Championship team of the week features Birmingham City, Southampton and Ipswich Town stars

Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion experienced conflicting emotions over the Sky Bet Championship's first weekend of March. Blues were on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller against Southampton on Saturday as they lost 4-3, whereas the Baggies earned a vital three points with a 2-1 win over Coventry City on Friday night.

Birmingham are now merely one goal difference above the Championship relegation zone, with just one point separating Stoke City in 22nd and Blackburn Rovers in 17th. The battle to steer away from the bottom three is fierce ahead of the final 11 games of the season. West Brom, meanwhile, are now four points clear of seventh-placed Norwich City as they maintain their stride in the play-off fight.

Most games elsewhere in the English second tier were extremely tight, with just two teams managing a winning margin of two goals – Ipswich Town at Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City at home to Middlesbrough. League leaders Leicester City lost for a third successive match as they were defeated 2-1 by Queens Park Rangers, while Leeds United could only manage a 1-1 draw away at ten-man Huddersfield Town.

Other results included Bristol City 0-1 Cardiff City, Preston North End 0-0 Hull City, Rotherham United 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City 1-0 Sunderland, Millwall 1-0 Watford and Swansea City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers.

Championship team of the week (GW35)

Based on WhoScored ratings and lining up in a 4-4-2 formation, here are the 11 best-performing players of the weekend.

Freddie Woodman (Preston North End) - WhoScored rating: 7.90

Woodman kept a second successive clean sheet for Preston as the North End drew 0-0 at home to Hull City. The goalkeeper made four saves.

Perry Ng (Cardiff City) - WhoScored rating: 8.11

Ng scored the only goal of the game as Cardiff beat rivals Bristol City away from home. He was solid defensively, too, as he made four clearances and won two aerial duels.

Jacob Greaves (Hull City) - WhoScored rating: 8.79

The central defender was absolutely vital to the Tigers drawing 0-0 at Preston as he won an incredible 15 aerial duels. He also registered eight clearances, four tackles and three interceptions.

Ben Gibson (Norwich City) - WhoScored rating: 7.95

Gibson assisted Josh Sargent’s winner in the 1-0 victory over Sunderland. The defender also made four clearances and four interceptions to help the Canaries to a well-earned clean sheet.

Marvin Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday) - WhoScored rating: 7.10

Johnson, who squeezes into the XI as the best left-back of the week, had a decent game as Sheffield Wednesday edged past Rotherham United 1-0 in a huge game in the relegation zone.

Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City) - WhoScored rating: 8.14

Bacuna was Blues’ best player in the 4-3 defeat to Southampton as he scored a goal, assisted the opener and struck the woodwork. He also completed three dribbles.

Lewis Baker (Stoke City) - WhoScored rating: 7.73

Baker scored the second goal to make sure of an absolutely vital 2-0 win for Stoke, at home to Middlesbrough. The three points gives Steven Schumacher’s side hope in the relegation fight.

Bae Jun Ho (Stoke City) - WhoScored rating: 8.06

The South Korean opened the scoring for the Potters against Middlesbrough and he maintained a stunning 100 percent pass completion. He also created one big chance.

David Brooks (Southampton) - WhoScored rating: 9.27

The Welshman stole the show at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park with an assist and a wonder strike from outside the area. He also created an impressive six chances for his teammates.

Adam Armstrong (Southampton) - WhoScored rating: 8.77

Armstrong finished off a chance created by Brooks to help send Southampton on their way in the 4-3 win at Birmingham. He also hit the woodwork and saw two other shots saved.

Kieffer Moore (Ipswich Town) - WhoScored rating: 8.46

The Bournemouth loanee put the game beyond doubt by scoring the second as Ipswich beat Plymouth 2-0 away from home. He also won an almighty nine aerial duels.