Round-Up: Ellington leads the Wigan big band

Wigan Athletic and Reading took over the top two places in the Coca-Cola Championship as less fashionable sides, blessed with experience of the second tier, continue to make the early pace. Crucially, both Wigan and Reading possess potent goalscorers.

Wigan Athletic and Reading took over the top two places in the Coca-Cola Championship as less fashionable sides, blessed with experience of the second tier, continue to make the early pace. Crucially, both Wigan and Reading possess potent goalscorers.

Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts scored twice each to take their season's totals to eight and seven respectively as Paul Jewell's side disposed of Sheffield United at the JJB Stadium 4-0. Three goals in an explosive six-minute spell, around the half-hour mark, did the damage. Ellington fired in two from 25 and 18 yards and between them found time to set up Roberts' six-yard strike. Roberts' late second completed a humbling defeat.

"When they play like that they are very difficult to play against," Jewell said of his strike pair. "They are the best of friends off the pitch - they're like Siamese twins at times. They are exceptional but they have a lot of good players around them as well."

By contrast, Reading's work against visitors Gillingham, was done inside the first 28 minutes as Dave Kitson's first hat-trick as a professional set up a 3-1 win. A free header in the first minute and two penalties after fouls on Nicky Forster and Steve Sidwell gave Kitson his treble.

Meanwhile, the clubs relegated from the Premiership, Leeds United, Leicester City and Wolves, are taking time to find their feet. But Wolves won yesterday, 2-1 at Plymouth despite having Kevin Cooper sent off 11 minutes from the end. Leeds came back twice at lowly Crewe for a 2-2 draw and Leicester, held to a goalless draw by Burnley, had Jordan Stewart sent off for violent conduct, their third red card this season.

Queen's Park Rangers won their third match in eight days when they beat Brighton 3-2 at the Withdean Stadium to move up to seventh.

At the bottom, Rotherham await their first win of the season after a 0-0 draw at Coventry, the sixth consecutive match in which the Millers have failed to score. "We're in need of someone who's going to put the ball in the back of the net," manager Ronnie Moore admitted. "We've tried for Neil Shipperley, Neil Harris and Trevor Benjamin and had no luck."

Cardiff City's poor start also continued. They lost 2-0 at home to Derby County with fans calling for manager Lennie Lawrence's dismissal. Sam Hammam, the Cardiff chairman, did not want Lawrence to face the post-match inquisition alone.

"We have problems here at the moment but that is when I am at my best. I will be back at the club on Monday when Lennie and I will sit down and discuss the situation and how we can get over it. Realistically we are not going to make the play-offs, we will not be relegated, so what is the point of making a change at the top?"

No such prevarication at Hillsborough where Sheffield Wednesday sacked Chris Turner after a 1-0 home defeat by Bournemouth left them 14th in League One. Turner took over in November 2002.

"He knew the pressure was on and unfortunately the team has not delivered," the Wednesday chairman, Dave Allen, said. "Chris hasn't been able to deliver, so obviously we have to go forward and to do that we have to part company. We shall be interviewing two or three people next week."

There are new leaders in League Two after Wycombe were beaten 1-0 at home by Swansea to allow Scunthorpe, 1-0 winners at Bury, to go top.