SUBSTITUTE Marlon Harewood’s first Newcastle goal rescued a point for the Coca-Cola Championship leaders after QPR threatened to dent their promotion charge.

Sunderland 1 Derby 0

ALEX McLEISH is confident he can achieve the number one priority of helping Birmingham avoid relegation after admitting “the lure of the Premier League” tempted him to quit as Scotland manager.

New Derby manager Paul Jewell insisted he would not “wave the white flag” in the club’s battle with relegation – but accepts he faces one of the toughest challenges of his career.

Preston have sacked manager Paul Simpson following the club’s disastrous start to their Coca-Cola Championship campaign.

Reading 1 Derby 0

Derby County 1 Newcastle 0

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan insists his disappointment at losing Kenny Miller to Derby is part and parcel of modern-day management.

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has insisted it is a “pity” derby foes United will be without star man Cristiano Ronaldo at Eastlands on Sunday.

Derby 2 Portsmouth 2

Andy Todd insists Derby will not be fighting in the Premier League this season “just to make up the numbers”.

UEFA have confirmed that Graham Poll will referee the Euro 2008 qualifier between Finland and Belgium in Helsinki on June 6.

Scotland boss Alex McLeish has called up uncapped Rangers pair Alan Hutton and Charlie Adam for the friendly against Austria and must-win Euro 2008 qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Sunderland moved into second place in the Coca-Cola Championship with a 1-0 win over play-off contenders Cardiff at Ninian Park.

Promotion hopefuls Sunderland are the only one of the Coca-Cola Championship top four in action today and manager Roy Keane has promised they will not take their “foot off the gas” against Barnsley.

Birmingham 1 Derby 0

Derby have signed Scotland winger Gary Teale from Wigan for £600,000 (€902,000).

Derby have confirmed that Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson will sign for £750,000 (€1.1m).

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock is turning his attention elsewhere after being rebuffed in a move for Preston’s David Nugent.

Blackburn defender Lucas Neill remains intent on leaving Ewood Park.

PLYMOUTH soared to fifth in the Championship with a 3-1 defeat of Derby to the delight of manager Ian Holloway — and despite being reduced to 10 men for most of the second-half.

Preston have granted Charlton permission to speak to Billy Davies over the vacant manager’s position with the Barclays Premiership club.

FORMER Preston winger Eddie Lewis struck a superb free-kick to rescue Leeds from defeat and leave the Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final delicately poised.

Leeds 1 Preston 1

KEVIN BLACKWELL is hoping the spirit of 2001 will sweep Leeds back into the big time via the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.

Derby 0 Preston 0

Preston 2 Derby 0

Wigan 5 Preston 0

IPSWICH frustrated Reading in their bid to break clear of the Coca-Cola Championship pack as Steve Coppell’s men had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wigan continued their pace-setting start to the season as as Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts fired them to a 2-1 win over Cardiff.