Sheffield United were undone by a familiar face as Phil Jagielka proved instrumental in Stoke’s 3-1 home win over the Championship leaders. The 40-year-old, who made 309 appearances for the Blades across two spells, scored one and set up another, recording a goal and an assist in the same game for the first time in his career.
Jagielka first assumed the role of creator, teeing up centre-back partner Ben Wilmot to fire the hosts into an early lead. And, after the Blades levelled through Rhian Brewster’s first goal since January, it was the veteran defender who restored Stoke’s lead, scoring for the first time since April 2019. Substitute Liam Delap then opened his account for the club in added time as new manager Alex Neil earned his first home win.
Second-placed Norwich failed to take advantage, being beaten for the first time in 10 games as Preston came away from Carrow Road with a hard-fought 3-2 win. The visitors, who had only scored four goals all season before this fixture, almost doubled their tally in the space of 90 minutes after going behind to a well-taken early goal from Josh Sargent.
Emil Riis equalised midway through the first half with a powerful header and then put his side ahead early in the second period after a swift break. Substitute Gabriel Sara equalised for Norwich on 76 minutes with another neat finish but the Lilywhites had the final say soon afterwards as substitute Troy Parrott’s cross took a big deflection off Liam Gibbs to deceive Tim Krul.
Kenny McLean thought he had levelled in added time when he found the bottom corner with a low shot from distance but referee Dean Whitestone spotted an offence in the area and ruled it out.
Steve Bruce’s future as West Brom manager is hanging by a thread as their dreadful start to the season continued with 0-0 draw against Luton on a toxic afternoon at The Hawthorns. Tensions were high heading into a game where Albion created enough to have won, but were again left ruing those missed opportunities.
The crowd remained behind the Baggies for the majority of the match, until late substitutions from Bruce prompted repeated strong calls for the manager to go, with chants also aimed at the club’s owner Guochuan Lai.
Jerry Yates’ late double sealed a welcome 3-1 victory for Blackpool against stuttering Watford. Gary Madine put the home side in front before Imran Louza restored parity before the break. A draw then looked to be on the cards before two superbly-taken Yates goals in the final 10 minutes secured Blackpool’s first home win since the opening day.
The Hornets were booed off by the travelling fans as new manager Slaven Bilic presided over a second straight defeat, leaving them 12th on 17 points while Blackpool climbed to 19th with 15.
Nathan Tella’s fifth goal of the season moved Burnley within two points of the promotion places after a 1-0 win against Coventry. The Southampton loanee struck in the first half to give the Clarets just their second win in six games, while Coventry remain bottom.
Swansea made it four league wins on the bounce as they held on for a nervy 2-1 win against Sunderland. First-half goals from Ollie Cooper and Harry Darling were enough for Russell Martin’s men who cemented their sixth place in the table, despite a 51st-minute strike by Black Cats winger Jack Clarke.
Ben Brereton Díaz’s double helped Blackburn to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Rotherham at Ewood Park as they continued their win or lose sequence of results under Jon Dahl Tomasson. The Chile striker took his tally for the season to seven with a first-half penalty and a close-range finish after the break before Sammie Szmodics added the third. The victory put Rovers just outside the play-off places on goal difference, leaving new Millers manager Matt Taylor still looking for his first win.
Cardiff continued their recent resurgence by recording a 3-1 victory over Wigan at the DW Stadium. Callum Robinson, Sheyi Ojo and Ryan Wintle all scored for the Bluebirds, with Charlie Wyke responding, meaning Mark Hudson’s impressive run as City caretaker continues.
On-loan Arsenal defender Auston Trusty scored his first goals in English football as dominant Birmingham brushed aside Bristol City 3-0 at St Andrew’s. The 24-year-old American scored at the start and end of the first half before the on-loan Wolves defender Dion Sanderson added a late third, ending Birmingham’s three-match wait for a victory. The result extended Bristol City’s winless run to five games.
Zian Flemming scored twice as Millwall continued their fine home form with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough. The summer signing from Dutch side Fortuna Sittard benefitted from a lucky deflection early in the first half before hitting the target again just after the break for his third goal this week. Middlesbrough, still without a permanent manager, are still looking for a first away win since early April.