- The Championship hosted its first matches of 2018 on New Years Day
- Match of the day was at Deepdale where Preston hosted visitors Middlesbrough
- In an entertaining 90 minutes Tony Pulis’ Boro eventually triumphed 3-2
- Norwich also staged comeback coming from 1-0 down against Millwall to win 2-1
The first Championship matches of 2018 took place on Monday with the pick of the action at Deepdale where Preston hosted Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough.
Boro eventually won an entertaining game 3-2 after Daniel Ayala put Middlesbrough ahead in Pulis’ second match in charge on 13 minutes.
But in a lively opening Callum Robinson headed in an equaliser 60 seconds later before Jordan Hugill nodded home five minutes before the break to make it 2-1 to North End.
Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala scores the opening goal against Preston North End at Deepdale
Preston’s Callum Robinson pictured scoring his side’s equaliser to make the score 1-1
Preston North End’s Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring his side’s second goal to make it 2-1
Jonny Howson drew Boro level with 25 minutes remaining with a right-footed drive from outside the box before Ayala grabbed his second to make it 3-2 to Pulis’ side with 17 minutes left to take three points back to Teeside.
Former Norwich City forward Steve Morison grabbed a goal for visitors Millwall at Carrow Road a minute before half-time before Tom Trybull’s header levelled for the Canaries early in the second half.
James Maddison then made the scoreline 2-1 to Norwich with nine minutes left.
Millwall’s Steve Morison, and former Canary, celebrates after putting them 1-0 up at Norwich
Bolton Wanderers entertained visitors Hull City as they looked to pull away from the drop zone
Bolton went 1-0 up with a Gary Madine goal. Pictured Mark Bevers heads toward the Hull goal
A goal from Gary Madine gave Bolton three points against Hull City through a free-kick on 20 minutes.
Barnsley’s Ethan Pinnock close-range header was also the only goal of the game as he put the visitors 1-0 ahead two minutes after the interval at Chris Coleman’s Sunderland.
Tom Flanagan’s left-footed shot on 37 minutes put Burton Albion 1-0 up at Sheffield Wednesday, led by caretaker boss Lee Bullen following the departure of head coach Carlos Carvalhal.
The Brewers went 2-0 up five minutes into the second half through another left-footed strike, this time from Lloyd Dyer, before they eventually triumphed 3-0 at Hillsborough through a Tom Naylor goal with three minutes left.