Harris punishes Sluga slip to put Wednesday on top
Sheffield Wednesday moved top of the Skybet Championship with a 1-0 victory over Luton, courtesy of Kadeem Harris’s 54th-minute strike.
The goal arose from a sloppy throw from Luton goalkeeper Simon Sluga. His attempt to start an attack backfired and ricocheted into the path of Jacob Murphy, whose clipped ball to the far post was nodded down by Steven Fletcher for Harris to prod home from close range.
The win helped Wednesday overtake Leeds United – for 24 hours at least – and there was further pain for Luton as Martin Cranie was carried off on a stretcher in the second half.
Birmingham secured their first home win over Barnsley in 11 years as Lukas Jutkiewicz scored for the fourth successive league match at St Andrews, a feat he last achieved in October.
Jutkiewicz’s 69th-minute header was added to by Alvaro Gimenez as the Blues returned to winning ways after taking one point from their past two matches.
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray had more league victories – seven – against Hull City than any other team heading into their clash at the KCOM Stadium and he extended that with a 1-0 win courtesy of Derrick Williams’s first goal since April 2017.
Rovers, who hit the woodwork three times in the first half, were helped by Jarrod Bowen’s second failure in four penalties in the 13th minute.
Jonathan Woodgate recorded his first league win as Middlesbrough manager as Wigan’s woeful record at the Riverside continued. Britt Assombalonga headed home the only goal in the 23rd minute as Wigan, who have now failed to score in their past four matches, made it six games without a league goal on Teesside.
Perhaps the result of the night came in League One as Coventry had two players sent off in the second half against Portsmouth at Fratton Park but still left the south coast with a 3-3 draw.
Fankaty Dabo and Gervane Kastaneer were given their marching orders but the Sky Blues kept scrapping and Michael Rose equalised four minutes from time.
Jordy Hiwula had put Coventry ahead inside four minutes, but Portsmouth cruised clear through goals from Ronan Curtis, John Marquis and Gareth Evans before Matt Godden’s 75th-minute penalty gave the visitors hope.
Like Coventry, Tranmere went down to nine men, having Corey Blackett-taylor and Oliver Banks dismissed early in the second half against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium. Rovers already led through an early Jonson Clarke-harris goal, and Taylor Smith’s penalty two minutes from time secured victory.
Blackpool moved top of League One after preserving their unbeaten record with a 2-2 draw at Gillingham, while Crewe Alexandra took pole position in League Two after they came from behind to beat Crawley 2-1.