Beaten By Birmingham

Brentford’s Championship season continued with a two-one defeat against Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Saturday as 2016 begin in disappointment.

The deadlock was broken by Birmingham early in the second half when Jon Toral set up Jacques Maghoma with Philip Hofmann grabbing an equaliser 13-minutes from time as he followed up when Tomasz Kuszczak couldn’t hold onto Alan Judge’s effort.

A point turned into none in the final minute when James Vaughan’s cross was converted by Maikel Kieftenbeld, who grabbed his first goal of the season and indeed for the Blues since his arrival in the summer.

Having drawn level Hofmann soon had another chance that could have had Brentford ahead with Judge also wasting a chance with only Kuszczak to beat with those misses proving costly in the end.

These were the other results.

Friday 1st January 2016
Brighton 0-1 Wolves
QPR 1-2 Hull

Saturday 2nd January 2016
Birmingham 2-1 Brentford
Bolton 0-2 Huddersfield
Burnley 0-0 Ipswich
Cardiff 1-0 Blackburn
Charlton 1-1 Nottm Forest
Fulham 0-1 Sheff Wed
Leeds 1-1 MK Dons
Middlesbrough 2-0 Derby
Preston 2-1 Rotherham
Reading 0-1 Bristol City

Not the start to the year Brighton wanted, with the way the last ended carrying on into the New Year with a one-nil defeat to Wolves at the Amex Stadium meaning the promotion bid took another setback.

Whereas the battle of the top two ended with Middlesbrough remaining firm favourites for the title with a two-one win over Derby at the Riverside Stadium.

The relegation battling sides, Bolton and Rotherham were beaten by Huddersfield and Preston, respectively, to leave them starting 2016 very much in trouble with Charlton collecting what could prove to be a crucial point from a one-one draw at the Valley with Nottingham Forest.