- Wrexham Thrash Millwall 3-0 As QPR Climb Second in Championship
Wrexham recorded their first Championship victory of the season with a commanding 3-0 win at Millwall, while Queens Park Rangers beat Cardiff City 2-1 and Burnley were held 1-1 by Middlesbrough in Wednesday night’s second-tier action.
The result at The Den gave Wrexham an important early boost after two draws and a defeat from their opening three league games. An own goal from Zak Sturge put the visitors ahead before Kieffer Moore struck from 20 yards after half-time and Jacques Ekomié completed the scoring from close range.
The victory was particularly significant because Wrexham had entered the game still searching for their first league win of the campaign after narrowly missing the play-offs last season. Their response at Millwall suggested a side beginning to find its rhythm after an active transfer window that strengthened both midfield and defence.
For Millwall, the defeat deepened a sudden defensive downturn. After opening the season with two clean-sheet victories, they have now conceded eight goals in their past two matches, having also lost 5-1 to Southampton at the weekend.
QPR also strengthened their early promotion credentials with a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City at Loftus Road. Rumarn Burrell scored twice for the hosts, while Perry Ng pulled one back for Cardiff, leaving QPR with 10 points from their opening four matches.
The result moved QPR into second place and extended an encouraging start under Julien Stéphan. With three wins and a draw from their first four fixtures, the London side have quickly established themselves among the early pace-setters in a division where momentum can become important long before the promotion picture fully settles.
At Turf Moor, Burnley’s difficult start continued as they were held 1-1 by Middlesbrough. Aidan Morris gave Middlesbrough the lead in the 23rd minute with a 20-yard finish before summer signing Ugo Raghouber equalised for Burnley nine minutes into the second half.
The draw leaves Burnley with just two points from their opening four league matches following relegation from the Premier League. Their struggles have been compounded by a 4-1 defeat at Norwich and the departure of Zian Flemming to Ipswich on transfer deadline day.
West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic also shared the points in a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns. Callum Styles gave West Brom the lead before Tyreece Campbell equalised for Charlton, preserving the visitors’ unbeaten record while ending their perfect start to the campaign.
Wednesday’s results reinforced how quickly the Championship table is beginning to take shape. QPR’s strong opening has pushed them towards the top, while Wrexham’s emphatic win eased some of the pressure created by their winless start.
The contrast with Burnley is striking. Having dropped out of the Premier League last season, the Clarets would have expected to establish themselves immediately among the promotion contenders, but their opening four matches have instead exposed the difficulty of resetting after relegation.
Wrexham, by contrast, appear to have emerged from Deadline Day with renewed momentum. The additions of Callum O’Hare from Sheffield United and Joe Worrall from Burnley added experience to a squad already attempting to build on last season’s near miss.
The 3-0 victory also showed the value of attacking efficiency away from home. Wrexham did not simply protect their early lead but continued to press for further goals, with Moore’s finish and Ekomié’s late contribution turning what might have been a narrow result into a statement win.
For Millwall, the immediate challenge is defensive recovery. Consecutive heavy defeats can quickly undermine an otherwise positive start, and their injury problems add another concern after Josh Coburn and Casper De Norre were both forced off during Wednesday’s game.
The Championship remains too early in the season for firm conclusions, but the first four rounds have already produced separation between sides building momentum and those still searching for stability.
QPR’s unbeaten opening and Wrexham’s breakthrough victory put both clubs in a stronger position heading into the next round of fixtures, while Burnley face increasing pressure to turn possession and pedigree into points.
Sky Sports’ live blog, which carried the evening’s action, listed Wrexham, QPR and Burnley among the central storylines from Wednesday’s Championship programme.
The next challenge for Wrexham is sustaining the level they showed at The Den. One strong result does not define a promotion campaign, but after three winless league matches, a 3-0 away victory provides exactly the kind of momentum they needed.
