Records were matched and broken in a weekend which will go down as one to remember in the EFL.
Take a look back at some of the key headlines from across the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two!
Billy Sharp surpassed David Nugent as the Championship’s all-time leading goalscorer – after the second-tier was renamed from the Football League First Division in 2004 – as Sheffield United recorded a 2-0 win over Peterborough United. The striker notched his 112th goal for his boyhood Club to break the deadlock in the second half and set the Blades side on their way to back-to-back wins.
It was also a day to remember for newly appointed Hull City manager Shota Arveladze. The 48-year-old oversaw the Tigers’ third consecutive win, edging out Swansea City 2-0 as Tom Eaves and Keane Lewis-Potter found the back of the net.
Elsewhere, Queens Park Rangers made it six unbeaten in the League as Mark Warburton’s side cruised to a 4-0 triumph over Reading. The Hoops now trail second-placed Blackburn Rovers by two points, as Rovers themselves were held to a goalless stalemate by Luton Town. Meanwhile, table toppers Fulham shared the spoils with Blackpool in a 1-1 draw.
Our thoughts are with Paul’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. 🤍 https://t.co/MDJCdqI8Na
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) January 29, 2022
And there was late drama as Derby County rescued a point against Birmingham City. Luke Plange halved the deficit in the 87th minute for the Rams, who found themselves 2-0 down with minutes to spare, before substitute Krystian Bielik, returning after a year-long spell on the sidelines, rippled the net deep into injury time to make it 2-2.
There were some sizeable scorelines to note in League One, most notably as Bolton Wanderers made light work of third-placed Sunderland. The Trotters, who managed their third win on the spin, inflicted a 6-0 defeat on the Black Cats which also marked the end of Lee Johnson’s rein at the Club.
And the goals didn’t stop there. Oxford United midfielder Cameron Brannagan took home the match-ball after netting four times from the spot in a 7-2 victory for the U’s over strugglers Gillingham.
In the Lancashire derby, Accrington Stanley came from behind to draw 2-2 with local rivals Morecambe. The first period saw all the action as Jonah Ayunga’s brace gave the Shrimps the lead, before Colby Bishop struck back and Michael Nottingham equalised for John Coleman’s side on the stroke of half-time.
Meanwhile, Milton Keynes Dons leapfrogged Wycombe Wanderers as Scott Twine bagged the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win; Wigan Athletic put another point on the board in a goalless draw with Cheltenham Town, and Rotherham United returned to the summit after beating Crewe Alexandra 2-0.
In League Two, Mansfield Town set a new Club record of eight consecutive League victories. The Stags, who moved up to sixth in the standings, saw off Leyton Orient 2-0 to make history, courtesy of goals from Jordan Bowery and Rhys Oates.
Now 10 points clear in pole position, Forest Green Rovers took a big step forward, beating second-placed Tranmere Rovers 4-0. Attacking duo Matty Stevens and Jamille Matt, who have 35 goals between them this season and counting, both added to their tally in the first half, before two second-half strikes completed the victory.
Newport County ace Dom Telford became one of three players to hit 20 goals this season, bagging a brace in the Exiles’ 2-1 win over Barrow. The Burnley-born striker had Newport 2-0 up within 12 minutes, with that becoming the first player since John Aldridge in the 1983/84 campaign to score as many goals in an EFL season.
And Stevenage made it five unbeaten in the League with an emphatic display against Harrogate Town. Boro ran out 3-0 victors over the Sulphurites, whilst Harrogate now have just one win in seven.