Strike duo keep Wigan on top

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.

A clumsy challenge by Bluebirds defender Rhys Weston on Ellington resulted in a 16th-minute penalty which the in-form striker slotted home himself.

Wigan got a second on 36 minutes, Roberts finishing a slick attack on the break by bending the ball past ‘keeper Tony Warner.

Cardiff gave themselves a fighting chance when Alan Lee pulled one back with a 66th minute penalty but the table-toppers held on for the win.

Ipswich were made to hold on to beat Wolves 2-1 at Portman Road.

Jim Magilton conjured a number of opportunities for Joe Royle’s men early on and it was his ball to the far post which was bundled in by striker Darren Bent on 28 minutes to finally break the deadlock.

Tommy Miller doubled the lead with a penalty four minutes into the second half after Shefki Kuqi was fouled in the area.

The goal sparked Wolves into action and five minutes later they had a lifeline as Seyi George Olofinjana rose highest to head Lee Naylor’s cross home.

Ipswich rode the storm and managed to hold on to their slight advantage to condemn Wolves to their second defeat of the season.

Preston caretaker manager Billy Davies’ tenure got off to a good start as Dickson Etuhu struck on 15 minutes and got a second on the stroke of half-time to put North End ahead after they had dominated visitors Rotherham throughout the opening 45 minutes.

Veteran striker Iwan Roberts got his third of the season to put Gillingham ahead after just five minutes against an off-colour Burnley side to give his side a slender 1-0 lead at the break.

Fellow forward Darren Byfield added a second on 69 minutes before the Gills were awarded a penalty minutes later, which John Hills missed twice thanks to Danny Coyne’s acrobatics after being ordered to re-take the original kick.

Burnley, who had Micah Hyde sent off during the incident, pulled one back with three minutes to go when Ian Moore found the net.

Earlier, Leicester’s dismal start to the season went from bad to worse as Brighton lifted themselves from the relegation zone with a 1-0 win at the Walkers Stadium.

The home side’s best chances came in the first half but after failing to capitalise, Brighton’s makeshift striker Adam Virgo showed Dion Dublin and David Connolly how it should be done.

As half-time approached, defender Virgo – playing as an experimental forward - met Danny Cullip’s long ball, catching the defence flat-footed, before coolly shooting beyond ‘keeper Ian Walker from the edge of the area.

Micky Adams’ men searched in vain for an equaliser and Virgo was almost the villain after his flailing arm touched the ball in the Brighton area, but no penalty was given and Foxes fans went home disgruntled.