Watford on top after late drama

Watford climbed to the top of the Championship after dramatic injury-time heartbreak for AFC Bournemouth.

Watford Championship AFC Bournemouth

Watford players celebrate Craig Cathcart’s goal against Birmingham (Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

The 10-man Cherries were on course to return to the summit after goals from Yann Kermorgant and Matt Ritchie put them 2-1 up against Sheffield Wednesday, despite Simon Francis's dismissal.

But the visitor was awarded a spot-kick five minutes into stoppage-time and Chris Maguire made no mistake to snatch a 2-2 draw.



That meant Watford leapfrogged Middlesbrough and the Cherries to climb into pole position thanks to a stunning goal by Craig Cathcart.

The Hornets were making hard work of beating Birmingham City until defender Cathcart came up with an overhead kick to convert Ikechi Anya's cross midway through the second half.

Derby County's automatic promotion hopes are over after a 4-4 draw at Huddersfield Town, with Rams winger Tom Ince hitting the first and last goals of a see-saw encounter.

Oscar Gobern, Mark Hudson and Reece James put Town 3-1 up after Ince's opener but Simon Dawkins and Jesse Lingard restored parity. Nahki Wells netted for the host but Ince had the final say.

In the lunchtime kick-off Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Benik Afobe hit his 31st goal of the season to salvage a 1-1 draw against play-off rival Ipswich Town at Molineux.

Afobe pounced after 50 minutes to cancel out a 21st-minute own goal from Richard Stearman.

Brentford's play-off hopes were dented after it twice threw away the lead to draw 2-2 with Bolton Wanderers.

Alex Pritchard and Jonathan Douglas were on target for the Bees, but they were pegged back by goals from Adam Le Fondre and Mark Davies.

At the other end of the table Wigan Athletic lives to fight another day after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1.

Tim Chow marked his first start of the season with the opening goal for the Latics before Dale Stephens equalised. Anything but a victory would have sent Wigan down but James Perch bundled in a late winner to keep its slim survival hopes alive.

Millwall missed the chance to pile on the pressure on fourth-bottom Rotherham United after a goalless draw at Cardiff City left it four points adrift of safety with three games to play.

Fulham all but secured its survival, nine points clear of Millwall, after Matt Smith's goal condemned already-relegated Blackpool to a 1-0 defeat.

Elsewhere Rudy Gestade hit a hat-trick as Blackburn Rovers drew 3-3 with Nottingham Forest, while Tony Watt and Yoni Buyens scored in Charlton Athletic's 2-1 win over Leeds United.


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3 min read
Published 19 April 2015 4:19am
Updated 19 April 2015 1:50pm
Source: PA Sport

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