Leeds and Burnley held to draws in Championship

Pascal Struijk looked to have won the game for the hosts with an 88th-minute penalty but Danny Batth's last-gasp equaliser rescued a point for play-off contenders Rovers. With the top two guaranteed automatic promotion at the end of the season, second-placed Burnley missed the chance to gain ground in a goalless draw at home to Stoke. 

To make matters worse for the Clarets, Hannibal Mejbri was sent off for a stamp in the closing minutes. Plymouth Argyle's first game since Wayne Rooney stepped down as manager ended in a 2-2 draw with west country rivals Bristol City thanks to Julio Pleguezuelo's stoppage-time equaliser.

The Spanish defender struck in acrobatic fashion for the Championship strugglers after Adam Randell's free-kick dropped off Zak Vyner into the six-yard box. City twice led, through Anis Mehmeti and Jason Knight, before Rami Al Hajj, with his first goal for the Greens, and then Pleguezuelo ensured a point for the hosts. Despite the draw, Plymouth remained rooted to the bottom of English football's second tier.

Portsmouth, however, climbed out of the bottom three with a stunning 4-0 win at home to Swansea thanks to goals from Josh Murphy, Paddy Lane, Ryley Towler and Colby Bishop at Fratton Park. Cardiff held on for a 1-1 draw against Coventry after the sending-off of Callum Robinson while QPR continued their climb away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over play-off contenders Watford.

Oxford maintained their winning start under Gary Rowett as a Ruben Rodrigues header gave them a 1-0 win at Millwall in Alex Neil's first game in charge of the Lions. Josh Windass scored a spectacular goal from inside his own half in Sheffield Wednesday's 4-2 defeat of Derby, with Barry Bannan, Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba also on target for the Owls. Marcelino Nunez scored the only goal as Norwich won 1-0 at Luton and West Brom defeated Preston 3-1.

 

January 1, 2025