Key Takeaways
- Leicester City lost 1-0 at Portsmouth and could drop to League One on Tuesday.
- Millwall beat QPR 2-0 to climb back into second place in the Championship.
- Southampton stretched their winning run to eight games with victory at Swansea.
Portsmouth tightened their grip on Championship survival and pushed Leicester City towards the third tier after a 1-0 win at Fratton Park on Saturday.
Defender Ibane Bowat bundled in a 63rd-minute corner to give Pompey a third straight victory and leave the Foxes staring at relegation.
Leicester have taken only one win from their last 17 league outings and could be condemned to League One on Tuesday night when they welcome Hull City to the King Power Stadium.
Manager Gary Rowett said his players again showed “no fight, no composure and no quality” after the final whistle.
Millwall revived their promotion charge with an early blitz against Queens Park Rangers. Derek Mazou-Sacko struck inside three minutes and Camiel Neghli added a second soon after, lifting the Lions above Ipswich Town and Southampton into second spot.
“We had to start fast and pin them back,” boss Alex Neil said. “The boys did exactly that.”
Southampton kept their surge alive by coming from behind to beat Swansea 2-1. The Swans led at the break through Marko Stamenic, but the Saints replied after half-time to record an eighth consecutive win in all competitions.
Hull City’s play-off hopes wobbled again as Birmingham City fought back for a 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium. Joe Gelhardt’s first-half goal looked enough until Japan midfielder Tomoki Iwata lashed in a late equaliser from distance.
The Tigers have claimed only one victory in six matches and remain two points ahead of chasing Wrexham.
Wrexham eased past Stoke 2-0 at the Racecourse Ground. George Thomason and Josh Windass scored within 69 first-half seconds to settle nerves after back-to-back defeats.
Manager Phil Parkinson warned: “We want to take the play-off race to the final day. Nothing will be given to us.”
Norwich City clawed back a 4-2 win at Bristol City thanks to Mohamed Touré’s second-half hat-trick. The Canaries trailed early but roared ahead through Touré’s three goals and a José Córdoba header, leaving interim City boss Roy Hodgson with his first loss in four games.
West Bromwich Albion made it eight matches unbeaten by seeing off Preston North End 2-0 at Deepdale. Josh Maja opened early and substitute Daryl Dike sealed the points to move the Baggies five clear of the drop zone, despite a possible points deduction hanging over the club.
Charlton Athletic moved nearer safety with a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday. Matty Godden’s strike was cancelled by Gabriel Otegbayo, yet the Addicks still enjoy a six-point cushion above the relegation places with three games left.
Finally, Sheffield United edged past Watford 2-0 at Vicarage Road. Patrick Bamford’s brace on a bright afternoon confirmed both clubs are safe from relegation and lifted the Blades above their hosts in the table.