English Championship Week 7

A two horse race beckons.

Division giants Southampton and Middlesbrough both stormed to the top of the English Championship with convincing and crucial victories in round seven. While Southampton were pummelling last week's big winner Birmingham City at St. Mary's in Sunday's only game, Boro edged Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, ending the Eagles' unbeaten home record.

Southampton scored freely at home while running up the score over 2011 Carling Cup Winners Birmingham. White hot Kiwi striker Chris Wood scored for the third league game in a row for the visitors, to notch his fifth goal in that stretch; but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as the Saints were already 3-0 up at that stage (Rickie Lambert, Guilherme and Adam Lallana) and added another through Richard Chaplow. After sealing promotion from League One last season, Southampton are threatening a second elevation on the trot and lead the table till next weekend.

Middlesbrough edged their hosts with a goal from Dutch tearaway Marvin Emnes just after the hour. Young midfielder Joe Bennett was dismissed late but Palace could not find a way through and were held scoreless. They lose for the second time in three games and fall to 12th. An enterprising start has been blunted somewhat but Palace should return to the top four as the season progresses. Boro, on the other hand, are coming together nicely and are now the only unbeaten team in the 24 team division. They sit in second with 17 points, one behind the leaders from the South coast.

Elsewhere, the East London derby finished goalless with neither incident nor goals, while the first leg of the Brian Clough Trophy went the way of Derby County who registered an impressive 2-1 win at rivals Nottingham Forest. Andy Reid had put Forest up 1-0 from the spot, before Jamie Ward and Jeffrey Hendrick turned things around. Moreover, Derby played almost the entire game with 10 men after Frank Fielding had been shown a straight red almost as soon as the game started. County ended their two game losing slump with a timely win and move back into the top four. West Ham remain unbeaten in five games, while Milwall are yet to win in that stretch.

Leicester handed high flying Brighton their first loss, edging them 1-0 through a goal from Japanese midfielder Yuki Abe, his first of the season. Albion fall off the summit and now sit in third, a point between Boro and Derby. City win for second time in three games.

Kevin Phillips scored again as Blackpool salvaged a point at home from the visit of Cardiff City. Both clubs remain unbeaten through four matches and and rise to seventh and sixth respectively. The Welsh side had gone up through Dan Cowie. Emile Sinclair scored a double for Peterborough as they beat the Clarets 2-1. Burnley got a goal back from Keith Treacy.

Barnsley and Watford drew 1-1 at Grove street, with Marvin Sordell's opener for the visiting club from London's outskirts, being cancelled by Andy Gray's strike just before the hour. Meanwhile Simon Church and Adam Le Frondre scored to heap further misery for Doncaster as Reading won 2-0 (first win after four defeats) and a strike from Slovenian forward Robert Koren helped Hull beat Portsmouth 1-0. Luke Varney was dismissed late for the 2008 FA Cup winners as City has now won three on the trot.

Leeds United warmed up for their match against Pennine rivals Manchester United with a 2-1 win over Bristol City. Adam Clayton and Ross McCormack scored either side of Neil Kilkenny while Pat Kisnorbo saw red just after the hour. Leeds win for the second game in a row

In the late game on Monday, Ipswich Town hammered Coventry 3-0 with Keith Andrews and Jason Scotland scoring again, after Martin Cranie had scored an own goal. Forest are now in the bottom three, just above Bistol City and Doncaster in the bottom two spots. 11 points separate sixth through 24th.

Lambert and McCormack lead the scoring charts with six goals each. Emnes, Phillips and Wood are tied for second five strikes apiece.

The next round plays out next weekend with the pick of the ties being Forest's visit to Watford.  Palace should get back on the horse with a trip to bottom side Doncaster.