Burnley and Sheffield United had a contrasting day but both came up with victories to put pressure on the Championship leaders, Leeds, who visit Portsmouth at lunchtime on Sunday.
Sheffield United were made to work for their victory over Preston at Bramall Lane, with Tyrese Campbell scoring the only goal 11 minutes after half-time. Campbell had a huge chance within the first 90 seconds when Harrison Burrows’ low cross fell to Campbell at the far post but he somehow missed the target, albeit from a tight angle. Moments later, Ryan Porteous nearly turned Ben Brereton Díaz’s cross into his own net before Gustavo Hamer had a go from distance but his curling shot sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Preston held on and had their best chance early in the second half when Robbie Brady set up Sam Greenwood, whose effort from range came crashing back off a post.
Preston soon regretted that miss even more as United went up the other end and took the lead. Burrows whipped in a superb cross from the left and Campbell was there to head in.
The victors moved level on points with Leeds, while Preston’s manager, Paul Heckingbottom, against his former club, saw his side’s winless run extend to five league games.
Bobby Thomas scored a last-gasp winner to give Coventry a thrilling 3-2 win over Stoke. Victor Torp had scored a first-half double to put the home side ahead before the substitute Sam Gallagher netted two of his own to haul Stoke level. But Thomas sent the home fans into raptures in the seventh minute of added time when he thumped home to earn his side a ninth win in 10 league outings.
The fixture also marked the return of the Stoke manager, Mark Robins, to the CBS Arena, after he was sacked by Coventry last November. Robins’s seven-year reign featured two promotions, a Championship playoff final defeat by Luton on penalties and FA Cup semi-final heartbreak against Manchester United last season. His old charges inflicted more agony on him, this time by winning.
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League Two roundup: Walsall’s winless run goes on
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Leaders Walsall saw their winless run extended to four games as they slipped to a 3-1 home defeat against Grimsby.
Ellis Harrison had given the Saddlers an early lead, but a brace from Jayden Luker either side of Danny Rose’s penalty just before the break completed the turnaround. Bradford, though, later missed the chance to go top after losing 1-0 at Gillingham.
Swindon fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Doncaster – who had gone ahead inside the opening 20 seconds through Rob Street. Quickfire goals from Daniel Butterworth and Joe Westley in the space of a minute early in the second half completed the turnaround.
AFC Wimbledon ended their four-game winless run with a 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Notts County. Lorent Tolaj’s penalty deep into stoppage time saw sixth-placed Port Vale fight back to draw 1-1 at Fleetwood.
Crewe kept themselves in the play-off places on goal difference after battling to a 1-1 draw at Salford. Colchester picked up a third straight league victory to stay within striking distance of the top seven after a 1-0 win at Cheltenham.
Bottom club Carlisle sunk to a late 1-0 defeat at Harrogate after an own goal from Josh Vela in stoppage time. Fellow strugglers Morecambe lost 2-1 at MK Dons, while Tranmere boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 win over Bromley at Prenton Park.
Barrow beat Accrington 2-0 and Chesterfield saw off Newport 2-1.
An Adam Armstrong penalty gave West Brom a 1-0 victory against QPR – Albion played the second half with 10 men after Darnell Furlong was sent off – while Swansea beat Middlesbrough by the same score thanks to Eom Ji-sung.
Chris Mepham hit the winner as Sunderland beat Cardiff 2-1 and John Eustace oversaw the downfall of his former employers Blackburn as the Derby side he left to join last month prevailed 2-1 at Pride Park, with Craig Forsyth and Ebou Adams scoring inside the first seven minutes.
Sheffield Wednesday pushed Plymouth further towards League One with a 3-0 win at Home Park and Josh Coburn headed in an 81st-minute winner as Millwall came from behind to beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road. João Pedro scored and was sent off within a minute as Hull drew 1-1 at Bristol City – a vital point in their bid to stay up.
