The Championship season continued with the latest round of games played during midweek.
Newcastle’s draw wasn’t costly as Brighton also failed to win so the top two remain the same. Wigan’s win boosted survival chances but they remain in the bottom three with Blackburn and Rotherham.
Here’s a round up of the Championship action from the other games played.
Results
Tuesday 14th February 2017 – CHAMPIONSHIP
Aston Villa 1-3 Barnsley 19:45
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Ipswich Town 19:45
Derby County 3-4 Cardiff City 19:45
Fulham 3-2 Nottingham Forest 19:45
Leeds United 2-1 Bristol City 19:45
Norwich City 2-2 Newcastle United 19:45
Preston North End 2-1 Birmingham City 19:45
Rotherham United 2-3 Huddersfield Town 19:45
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Blackburn Rovers 19:45
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Wigan Athletic 19:45
Reading 3-2 Brentford 20:00
Championship leaders Newcastle saw a lead lost against Norwich but salvaged a 2-2 draw with a late goal at St James’ Park to extend the unbeaten run to six games – it also kept the Magpies ahead of title rivals Brighton. The Canaries’ run was also extended to six unbeaten but they lost ground on the top six.
Dropped points from Newcastle gave Brighton the chance to reclaim top spot. However, Albion also had to settle for a point too after being held 1-1 by Ipswich at the Amex Stadium.
The realistic prospect of Aston Villa being sucked into a relegation battle grew when they lost – a fourth straight defeat and sixth in the last seven – 3-1 at Villa Park against Barnsley. This win for the Tykes keeps their play-off hopes alive.
A seven goal thriller at the iPro Stadium eventually saw Cardiff – with a third win in four to move up to 12th – score a 90th minute winner in a 4-3 win over play-off chasing Derby. Defeat for the Rams means they are now eight points off the top six and just a place – albeit five points – ahead of the Bluebirds.
Fulham’s third win in four keeps them in play-off contention. Nottingham Forest remain clear of trouble but this 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage was a second in a row with Gary Brazil’s confirmed appointment until the summer resulting in these successive defeats.
Leeds’ first win in three meant they retained a strong grip on a play-off place after the Whites’ 2-1 victory over Bristol City. The Robins’ three game unbeaten run didn’t prove too costly as the remain three points above the bottom three.
A 2-1 win at Deepdale meant Preston climbed up to 10th and remain in the hunt to claim a potential play-off place. However, Birmingham’s poor form continued with this defeat a fourth in the last five to mean the Blues are closer to the bottom three than top six.
Huddersfield scored a dramatic added time winner at basement side Rotherham to run out 3-2 victors. This was a fifth straight win for Town to see them to within five points of leaders Newcastle and just four of 2nd placed Brighton. The Millers’ fifth defeat in sixth merely increased the likelihood of them playing League 1 football next season.
A third straight win for 6th place Sheffield Wednesday means they now hold a four point advantage over those looking to take their play-off place. Blackburn had drawn level at Hillsborough but this 2-1 defeat against the Owls meant Rovers dropped to second bottom – it is only two points to safety though.
Wolves suffered a third straight defeat – fourth in the last five – when Wigan went away from Molineux with a 1-0 win. This crucial Latics win took them up to 22nd and just two points from safety whereas Wolves are only six points clear of trouble.
Having lost the lead Reading came back to score two late goals in a 3-2 win against Brentford. This Madejski Stadium victory – extending the unbeaten run to six – means the Royals are just five points off an automatic promotion spot. The Bees on the other hand have now lost back-to-back games but remain clear of the relegation zone for now.
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