Harrison Burrows scored twice as Sheffield United reclaimed the top spot in the Championship with a dominant 2-0 victory over Norwich. Burrows opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a defensive mistake by Shane Duffy, chesting the ball down before firing a shot that hit both posts and crossed the line. Gustavo Hamer came close to doubling the lead with a spectacular effort, but it was Burrows who sealed the win, converting a penalty on the hour mark after Ben Chrisene fouled Sam McCallum in the box.
Oxford United made it six league games unbeaten under new manager Gary Rowett, with Cameron Brannagan’s stunning free-kick securing a 1-0 win over Blackburn. Brannagan’s 67th-minute strike came after Siriki Dembele was fouled just outside the area by Callum Brittain. The goal helped Oxford maintain their strong form at home, with all three victories under Rowett coming at the Kassam Stadium.
Portsmouth earned a vital 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough, moving level on points with safety and climbing to 22nd place. Middlesbrough had taken the lead through Emmanuel Latte Lath, but Matt Ritchie scored twice in the second half to secure the win. The match was significantly delayed due to a medical emergency in the crowd, but Portsmouth held on to claim the crucial points.
Watford claimed a rare away win, defeating Derby 2-0 at Pride Park. Despite Derby hitting the woodwork three times, Watford took the lead early through Imran Louza and sealed the win in the second half with Edo Kayembe’s counter-attack finish. The defeat left Derby just one point above the relegation zone, while Watford moved further from the bottom.
West Brom fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with Stoke, with Grady Diangana’s equalizer in the 72nd minute earning a point for the Baggies. Stoke had taken the lead early through Nathan Lowe’s eighth-minute goal. The draw marked the end of Chris Brunt’s interim tenure as West Brom’s head coach, with Tony Mowbray taking over after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Brandon Thomas-Asante’s second-half goal gave Coventry a 1-0 win over Bristol City, ending a run of three games without a victory. The result created some breathing space between Coventry and the relegation zone, while Bristol City’s play-off hopes were dented.
QPR claimed a third consecutive Championship victory under manager Marti Cifuentes, defeating bottom side Plymouth 1-0. Substitute Rayan Kolli scored the only goal of the match in the 65th minute, following up on a save from Plymouth goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw. Cifuentes expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and the result, particularly given Plymouth’s solid home form.
Cardiff secured a dominant 3-0 win over Swansea in the South Wales derby, their biggest league victory over their rivals in nearly 60 years. Callum Robinson scored twice early in the second half, and Dimitrios Goutas added a third with a header off the underside of the crossbar. The victory ended a six-match winless streak at home for Cardiff. However, the match was marred by ill-tempered scenes, with Cardiff manager Omer Riza receiving a red card after a touchline altercation with Swansea’s Gonçalo Franco.
Hull continued their recent revival under head coach Ruben Selles, claiming a 1-0 win at Millwall. Jake Cooper’s own goal in the second half gave Hull their second consecutive away victory, helping them move further away from relegation trouble. Selles expressed his satisfaction with the team’s growing intensity and aggression, signaling a positive direction for the club.
Luton’s new manager Matt Bloomfield endured a frustrating start to his tenure, with a goalless draw against Preston. The match failed to live up to expectations, with visiting goalkeeper Freddie Woodman rarely tested throughout the game.
