Southampton announced themselves in the promotion race with a statement 3-2 win at the pre-season title favourites, West Ham. Kuryu Matsuki, James Bree and Lewis Dobbin were all on target in a chaotic first half, while Kyle Walker-Peters and Tomas Soucek replied for the Hammers. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side would have gone top with a win but instead saw their nine-match unbeaten run halted.
There were thousands of empty seats by the end at the London Stadium, with those who stayed booing the Hammers off. Southampton, deducted four points at the start of the season, are now just two points behind West Ham. But the reaction was good in the second half.
The boys fought until the end.” Richard Kone made an emphatic return to form by scoring a hat-trick inside 15 minutes as QPR thrashed high-flying Swansea 5-0 at Loftus Road. Jimmy Dunne struck twice for Rangers, who were four up at half-time, as the Swans – who were top of the Championship until Friday night – suffered their second defeat in a row. The Welsh side remain second in the table, while QPR’s resounding victory moved them back into the playoff positions in eighth.
Nicky Hayen’s spell as Burnley manager was brought to an end after his side slumped to a 4-1 defeat at Lincoln. Burnley went in front through Andréas Hountondji but Ben House equalised on the stroke of half-time. Hayen’s side then fell apart in the second half, with Mikkel Ladefoged scoring twice, either side of a goal from Dom Jefferies.
With their team in the bottom three, Burnley fans targeted Hayen and the board with banners and chants. Before his dismissal was announced by the club, Hayen said: “It’s frustrating for everyone, especially the fans. I want to apologise to them, but I know it doesn’t matter because it’s another hard defeat for them and I can understand their criticism.
I will keep on working hard as long as I have the chance.” Adam Armstrong ended his goal drought with a milestone strike to give dominant Wolves a 1-0 win against Watford at Molineux. The 29-year-old striker, returning after a back injury, scored only his second league goal of the season, while it was his first Championship home goal for Wolves, all on his 450th league appearance. Wolves, though, failed to turn their overwhelming superiority into goals, and the unease around Molineux was evident when the 78th-minute double substitution of Tommy Doyle and Tawanda Chirewa for Jordan James and Armstrong was met with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” aimed at the head coach, César Peixoto.
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