Gianfranco Zola is appointed manager of Championship side Birmingham City to replace the sacked Gary Rowett.

Image source, PA

So, Newcastle are back on top of the Championship yet again.

They may not have been at their best, but they'll take the three points nonetheless.

Plenty to encourage Wigan though.

Meanwhile, a seventh successive win for Derby continues to make it an uncomfortable return to QPR for Ian Holloway while Forest and Preston share the spoils.

Read all about it on our Championship pages and until next time, thanks for being with us.

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Preston
• QPR 0-1 Derby
• Wigan 0-2 Newcastle

Honours even at the City Ground

Simon Makienok's goal in the final minute of the first half gave the visitors a deserved lead.

The hosts equalised somewhat fortuitously when Thomas Lam's shot hit a post and then Preston goalkeeper Chris Maxwell before going in.

Simon Grayson's side pushed to go back in front but Forest goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic produced good saves from Alan Browne and Makienok.

Image source, Rex Features

Mo Diame on Sky Sports: "It was difficult for us tonight at times, but we did enough to get the job done with two goals.

"We're looking forward to the next game now. We need to keep going and stay focused as it's going to be a long season."

Former Newcastle midfielder John Anderson on BBC Newcastle:

"It hasn’t been a great performance but it’s a clean sheet, it’s another away win and gets us back to the top of the table and you can’t ask for much more.

"At times in this division you’ve got to go away and dig results out and that’s what they’ve done tonight."

Image source, Rex Features

It wasn't pretty but Derby fans won't care.

Thomas Ince's fine late finish gives Steve McClaren's men a seventh successive victory and sees them move back up to fifth in the table.

Meanwhile, QPR have lost four games in a row and are just three points above the relegation zone.

Job done for Newcastle with a goal in either half. Not the most impressive display, but three points nonetheless.

Two minutes to be added on at the end of the 90.

A sense of this one going through the motions late on now.

Wigan will feel a little deflated as they have given Newcastle a good test in this second half.

Former Newcastle midfielder John Anderson on BBC Newcastle:

“Tonight’s performance hasn’t been scintillating, but it’s all about the result and we will probably to have to do the same thing at Burton on Saturday.”

Change for Newcastle now - Dwight Gayle is off and Ayoze Perez replaces him.

No goal tonight for the prolific Gayle, but I'm sure he'll be back for more before the end of 2016.

Last change for Wigan as Warren Joyce throws on Craig Davies for Shaun MacDonald and sticks another man up front.

Michael Jacobs tries his luck from distance for Wigan, but his right-foot effort was always rising above Karl Darlow's goal.

Once more Newcastle just holding Wigan back a bit deeper than earlier in this half.

For the first time in a while, Newcastle have just taken the sting out of this game.

They're trying to be more patient on the ball and just slow Wigan down a touch. 

Wigan defender Craig Morgan off through injury and replaced by Dan Burn. Second time tonight Warren Joyce has been forced into a change.

Matt Ritchie comes off meanwhile for Newcastle and is replaced by Christian Atsu.

Former Newcastle midfielder John Anderson told BBC Newcastle: “That’s like for like – Ritchie has put in another shift tonight and has worked hard.”

More impressive build-up by Wigan. Stephen Warnock involved down the left as he flashes a ball across the Newcastle area.

It breaks to Andy Kellett at the back post and Karl Darlow has to make a snap save to clear it.

He's on hand again to palm a deep ball clear. Wigan definitely the more threatening currently.