Sheffield United drew 2-1 at Blackpool to draw level on points with EFL Championship leaders Burnley, as Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and West Brom also won. Plymouth, the league’s leader, also triumphed. Sheffield United won their fifth consecutive Sky Bet EFL Championship league, drawing level on points with league leaders Burnley. The Blades defeated struggling Blackpool 2-1 thanks to a spectacular solo goal from James McAtee.
After Sander Berge scored in the first half, McAtee sprinted from within his half to extend the advantage after the interval. For Blackpool, who have now gone eight games without a victory and are in the bottom two, Marvin Ekpiteta scored. Middlesbrough overcame 10-man Blackburn 2-1 at Ewood Park to climb into the play-off spots for the sixth time in nine games under Michael Carrick. Marcus Forss and Riley McGree reversed Ryan Hedges’ sixth-minute goal at the opening of the second half. Blackburn, who had midfielder John Buckley sent off for throwing the ball at McGree’s head with the score 1-1, is now just three points ahead of Boro.
EFL Championship Football League
Sunderland climbed up to the fourth position with a 4-1 win against Wigan. Ross Stewart, Patrick Roberts, and Amad Diallo scored in the second half to give the visitors their fourth victory in six games. Will Keane canceled out Ellis Simms’ early opening for Kolo Toure’s Latics, who fell to the bottom of the table for the third time in a row. Millwall was knocked out of the play-off spots after a hard-fought 0-0 draw at The Den. Andreas Voglsammer came the closest to breaking the tie, but his shot hit the crossbar.
The Robins have only won one of their nine EFL Championship games, putting pressure on manager Nigel Pearson. Neil Critchley’s first home game as QPR manager resulted in a 3-0 loss against Luton Town. Carlton Morris scored twice, bringing his season total to 10, as the Hatters handed the Rangers their fourth consecutive home loss. In his third game in charge of Luton Town, Alfie Doughty’s superb score with nine minutes left secured a second consecutive victory for new manager Rob Edwards. West Brom defeated Preston 2-0 to extend their winning streak to seven games.
Also Read: Pele dies aged 82: Busting the myths surrounding the Brazilian great
The Baggies, who have improved dramatically since Carlos Corberan was named manager in October, won the game thanks to goals from Okay Yokuslu both before and after the interval. Coventry and Cardiff battled to a goalless draw, the visitors’ fourth in a row. Ben Sheaf hit the post for the Sky Blues against the EFL Championship’s lowest-scoring club, with just 20 goals in 24 games. Huddersfield climbed off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 victory against Rotherham, leapfrogging both Wigan and Blackpool.
EFL Championship Goals
The hosts were deserving victors, with Duane Holmes putting them ahead just after the half-hour mark. After 56 minutes, Jordan Rhodes converted a 20-yard pass from Kaine Kesler-Hayden. Plymouth defeated Wycombe 1-0 to maintain their lead atop EFL Championship league. In the 33rd minute, Dan Scarr bundled the ball in from a corner, sealing the win. The Pilgrims’ third consecutive EFL Championship league victory lifted them four points ahead of Ipswich, who came back with a late equalizer to tie 2-2 at Portsmouth.
Marlon Pack opened the scoring for Pompey with a free-kick, but Cameron Burgess equalized for the Tractor Boys. On the hour, Colby Bishop put the hosts back in lead, which seemed to be enough for the win until three minutes later, when Conor Chaplin snatched a draw for Suffolk. Sheffield Wednesday defeated Port Vale 2-0 at Hillsborough to draw level on 49 points with Ipswich. Michael Smith scored twice, including a first-half penalty.
Also Read: Pele dies aged 82 – the world of football reacts
Barnsley overcame Fleetwood 2-1 at Oakwell thanks to a late header from Robbie Cundy. James Norwood put the Tykes ahead just after the hour mark before Admiral Muskwe equalized with a 77th-minute penalty, but Cundy had the last say with only four minutes left. Peterborough United defeated MK Dons 2-0 at the Weston Homes Stadium to go up to the sixth place. Posh took the lead before the interval, with Ricky Jade-Jones adding another shortly after, and Jonson Clarke-Harris’ penalty saved.
EFL Championship Round-up:
Morecambe defeated Accrington 2-0 for their first EFL Championship league victory since the end of October. Jensen Weir added a second goal just before halftime after Liam Shaw broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. Burton won 2-1 against Forest Green thanks to a late strike from substitute Bobby Kamwa, lifting them out of the relegation zone. Albion took the lead in first-half stoppage time thanks to defender John Brayford. Rovers attacker Jamille Matt’s penalty was saved, then Kamwa made it 2-0 with a minute remaining before Myles Peart-Harris equalized in stoppage time.
Exeter won 4-3 against Bristol Rovers thanks to a stoppage-time header from Sam Nombe. The visitors scored twice in the final moments. Nombe and Archie Collins’s goals put the Grecians in command at halftime. Rovers rallied back, with Aaron Collins and Josh Coburn scoring either side of the hour before Scott Sinclair’s penalty changed the game. With five minutes remaining, Exeter replacement Timothee Dieng leveled things up again at 3-3, and Nombe scored his second of the game to secure a remarkable triumph.
Also Read: Pele, Brazil legend dies aged 82 after battle with cancer
At the Kassam Stadium, Oxford defeated Charlton 3-1. Midway through the first half, Billy Bodin and Matt Taylor had the U’s in command. Even though Miles Leaburn came off the bench to cut the score in the second half, Oxford replacement Gatlin O’Donkor sealed the victory with a late third. Cheltenham won 1-0 against Shrewsbury thanks to a first-half goal from Daniel Nlundulu. Both sides ended with 10 men. Following a brawl with little over 20 minutes remaining, Shrewsbury midfielder Luke Leahy and Cheltenham defender Charlie Raglan were both issued red cards.
EFL Championship league Two of Sky Bet
Swindon Town defeated Northampton Town 2-1 to halt their EFL Championship league Two opponents’ nine-game undefeated run and highlight their promotion prospects. Tyrese Shade and Marcel Lavinier set up the victory, which moved fifth-placed Swindon within five points of third-placed Northampton. Sam Hoskins’ 15th goal of the season gave the Cobblers a stoppage-time consolation. Carlisle cruised to a 3-0 win against 10-man Crewe at Gresty Road.
Morgan Feeney put the Cumbrians ahead after six minutes, and Owen Moxon extended the lead shortly after the break. Crewe captain Luke Offord was sent in the 51st minute for an off-the-ball incident, but replacement Kristian Dennis maintained Carlisle in the top four.
Also Read: EPL, English Premier League is 1 of the Most Powerful League in the World
Mansfield Town remained in the play-off spots after defeating Hartlepool 2-1.
The hosts took the lead thanks to Jack Hamilton’s first EFL Championship league goal in English football, but Rhys Oates, a former Hartlepool striker, equalized early in the second half before Oliver Hawkins scored the winner. Bradford goes up to seventh place – and the last playoff spot – following a 1-0 win over Harrogate in a Yorkshire derby. Tire Wright scored in the opening minute to help the Bantams snap a three-game losing streak in the EFL Championship league.
Tranmere Rovers won 2-1 against Barrow despite the expulsion of Paul Lewis. Lewis was sent out for a harsh charge on Bluebirds goalkeeper Josh Lillis, but Kane Hemmings scored with eight minutes remaining. Jordan Turnbull put Rovers ahead after six minutes, but Barrow equalized via Jordan Stevens. Stockport won 2-0 at Walsall thanks to Kyle Wootton’s double, while Sutton won 2-1 at Gillingham because of Craig Eastmond’s stoppage-time winner.
Elkan Baggott’s own goal two minutes before halftime put Sutton ahead, but Robbie McKenzie equalized 12 minutes later. Salford won 4-1 against Grimsby thanks to Matt Smith’s hat trick in the first half. Salford’s promotion drive was bolstered by Ethan Galbraith’s goal, while Otis Khan scored for the Mariners. AFC Wimbledon’s good record continued with a 2-1 victory against struggling Colchester, extending their EFL Championship league undefeated streak to ten games.
After Huseyin Biler’s long-range shot was just parried by Kieran O’Hara, Ethan Chislett scored from close range in the 89th minute. After 51 minutes, John Akinde scored from the penalty spot for Colchester, but Josh Davidson equalized for the Dons.
Also Read: EPL, 5 things you didn’t know about Premier League
In a seven-goal thriller, Doncaster defeated Rochdale 4-3.
Rovers took the lead via Charlie Seaman and Ben Close, but Devante Rodney and a Ro-Shaun Williams own goal made it 2-2 after 16 minutes. Before the interval, Harrison Biggins’ brilliant free-kick restored Rovers’ advantage, but Rochdale replacement Tyrese Sinclair leveled 13 minutes from time. Captain Tom Anderson, on the other hand, scored four minutes later.
Also Read: Premier League Table 2022–23