came the closest to scoring with a couple of attempts just off target in the first half.

He was playing as the Rs’ main striker with Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson sitting on the bench, amid rumours that manager Harry Redknapp will be after a new centre forward in the transfer window with top-scorer Charlie Austin currently injured.

They are down to fourth with 43 points following the draw, while for Watford five points from Giuseppe Sannino’s first three games in charge keep the Hornets in 13^th on 30.

Wigan Athletic 0  Burnley 0

Another goalless draw came at the DW as Wigan held high-flying Burnley for a point.

Latics old boy David Jones came closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the bar, before the ball was cleared after bouncing towards goal off Ali Al-Habsi.

Sean Dyche’s men are down to third on 44 points, while Uwe Rosler’s side remain in 14^th with 30.

Barnsley 1  Derby County 2

Derby soared into second place as Chris Martin’s brace earned their eighth win in nine games at Oakwell.

The Rams’ number nine took his tally for the season to 15, while old boy Tomas Cywka’s fine individual effort proved to be a mere consolation for the bottom club.

Steve McClaren’s side occupy the second automatic promotion place on goal difference with 44 points, while Danny Wilson’s men have just 16 and require drastic improvement in 2014.

Bournemouth 1  Ipswich Town 1

Substitute Brett Pitman rescued a point for Bournemouth at Goldsands, to cancel out Daryl Murphy’s earlier effort for sixth-placed Ipswich.

Eddie Howe’s side are now ten points clear of the relegation zone in 16th with 29, while Mick McCarthy’s Tractor Boys moved into the play-off positions on goal difference with 35.

Middlesbrough 3  Reading 0

Grant Leadbitter’s brace and Albert Adomah’s volley gave much-improved Middlesbrough a comprehensive win over Reading, who had Kaspars Gorkss sent off for two bookable offences at the Riverside.

Boro’s renaissance under Aitor Karanka lifts them to 15^th with 29 points, while Nigel Adkins’ Royals slipped to ninth on 34.

Nottingham Forest 2  Leeds United 1

Matt Derbyshire’s wonderful late strike consolidated Forest’s place in the play-off positions at the City Ground.

The former England Under-21 star’s effort came seconds after Ross McCormack had cancelled out Greg Halford’s early header with his 18^th goal of the season.

A goal worthy of winning any game, Billy Davies’ side are up a place to fifth with 39 points.  Brian McDermott’s Peacocks drop out of the play-off position and into seventh on 35.

Blackpool 0  Brighton & Hove Albion 1

Full-back Igor Calderon’s fine strike sealed the three points for Brighton at Bloomfield Road, as pressure mounts on Blackpool boss Paul Ince.

The Seagulls are now eighth in the table on 35 points, while the Tangerines stay 10^th with 32.

Huddersfield Town 5  Yeovil Town 1

A Danny Ward-inspired Huddersfield racked up the most impressive win of the day, with the 23-year-old scoring two spectacular left-footed efforts at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Adam Clayton, Martin Paterson and Joel Lynch completed the scoring for Mark Robins’ side, while Ishmael Miller’s strike to put Gary Johnson’s men ahead became a distant memory.

The Terriers are up to 11^th with 31 points and the Glovers are still in 23^rd on 17, just one ahead of bottom club Barnsley.

Blackburn Rovers 2  Birmingham City 3

Lee Novak scored twice for Birmingham and Chris Burke was also on target in the Blues’ win at Ewood Park.

Jordan Rhodes’ consolatory brace for Rovers took his tally for the season to 15, as they prepare for inevitable offers in the transfer window.

Gary Bowyer’s men remain in the top half in 12^th on 31 points, while Lee Clark’s side are up to 17^th with 28.

Charlton Athletic 1  Sheffield Wednesday 1

Connor Wickham secured a point for Wednesday, cancelling out Dale Stevens’ earlier effort at The Valley.

Stuart Gray’s Owls remain in 22^nd with 19 points – two from safety – while Chris Powell’s Addicks stay in 19^th on 23.

Doncaster Rovers 0  Millwall 0

Relegation-threatened Doncaster and Millwall played out a stalemate at the Keepmoat.

Paul Dickov’s side moved another point clear of the drop zone in 21^st on 21, while caretaker boss Neil Harris steered the Lions a further point to safety on 22 in 20^th place.