Championship round-up: Preston dent Norwich’s plans for automatic promotion

There was a fresh twist in the race for automatic promotion from the Championship in the midweek, as Leeds capitalised on Norwich’s shock defeat to regain top spot. Norwich’s 3-1 loss away to mid-table Preston also allowed Sheffield United to close the gap to second to just two points. It was also a good week for those battling at the other end of the table, with just one of the bottom nine sides falling to defeat.

Here we round-up the top five rated players from gameweek 32 in the Championship.

5. Alan Browne (Preston) - 8.53 rating

Alan Browne is one of two Preston players in the top five after playing a huge role in their shock home win over promotion-hopefuls Norwich. It was from Browne’s effort from outside the box that Preston netted their third and the 23-year-old helped prevent a late Norwich onslaught with a goalline clearance shortly after. The Preston No.8 delivered an all-action display against Norwich, winning four aerial duels and as many tackles to go with two successful dribbles and two key passes.

4. Shaun Hutchinson (Millwall) - 8.70 rating 

Millwall have failed to score in their last three but are at least picking up points in their bid to beat the drop. Neil Harris’ side drew 0-0 with Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, with Shaun Hutchinson excelling at the back to help keen a clean sheet for the home side. The 28-year-old won 10 aerial duels; made 19 clearances and six tackles and interceptions, while also blocking three shots to limit the away side to just two shots on target.

3. Matt Smith (Queens Park Rangers) - 8.72 rating

Matt Smith has hit form at the right time for relegation battlers Queens Park Rangers but the west London outfit need to take advantage of it. The 29-year-old netted in QPR’s 2-1 defeat to Bristol City in midweek and now has three goals in his last two league outings - QPR have lost both games. Against Bristol, Smith also won 12 aerial duels and completed three tackles and interceptions combined. He had four shots in total and registered two key passes. 

2. Declan Rudd (Preston) - 8.74 rating

It was Browne’s second half performance that really contributed to Preston’s victory but none of that may have been possible had Declan Rudd not saved Marco Stiepemann’s penalty before half-time when the home side were 2-0 up. That was one of eight saves made by the 28-year-old.

1. John Swift (Reading) - 8.84 rating

Reading are now unbeaten in four league matches after beating Blackburn 2-1 on Wednesday evening. John Swift played a direct hand in both goals, netting the first before supplying the assist for Nelson Oliveira to score a late winner. It is the first match all season where Swift has scored and assisted. The former Chelsea player was not only decisive in the final third but he was key when Reading did not have the ball. Swift made six tackles and interceptions combined, a personal record in a Championship match this season.