A full midweek Championship schedule was accompanied by a scattering of fixtures from League One and Two. Here's how the action unfolded...
Cardiff City, Aston Villa and Fulham kept up the pressure on Wolverhampton Wanderers with Tuesday triumphs under the lights.
Goals from Callum Paterson and Marko Grujic helped the Bluebirds defeat Barnsley 2-1, Lewis Grabban was among the goalscorers as Aston Villa eased to a 3-0 success at Sunderland, and Aleksandar Mitrovic made it five goals in four games, scoring a brace in Fulham’s 3-0 win over Sheffield United.
However, Wolves responded in style 24 hours later, when Romas Saiss, Willy Boly and Benik Afobe netted in a routine away win at Leeds United.
Sean Maguire followed up his weekend brace with the winner as Preston North End defeated Bristol City, and that result opened the door for Middlesbrough – Patrick Bamford’s fourth goal in four days taking Tony Pulis’ men into the top six.
George Saville needed just 57 seconds to put Millwall on their way to a 2-1 win at Hull City, and their fellow Londoners Brentford also won on the road, defeating Burton Albion 2-0 at the Pirelli Stadium.
A Martyn Waghorn double saw Ipswich Town run out 2-1 winners at Hillsborough, while the spoils were shared at Carrow Road and the Madejski – Norwich City and Nottingham Forest played out a goalless draw, and Adam Le Fondre earned Bolton Wanderers a point in a 1-1 draw at Reading.
Just one League One encounter took place, and it was one which resulted in Rochdale climbing off the bottom of the table.
Jim McNulty’s first goal for the club put them in front at Walsall, and they extended their advantage after the break with goals from Ian Henderson and debutant Mihai Dobre.
Accrington Stanley moved within a point of long-time League Two leaders Luton Town after narrowly getting the better of Morecambe, courtesy of Billy Kee’s penalty.
Dan Butler scored at both ends in the opening nine minutes of Newport County’s six-goal thriller against Forest Green Rovers. Trailing 1-0 but then leading twice, the Exiles couldn’t hang on for maximum points – Lee Collins late goal resulting in a share of the spoils.
Lincoln City also left it late, with Ollie Palmer grabbing an equaliser at Mansfield Town, and Cheltenham Town denied Notts County maximum points, although the 1-1 draw at Whaddon Road did move the Magpies back into the top three.
