Owls fly higher than the Magpies

SHEFFIELD Wednesday stayed on course for the play-offs as they prevented Newcastle from going back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-1 victory at Hillsborough.

The Owls had been dislodged from the top six by a Fulham win earlier in the day, while Reading saw their promotion hopes dented by a 7-1 thrashing at Norwich.

Wednesday, though, would end the day back in the mix as second-half headers from Tom Lees and Steven Fletcher saw off the Magpies.

It was a first loss on the road since January 2 for Rafael Benitez’s men, though they made a game of it in the final few minutes with a deserved goal for Jonjo Shelvey.

Reading, who had previously won three games in a row, remain fourth despite being hit for seven by a rampant Norwich at Carrow Road.

Nelson Oliveira got things going with a third-minute penalty and, by the time Yann Kermorgant scored for Reading (39), Wes Hoolahan, Russell Martin and Alex Pritchard (two) had netted for the on-song Canaries, who will have caretaker boss Alan Irvine in charge until the end of the season.

Hoolahan added a second before the break and Cameron Jerome slotted in number seven late on.

Leeds put their mini-wobble behind them and severely dented Preston’s play-off hopes in the process with a 3-0 win.

Kemar Roofe got them started before Pablo Hernandez and Souleymane Doukara sealed the win, while Preston’s Alex Baptiste saw red late on.

Fulham are seventh after a 3-1 win at home to Ipswich. Floyd Ayite scored early on and Scott Malone and Stefan Johansen made sure before Christophe Berra’s consolation.

Gary Rowett enjoyed a winning return to Birmingham with new side Derby.

Rowett was surprisingly sacked last year but his side went ahead at St Andrew’s when Tomasz Kuszczak put into his own goal. Birmingham enjoyed Che Adams’ leveller but Tom Ince ensured a sweet return for Rowett in injury time.

Jonathan Kodjia scored again for Aston Villa but they were pegged back by Lloyd Dyer as they drew 1-1 at Burton, while Sean Morrison and Peter Whittingham earned Cardiff a 2-1 win over Brentford, for whom Sergi Canos netted.

At the bottom of the table, Bristol City boosted their survival hopes with a 3-0 crushing of in-form Wolves.