In the Championship – Ipswich go top

Pablo Counago - inspired the Ipswich win

Counago was credited with turning the game the way of the Tractor boys by manager Long Ball Joe after coming on as a substitute with just under half an hour to go.

They had the chance to go top because neither Wigan nor Stoke were able to win on the Saturday.

Previous leaders Wigan played in the highest scoring game of the day, a 3-3 draw at Wolves. They trailed once and led twice but had to settle for a point after a stoppage time goal from Colin Cameron brought Wolves level. Incredibly Wolves are still looking for their first league win of the season.

Both Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts were on the scoresheet again, Roberts’ goal coming from the penalty spot.

Stoke came unstuck at Deepdale, as Preston inflicted on them their first defeat of the season. Two goals from Richard Cresswell and a third from David Healy saw them comfortably home, their second win since the Weary Whinger was given his bus fare back to Scotland.

If you are looking to get back on track after two successive home games it’s not a good idea to go 3-0 down in the first twenty minutes. But that’s what happened to Gillingham as they struggled to contain Sunderland who were previously without a point on their travels.

It ended 4-0 with Marcus Stewart scoring the division’s first hat trick of the season and the three points helped the Mackems pull clear from the bottom end of the table.

Leeds were another side to win convincingly and after scoring only three league goals all season they doubled that with a win over Coventry, managed by their former boss Peter Reid.

Julian Joachim - scored against his old club

West Ham won a cracker 2-1 at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United, much to the disgust of Neil Warnock. A late goal from Teddy Sheringham won it for them. Marlon Harewood had scored a superb goal before Alan Quinn equalised with a somewhat fortunate effort direct from a free kick.

We referred to Wolves as not having won a game and there are two others still looking for that first victory.

Nottingham Forest are one of them. They were desperately trying to sign players last week, Kinnear is desperately unhappy with his attacking options Johnson, King and Taylor (although Taylor was suspended on Saturday).

However, they are struggling to compete financially according to the Forest boss and will have to carry on as they are. That carry on brought them another point from their fifth draw, this time a goalless effort against Cardiff.

Both clubs are in the bottom three, just above struggling Rotherham who have just three points and have scored only two goals. They were beaten 2-0 at home against Leicester who needed that win to move away from the bottom themselves.

Paul Furlong was on the mark twice as QPR moved away from the bottom with a 3-2 home win against Plymouth who have now slipped to fourth place.

Plymouth had taken the lead through an early goal from David Friio but were beaten more easily than the scoreline suggests.

Derby bounced back from three successive defeats to beat Reading 2-1 at Pride Park. Tommy Smith and Marcus Tudgay scored the Derby goals against a Reading side who are still without Glen Little who has suffered another hamstring injury.

And to conclude the weekend results Watford drew 1-1 with Brighton at Vicarage Road in a performance that manager Ray Lewington was far from happy with.

Calum Davenport - one of three new defenders at West Ham

There have been a few signings across the division in the last week with Alan Pardew leading the way at West Ham with three new defenders.

Coventry are upset that after selling Calum Davenport to Spurs he has almost immediately moved out on loan to West Ham and he has been joined by Chris Powell from Charlton and Malky Mackay who signed from Norwich for 300,000 after looking certain to sign for Coventry who missed out again.

Coventry have though strengthened with the loan signings of Fulham defender Dean Leacock and Manchester United keeper Luke Steele.

Kevin Harper has signed for Leicester on loan whilst his Fratton Park team mate John Curtis has joined Preston in a loan deal. He is Billy Davies’ first signing for Preston since replacing the Weary Whinger.

Finally Leeds young midfielder Simon Johnson has moved to Wearside to join Sunderland on loan and made his debut as a substitute in that 4-0 win at Gillingham.