Matchday 6: 23 goals in nine matches of Championship, two results ending 1-1

The Championship produced 23 goals in nine matches on matchday 6, an average of 2.6 a game. The away sides took three wins, the hosts three, and three matches ended level. Two matches finished 1-1. Fifteen goals came before half-time and eight after.

A fifth-minute strike from Callum Lang gave Preston an early lead that held until half-time at Vicarage Road, but Watford turned the contest with two goals in the second period. Lang struck after only five minutes to put the visitors ahead, and that advantage remained intact through the opening 45 minutes. Edo Kayembe levelled the match in the 69th minute, sweeping home to make it 1-1. Seven minutes later Mamadou Doumbia completed the turnaround, converting an Iker Bravo assist to earn Watford a 2-1 victory over Preston on Tuesday evening.

A ninth-minute opener from Finn Azaz set Southampton on their way to a 3-1 victory over Swansea at St Mary’s Stadium. Azaz lofted a high ball into the stand before slotting a low left-footed finish into the bottom corner, his second of the season. Cyle Larin doubled the lead in the 33rd minute, his fifth league goal of the campaign. Zan Vipotnik pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute, but Léo Scienza restored the two-goal cushion in the 78th minute to seal the points and extend Southampton’s unbeaten home run to thirteen matches.

A first-half lead built by Ben Johnson slipped away after the break as Cardiff shared the points with Stoke City in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening. Johnson struck in the 22nd minute, finishing from a Róbert Boženík assist to give the visitors the advantage at the interval. Cardiff responded in the 63rd minute when Joel Colwill levelled the contest, converting a Christopher Willock delivery to cancel out the opener 41 minutes after Stoke City had gone ahead. Both sides pressed for a winner but neither could find a decisive second goal, leaving the match finely balanced at the final whistle.

Blackburn lost 1-2 to Sheffield Utd at Ewood Park. Kristi Montgomery struck in the 20th for Blackburn. Thomas Cannon scored in the 35th minute for Sheffield Utd, assisted by Sydie Peck. Sydie Peck found the net in the 44th, assisted by Joe Rothwell.

A 55th‑minute equaliser from Jacques Ekomié earned Wrexham a 1‑1 draw with Burnley on Tuesday evening, denying the visitors a first win under pressure‑cooker coach Nicky Hayen. Burnley had gone ahead in the 26th minute when Zeki Amdouni finished off an assist by Largie Ramazani, and that lead held until half‑time. Ekomié levelled the contest after the break, applying the finish to a ball from Issa Kabore, and the hosts saw out the remainder of the match to share the points. Hayen, whose side remain without a victory this season, had stated he required seven points from the three games before the international break to save his job.

A frantic first half gave way to a decisive second‑half strike as Bolton slipped to a 2‑3 defeat against West Ham at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring in the 13th minute, only for Ethan Erhahon to level five minutes later. Ruben Rodrigues then converted a penalty in the 27th minute to put the home side ahead, but the lead lasted just four minutes before Konstantinos Mavropanos headed in an Arne Engels delivery to make it 2‑2 at the break. After a long lull, Bowen grabbed the winner in the 77th minute, steering home a Joël Veltman cross to complete his brace and settle a contest that had swung wildly in the opening period.

Derby lost 0-1 to West Brom at Pride Park. In the 16th minute, Aune Heggebo scored for West Brom, assisted by Morgan.

A two-goal half-time lead proved just enough for Norwich as they held off Birmingham’s second-half push to record a 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening. Oscar Schwartau opened the scoring in the 28th minute, finishing from Mathias Kvistgaarden’s assist, and Papa Amadou Diallo doubled the advantage eleven minutes later after being set up by Andre Brooks. Birmingham reduced the deficit in the 64th minute when Carlos Vicente converted Liam Millar’s delivery, but Norwich saw out the remainder to secure the win.

Charlton drew 0-0 with QPR. Neither side found the net.