Roundup of the latest Sky Bet Championship action across a hectic round of drama in races for promotion and survival.
A busy weekend saw the battle for automatic promotion throw up a curveball as one team began to find themselves sucked back towards the play-off race, whilst the battle for survival grew tighter.
Ten teams were then in midweek action across five rearranged fixtures which saw further movement in the play-off race.
Weekend
Ashley Barnes’ 78th minute penalty following Gabriel Osho’s handball handed Burnley a narrow away victory at fourth-placed Luton, as the hosts finished with ten men after Tom Lockyer was red carded for complaining too much about the spot-kick decision.
Tom Bradshaw’s hat-trick saw Millwall condemn second-placed Sheffield United to a second consecutive defeat, despite Tommy Doyle and James McAtee having twice pulled the Blades level from behind.
Middlesbrough consequently moved to within four points of the Blades after Chuba Akpom’s second-half brace and Riley McGree’s injury-time goal sealed a 3-0 win over QPR, which resulted in the Hoops sacking Neil Critchley and appointing Gareth Ainsworth as his replacement.
Ken Sema’s brace saw Watford defeat West Brom 3-2 in a topsy-turvy five-goal thriller as the Baggies twice came from behind to level, until Sema produced a 78th minute deflected winner via Erik Pieters’ deflection.
Sunderland round out the top six after Jack Clarke’s opening goal was cancelled out by Nakhi Wells’ injury-time penalty in a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol City.
Down in the relegation zone, Wigan slipped to rock-bottom on goal difference after they were held to a goalless draw at home against Norwich.
Blackpool moved up to second-bottom after Ian Poveda netted a seventh minute winner to defeat Stoke City at Bloomfield Road.
Jaheim Headley provided the assist for Joseph Hungbo’s equaliser before he himself struck a 49th minute winner, as Huddersfield recovered to beat Birmingham City 2-1 and improve to third-bottom.
Rotherham sat two points clear of the drop after they lost 2-0 at home to Coventry as Jamie Allen and Viktor Gyokeres both scored for the visitors in the second half.
Elsewhere, Daniel Ayala headed in a 89th minute winner as Blackburn scraped their way to a home win against Swansea.
Romaine Sawyers’ 91st minute smash-and-grab winner saw Cardiff edge past Reading to clinch a 1-0 win at home, which meant the Bluebirds moved four points clear of the bottom three.
Hull held Preston to a goalless draw at home in a dominant but wasteful performance whilst the Lilywhites managed no shots on target.
Midweek
Tom Bradshaw cancelled out Ashley Barnes’ 51st minute opener as Millwall fought back to hold leaders, Burnley to a 1-1 draw at The Den, which also lifted Gary Rowett’s Lions up to fifth.
Blackburn rose to fourth as Tyrhys Dolan netted a 31st minute winner to defeat second-bottom Blackpool at Ewood Park.
Sunderland consequently slipped out of the play-off spots after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Rotherham as the Millers moved five points clear of relegation, after Oliver Rathbone and Shane Ferguson netted for the hosts before Joe Gelhardt headed in a 61st minute consolatory goal.
Marcelino Nunez’s brace plus assist for Christos Tzolis’ injury-time goal saw ninth-placed Norwich defeat Birmingham City 3-1 at Carrow Road.
Finally, Josh Laurent’s brace and Nathan Baker’s injury-time goal saw Stoke City come from behind to defeat Swansea, after the Swans had claimed a second minute lead through Morgan Whittaker.
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