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Rampant Forest take root at top of Championship

By AFP
Published | Updated
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Nottingham Forest swept to the top of the Championship and maintained their 100 percent record with an impressive 3-0 win over Bolton. Billy Davies' side have made a flying start to the second tier campaign with goals from Jamie Mackie, pictured here on November 24, 2012, Andy Reid and Henri Lansbury. (AFP/File)

LONDON (AFP) – Nottingham Forest swept to the top of the Championship and maintained their 100 percent record with an impressive 3-0 win over Bolton on Saturday.

Billy Davies' side have made a flying start to the second tier campaign and goals from Jamie Mackie, Andy Reid and Henri Lansbury brushed aside Bolton, who played much of the second half with 10 men after Darren Pratley had been shown a second yellow card.

Having collected nine points from three games, Forest have made their best start in the Championship since 1997, following a close-season which saw Kuwaiti owner Fawaz Al Hasawi finance nine new signings at a cost of more than ??5 million.

Meanwhile, Diego Fabbrini scored a 89th-minute equaliser as second placed Watford produced a gutsy second-half comeback to earn a 3-3 draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Reading led three times thanks to a brace from Jem Karacan and an early Adam Le Fondre strike.

But Gianfranco Zola's Watford, beaten in the play-off final by Crystal Palace last season, hit back with goals from Marco Davide Faraoni, Troy Deeney and a late goal from Fabbrini to prolong their unbeaten start.

Marvin Emnes netted a stoppage time leveller as Middlesbrough ended third placed Blackpool's 100 per cent start in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium.

Emnes scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Chris Basham's 83rd minute score for the Seasiders

Young striker Tom Hitchcock scored a last-minute winner on his QPR debut to give the pre-season promotion favourites a 1-0 win over Ipswich at Loftus Road.

Substitute Hitchcock tapped into an empty net after Charlie Austin's effort had been parried by Ipswich goalkeeper Scott Loach.

Harry Redknapp's side had already hit the bar twice, first through Clint Hill and then Austin, before the 20-year-old son of QPR goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock struck.

However, Redknapp will be concerned about Junior Hoilett after the QPR forward limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury seven minutes into the second half.

Fourth-placed Burnley's unbeaten start continued after second-half strikes from Keith Treacy and Sam Vokes earned a 2-0 victory over Yeovil at Turf Moor.

Leicester made history as a first-half own goal from Derby County goalkeeper Lee Grant secured a 1-0 win in the local derby at Pride Park.

Grant's moment of misfortune means Leicester have won their opening two away games of the season for the first time ever.

Bottom side Millwall remain without a point or a goal in the league this season after James Vaughan's second half goal earned a 1-0 victory for Huddersfield at The Den.

Elsewhere, Brighton won 1-0 at Birmingham and promoted Bournemouth beat FA Cup holders Wigan 1-0.

Leeds drew 1-1 against local rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Barnsley.