Football: Boro boosted by Gray's misfortune

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE

Middlesbrough stayed at the top of the First Division by beating Huddersfield at the McAlpine Stadium, but it took an own goal by Kevin Gray in the 76th minute to secure the victory.

Nottingham Forest's Kevin Campbell scored twice in 22-minute spell in a 3-0 victory over Swindon Town that maintained the pressure on the Teessiders. Andy Johnson added the third before the break.

A crowd of 40,055 at the Stadium of Light saw Kevin Phillips and Allan Johnston give Sunderland a 2-0 victory over Bradford City.

Crewe Alexandra notched a notable 1-0 victory over Manchester City to move out of the relegation zone and increase the pressure on City's manager, Frank Clark. Paul Holsgrove sealed the victory after 19 minutes when he swept the ball home after Dele Adebola's effort had been charged down.

Sheffield United left it late at Stoke City to earn a 2-2 draw. Gareth Taylor had given the Blades a 59th-minute lead, but Richard Forsyth and Peter Thorne struck back and looked to have given Chic Bates' side the win. Brian Deane, however, scored in the dying seconds to give the visitors a point.

Two goals in three minutes gave Charlton Athletic a 2-1 victory over Norwich City at The Valley. Mark Kinsella and John Robinson put the home side in charge, but the Canaries hit back with an 81st-minute penalty from Crystal Palace target Craig Bellamy. However, Norwich could not force an equaliser and to compound their misery had Mike Milligan sent off for a second bookable offence in the final minute.

West Bromwich Albion missed the chance to move into third place in the table, albeit for a few hours, when Reading scored a 2-1 victory over them at Elm Park. The Royals opened the scoring in the first minute when Albion's Australian defender Andrew McDermott deflected a Martin Williams cross into his own net. Williams then added a second in the 27th minute when he crept behind the Albion defence to give Reading a two-goal lead. West Brom, under their new manager, Denis Smith, fought back in the second half, but Kevin Kilbane's 77th-minute goal was not enough.

Don Goodman grabbed the points for Wolves by scoring the only goal of their game at managerless Oxford United, the club Smith left behind, in the 19th minute.