Burnley remain top of the Sky Bet Championship after a dramatic festive round which featured plenty of goals and red cards.
Connor Roberts provided Anass Zaroury with the Clarets’ opening goal before he added a second himself, whilst Nathan Tella wrapped up a comfortable 3-0 home victory against Birmingham City, which ensured that the hosts remain three points clear at the top.
Goals from James McAtee, Ciaran Clark and Tommy Doyle fired second-placed Sheffield United to a 3-1 home win over Coventry, despite John Egan’s red card for the Blades after fouling Viktor Gyokeres who had scored the Sky Blues’ consolatory goal.
Blackburn remain in third-place despite blowing an one goal lead on Wearside courtesy of Ross Stewart’s own-goal who then equalised himself for Sunderland, before Ellis Simms struck a dramatic injury-time winner as Tony Mowbray’s Black Cats secured victory over his former team.
Watford missed the opportunity to go third after Andreas Voglsammer and Zian Flemming struck in a 2-0 away win for Millwall at the Hornets’ Vicarage Road, as the hosts finished with tem men after Hassane Kamara was red carded in the 38th minute whilst the Lions climbed to sixth.
Fifth-placed Norwich City suffered a late 2-1 defeat at ten-men Luton as Cauley Woodrow struck a 90th minute winner for the Hatters, after Allan Campbell’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Teemu Pukki before Gabriel Osho was sent off after he received a second booking.
That loss also resulted in Norwich’s decision to sack Dean Smith as their Head Coach, following a slump in form.
Down in the relegation zone, late goals from Jordan Rhodes and Kaine Kesler-Hayden saw rock-bottom Huddersfield come from behind to win 2-1 at Preston, after the Lilywhites had taken a first-half lead through Greg Cunningham.
Wigan suffered consecutive defeats for the first time under Kolo Toure as they fell to a crushing 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, in which Chuba Akpom scored a hat-trick for the hosts who initially led 3-0 before conceding a sloppy goal through Thelo Aasgaard.
Ten-men Blackpool remain third-bottom with a sixth straight game without victory, after Michael Appleton’s Tangerines could only manage a 1-1 draw at Hull as Oscar Estupinan cancelled out Sonny Carey’s opener following Jordan Thorniley’s red card.
Elsewhere, Reading climbed to eighth in the table with a 2-1 home win over Swansea as Andy Carroll and Tom Ince both found the net, despite Liam Cullen’s 71st minute consolatory goal for the Swans.
Goals from Matt Phillips and Brandon Thomas-Asante saw West Brom comfortably defeat Bristol City 2-0 at Ashton Gate, which saw the Baggies clinch their sixth win in eight matches.
Lee Peltier’s 80th minute own-goal saw Stoke complete a scrappy comeback to draw 2-2 at Rotherham, who had twice led through Jordan Thompson’s own-goal and Connor Washington’s strike, either side of Tyrese Campbell’s equaliser for the Potters.
Finally, Cardiff held QPR to a goalless draw in a scrappy contest at the Cardiff City Stadium.
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