Championship Round-up: Week 4

After four games of The CHampionship there's a fairly unfamiliar look to the top of the table, with several unfancied sides enjoying solid starts and more some of the division's bigger spenders finding things not going their way early on in the campaign.

On-loan winger Ryan Fraser ensured Ipswich Town held on to top spot in the Championship, scoring a superb curled 25-yard winner to secure a 2-1 victory at Preston North End. The Tractor Boys had taken a first half lead through a first goal for the club for Brett Pitman, only to see the home side respond on the counter attack through Daniel Johnson. But Fraser’s 65th minute strike saw Town stay top of the table on goal difference.

Joint top of the table with them are Brighton & Hove Albion, who continued their strong start to the season with a 1-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers. The match winner was Kazenga LuaLua who has started the season in sparkling form, also scoring the only goal in the opening match of the season and won a last minute penalty last weekend.

Charlton Athletic have also made a great start and sit in third place on eight points, with another impressive victory over a side fancied for promotion. The Addicks recorded a dramatic 2-1 home victory over Hull City, thanks to a winner in the eight minute of injury time by Johann Berg Gudmondsson. Charlton had opened the scoring through Simon Makienok from Gudmondsson's cross in the 52nd minute, only to see their hopes dashed by Abel Hernandez' 89th minute equaliser. The Uruguayan then thought he had won the game for the visitors but saw his header ruled out for offside, before the hosts sealed all three points through Icelander Gudmondsson's late header.

MK Dons followed up their lucky midweek victory over Bolton Wanderers with a credible 0-0 draw with Reading, and sit in a solid looking fourth place - while the hosts are now seven games without a home win. The Dons are followed in the table by Queens Park Rangers, who got their stuttering start to the season back on track with a comprehensive 4-2 defeat of Rotherham United. Braces from Tjaron Cherry and Charlie Austin - who is still unbelievably on their payroll - saw off the Yorkshire visitors, who scored consolations through Jonson Clarke-Harris and Tom Thorpe.

Cardiff City remain undefeated and recorded their first league win of the season with a 2-0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Goals from Kenwyne Jones on the verge of time and Sammy Ameobi on the hour mark secured the victory. Another side that recorded their first victory of the season was Bristol City, who recorded an impressive 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough - with Joe Bryan's superb eighth minute goal enough for all three points.

Talking of superb goals takes us to Elland Road, which witnessed a potential goal of the season effort by Sheffield Wednesday's Marco Matias. Matias collected the ball on the edge of the box, flicked it over a defender with his first touch and smashed a dipping volley into the far corner with his second. However, it wasn't enough to win the local derby as Leeds United hit back to claim a point through Chris Wood on the hour mark.

The Championship witnessed a minor miracle this weekend, as Bolton scored their first goal of the season. The Whites' barren goal spell had lasted more than TEN hours before substitute Stephen Dobbie scored an injury time equaliser to cancel out David Vaughan's opener as former manager Dougie Freedman took his Nottingham Forest side to the Macron Stadium.

Derby County continued their consistent start to the season as they endured a fourth successive draw, with a 1-1 tie at Birmingham City on Friday night. Birmingham, who are also undefeated this season, took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Stephen Gleeson but Johnny Russell struck after an hour to ensure the sides shared the points after the visitors had hit the post no less than three times.

Burnley picked up their first victory of the campaign as Michael Keane scored the only goal, and his second goal in consecutive weekends, of their home clash with Brentford. Elsewhere, Fulham had young striker Cauley Woodrow to thank for securing their second point of the season with a 95th minute equaliser to cancel out Huddersfield Town's opener from Nakhi Wells. Both sides remain without a league victory this season.

The final round of Championship fixtures before the international break sees a tasty televised Lancashire clash between Blackburn and Bolton - who both currently occupy the relegation places - on Friday night, and an intriguing Saturday lunchtime kick-off between Derby and Leeds (who still always seem to get picked for these early matches). Table toppers Ipswich entertain Brighton, while heavily funded Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough go head-to-head.

The current Championship table is as follows: