Championship: Leaders Blackburn slump to heavy defeat at Reading

The Championship leaders Blackburn lost for the first time this season after a 3-0 defeat at Reading.

Blackburn had won their opening three matches but were no match for Reading in a one-sided contest. Tom McIntyre opened the scoring with a header in the 13th minute and Junior Hoilett doubled the hosts’ lead from an acute angle. Lucas João completed the victory, with 12 minutes remaining, after firing home from Tyrese Fornah’s cross.

Sheffield United are up to fourth after a 2-1 win over 10-man Sunderland. Dan Neil was sent off for hauling down James McAtee in the 31st minute and two minutes later Anel Ahmedhodzic headed the home team in front.

Max Lowe’s close-range finish doubled Sheffield United’s advantage shortly after the restart, before Lynden Gooch pulled one back but Sunderland could not extend their unbeaten start in the league.

D’Margio Wright-Phillips showed he also has the goalscoring gene as he struck in injury time to earn Stoke a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough. The son of Shaun Wright-Phillips and the grandson of Ian Wright headed home Lewis Baker’s cross late on to deny the visitors a first win of the campaign.

Stoke went ahead in the 19th minute through Jacob Brown but Duncan Watmore cancelled that out just before half-time. Middlesbrough then took the lead midway through the second half when Phil Jagielka, on his 40th birthday, put through his own net, but Wright-Phillips saved the day.

West Brom are still looking for their first win of the season after they drew 0-0 with Cardiff. It continued their frustrating start to the campaign with Steve Bruce’s side drawing three of their opening four matches.