DEAN SMITH GOT off to a winning start as Aston Villa manager, with Tammy Abraham’s early goal securing a 1-0 victory over Swansea City in the Championship.
Meanwhile, Leeds United missed out on the chance to regain top spot, with Marcelo Bielsa going down 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
West Brom suffered a similar fate, with the Baggies beaten 1-0 by Wigan Athletic, who bounced back from their thrashing at the hands of Preston North End last time out.
Ipswich Town now sit bottom after they lost to Queens Park Rangers, while Birmingham City made it nine games unbeaten by overcoming Stoke City.
New Villa boss Smith and assistant John Terry could hardly have asked for a better start to his maiden game in charge, with Abraham putting his side ahead eight minutes in at Villa Park.
Abraham played on loan at Swansea last term, and he got the better of his former club when he planted home a brilliant header from Ahmed El Mohamady’s cross.
It was a fourth goal in seven league games for Abraham, and the Chelsea loanee would have had another if not for a fine save from Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Swansea had chances of their own – Bersant Celina and Jay Fulton passing up decent opportunities – but Villa held firm to secure the points in a fitting tribute to their late former owner Doug Ellis.
After a rampant start to the campaign, it is now just one win from five Championship games for Leeds, who are starting to feel the strain of playing at the intensity Bielsa requires.
Danny Graham’s header had Blackburn in front inside two minutes, and although Mateusz Klich restored parity on the stroke of half-time, the visitors – supported by close to 8,000 travelling fans – came undone in the second half.
It was a set-piece that proved the difference, Darragh Lenihan escaping his marker to head in and give the hosts’ victory.
The result leaves Leeds in fourth place, three points ahead of Blackburn.
West Brom would have moved top – temporarily at least – with a point or better, but Darren Moore’s side were unusually timid in front of goal as their seven-match unbeaten league run came to an end.
Josh Windass got the goal for Wigan, coolly slotting past the impressive Sam Johnstone with 16 minutes remaining.
And the Baggies’ misery was compounded late on, Livermore picking up a second yellow before Ahmed Hegazi squandered a late chance to snatch a draw.
Dean Gerken’s calamity 13 minutes into Saturday’s clash at Portman Road rather set the tone for a miserable day struggling Ipswich – the goalkeeper fumbling Luke Freeman’s corner into his own net.
Things never really improved, and QPR had their second when Tomer Hemed struck from the spot on the stroke of half-time.
One team that are not struggling for consistency are Birmingham, who saw off Stoke, managed by former Blues boss Gary Rowett, thanks to Che Adams’ 81st-minute strike, and City are now unbeaten in nine league matches, winning three of their last five.
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Jamie Cudmore up against O’Connell yet again. This one could get spicy.
Culmore isn’t fit to lace O Connells boots.
Cudmore is a thug and O’Connell is a legend of the game. No competition.
I agree Cudmore is a thug. But jesus he put in a shift today. Credit where credit is due and all that…
Cudmore and Lee smashed OConnell &Co backwards all night long.
Cmon the red army.
Best dressing room ever!!
I hope Munster don’t lose.they done enough whinging on here when they won against ulster the other week.imagine the cribs and crystal from them if they lose
Christmas can come early tonight…..Come on Munster!
Jesus Christ munster are brutal
A loss would end Munsters interest? That’s a tad presumptuous, a loss would be a major setback but they’d still have every chance to go through!
Come on Munster!!
Which Clermont will show up??should be a great contest..
Munsters game plan.
Do nothing for ages.
Get into the Clermont half
Drop the ball
Some first half performance from clermont, one of the best I’ve seen from an away side at thomond park.
Well done Clermont. Massive defense. Better team all round. Munster just not at the races today.
Munster tackling isn’t great.
Amazing from Clermont. Convincing winners. Completely deserved that. Their fans were amazing too. #16th man.
Munster need to pull out socks up rapidly. Keep it simple… simple.
Barnes… the rules apply to both teams hy the way
So many knock-on’s at crucial moments, most of them from Cronin.
Not good enough at this level.
Does wayne barnes be watching something entirely different to the rest of us?
thetruth, we’re not blaming the referee this time. He was 80% correct all evening. Munster just did not play the way we hoped they would.
#BringinJOE in for this team talk
Munster half backs are awful today.
They were behind a failing breakdown, so Murray was under enormous pressure all the time, so I wouldn’t blame him too much, but Keatley was pretty poor all round I thought.
Munster are just handing this game to Claremont
Clermont may have the points so far, but watching Munster, I can’t see them losing this. Come on the boys in red.
Wrong Peter.
All smart after the fact, eh, captain hindsight?
Munster made basic errors. Our kicking game was very poor. We butchered three separate mauls by dropping the ball and set piece was hit and miss. Injury meant there weren’t quality bench players to call upon and just beaten at our own game by a superior side.
keatley’s kicks tonight…??!
Media’s darling Conor
Murray’s kicks were even worse. Gerry Thornley won’t be able to do his usual love in if he’s reporting this game.
Clermont were up for this match tonight. Hugely intense & Munster couldn’t deal with it especially up front where Munster planned to dominate.
Some match as intense as a full test match.