Roundup of the latest Sky Bet Championship action on Easter Monday 2023, as the play-off race and fight for survival took centre stage.
League leaders, Burnley moved within two wins of securing the title to go alongside their promotion after defeating second-placed Sheffield United 2-0 at home, courtesy of Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s second-half brace after the Blades’ Wes Foderingham was red carded in the 17th minute.
Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu’s brace plus Carlton Morris’ strike saw third-placed Luton come from behind to defeat second-bottom Blackpool 3-1 at Kenilworth Road, which moved the Hatters to within five points of second-placed Sheffield Utd.
Quick-fire goals from Aaron Ramsey and Matt Crooks saw fourth-placed Middlesbrough fight back for a 2-2 draw at Bristol City, after Harry Cornick had set up Sam Bell’s opening first-half goal for the Robins before converting himself in the 49th minute.
Fifth-placed Millwall failed to score for a fourth consecutive match as they fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Hull, as Adama Traore rifled a 70th minute strike into the bottom-left corner for the Tigers.
Blackburn round out the top six on goal difference courtesy of second-half goals from Joe Rankin-Costello and Ryan Hedges in a comeback 2-2 draw at Huddersfield, having been 2-0 down through quick-fire first-half goals from Matty Pearson and Jack Rudoni.
Down in the relegation zone, Wigan remain rock-bottom after Joel Piroe’s first-half double secured a 2-0 away win for Swansea at the DW Stadium.
Brad Potts’ injury-time headed winner saw Preston miss out on the top six on goal difference following a 2-1 home win over third-bottom Reading, in which Tom Cannon’s 56th minute opening goal was cancelled out by Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s equaliser for the Royals.
Cardiff sit just one point above the drop after suffering a narrow home loss to Sunderland, as Dennis Cirkin struck a 60th minute rebound winner for the Black Cats in the Welsh capital.
Elsewhere, Norwich missed a chance to climb into the play-off spots after being held to a scrappy goalless draw at home to Rotherham.
Second-half goals from Matty Godden and Ben Sheaf saw Coventry fight back to salvage a 2-2 draw against fellow play-off contenders, Watford, who had led through first-half goals from Joao Pedro and Imran Louza.
Chris Martins’ 49th minute equaliser saw struggling QPR recover from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw at West Brom, having fallen behind to quick-fire goals from Brandon Thomas-Asante and Semi Ajayi before Lyndon Dykes sparked the Hoops’ comeback in the 22nd minute.
Finally, Birmingham City held Stoke City to a goalless draw at St Andrew’s Stadium in a quiet contest.
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