Championship roundup: Leeds leapfrog Southampton after Swansea stroll
Leeds swept aside Swansea 4-0 to claim a seventh-consecutive Championship victory, moving above Southampton and into second spot while equalling their biggest win of the season.
The hosts were left facing an uphill battle that proved well beyond them after Crysencio Summerville and the former Swansea striker Joël Piroe struck inside the opening 10 minutes.
Wilfried Gnonto added a brace to make it four goals in as many games, with Daniel Farke’s side maintaining their push for an automatic promotion spot in style.
Southampton had not lost in the league since 23 September but their 22-match unbeaten streak came to an end against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Second-half goals from Sam Bell, Rob Dickie and Harry Cornick put a dent in Saints’ bid for automatic promotion as City won an entertaining game 3-1.
The home side grabbed a 52ndminute lead when Anis Mehmeti and Jason Knight exchanged passes on the right of the box and Mehmeti crossed low for Bell to net from six yards.
Centre-back Dickie rose above the Saints defence to head home a Joe Williams corner from the left after 72 minutes and Cornick set the seal on an impressive City display by lashing home an 82nd-minute cross from fellow substitute Ross McCrorie.
Southampton had to wait until stoppage time to reply when Adam Armstrong netted from the spot following a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters.
Leaders Leicester strengthened their position at the top as their captain
Jamie Vardy scored against his boyhood club in a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at King Power Stadium.
Enzo Maresca’s side had the game won by half-time and are now 14 points clear of third-placed Saints as they close in on promotion back to the Premier League. Vardy, who was released by the Owls for being too small as a teenager, also played a part in the opening goal for Abdul Fatawu after four minutes.
January signings Mikey Johnston and Andreas Weimann scored in either half as West Brom beat Cardiff 2-0 for a fifth straight Championship home win, keeping Albion in the playoff pack.
Johnston struck inside the first minute when he turned home Tom Fellows’ delivery from the right. In the 80th minute, Weimann scored his second goal in Albion colours when he rounded off a smart move involving his captain Jed Wallace.
Norwich are sixth after recovering from losing a two-goal lead to beat Watford 4-2 at Carrow Road. The Canaries appeared to be in command after scoring twice in eight first-half minutes through Ashley Barnes and Josh Sargent, only for the Hornets to hit back as Mileta Rajovic netted just before the break and Yáser Asprilla scored a long-range stunner to equalise midway through the second period.
But the home side kept their nerve and two quick goals from Gabriel Sara and Christian Fassnacht sealed a hard fought win that made it nine home games without defeat, while dealing another blow to Watford’s rapidly receding hopes of finishing in the top six.
New Blackburn manager John Eustace’s return to former club Birmingham
ended in disappointment as Rovers slipped to a 1-0 defeat. Andre Dozzell scored the only goal in the 77th minute to end his side’s 388-minute drought and reward their dominance.
Bottom-of-the-table Rotherham’s woes continued as they went down 2-1 at home to Hull. Christ Tiéhi had fired the Millers into a fourth-minute lead, but Cameron Humphreys’ own goal – a deflection from Jaden Philogene’s audacious rabona cross – dragged the Tigers back into it and the substitute Noah Ohio ensured their playoff push remains on track with a 75th-minute winner.