Championship roundup: Sheffield United go top by crushing Reading

Sheffield United moved top of the Championship in commanding fashion with a 4-0 win over former leaders Reading. A clash between the top two sides in the division had looked an enticing prospect, but the home side cruised to a one-sided victory at Bramall Lane.

Oli McBurnie opened the scoring with a header from Max Lowe’s superb cross after 11 minutes and Anel Ahmedhodzic volleyed home from a corner just seconds into the second period. Iliman Ndiaye put the result beyond doubt shortly after the hour mark and Ahmedhodzic completed the rout with a glancing header 10 minutes from time.

Reading’s miserable evening saw them slip to fifth in the table thanks to wins for Norwich, Burnley and Watford. Norwich fell behind at Birmingham following Scott Hogan’s 50th-minute opener, but equalised through Andrew Omobamidele and snatched the win in stoppage time through Onel Hernández.

Watford also enjoyed a last-gasp winner at home to Middlesbrough as the club celebrated 100 years of football at Vicarage Road. Rodrigo Muniz gave the visitors the lead after just four minutes of his full debut, only for Ismaïla Sarr to equalise and Vakoun Bayo to fire home the winner in added time.

The former Middlesbrough manager, Tony Mowbray, has been announced as the head coach of Sunderland. Replacing Alex Neil after his move to Stoke, Mowbray has signed a two-year contract. He will take charge of his first game when Sunderland host Rotherham on Wednesday evening.

Burnley rose to third thanks to Brazilian defender Vitinho’s close-range header in the 62nd minute and Jay Rodriguez stabbing home the second 10 minutes later in a 2-0 win over Millwall.

QPR complete the playoff places following a comfortable 3-1 win over Hull at Loftus Road. Ilias Chair