Roundup of the latest Sky Bet Championship action in a matchweek where the fight for second took centre-stage.
Whilst Burnley continue to breeze towards promotion, the race for second took centre stage with twists and turns across the weekend, which then opened up following a pivotal midweek rearranged clash involving Sheffield United.
Weekend
Burnley continue to sit comfortable at the summit despite being held to a goalless draw at third-bottom Blackpool, in a game marred by the post-match death of Blackpool supporter, Tony Johnson following a brawl near The Manchester bar.
Sheffield Utd’s firm control of second continued to loosen with a narrow loss at fourth-placed Blackburn as Harry Pickering struck a fifth minute winner on the counter attack.
Middlesbrough consequently cut down their own gap to the Blades in third with a ruthless 5-0 demolition of Reading at home, in which Chuba Akpom and Aaron Ramsey both scored twice before Marcus Forss completed victory with a 76th minute penalty.
Carlton Morris’ close-range effort from Alfie Doughty’s 39th minute cross saw Luton scrape past Swansea to climb to fifth.
Norwich leapfrogged Millwall into sixth position and the final play-off spot with a comeback 3-2 victory, as Gabriel Sara provided an assist and goal for the Canaries whilst Zian Flemming did the same for Gary Rowett’s Lions.
Down into the relegation zone, Huddersfield suffered a 4-0 defeat to Coventry as Viktor Gyokeres netted twice and assisted in Tyler Walker’s injury-time goal, whilst Gustavo Hamer also got on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Wigan consequently demoted Neil Warnock’s Terriers to the foot of the table after snatching a 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham City, in which Ashley Fletcher cancelled out Juninho Bacuna’s fourth minute curled strike to move the Latics up to 23rd in the table.
Cardiff sit six points clear of the bottom three after second-half goals from Sory Kaba and Jaden Philogene saw off Bristol City, although the Bluebirds finished with ten men after Ryan Allsop was red carded for a handball in injury-time.
Elsewhere, Alex Neil enjoyed a strong return to his former club, Sunderland, as he led Stoke City to a 5-1 demolition of the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light, with Tyrese Campbell and Dwight Gayle both scoring twice.
Jordan Hugill’s brace and Hakeem Odoffin’s late goal saw Rotherham defeat QPR 3-1 in a mid-table clash, as the Hoops were left still searching for a first victory of 2023 and first under Gareth Ainsworth.
West Brom suffered their second defeat in three matches as Benjamin Tetteh fired Hull to a 2-0 home win, albeit aided by Dara O’Shea putting their second goal into his own net.
Watford scrapped their way to a goalless draw against Preston at Vicarage Road, which cost Slaven Bilic his job days later as the Hornets sacked him after just six months with Chris Wilder apppointed as his replacement until end of season.
Midweek
Iliman Ndiaye bundled in a close-range winner in the 60th minute to seal a 1-0 away win for Sheffield Utd at Reading, which saw the Blades move seven points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough.
Huddersfield held Bristol City to a goalless draw at the John Smith’s Stadium, which meant that Warnock’s Terriers moved off the foot of the table by virtue of goal difference.
Finally, Daryl Dike’s 27th minute close-range header saw West Brom clinch a narrow home win over Wigan which dropped the Latics to the foot of the table.
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