BIRMINGHAM took an outright lead at the Coca-Cola Championship summit as they maintained their 100 per cent record with a 2-0 win at home to Barnsley.

Kevin Phillips, starting his first match, made it three goals in as many games with a straightforward header 13 minutes in from Stuart Parnaby's excellent cross from the right.

Strike partner Garry O'Connor doubled the lead with a header of his own on the stroke of half-time and the Blues cruised through the second half to record the victory.

Coventry's perfect record was obliterated by Bristol City as the visitors won 3-0 at the Ricoh Arena.

Former Sky Blues striker Dele Adebola gave the Robins the lead inside 18 minutes.

Adebola then set up Michael McIndoe for the second after 54 minutes, with Steve Brooker adding a third in added time.

Preston - the only other team with two wins from two heading into Saturday's matches - had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, Richard Chaplow equalising in the second half.

The Owls had gone ahead through Sean McAllister's fierce 20th-minute drive.

Under-pressure Derby boss Paul Jewell is still awaiting his first win after his side lost 1-0 at home to lowly Southampton.

In-form striker David McGoldrick scored shortly before the hour mark to secure the win at Pride Park and collect Saints' first points of the season.

Charlton recovered from letting a two-goal lead slip to comfortably sweep past Reading 4-2 in an enthralling clash at The Valley.

Goals from Matt Holland and Andy Gray put Charlton in control, but Ibrahima Sonko gave Reading a lifeline just before the break.

Stephen Hunt's retaken penalty drew the Royals level in the second half, but the excellent Luke Varney and Hameur Bouazza put Charlton back on top, before Sonko went from hero to villain by being sent off for a second booking late on.

Sheffield United enjoyed a fairly comfortable 3-1 win at Blackpool.

Stephen Quinn put the Blades in front after 21 minutes and though Blackpool fought back valiantly, it was 2-0 when Gary Speed scored a second-half penalty (57 minutes).

Steve Kabba pulled one back against his old team in the 74th minute but Greg Halford wrapped things up 12 minutes before full-time.

Goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and David Edwards saw Wolves win 2-0 at Ipswich.

Though the hosts had Alex Bruce sent off for a professional foul, Mick McCarthy's side were clearly already heading for victory at Portman Road.

Nathan Tyson scored the winner for Nottingham Forest as they edged an entertaining match 3-2 at home to Watford.

Tommy Smith had twice equalised after goals by Lee Martin and Robert Earnshaw but Tyson struck in the 69th minute to take the win.

Dexter Blackstock and Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma scored early goals as QPR beat Doncaster 2-0 at Loftus Road.

Arturo Lupoli's late double earned Norwich a 2-2 draw at Cardiff.

After Ross McCormack's double - and with Jamie Cureton missing a first-half penalty - Italian Lupoli scored in the 77th and 81st minutes to take a share of the points.

Crystal Palace had James Scowcroft and Shaun Derry sent off in their goalless draw with Burnley at Selhurst Park.

In the evening game, Jason Scotland's goal just before half-time was enough to give Swansea a deserved 1-0 victory over Plymouth at Home Park.