The Championship continues to give us drama at both the top and bottom of the table. Shock results and teams fighting for their lives contributed to another pulsating weekend with 35 goals across 12 games.
Leeds United were triumphant on Friday evening in the battle of the top two, whilst Preston North End recorded an impressive away win at play-off chasing Coventry City. On Saturday, strugglers Millwall made a great start under new manager Neil Harris, beating promotion-contenders Southampton at St Mary’s.
Leeds United 3-1 Leicester City
We begin at Elland Road in this clash of the Championship’s two best sides. The table toppers took an early lead when Wout Faes headed in the opener, and that’s how it stayed until a crazy final quarter of the game.
Connor Roberts brought the scores level, his first goal since joining on loan from Burnley in January. Alfie Gray then had a deflected shot find the back of the net and the win was completed when Patrick Bamford rounded off the scoring in added time. This is Leeds’ ninth league win in a row as they continue to hunt down the Foxes.
Coventry City 0-3 Preston North End
Preston raced out of the blocks in this one, scoring all three goals in the first half. Emil Riis Jakobsen opened the scoring, heading in his fourth goal in his last four games. Will Keane hit the second for the visitors before an own goal from Bobby Thomas secured an important victory.
Callum O’Hare and in-form Ellis Simms, who had scored three in three prior to this game, had Coventry’s best chances but couldn’t get past goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. Preston overtook Coventry with this win and are now eighth, just three points behind sixth-placed Hull City.
Hull City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Hull couldn’t make home advantage count as fifth-placed West Brom frustrated the home side. Hull stay sixth but are now looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack.
Fabio Carvalho, on loan from Liverpool, opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half, Darnell Furlong equalised for the Baggies. Jaden Philogene and Adam Reach both hit the post late on, but in truth, a draw was a fair result.
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Norwich City
In John Eustace’s first home game in charge, his side managed to salvage a point against play-off-chasing Norwich City.
Marcelino Nunez opened the scoring for the visitors in the 22nd minute, but Rovers turned on the pressure, Sam Gallagher denied by Norwich shotstopper Angus Gunn three times in the first half. Dominic Hyam equalised in the 56th minute with a header to earn a share of the spoils.
This result puts Stoke in the bottom three, as the relegation battle begins to heat up. This was the Welsh side’s first win in their last six matches.
Kion Etete headed in the opener for the home side before Karlan Grant doubled the lead. Bae Jun-Ho pulled one back for the visitors with his first goal for the club since joining in January, but it wasn’t enough to stop them from dropping into the drop zone.
Ipswich Town 3-1 Birmingham City
Ipswich Town opened up a five point gap on fourth-placed Southampton, whilst also keeping up the pace with Leeds United in second.
Conor Chaplin opened the scoring for the hosts, but the scores were level at the break as Jordan James equalised for the Blues on the stroke of half time. Jeremy Sarmiento and Omari Hutchinson both struck late on to send the Portman Road crowd home happy.
Middlesbrough 0-2 Plymouth Argyle
Middlesbrough couldn’t back up their impressive win against league leaders Leicester last time out, as an impressive Plymouth took all three points for their third win in their last seven games.
Matthew Sorinola and Ryan Hardie scored both the goals in a comfortable first half for the visitors. Boro’s only real chance fell to Marcus Forss, who shot straight at Conor Hazard in the Plymouth net.
Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Rotherham United
QPR finished a turbulent week in style, as they came from behind to beat bottom-of-the-table Rotherham United and escape the bottom three.
Tom Eaves opened the scoring for the visitors, who haven’t won an away game since November 2022. Paul Smyth and Chris Willock hadn’t read the Millers’ script, however, and scored the goals to secure a potentially season-defining victory.
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Bristol City
Sheffield Wednesday recorded their third win in their last four games, and are now just three points from safety, despite being down to ten men for the final quarter of the game.
Ike Ugbo scored both the goals for the home side either side of a Jason Knight goal for the travelling Robins. The drama wasn’t over there though as Wednesday had Di ‘hon Bernard sent off late on for a second yellow card.
Southampton 1-2 Millwall
Millwall recorded a great away win under new (and old) boss Neil Harris, as they beat fourth-placed Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
Japhet Tanganga opened the scoring before Che Adams equalised for the home side. Zian Flemming hit what proved to be the winning goal from the penalty spot just before half time. Southampton are now five points behind Leeds and Ipswich in second and third respectively. whilst Millwall move up to 20th.
Mike Dodds began his third stint as interim boss at the Black Cats with a defeat following Michael Beale’s dismissal during the week. Faltering Sunderland have now won just two of their last eight games.
January signing Ronald scored both goals to put the Swans in charge, before Luke O’Nien struck late on to leave this one having a nervy ending. Swansea are up to 17th but still only four points above the drop zone. The Wearsiders now face an uphill battle to reach the play-offs.
We finish our round-up down at Vicarage Road, as Huddersfield Town eased their relegation fears somewhat, moving up to 19th position.
Emmanuel Dennis opened the scoring for the home side, but Danny Ward then struck twice to take three massive points back to Yorkshire as Watford’s poor form continues. The Hornets are now 11 points off the top six and look destined for a mid-table finish.
