Newcastle United cruised past Rotherham United to return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday of Matchday 27 in the division.
Daryl Murphy's third goal in three games just before the break was the catalyst, with the Magpies adding three second-half efforts to move back above Brighton & Hove Albion, who defeated Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night.Huddersfield moved to third after beating Ipswich Town 2-0, and they retained that place after Barnsley won 3-2 against Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in Saturday's evening kick-off.
Preston North End fought back from two goals down to draw with Aston Villa - Jordan Hugill's double cancelling out Albert Adomah's first-half brace - and the spoils were also shared in the games between Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City, and QPR versus Fulham.
Wigan Athletic moved out of the bottom three following their 2-1 win over Brentford, Ben Osborn's brilliant strike brought Nottingham Forest's seven-game winless run to an end, Cardiff City left it late to beat Burton Albion and Norwich City defeated 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 at Carrow Road.
😳👏
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) January 23, 2017
Ben Osborn's moment of magic to win the match for @NFFC earns him the @SkyBetChamp#GoalOfTheWeekend. pic.twitter.com/qE2BdJyZT2
In the day's other game, Derby County came out on top in a five-goal thriller versus Reading, eventually prevailing 3-2 to keep in touch with the Play-Off pack.
Sky Bet Championship: Matchday 27 results
Friday 20th January 2017
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Saturday 21st January 2017
Aston Villa 2-2 Preston North End
Barnsley 3-2 Leeds United
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Birmingham City
Cardiff City 1-0 Burton Albion
Derby County 3-2 Reading
Huddersfield Town 2-0 Ipswich Town
Newcastle United 4-0 Rotherham United
Norwich City 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Bristol City
Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Fulham
Wigan Athletic 2-1 Brentford
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet Championship table
Sheffield United remain top of Sky Bet League One, but were held by Gillingham on Matchday 28.
Kieron Freeman netted his fourth goal in five games to salvage a point for the Blades, but Scunthorpe United are now just two points behind the leaders with a game in hand.
The Iron didn't play as their fixture at Charlton Athletic was postponed due to a frozen pitch, which was also the case at Southend United, who were due to play Bolton Wanderers at Roots Hall.
Of the games that did take place, the entertainment was at stadiummk where Milton Keynes Dons defeated Northampton Town 5-3 in Justin Edinburgh's first game as Cobbers manager. Gary Caldwell fared better in his Chesterfield bow, earning a point in a goalless draw with AFC Wimbledon.
What a hit. 🎯@GreggWylde earns @SkyBetLeagueOne#GoalOfTheWeekend with this half-volley for @ntfc. 👌 pic.twitter.com/xQHgXYNgEE
— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) January 23, 2017
There were home wins for Walsall and Shrewsbury Town, with the latter moving out of the bottom four following their victory over fellow strugglers Oldham Athletic.
Rochdale had been flying at home with 10 straight wins, but they were crushed 4-0 at Spotland by Oxford United, while Peterborough United and Fleetwood Town earned 1-0 wins on the road – the Cod Army climbing to fourth with their latest three-point haul.
👏 #EFL RESULT OF THE DAY 👏
— EFL (@EFL) January 21, 2017
A 🔟-game winning streak at home came to an emphatic end today.
What a display from @OUFCOfficial! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QLf7Q7Bph1
In the division's other games, Bradford City and Millwall battled out a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade, while Port Vale and Bury shared the points in a Friday night fixture.
Sky Bet League One: Matchday 28 results
Friday 20th January 2017
Port Vale 2-2 Bury
Saturday 21st January 2017
Bradford City 1-1 Millwall
Charlton Athletic P-P Scunthorpe United
Chesterfield 0-0 AFC Wimbledon
Coventry City 0-1 Fleetwood Town
Milton Keynes Dons 5-3 Northampton Town
Rochdale 0-4 Oxford United
Sheffield United 2-2 Gillingham
Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Oldham Athletic
Southend United P-P Bolton Wanderers
Swindon Town 0-1 Peterborough United
Walsall 3-1 Bristol Rovers
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet League One table
Doncaster Rovers maintained their lead at the Sky Bet League Two summit with a 3-1 win against Crewe Alexandra.
The triumph extended their unbeaten home record this term, but Plymouth Argyle kept pace thanks to Sonny Bradley's late winner at Cheltenham Town.
Carlisle United played against 10 men for 78 minutes, but couldn't take three points at Accrington Stanley, drawing 1-1, which was also the scoreline between Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town in a battle of fifth versus sixth.
Unstoppable. @ASFCofficial's @shaymccartan claims the @SkyBetLeagueTwo#GoalOfTheWeekend with this strike. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ym0CW88mi8
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) January 23, 2017
Exeter City are now unbeaten in nine after defeating Colchester United – another side in a rich vein of form – by three goals to nil, while Mansfield Town are five games without loss after impressively ending Cambridge United's eight-game undefeated run 3-1.
There were routine home wins for Grimsby Town and Hartlepool United, who would have impressed Dave Jones watching from the stands, while games at Crawley Town and Leyton Orient were called off due to adverse weather conditions.
🌟 #EFL STAR OF THE DAY 🌟@watkins_ assisted all three of @OfficialECFC's goals in a 3-0 win.
— EFL (@EFL) January 21, 2017
The Grecians are now 9️⃣ unbeaten. pic.twitter.com/K0LCo4UesU
Elsewhere, neither Barnet nor Newport County could break the deadlock at The Hive, and the points were also shared at Bloomfield Road after Nathan Delfouneso equalised late on for Blackpool against Yeovil Town.
Sky Bet League Two: Matchday 27 results
Saturday 21st January 2017
Accrington Stanley 1-1 Carlisle United
Barnet 0-0 Newport County
Blackpool 2-2 Yeovil Town
Cambridge United 1-3 Mansfield Town
Cheltenham Town 1-2 Plymouth Argyle
Crawley Town P-P Portsmouth
Doncaster Rovers 3-1 Crewe Alexandra
Exeter City 3-0 Colchester United
Grimsby Town 2-0 Notts County
Hartlepool United 2-0 Stevenage
Leyton Orient P-P Morecambe
Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Luton Town
Standings: Click here to see the Sky Bet League Two table