Sky Bet Championship: Sone Aluko Hits  Target in Reading's Loss As Akinfemiwa Fires Blank

  Sky Bet Championship: Sone Aluko Hits  Target in Reading's Loss As Akinfemiwa Fires Blank By Omolagba Oluwayemi Championship leaders Norwich City recorded a fifth successive win as they outplayed Cardiff City at Carrow Road, BSNsports.com.ng reports. Emiliano Buendia fired the hosts in front with a crisp, low strike from 20 yards in the first half. Michael McGovern then denied Cardiff captain Sean Morrison an equaliser with a spectacular one-handed save. Norwich missed a hatful of chances before Todd Cantwell eventually scored their second with a fiercely hit effort from the edge of the penalty area. Second-placed Bournemouth lost ground on Championship leaders Norwich despite battling to a useful draw at Luton. The Hatters came closest to scoring in the first half when Danny Hylton's effort from just inside the box was brilliantly saved by Asmir Begovic. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was in impressive form for the hosts and there was an anxious moment for the visitors when his low cross narrowly evaded both Hylton and James Collins, while substitute Sam Nombe had a late shot smothered by the Bournemouth keeper. Jamie Lowe (2) and Victor Adeboyejo (66) own goal gave Swansea City a 2-0 win over in-form Barnsley as they maintained the pressure on the top two in the Championship. Brentford moved up to fourth in the Championship by cruising to victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Reading. The Bees were gifted the opener after 11 minutes when Reading goalkeeper Rafael made a mess of Mathias Jensen's shot, which trickled over the line. Bryan Mbeumo stretched the lead with two goals in six minutes before the break to make the game safe. Sone Aluko headed one back for the Royals after 64 minutes but defeat sees them drop to eighth. Huddersfield capitalised on first-half mistakes by former England goalkeeper Ben Foster and Etienne Capoue to beat Watford. Foster was caught dallying on a backpass and saw his kick closed down by Isaac Mbenza, with the ball falling to Fraizer Campbell to roll in for the hosts. James Garner, Tom Cleverley and Andre Gray all went close for Watford before midfielder Capoue shanked a clearance from a corner into his own goal to give them an uphill task. Middlesbrough moved up to sixth in the Championship by coming from behind to hand Birmingham City their third straight defeat. The Blues started well and went in front when Maxime Colin lashed home a loose ball inside the penalty area. But the visitors scored twice in four minutes through Britt Assombalonga and George Saville to lead at the break. Keeper Neil Etheridge fumbled a cross into his own goal and Lewis Wing's long-range effort wrapped up the win. Stoke City kept a sixth clean sheet in seven games as they held on to beat Blackburn Rovers in the Championship. Unmarked Nick Powell scored what proved to be the Potters' winner - with their only effort on target in the match - when he powerfully headed home Morgan Fox's sixth-minute cross from the left. Daniel Johnson's first-half penalty was enough for Preston North End to beat Bristol City and hand the Robins their third straight Championship loss. Alex Mighten scored his first senior goal as Nottingham Forest came from behind to earn a draw at Millwall. Tom Bradshaw put the Lions ahead with a simple side-foot finish after a great run and cross by Jon Dadi-Bodvarsson on the left flank. But 18-year-old Mighten, on his fourth start for the Reds, ran onto a long ball to dink a lovely equaliser and ensure the visitors followed up their midweek win over Sheffield Wednesday in positive fashion. Teenage substitute Anis Mehmeti's first senior goal rescued a point for Wycombe against QPR. Rangers had looked set for their first-ever league win at Adams Park after home defender Jason McCarthy put through his own net in the first half. But the Chairboys squandered the game's best opportunities before 19-year-old Mehmeti fired past Seny Dieng two minutes from time. Despite Mehmeti's strike, Wycombe slipped to the foot of the table, while QPR remain in 19th place.