Championship results: Bristol City cling on against WBA while Leeds jump back into second

Bristol City came out victorious in a crucial Championship clash against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night as Leeds United moved back into the automatic promotion spots.

Lee Johnson’s City side had their speedy start against fellow play-off hopefuls West Brom to thank as they narrowly avoided a second-half fightback to move into fifth.

Andreas Weimann found Josh Brownhill in the box for the opener before the Austrian himself made it 2-0. A third from Jack Hunt put the home side in control before Dwight Gayle, who scored his fourth goal in as many games against Bristol City, and Jay Rodriguez netted to threaten a comeback.

There was to be no equaliser for the Baggies though, with the defeat leaving them further adrift from the automatic promotion spots as Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds capitalised on Ben Pearson’s red card to beat Preston North End 2-0.

Leeds return to second

Patrick Bamford’s well-taken double proved to be enough to get them past a stubborn Preston side. That victory puts Leeds two points above Sheffield United, who travel to Birmingham on Wednesday, in second.

At the other end of the table, Bolton’s 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough increased fears of relegation as Phil Parkinson’s men lost their 25th game of the season.

An Ashley Fletcher double consigned Bolton to the home defeat with Boro putting an end to their six-game losing streak.

Elsewhere, Frank Lampard’s Derby County remained eighth after a poor showing at Ewood Park allowed Blackburn to come out 2-0 winners.

Defeat for Potters

Stoke City also tasted defeat, with Daniel James inspiring Swansea to a 3-1 win.

James scored the opener and was involved in the build-up for the second before drawing Tom Edwards into a second yellow card, leaving Stoke to finish the night with nine men after the dismissal of Bruno Martins Indi.

Steve Bruce’s half-time team talk provided Sheffield Wednesday with the inspiration to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest.