Birmingham go top of Championship, Parker's West Ham beaten

LONDON: Birmingham struck late to beat 10-man Swansea to go top of the Championship as Scott Parker's West Ham were beaten 2-1 at Blackburn on Saturday.

Draws for Wolves and Middlesbrough gave Birmingham the chance to edge ahead at the top of the table on goal difference, but they rode their luck against the Swans.

Ross Stewart had an early penalty for the visitors saved by Ryan Allsop before Marko Stamenic was sent off after just 26 minutes.

Jay Stansfield opened the scoring just three minutes later but the Blues failed to make the most of a man advantage for over an hour.

A Christoph Klarer own goal brought Swansea level midway through the second half.

But Stansfield's second of the game three minutes from time took Birmingham – co-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady – to the top of the table.

"It's great to be at the summit of this league with everything we've been through and the whole journey," said Birmingham boss Chris Davies, who led his side to promotion from League One 18 months ago.

"I think once you're there, it'll only be our fault for us not to be there (at the end of the season)."

Parker has led three different clubs to promotion from the Championship but his arrival at his former club this week has done little to revive West Ham's fortunes.

The Hammers came from 3-0 down to snatch a 3-3 draw in Parker's first game in charge at Cardiff on Wednesday, but failed to repeat the trick after falling two behind at Blackburn.

Andri Gudjohnsen and Dapo Afolayan put Rovers in front before Joel Piroe pulled a consolation goal back.

West Ham slip out of the play-off places down to ninth, six points behind Birmingham.

"We're bitterly disappointed because the result hasn't gone our way," said Parker. "A lot of work to be done but I'm looking forward to it."

Wolves missed the chance to go top earlier on Saturday when they blew the lead in a 1-1 draw at Wrexham.

Middlesbrough again missed the presence of the injured Will Lankshear as they failed to break down struggling Watford in a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road.

Cardiff produced a remarkable comeback from 4-1 down to beat Burnley 5-4 in the game of the day.

Alex Robertson made amends for an earlier own goal when he struck deep into stoppage time to complete the fightback.

Defeat keeps Burnley, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, in the bottom three.

Stoke came from behind to move level on points with Birmingham and Middlesbrough with a 2-1 win at Portsmouth.

Bottom-of-the-table Preston shocked Southampton 1-0 with Jordan Thompson's goal giving Graham Alexander a first win since taking charge at the end of September.--AFP