Championship roundup: Blackpool hit QPR for six, Wilder’s first Watford win

Blackpool gave themselves renewed hope of avoiding relegation from the Championship thanks to a thumping 6-1 victory against QPR.

The Seasiders recorded by far their biggest win of the season to move within just three points of potential safety, and seven points off their fast-falling opponents. Victory was all but secured for Mick McCarthy’s side as they went three up inside the first 14 minutes at Bloomfield Road.

The hosts were awarded a penalty after only 44 seconds, with Rob Dickie adjudged to have handled Jerry Yates’ shot in the area. Yates fired the penalty into the top corner, before Andy Lyons made it two from CJ Hamilton’s superb drag-back after 11 minutes.

Just three minutes later, the QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng hopelessly spilled James Husband’s cross at the feet of Curtis Nelson, who slotted into an empty net from 15 yards. Nine minutes before the break, Jordan Thorniley headed home from Charlie Patino’s corner, leading some away fans to head for the exits before Chris Martin pulled a goal back for Gareth Ainsworth’s visitors.

It was five for Blackpool just three minutes after the restart. After Dieng had tipped Lyons’ thunderbolt over the crossbar, the midfielder then headed home from another Patino corner. Rogers hit the inside of the post, before substitute Kenny Dougall’s crisp late finish made it six.

Chris Wilder earned his first victory as Watford manager on his debut in the home dugout as the Hornets saw off Birmingham 3-0 at Vicarage Road.

Imran Louza and Keinan Davis scored within the first 16 minutes of a painful evening for the Blues manager John Eustace – a former Watford captain. Louza fired home from Ken Sema’s cross after seven minutes and then set up Aston Villa loanee Davis to finish a