Championship Team of the Week

The eighth round of fixtures in the Championship saw a whopping 40 goals and one red card.

Harry Redknapp's Queens Park Rangers continue to lead the way after yet another narrow 1-0 victory at Yeovil Town, who have lost all four matches at home this season.

The chasing pack sees Burnley, Leicester City and Blackpool three points adrift, while at the bottom Bolton Wanderers' woes continued with an 11-minute slump that saw Brighton & Hove Albion score three goals to turn it around at The Amex.

Sheffield Wednesday are the only other side yet to register a win after a memorable day for one Birmingham City player at St Andrew's (see below).

Here, Sports Mole picks out its best XI as well as highlighting this week's numpty and best goal.

Scott Carson (Wigan)
The Latics keeper was on top form to prevent Ipswich from scoring at the DW Stadium. Wigan managed a 2-0 win despite their Europa League trip to Belgium just three days earlier and Carson was one of the main reasons for shutting out the Tractor Boys.

Ikechi Anya (Watford)
Scottish international Anya is one of many attack-minded players in Gianfranco Zola's Watford, and he contributed a goal and an assist in the 5-1 trouncing of below-par Barnsley. His goal was particularly special as his electric pace got him into the area where he finished with aplomb.
Gary MacKenzie (Blackpool)
MacKenzie has been a towering presence in Blackpool's defence and put in a dogged display to ensure that the Tangerines did not slump to a second straight defeat.
Mark Beevers (Millwall)
Beevers took home the man of the match award for Millwall after a resolute performance saw neighbours Charlton Athletic shut out at The Valley.
Chris Cohen (Forest)
Cohen is developing a good relationship with Andy Reid down the left for Nottingham Forest and scored a lovely goal to level the match against Doncaster Rovers.

Garath McCleary (Reading)
McCleary may have not scored or assisted against Derby County but he was Reading's main threat as the Royals continued the Rams' poor run of form at home.
Sean Murray (Watford)
Among all the continental names in Zola's lineup is academy graduate Murray who, along with Lewis McGugan, ran the show in the middle and added a well-taken goal.
Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield)
The summer acquisition from Watford looked assured on the ball for Huddersfield Town, completing a whopping 98% of his passes as the Terriers left Blackburn Rovers with a point.
Andy Reid (Forest)
Reid has arguably been the player of the season in the Championship so far and again was on top form against Donny, scoring one, assisting the other and also making a crucial block in his own area.

Jesse Lingard (Birmingham)
It's no surprise to see Lingard here after arguably one of the greatest debuts ever. The Norwegian winger scored a hat-trick in just 13 first-half minutes before adding a fourth six minutes after the break. Lee Clark must be wondering how he got the Manchester United man on loan and will surely now be frantically trying to extend his stay for more than a month.
Federico Macheda (Doncaster)
Another Manchester United loanee and another multiple-goal debut. Macheda could not equal Lingard's four but notched both of Donny's goals as they took a point off an impressive Forest outfit.

Numpty of the Week

Dean Gerken: The Ipswich keeper was beaten to the ball by Nick Powell in the dying seconds on Sunday with the Tractor Boys pushing for an equaliser. Gerken thought that Powell had headed the ball out of his two hands so did not even bother trying to get back as Powell smashed in Wigan's second.

Goal of the Week

Andy King (Leicester) vs. Blackpool: King completed a rapid Leicester turnaround at Bloomfield Road with a sumptuous long-range strike that Matt Gilks could only gaze at, as it flew past him into the top corner. Unfortunately for King, it would not be enough for three points as Blackpool equalised at the death.