CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW

NORWICH are on the verge of returning to the Premier League after a 1-0 win at Derby put them 17 points clear of third-placed Brentford.

The Canaries need only two more points to confirm their place back in the top flight.

Kieran Dowell’s free-kick was the difference at Pride Park, but Norwich had to hang on in the second half, with Tim Krul making key saves before almost gifting Graeme Shinnie a stoppagetime equaliser.

All the signs point to Norwich going back up as champions, with the win at Derby restoring their eight-point advantage at the top of the Championship after second-placed Watford beat Reading 2-0 on Friday night.

The Hornets have a nine-point cushion in the race for the second automatic promotion spot after poor runs of form for both Brentford and Swansea, though both sides at least managed to put that right on Saturday.

Brentford took their frustration out on Preston as they won 5-0 at Deepdale. Bryan Mbuemo and Marcus Forss had the Bees in control before the break, while Ivan Toney, Sergi Canos and Emiliano Marcondes all scored in the final 15 minutes.

Fifth-placed Barnsley are a further three points behind Swansea after Alex Mowatt and Daryl Dike scored in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at Oakwell.

Bournemouth climbed into the final play-off place with a 4-1 win over struggling Coventry.

Arnaut Danjuma turned in David Brooks’ cross with just 24 seconds gone, though Coventry hit back moments later through Matty James. But after Danjuma scored his second just before the half-hour mark, further goals from Brooks and Dominic Solanke earned the Cherries a hugely important three points.

Adam Armstrong struck a stoppage-time equaliser for Blackburn in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff.

It was Armstrong’s second of the afternoon after Bluebirds keeper Alex Smithies gifted him the first just before the break, cancelling out Will Vaulks’ opener. Joe Ralls put Cardiff ahead with 20 minutes to go, but Armstrong had the final word.

Birmingham moved another step closer to safety as Lukas Jutkiewicz scored a brace to help them to a 2-0 win over Stoke.

Huddersfield were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Rotherham.

But Sheffield Wednesday are on the verge of the drop after a 4-1 hammering at QPR left them seven points adrift of safety with six matches remaining.

Josh Windass cancelled out Lyndon Dykes’ opener to keep Wednesday level at the break, but Stefan Johansen put QPR back in front before Dykes scored again and Chris Willock added a fourth.

Wycombe went down 3-1 at home to Luton, who scored three times in the final 10 minutes.

Bristol City and Nottingham Forest played out a goalless draw.