Wasteful West Brom move to Championship summit despite Birmingham draw

Soccer Football - Championship - West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - June 20, 2020 West Bromwich Albion's Hal Robson Kanu in action with Birmingham's Jake Clarke Salter, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Boyers

West Bromwich Albion moved to the top of the England's second-tier Championship despite being held to a goalless draw by Birmingham City at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

West Brom looked rusty on their return to action after a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with their profligacy in front of goal proving costly.

Despite the two dropped points, Slaven Bilic's side moved top on goal difference, ahead of second-placed Leeds United, who travel to Cardiff City on Sunday.

Soccer Football - Championship - West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - June 20, 2020 West Bromwich Albion's Grady Diangana in action with Birmingham's Caolan Boyd Munce, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Boyers

Earlier in the day, Swansea striker Rhian Brewster scored the first goal of the Championship's return in a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough.

The Liverpool loanee pounced on a loose ball inside the Middlesbrough penalty area and slotted past keeper Dejan Stojanovic before unveiling a t-shirt with the message "our colour is not a crime".

Brewster added a second three minutes later before Andre Ayew's penalty sealed a 3-0 victory for the visitors, who climbed to eighth place.

Soccer Football - Championship - West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - June 20, 2020 Birmingham's Lee Camp in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Boyers

The defeat left Middlesbrough in 21st and outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

At Craven Cottage, Fulham's bid for automatic promotion was dealt a massive blow as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat by Brentford.

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, the league's top scorer with 23 goals, missed a series of gilt-edged opportunities before Brentford winger Said Benrahma put his side in front in the 89th minute.

Soccer Football - Championship - West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - June 20, 2020 West Bromwich Albion's Darnell Furlong in action with Birmingham's Wes Harding, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Boyers

Substitute Emiliano Marcondes added Brentford's second in stoppage time to seal the victory and move them to within one point of third-placed Fulham.

Meanwhile, Derby County kept themselves in contention for a top-six finish after edging out Millwall 3-2, with 18-year-old midfielder Louie Sibley netting a hat-trick.

Barnsley, second from bottom, breathed new life into their bid for survival as they eked out a 1-0 victory against 13th-placed Queens Park Rangers to move to within four points of the safety zone.

Soccer Football - Championship - West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - June 20, 2020 Birmingham's Harlee Dean in action with West Bromwich Albion's Robson Kanu, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Boyers

Elsewhere, sixth-placed Preston North End were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-side Luton Town.

Meanwhile, Charlton Athletic, who were without their top scorer Lyle Taylor, moved out of the relegation zone and into 19th with a 1-0 win against Hull City, who dropped into the bottom three.

Soccer Football - Championship - West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - June 20, 2020 Birmingham's Harlee Dean in action with West Bromwich Albion's Robson Kanu, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Boyers

(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Championship - West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - June 20, 2020 A man watches the action wearing a protective face mask, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Action Images/Andrew Boyers