Newcastle United returned to the top of the Sky Bet Championship following a rare defeat for challengers Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Magpies won 2-1 away at Brentford, but Chris Hughton’s side were stopped in their tracks at Preston North End, who ended their 19-game unbeaten run and ensured Brighton are still without a victory at Deepdale.RESULT OF THE DAY: Lots in contention…
— EFL (@EFL) January 14, 2017
But it goes to @pnefc, who defeated a @OfficialBHAFC side unbeaten in 19 matches! pic.twitter.com/Qu8gA6mxF1
There are now five points between Sheffield Wednesday in the last of the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off places and Derby County in seventh. Wednesday defeated fifth-placed Huddersfield Town 2-0 to move to within a point of the Terriers, and take advantage of Derby’s loss to Leeds United on Friday night.
Read more: Sky Bet Championship: Leeds United defeat Derby County to move third
Elsewhere, Cardiff City produced a stunning late comeback to emerge with all three points in the lunchtime Severnside Derby at Bristol City. The Bluebirds trailed 2-1 with 11 minutes remaining, but stunned Lee Johnson’s side - who continue to ship late goals.
There were five goals at Ipswich Town as they saw off a spirited Blackburn Rovers to move up to 14th, and there was a first win in eight games for Wigan Athletic, who beat Burton Albion.
Rotherham United also produced a shock to beat Norwich City 2-1 in Yorkshire, while Fulham overcame Barnsley 2-0 at Craven Cottage and Birmingham City continued their winless run under Gianfranco Zola, in a goalless stalemate against Nottingham Forest.
In the late kick-off, Wolverhampton Wanderers overcame rivals Aston Villa 1-0 at Molineux courtesy of Joe Mason's first-half strike.
Sky Bet Championship: Matchday 26 results
Thursday 12th January 2017
Reading 0-1 Queens Park Rangers
Friday 13th January 2017
Leeds United 1-0 Derby County
Saturday 14th January 2017
Birmingham City 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Brentford 1-2 Newcastle United
Bristol City 2-3 Cardiff City
Burton Albion 0-2 Wigan Athletic
Fulham 2-0 Barnsley
Ipswich Town 3-2 Blackburn Rovers
Preston North End 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Rotherham United 2-1 Norwich City
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Huddersfield Town
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Aston Villa
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet Championship table
Scunthorpe United closed the gap at the top of Sky Bet League One to a single point after Sheffield United fell to a shock defeat at Walsall.
The Blades, who had won six on the spin, were thumped 4-1 at Banks’s Stadium, allowing Scunthorpe to make ground after their late 2-1 victory at Northampton Town.
Another side in the mix at the summit, Bolton Wanderers, slumped to a surprise defeat, when Swindon Town took all three points from the Macron Stadium.
James Vaughan was the star of the afternoon after he netted four times in less than 20 minutes to help Bury thrash Peterborough United 5-1. The visitors took a 1-0 lead early on, but four strikes from Vaughan helped end the Shakers’ winless run, and move them out of the relegation zone.
STAR OF THE DAY: It can only be @buryfcofficial's James Vaughan - four goals in 19 minutes!
— EFL (@EFL) January 14, 2017
8’ - ⚽️
16’ - ⚽️
24’ - ⚽️
27’ - ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/04atpAI7F3
There was a first win back at the helm for John Sheridan, whose third spell in charge of Oldham Athletic saw them defeat Gillingham 1-0, while Chesterfield and Shrewsbury Town ensured four of the bottom five picked up three points.
Elsewhere, there were triumphs for AFC Wimbledon, Southend United and Fleetwood Town.
Sky Bet League One: Matchday 27 results
Saturday 14th January 2017
AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Oxford United
Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Swindon Town
Bury 5-1 Peterborough United
Charlton Athletic 0-0 Millwall
Chesterfield 1-0 Coventry City
Fleetwood Town 3-1 Bristol Rovers
Northampton Town 1-2 Scunthorpe United
Oldham Athletic 1-0 Gillingham
Port Vale P-P Milton Keynes Dons
Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Bradford City
Southend United 2-1 Rochdale
Walsall 4-1 Sheffield United
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet League One table
Doncaster Rovers made it three consecutive Sky Bet League Two wins after coming from behind to beat Barnet 3-1.
The long-serving James Coppinger was on the scoresheet twice as Rovers maintained their 10-point cushion to fourth-placed Portsmouth inside the automatic promotion places.
Plymouth Argyle stayed within four points of Doncaster, in second, after a see-saw contest at Home Park eventually saw them prevail 3-2 against Stevenage.
Third-placed Carlisle United did drop points, however, at home to Morecambe, as Portsmouth got back to winning ways against Leyton Orient.
Luton Town jumped into the top seven by beating Crewe Alexandra, while Cambridge United moved to within a point of the Play-Off places despite being held to a goalless draw at home to Blackpool.
Meanwhile, there were good wins for Cheltenham Town and Exeter City, who both triumphed 3-0, Wycombe Wandererss unbeaten run continued as they drew with Yeovil Town and Notts County ended a 10-game losing streak to take a point against Mansfield Town in Kevin Nolan’s first match as manager.
Sky Bet League Two: Matchday 24 results
Saturday 14th January 2017
Barnet 1-3 Doncaster Rovers
Cambridge United 0-0 Blackpool
Carlisle United 1-1 Morecambe
Cheltenham Town 3-0 Accrington Stanley
Crawley Town 1-0 Hartlepool United
Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Luton Town
Grimsby Town 0-3 Exeter City
Newport County 1-1 Colchester United
Notts County 0-0 Mansfield Town
Plymouth Argyle 4-2 Stevenage
Portsmouth 2-1 Leyton Orient
Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Yeovil Town
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet League Two table