Norwich City remain top of the Sky Bet Championship after they saw off a resilient Rotherham United side to win 3-1 at Carrow Road.
Trailing at the break, the Canaries had to come from behind in what was a tight affair for the first 50 minutes. But they broke the Rotherham resilience when Todd Cantwell scored his first ever professional goal and Max Aarons nodded in a header shortly afterwards. Teemu Pukki then scored what was his 11th goal of the campaign to give Norwich their fourth straight win at home as they continue on their promotion push.
Leeds United had gone to the top of the table for a few hours after Pablo Hernandez’s goal at Bramall Lane in the Yorkshire derby had given them all three points. It was Hernandez’s fifth goal in six away games and he pounced on a mistake by Blades keeper Dean Henderson to send the travelling supporters in to raptures.
One of the most impressive displays of the weekend’s action came from Dean Smith’s Aston Villa side who won again as they swept aside Middlesbrough 3-0 at the Riverside Stadium. Tammy Abraham scored either side of goals from James Chester and Glenn Whelan to give Villa their fourth win in five games. It was Abraham’s sixth goal in just three games after his four against Nottingham Forest in midweek and his Villa side are now just outside the play offs on goal difference.
Another striker in red hot form is Lewis Grabban, who scored again at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest moved up to 5th in the league table with a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town. It was a wholly comfortable afternoon for the Reds who are now unbeaten in seven games, while Ipswich on the other hand, are now seven points adrift at the foot of the table.
At the Hawthorns on Monday evening in the final game of Matchday 20, Brentford scored a last minute equaliser at the Hawthorns to prevent West Bromwich Albion from winning a fourth straight league game for the first time since 2012. Harvey Barnes' strike with just under 10 minutes to go looked as if it would be enough but substitute Lewis MacLeod 90th minute equaliser earnt the Bees a point.
Harry Wilson scored twice for Derby County as the Rams got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win against Swansea City at Pride Park. Wilson has been one of the Sky Bet Championship’s shining lights this season and he scored two more brilliant goals here to add to his tally, his fourth in just three games.
Birmingham City remain unbeaten in 14 games at St Andrews after three second half goals gave them a victory over Preston North End. It ended what had been a brilliant nine game unbeaten streak for Alex Neil’s men, while Blues moved up to ninth in the standings with their win.
Meanwhile, there was a hugely entertaining affair at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-2, ending a run of three games without a win for Rovers. Their hero was Danny Graham who scored in the last minute of the match to seal the points and a brilliant hat trick, on his 100th start for Blackburn.
Reading scored a last-minute equaliser at the Madjeski Stadium to draw 2-2 and prevent Stoke City from taking all three points in a brilliant game. The Royals had led early on, but a terrific goal from Tom Ince and a Benik Afobe strike, looked to have secured another away win for the Potters, before Mo Barrow’s stoppage time leveller.
Elsewhere, Hull City moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win at QPR. Jarrod Brown scored twice and set up another, as he inspired the Tigers to a massive three points at Loftus Road. Bolton Wanderers couldn’t hold on to a lead against Lancashire rivals Wigan Athletic as Will Grigg’s penalty earnt the Latics a point in a 1-1 at the Macron Stadium.
In Sunday’s game, Bristol City and Millwall shared a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate. A late equaliser for the Lions though, wasn’t enough to move them out of the relegation zone and they remain in the bottom three.