Roundup of the latest action across the Sky Bet Championship with implications across the table.
Coventry and Middlesbrough led the race for automatic promotion whilst several teams jostled for position in the battle for the final play-off spot.
The relegation zone also saw some movement as teams continued to fight for their Championship survival.
Weekend
Coventry saw their seven-match unbeaten run ended in a 2-1 home defeat to Southampton despite Victor Torp’s consolatory injury-time penalty, as Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki found the net for the play-off chasing Saints.
Adam Randell’s 96th-minute header rescued Bristol City a 1-1 draw at second-placed Middlesbrough, having fell behind to Leo Castledine’s finish.
Millwall missed a chance to go second after Mathias Jorgensen’s quick-fire brace saw Blackburn come from behind for a 2-1 victory at The Den, with the Lions having led through Luke Cundle’s effort before Zak Sturge was red carded for a foul on Yuki Ohashi only for the red card to be later rescinded on appeal.
Ipswich consequently climbed into third on goal difference from Millwall with a 2-0 victory at relegated Sheffield Wednesday, as Ivan Azon opened the scoring with his 78th-minute effort before Jack Clarke sealed victory five minutes later from the penalty spot.
Fifth-placed Hull fell to a 3-0 defeat at West Brom in which Josh Maja opened the scoring for the Baggies, before Aune Heggebo and Isaac’s Price lifted the hosts out of the relegation zone following a red card for Hull’s Charlie Hughes in the 36th minute after he fouled Jed Wallace.
Wrexham rounded out the top six with a 2-0 victory at home to Welsh rivals, Swansea, as Nathan Broadhead opened the scoring with his 25th-minute strike before Liam Cullen’s late unfortunate own-goal settled the contest.
Down in the relegation zone, second-bottom Leicester suffered a 3-1 loss at home to QPR in which Jordan James’ opener was cancelled out by Harvey Vale’s equaliser, before Ben Nelson’s own-goal and Ronnie Edwards’ header sealed the Hoops’ comeback.
Oxford United slipped to third-bottom with a 1-1 draw at home to Charlton, as Cameron Brannagan put them ahead from the spot before Charlie Kelman equalised for Charlton with a 93rd-minute penalty.
Portsmouth found themselves sat a point above the drop in 20th after they suffered a 1-0 home loss against Derby, as Sammie Szmodics netted an eighth-minute winner which marked his 100th league goal in English football.
Elsewhere, Million Manhoef’s brace and Sam Gallagher’s finish saw Stoke defeat Watford 3-1 at the BET365 Stadium despite Nestory Irankunda’s consolatory effort for the Hornets.
First-half goals from Ali Ahmed and Kenny McLean saw Norwich clinch a 2-0 victory over Preston at Carrow Road.
Sheffield United came from behind to hold Birmingham City to a 1-1 draw at St Andrew’s as Patrick Bamford cancelled out Marvin Ducksh’s opener, albeit after the visiting Blades were reduced to ten men following Femi Seriki’s red card for a foul on Ibrahim Osman.
Midweek
Goals from Marc Bola, Edo Kayembe and Edoardo Bove saw Watford defeat Wrexham 3-1 at Vicarage Road to keep their play-off dreams alive, despite Max Cleworth’s consolatory 49th-minute header for the Welsh Dragons.
Southampton consequently knocked Wrexham out of the top six on goal difference following a 1-0 victory at home to Norwich, in which Finn Azaz chipped a 24th-minute winner into the net from Cyle Larin’s flicked pass via an initial throw-in.
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