Bournemouth stay top after Millwall stroll

Bournemouth surged four points clear at the top of the Championship with a clinical 2-0 win at Millwall on Sunday.

With second-placed Ipswich not in action until Tuesday, Eddie Howe`s team took advantage to cement their position as second tier promotion pace setters heading into the new year.

Yann Kermorgant`s penalty broke the deadlock at The Den in the 32nd minute and Harry Arter doubled Bournemouth`s lead before half-time, while the struggling Lions had Shaun Williams sent off late on.

"It was a very hostile atmosphere but we dealt well with the challenge that was posed and concentrated on the football which is the most important thing for our perspective," Howe said.

"We always felt if we could keep a clean sheet we`d have a good chance to win the game. We`ve been 2-0 ahead against Millwall before and ended up drawing, so it was a good test for us to learn from the previous game."

Middlesbrough moved up to third place, five points behind Bournemouth, after a goalless draw at Blackburn.

Wolves continued their recent resurgence with a 2-1 defeat of Brentford at Molineux.

Nouha Dicko put Kenny Jackett`s team ahead in the seventh minute and James Tarkowski`s 73rd minute own goal gave the hosts breathing space, before Wolves midfielder Kevin McDonald was dismissed and Danny Batth scored at the wrong end to set up a tense finish.

"It was a great game and it could have gone either way. But the thing that has improved for us after a very bad November is our defending and we have been harder to beat and we have built off the confidence of that," Jackett said.

"The goals against column has improved and you could see our heart, spirit and organisation. Our defending was very good and it needed to be."

Birmingham made it six wins from their last nine league matches with a 3-1 success at Nottingham Forest.

Clayton Donaldson bagged a brace after David Cotterill had broken the deadlock, while Britt Assombalonga netted late on for the lacklustre hosts.

Bottom of the table Blackpool came from behind to draw 1-1 with Rotherham at Bloomfield Road, with Dominic Telford equalising late on after Emmanuel Ledesma had broken the deadlock.

Adlene Guedioura bagged a brace and Odion Ighalo and Gabriele Angella also netted as Watford won 4-2 at Cardiff, with Adam Le Fondre and Kenwyne Jones replying for the Bluebirds.

Huddersfield recovered from conceding a first-minute Darren Pratley goal to beat Bolton 2-1 thanks to strikes from Jacob Butterfield and Nahki Wells.

Hal Robson-Kanu`s penalty and a Simon Cox effort helped Steve Clarke`s Reading edge out Norwich 2-1, with Bradley Johnson on target for the Canaries.