Matchday 5: 31 goals in twelve matches of Championship, two results ending 4-0

The Championship produced 31 goals in twelve matches on matchday 5, an average of 2.6 a game. The away sides took three wins, the hosts six, and three matches ended level. Two matches finished 4-0. Nineteen goals came before half-time and twelve after.

A blistering first half decided this Lancashire derby as Preston struck twice before the break and then held off Blackburn’s second-half push to claim a 2-1 victory at Deepdale. Lang opened the scoring in the 9th minute, finishing from Burgzorg’s delivery, and doubled the lead in the 27th with a strike set up by Thompson. Blackburn reduced the deficit six minutes after the restart when Mills turned the ball into his own net in the 51st minute, but Preston saw out the contest to secure the points.

A devastating first half at the bet365 Stadium saw Stoke City overwhelm Charlton 4-0, with Justin Devenny scoring twice and the damage done well before the interval. Devenny opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 15th minute, and Ethan Galbraith doubled the lead seven minutes later. George Hirst added a third in the 25th minute, converting an assist from Bocat, before Devenny struck again in the 41st minute, once more supplied by Bocat, to make it four at the break. Charlton manager Nathan Jones, returning to his former club, turned his frustration towards Stoke supporters after the final whistle, telling the BBC that he did not want to speak too much about them and warning the Potters they would have to find their own way.

Lincoln drew 1-1 with Southampton. In the 44th minute, Welington scored for Southampton, assisted by Ward-Prowse. Lincoln went into half-time 0-1 down. Ladefoged struck in the 87th for Lincoln, assisted by Hackett-Fairchild.

A match that was goalless at half‑time turned in the 56th minute when Ramsey put Burnley ahead, yet Bristol City struck back through Dickie in the 82nd minute and snatched victory with Hirakawa’s 90th‑minute winner, leaving the home side to a 1‑2 defeat that deepened the pressure on Nicky Hayen’s side. The loss kept Burnley rooted to the bottom of the Championship, still winless since relegation, and the frustration boiled over afterwards when Broja was caught on camera telling a supporter to ‘shut your f****** mouth’ in a car‑park exchange that underlined the strained atmosphere around Turf Moor.

A fast start set the tone at the London Stadium, where West Ham United swept Derby County aside 3-0. Piroe opened the scoring in the 6th minute, converting after Castellanos created the chance, and the hosts carried that 1-0 lead into half-time. The contest remained tight until the 87th minute, when Austbo struck to double the advantage. Three minutes later Austbo turned provider, laying on the ball for Kante to drive home the third in the 90th minute and seal a commanding performance.

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Millwall beat Bolton 4-0. Taylor found the net in the 38th for Millwall, assisted by Metcalfe. Millwall led 1-0 at the break. In the 83rd minute, Dykes scored for Millwall, assisted by Lovelace. Dykes struck again in the 88th, assisted by Sturge. Neghli scored in the 90th minute.

West Brom beat Watford 1-0 at The Hawthorns. In the 36th minute, Morgan scored for West Brom, assisted by Whitwell.

At Bramall Lane, Sheffield Utd lost 1-3 to Norwich. Musaba struck in the 8th for Norwich, assisted by Mattsson. Bamford scored in the 23rd minute for Sheffield Utd, assisted by Campbell. Toure found the net in the 44th for Norwich, assisted by Slimane. Sheffield Utd trailed 1-2 at the break. In the 62nd minute, Kvistgaarden scored for Norwich.

QPR lost 0-1 to Middlesbrough. Lankshear scored in the 20th minute for Middlesbrough, assisted by Brittain.

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A 31st‑minute opener from defender Shaughnessy and a second by forward Marezi seven minutes after the restart gave Portsmouth a 2‑0 victory over Cardiff at Fratton Park, but the match was overshadowed by a bizarre confrontation between Cardiff’s Bielik and a teenage home supporter. The incident, which occurred during the second half with the score already at 2‑0, saw Bielik grab the fan by the throat after the youngster had returned a stray ball, prompting the spectator to slap the player in the face before security escorted the fan from the stadium. Referee Speedie halted play for several minutes and spoke to both managers and captains, while Hampshire Police later launched a common‑assault investigation. Portsmouth manager Mousinho apologised for what he called a “kerfuffle”, and Cardiff boss Barry‑Murphy claimed Bielik had been struck first, adding that the FA would review the referee’s report.

The first half ended goalless and the second followed the same path, leaving Swansea City and Wrexham to share the points in a 0-0 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium. Wrexham handed a debut to O’Hare and the visitors grew into the contest, yet neither side could find a breakthrough. Tension boiled over late when Cabango, on as a substitute, was booked for a high-speed lunge on O’Hare that forced the debutant off soon afterwards. Parkinson called it a “leg‑breaking challenge” and insisted Cabango should have seen red, while Swansea manager Matos declined to comment on the referee. O’Hare maintained the centre‑back told him he “didn’t touch” the player, but the flashpoint was the closest either team came to a decisive moment.

A frantic first half at St Andrew’s on Sunday 6 September saw Birmingham and Wolves share the points in a 2-2 draw, all four goals arriving before the interval. Wolves struck early when Lopez converted a Gomes assist in the 3rd minute, but Birmingham levelled in the 22nd minute through Stansfield, set up by Roberts. The visitors regained the lead in the 31st minute as Krejci finished from Andre’s pass, only for the home side to draw level again five minutes later when a Tchatchoua own goal made it 2-2 at half-time. Neither side could find a winner after the break, leaving the contest deadlocked.