Swans defeat Rovers to go closer to top

SWANSEA City climbed to second in the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-0 home victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Reading’s 3-2 away defeat against Coventry City on Friday opened the door for the chasing pack to close the gap and goals in each half from Ben Cabango and Andre Ayew saw the Welsh club move to within four points of the early pacesetters.

The victory also lifted the Swans above Bournemouth, who had to rely on an 81st-minute Rodrigo Riquelme equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Derby County.

Graeme Shinnie had given the Rams a first-half lead, but Riquelme’s leveller preserve.

Teemu Pukki netted a first-half double to lead Norwich City to a deserved 3-1 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

There were only six minutes on the clock when Pukki struck for the first time, before a deflected effort doubled his tally eight minutes later.

Jack Hunt pulled a goal back for Bristol City within a minute but Emi Buendia slotted past Dan Bentley in first-half stoppage time to re-establish the advantage.

The Canaries sit level on points with Bournemouth, one ahead of Middlesbrough.

Wycombe Wanderers finally secured their first win of the season as they overcame the absence of manager Gareth Ainsworth to beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0, David Wheeler netting in first-half stoppage time.

Ainsworth was watching the game from hospital after undergoing back surgery on Friday.

QPR got the better of a thriller against Cardiff City at Loftus Road, with Dominic Ball’s 25-yard strike in stoppage time securing a 3-2 win after two goals from Joe Ralls had hauled the Bluebirds back from 2-0 down.

It was a first win in eight matches for Rangers.

Defeats for Millwall and Watford, meanwhile, saw them drop out of the top six.

Millwall, whose entire first-team coaching staff are self-isolating following positive tests for manager Gary Rowett and two other staff members, were thumped 3-0 at home by Huddersfield Town, with Josh Koroma, Pipa and Lewis O’brien all on target.

Watford’s loss came at the hands of Barnsley, who triumphed 1-0 at Oakwell thanks to Alex Mowatt’s stunning early effort.

James Mcclean got the winner for Stoke City in a 1-0 victory over Rotherham United, while Brentford were 3-0 winners away against Luton Town.

Rico Henry, Ivan Toney and Marcus Forss all found the net at Kenilworth Road.

In the day’s remaining fixture, Gary Gardner stepped off the bench to bag an 85th-minute winner as Birmingham City defeated Preston North End 2-1 at Deepdale.