Record signing Zian Flemming struck a superb hat-trick as Millwall returned to the playoff places with a 4-2 victory at Preston. The Dutch midfielder was in predatory mood as he inspired the Lions to a deserved first victory in four games, while Preston’s three-match winning streak was abruptly halted.
Flemming put Millwall 2-0 up before Preston hit back to level the score on 28 minutes. However, he completed his hat-trick in the second half and Charlie Cresswell hit a fourth to cement a fine away win.
Sheffield United moved back to the top of the table with a 1-0 win at Cardiff. A 64th-minute goal from George Baldock was enough to secure all three points for the visitors.
Cardiff dominated much of the first half after a ponderous first 20 minutes, with the Bluebirds’ front three causing plenty of issues on the counterattack. The home side had plenty of chances, but failed to capitalise as the half wore on. The introduction of James McAtee at half-time helped the Blades take control, although the visitors spurned several golden opportunities to take the lead before Baldock shot powerfully past the helpless Ryan Allsop.
Substitute Matt Crooks struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Middlesbrough came from behind to claim an impressive 2-1 victory against Norwich at Carrow Road. Crooks provided an emphatic finish to a swift counterattack to give the visitors a third successive win under recently appointed manager Michael Carrick.
Boro were trailing to Josh Sargent’s well-taken seventh-minute opener until past the hour mark before the game was transformed by a spectacular volley from Riley McGree. Both sides then went all out for the three points, with Boro having the final say as Norwich lost ground in their promotion challenge, with loud boos from home fans greeting the final whistle.
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Leaders Plymouth had to settle for a point after drawing 1-1 with Lincoln.
Adam Randell scored his third goal in five appearances for Argyle to open the scoring. Niall Ennis’ attempt was blocked but Randell was there to pounce on the rebound and fire home from 25 yards.
But the sides were all square when Max Sanders took advantage of Argyle’s failure to clear a corner and blasted the ball into the roof of the net to equalise one minute into stoppage time and lift the Imps to 13th in the table.
Second-placed Ipswich could not narrow the gap after their home clash with Cheltenham also ended 1-1. The Tractor Boys took an early lead from a Leif Davis corner, which Wes Burns dutifully flicked on to Luke Woolfenden to poke past Luke Southwood at the back post on eight minutes. But it was all tied up at the break after Ryan Broom found the back of the net.
Sheffield Wednesday moved within one point of Ipswich with a 1-0 win at Accrington. Burton climbed one place off the bottom following a 3-3 thriller with Charlton, who dropped two places to 11th place as a result.
Jevani Brown smashed in a last-gasp, second-half stoppage-time winner as Exeter beat fourth-placed Peterborough 3-2. Timothee Dieng’s 27th-minute opener for Exeter was cancelled out 13 minutes later when Jonson Clarke-Harris sent a half-volley into the bottom-right corner. Ephron Mason-Clark gave Posh the lead but the hosts responded through Sam Nombe to set up the late drama.
Adam Mayor set up Liam Shaw’s opener for hosts Morecambe, who were held 1-1 by Portsmouth thanks to Colby Bishop’s equaliser midway through the second half.
Bolton held Cambridge to a goalless draw despite going down to 10 men after midfielder Kyle Dempsey was shown his second yellow card on 75 minutes.
That result opened the door for Derby, who moved into sixth with a 3-1 win away at MK Dons.
Adam Phillips struck a 10th-minute winner as Barnsley prevailed 1-0 at Shrewsbury, who dropped four places to 14th, while Oxford gained four spots with a 4-0 win over Port Vale thanks to braces from Billy Bodin and Matt Taylor.
David Wheeler and Garath McCleary netted in Wycombe’s 2-0 victory over struggling Forest Green, who slumped to the bottom of the table as their opponents climbed three places to 10th.
Fleetwood’s Shaun Rooney shocked Bristol Rovers with an equaliser nine minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw.
The interim Luton manager, Mick Harford, saw his side snatch a late point at home to Rotherham as they drew 1-1. Former manager Nathan Jones left for Southampton on Thursday, and the Hatters went a goal down in the first minute when Jamie Lindsay put the Millers in front, but Luke Berry scored in the 90th minute.
Harford praised his players after what he called a “whirlwind” week at the club. “They give me everything they have, they give the staff everything, they give the club everything. I’ve really enjoyed the last three or four days: this is a magnificent set of players, a brilliant squad, who work tirelessly.”
Liam Rosenior’s first home game in charge of Hull ended in defeat as the Tigers fell to a 2-1 defeat to Reading thanks to a late own goal. Jacob Greaves put Hull in front before Yakou Méïté equalised, but a rebound off Ryan Longman saw Hull concede right at the death.
Rosenior had made a bright start in his new role as Hull head coach, but his side have now lost their last four home games and are a point above the relegation zone. He said: “It’s a tough one to take considering our control and domination in the second half.
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Leyton Orient maintained their three-point lead at the top of Sky Bet League Two after a 2-0 win at Harrogate.
Paul Smyth’s early header and George Moncur’s penalty put Orient in control at half-time and that was enough for the Londoners as they bounced back from their midweek defeat at AFC Wimbledon.
The top three all recorded victories, with Stevenage needing a late goal from Danny Rose to see off second-bottom Hartlepool 1-0 and Northampton winning 2-0 at Gillingham. Sam Hoskins’ 13th league goal of the season gave the Cobblers a half-time lead and Kieron Bowie added a second after the break.
Bradford climbed above Barrow into fourth place after winning 2-0 at Sutton thanks to Andy Cook’s 12th league goal of the season and Scott Banks’ second-half effort.
Crawley’s Ashley Nadesan scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win against Barrow, who slipped to their first league defeat since mid-October.
Swindon moved level on points with Barrow despite being held 1-1 at home by Tranmere, with Jacob Wakeling cancelling out Josh Hawkes’ opener for the visitors. Tranmere’s Jordan Turnbull was sent off for his challenge on Frazer Blake-Tracy in stoppage time.
Carlisle dropped out of the top seven after being held 0-0 at home by Walsall, while Salford also drew 0-0 at home against AFC Wimbledon.
Mansfield climbed back into the play-off places as George Maris scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Rochdale.
Dan Agyei’s late header gave Crewe a 1-0 home win against bottom club Colchester and Doncaster were 3-1 winners at Grimsby, where George Miller’s brace sandwiched Harrison Biggins’ effort before John McAtee’s late consolation for the Mariners.
Paddy Madden’s seventh league goal of the season secured Stockport a 2-1 win at Newport. Chris Hussey’s second-half free-kick hauled Stockport level after Aaron Lewis had given Newport an interval lead and Madden fired a second-half winner.
“I’m not going to have a go at players – they’ve given me absolutely everything this last week – but what we need to do is work on the small details.”
Viktor Gyokeres’ double earned Coventry their fourth league win on the bounce with a 2-0 victory against QPR at the CBS Arena. The Swede pounced on Jamie Allen’s miskick to fire past Seny Dieng and then slotted home Callum O’Hare’s pass to lift Coventry just two points off the playoffs, despite sitting 22nd in the table before their winning run. It was also a ninth clean sheet in 12 outings.
Struggling Wigan left it late as Curtis Tilt’s header saw them beat 10-man Blackpool 2-1. Marvin Ekpiteta was sent off for Blackpool in the 17th minute, but they took the lead through Gary Madine. James McClean levelled for the Latics nine minutes into the second half and Tilt found the winner with two minutes left on the clock.
The Tangerines drop into the relegation zone, while West Brom climb out of the bottom three into 21st after a 2-0 win against Stoke. Kyle Bartley put the Baggies in front six minutes before the break and Brandon Thomas-Asante doubled their lead early in the second half with an overhead kick.
Elsewhere, bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield held Swansea to a 0-0 draw while Bristol City and Watford also finished goalless.
