Southampton pull clear at top of Championship

Southampton moved five points clear at the top of the Championship with a 2-1 win over Peterborough on Tuesday, while second-placed West Ham were held to a 0-0 draw by Bristol City.

Nigel Adkins’ Southampton registered a club-record 17th successive home league win thanks to first-half goals from Richard Chaplow and Jos Hooiveld at St Mary’s.

Peterborough had Lee Frecklington sent off for a second booking 10 minutes before half-time, but Emile Sinclair got one back for the visitors in the second half to set up a nervous finish.

The Saints have now made their best start to a season for 55 years and they were on top from the start.

Chaplow opened the scoring in the 14th minute when he slotted into the bottom corner after a one-two with Guly Do Prado.

Three minutes later the home side doubled their advantage. Rickie Lambert’s free-kick found Do Prado and he in turn crossed for Hooiveld, on loan from Celtic, to convert from close range.

After Frecklington’s dismissal, Peterborough reduced the deficit in the 76th minute when Sinclair pounced from 12 yards but it was too late for a comeback.

“We scored two great goals straight off the training ground and I was delighted with them but we could have scored seven,” Adkins said.

“The game was played like a training match at times after they had been reduced to 10 men and at times we lacked intensity.”

At Upton Park, West Ham lost ground on Southampton after a goalless stalemate against second-bottom Bristol City.

Sam Allardyce’s men missed several chances to steal the points, with Frederic Piquionne and Kevin Nolan denied by former Hammers goalkeeper David James and Freddie Sears hitting a post in the closing stages.

West Ham were booed off by their fans and Allardyce said: “Was it harsh? Absolutely, 100 percent yes.

“That’s what fans can do if they feel we haven’t won a game we should have won. But they can’t be disappointed with the performance.”

Billy Sharp opened the scoring for Doncaster on an emotional night at the Keepmoat Stadium, but third-placed Middlesbrough came from behind to claim a 3-1 victory.

Hours before kick-off, Doncaster announced that Sharp’s two-day-old son had died on Saturday, and it had been expected that the forward would be unable to play any part in the contest.

Yet Sharp started and sent the Keepmoat Stadium into raptures when he netted a stunning volley inside the first 15 minutes.

But Barry Robson equalised, a mistake by Doncaster goalkeeper Neil Sullivan allowed Marvin Emnes to claim his side’s second and Robson got the third from the penalty spot.

“I knew what was going on all week and I also know the finer details of what happened, which is worse than you think,” Doncaster boss Dean Saunders said.

“He rung me and asked if he could play. He wanted to play to score a goal for his son and his family. When he said that to me I couldn’t really refuse.”

Fourth-placed Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches after a 0-0 draw with Portsmouth at Selhurst Park.

Managerless Leicester romped to a 3-1 victory at Burnley as they continue to search for a successor to Sven Goran Eriksson.

Millwall striker Darius Henderson continued his impressive form with two goals in a 3-0 win over Coventry at The Den.

Elsewhere, play-off hopefuls Hull slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Barnsley, Nottingham Forest defeated Reading 1-0 and Watford beat Brighton 1-0.