Ipswich 2-0 Norwich
Ipswich look increasingly certain to finish second. Their emphatic win at Carrow Road — their first victory there in 20 years — completed a league double over Norwich and dealt a serious blow to the Canaries’ faint play-off hopes. Boss Kieran McKenna said the result meant a great deal to everyone at the club after finally getting a win at Carrow Road earlier in the season and backing it up with this away victory.
Ipswich are now two points clear of Millwall and three ahead of Middlesbrough, with two games in hand on both. Tough fixtures remain — including meetings with Boro and Southampton — but Ipswich look well placed to take the second automatic promotion spot alongside Coventry.
Coventry 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Coventry missed a chance to clinch promotion this weekend. Millwall and Middlesbrough both slipped, but Coventry couldn’t capitalise, drawing 0-0 with Sheffield Wednesday. They remain effectively promoted: 12 points clear of third with four games left, and only an extraordinary swing in goal difference could stop them. Frank Lampard admitted the tension affected his players, but a point at Blackburn next Friday will be enough to seal promotion.
Southampton 2-1 Derby | Sheff Utd 2-1 Hull | Birmingham 2-0 Wrexham
Southampton’s momentum continued as they came from behind to beat Derby for a fifth successive win, moving into fifth and showing they can still aim higher in the play-off race. Tonda Eckert hailed the performance as one of the best of the week, following wins over Arsenal and a 5-1 midweek victory over Wrexham. A win at Blackburn would lift Southampton above Middlesbrough and into fourth.
Hull missed an opportunity to strengthen their play-off bid, losing at Sheffield United after John Lundstram was sent off. Wrexham’s hopes suffered a blow with a 2-0 defeat at Birmingham; Phil Parkinson refused to concede, insisting his side aren’t yet out of the race and are one win away from reigniting their charge.
Leicester 0-1 Swansea | Middlesbrough 0-1 Portsmouth | Oxford 2-0 Watford
Leicester’s plight deepened with a lifeless 1-0 home defeat to Swansea, leaving them four points adrift of safety with four games left. Manager Gary Rowett lamented conceding “a stupid goal” and urged a return to basics, saying the next game will define a lot for the club. Even without their points deduction, they would be 20th — a worrying state for a squad of their quality.
Portsmouth closed the gap to Leicester by beating Middlesbrough 1-0, and could extend that pressure depending on their result at Ipswich. Oxford continued their strong run with a deserved 2-0 win over Watford, collecting 15 points from their last eight games and making a late surge in the table.
Summary and context
– Ipswich are favourites for the second automatic promotion spot, with games in hand and momentum after the Norwich win.
– Coventry remain on course for promotion but delayed the formal confirmation by dropping points at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
– Southampton are flying into the play-off places and could yet climb further.
– Hull, Wrexham and the rest of the chasing pack still have hopes but slip-ups are becoming costly.
– Leicester face a real relegation battle; their squad and season so far makes their situation alarming.
– Portsmouth and Oxford are in good form and adding pressure in the lower half of the table.
All Championship weekend results
Friday
– West Brom 0-0 Millwall
Saturday
– Coventry 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
– Norwich 0-2 Ipswich
– QPR 0-0 Bristol City
– Charlton 1-2 Preston
– Leicester 0-1 Swansea
– Middlesbrough 0-1 Portsmouth
– Oxford 2-0 Watford
– Sheff Utd 2-1 Hull
– Southampton 2-1 Derby
– Stoke 1-1 Blackburn
Sunday
– Birmingham 2-0 Wrexham