Di Matteo won't get carried away by Albion's ascent

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LONDON, Nov 22, 2009 (AFP) - West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo has warned his players not to get carried away after they returned to the top of the English Championship with a 4-1 win over Bristol City.

With Newcastle not in action until Monday's trip to Preston, Di Matteo's Albion knew they could reclaim top spot and they did so in emphatic fashion at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

Jerome Thomas and Chris Brunt scored early in the first half and an own goal by Louis Carey and a 48th minute effort from Simon Cox moved Albion a point clear of Newcastle.

Paul Hartley grabbed a consolation in the 82nd minute with a 35-yard free-kick in his 400th league start.

But Di Matteo, whose side have now scored 11 goals in their last three games, said: "You can't be higher than top so after 17 games we can be pleased but we will not be getting complacent.

"As long as we stay at the right end of the table for as long as possible that will be good for us.

"It is still very close at the top and it can only take two bad games to put you right back in the mix.

"The expectations are very high at the club and it is great to work for a club like this as I am very ambitious myself."

Leicester, promoted as League One champions last season, rose to third place with a 1-0 win against Plymouth at the Walkers Stadium.

Struggling Argyle looked set to grind out a draw until Andy King lashed in the winner three minutes into stoppage time.

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson said: "We nicked it late on, but that's the nature of football.

"The players have shown they are hungry for success. They are a group of talented players who are striving to be in a better place, whether we can achieve that success in the form of promotion remains to be seen."

Carl Dickinson's stoppage time free-kick gave Barnsley a 1-0 win over Cardiff, who had been hit by the news of midfielder Stephen McPhail being diagnosed with cancer.

Doncaster beat QPR 2-0 as Billy Sharp struck in the 53rd minute before Dean Shiels notched a fine effort in the 65th minute.

Gordon Strachan is still waiting for his first win as Middlesbrough manager after a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at the Riverside Stadium.

Leroy Lita's fifth minute strike gave Strachan's side a 1-0 lead but Robert Earnshaw levelled for the visitors in the 73rd minute.

Asked if he felt the side had made progress since his arrival, Strachan admitted: "It doesn't look like it, no. Not at all. It's not been a great three weeks for the players, for me or for the fans.

"My concern just now is making us into a better team. We have to try and find a formula or a formation that gives us more of a goal threat."

Elsewhere, Peterborough's new manager Mark Cooper suffered a debut defeat as his side were beaten 1-0 at Sheffield United.

Watford moved to the brink of the play-off places with a 3-0 home win over Scunthorpe.

Roy Keane's Ipswich remain in the relegation zone after a dour goalless draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Leon Best cancelled out Darren Ambrose's 11th league goal of the season as Coventry came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Crystal Palace.

Reading's long wait for a home victory finally ended with a 2-1 triumph over Blackpool at the Madejski Stadium.