Joe Gelhardt scored two second-half penalties asHullboosted their Championship survival hopesby coming from behind to beat their fellow strugglersPreston2-1. Lewis Gibson put the visitors ahead to give them hope of ending a five-match winless run that has dragged them into trouble, but Gelhardt twice struck from the spot at a rainy MKM Stadium.
Defeat for Hull would have put them in the bottom three afterDerbyandLutonalso won, but Rubén Sellés’ side remain two points above the drop zone in 20th. They can guarantee theirChampionshipstatus by beating Derby at the weekend, while a third successive loss leaves Preston three points above 22nd-placed Luton and desperately low on confidence.
Derby kept their heads above water with a much-needed 3-1 victory overWest Bromat the Hawthorns. A third away victory all season secured John Eustace’s side a precious three points. Results elsewhere meant they stayed out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Luton, meanwhile, beat playoff chasingBristol City3-1 at Kenilworth Road. Thelo Aasgaard’s opener was cancelled out by George Tanner but Carlton Morris and Izzy Jones secured a vital victory.
Elsewhere in the relegation battle,Plymouthstunned playoff-chasingCoventryto claim their third home win in a row, but remained rooted to the foot of the table. Goals from Mustapha Bundu and Ryan Hardie shortly before half-time put the hosts in the driving seat, but there was still time for Haji Wright to make it 2-1 just before the interval. Bundu added his second of the afternoon 20 minutes into the second half to make sure of the points.
Cardiffsuffered a huge blow to their survival hopes as a screaming free-kick from Cameron Brannagan salvaged a 1-1 draw forOxfordand souredAaron Ramsey’s first game as caretaker manager. Yousef Salech’s header early in the second half rewarded a far more proactive performance than in recent months from Cardiff, little more than 48 hours after Omer Riza’s sacking. But, with their relegation rivals profiting elsewhere, Brannagan stepped up 11 minutes from time to score from 25 yards out. It was a hammer blow for Cardiff, who remain 23rd and are now three points from safety.
Anthony Musaba scrambled home an 89th-minute winner forSheffield WednesdayasMiddlesbrough’s playoff hopes were dented by a damaging 2-1 loss at Hillsborough.
Michael Carrick’s side were on course to climb into the top six following Finn Azaz’s 11th-minute opener in rain-soaked South Yorkshire. But Josh Windass equalised early in the second half before Musaba, on as a substitute, earned Wednesday a first home success since New Year’s Day at the death.
The defeats for Coventry and Boro allowedMillwallto roar back into the playoff race after Mihailo Ivanovic scored twice to sinkNorwich3-1 at the Den. Millwall’s top-six hopes looked to have been dealt a fatal blow when they were thumped 4-1 atBlackburnon Friday. But Ivanovic’s double and Femi Azeez’s goal leaveMillwallthree points off sixth place.
Tyrhys Dolan kept alive Blackburn’s chances of making the playoffs after a hard-earned win atSunderland. On an afternoon when results elsewhere meant the hosts secured fourth place, Dolan’s 33rd-minute strike was enough to clinch a 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light and a third on the trot for Valérien Ismaël’s side. By contrast, Régis Le Bris’ team have lost their last three games, hardly the kind of form they would want to take into the playoffs.
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ResurgentSwanseamade it five consecutive wins by beatingQPR2-1, further boosting Alan Sheehan’s chances of taking charge permanently. Sheehan has now presided over seven wins, two draws and two defeats from his 11 matches since taking over as caretaker boss, followingthe sacking of Luke Williams in February.
It would have been five clean sheets in a row had Karamoko Dembele not pulled a goal back forQPRwith their first effort on target. Morgan Fox’s 29th-minute own goal put Swansea in front and Harry Darling scored early in the second half for the Welsh side, who were six points clear of the drop zone a little over a month ago. They are now 11th and pushing for a top-half finish.
Colby Bishop’s goal earnedPortsmoutha 1-0 win over 10-manWatfordwhich ensured their safety.Portsmouthare six points clear of the relegation zone but, with Hull and Derby still to play each other, their Championship status is guaranteed. Watford were reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when Kévin Keben was sent off for bringing down Josh Murphy just outside the area.
At the summit,Leedstook one step closer to promotion with a 6-0 thrashing ofStoke. Joël Piroe scored four first-half goals to blow away the visitors at Elland Road, with Junior Firpo and Wilfried Gnonto adding gloss to the scoreline.