English League Championship

Bristol City 0-4 Leicester City

Nigel Pearson was full of praise for hat-trick hero Chris Wood after the striker had taken his goal tally for Leicester to six in three games as the Foxes enjoyed a crushing 4-0 win at Bristol City.

Wood netted a first-half treble against a side looking on course for relegation and Matty James completed an emphatic victory with a well struck shot on 52 minutes.

The result moves Leicester into third, level on points with Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, while the Robins are still rock-bottom.

Wood only joined the Foxes at the start of the month from West Brom after a successful loan spell at Millwall and manager Pearson acknowledged the difference has made in such a short space of time.

Pearson said: "Chris Wood has taken his chances for us and scored some early goals, which makes a big difference.

"He is a very focused young player who has fitted in straight away and gives us a height and physical presence up front, which perhaps we lacked.

"It is not easy to sign quality players in January and I am delighted to have secured him early in the window.

"We created a lot of chances to today and I am also very pleased to have kept a clean sheet.

"We could have passed the ball better at times and the second half seemed to go on forever. But we protected our lead and managed to build on it.''

Wood opened the scoring on 12 minutes, breaking through the left channel and cutting inside to beat Dean Gerken at his near post.

Six minutes later the City goalkeeper fumbled a Ben Marshall corner and Wood netted from close range after the ball had bounced off Liam Fontaine.

The home side were being jeered by their own supporters as the big striker shot home from the edge of the box to complete his hat-trick four minutes before the break.

It got worse for the hosts on 52 minutes when James netted with a left-footed drive from 20 yards and on this form they look certainties to be in League One next season.

It took the hosts 71 minutes to register a shot on target and the only bright spot for them was the contribution of two young academy players, Wes Burns and Bobby Reid as substitutes.

Boss Derek McInnes is under increasing pressure to keep his job and admitted: "A lot of players let the fans down in the first half today.

"The first three goals were self-inflicted. Dean Gerken would say himself that he didn't have the best of games, but there were errors in front of him as well.

"We were too pedestrian in our play and made it easy for a very good Leicester team. I am looking to sign a few players before the transfer window closes.

"The performances of Wes Burns and Bobby Reid gave everyone a lift. I thought seriously about starting Wes when Sam Baldock was ruled out by injury and he showed he has the temperament as well as the ability for Championship football.''