Leeds back on top as Norwich beaten

LONDON: Leeds took advantage of Norwich’s 3-1 defeat at Preston to reclaim top spot in the English Championship with victory over Swansea.

Norwich are now looking over their shoulders in second after Sheffield United beat 10-man Middlesbrough 1-0 to move within two points of the Canaries in third.

Pontus Jansson opened the scoring for Leeds in the 20th minute after a loose ball fell for him in the area.

And it was 2-0 after 34 minutes when Jack Harrison got his head to Ezgjan Alioski’s cross to finish.

Oli McBurnie scored a late goal for Swansea from the penalty spot, but Leeds hung on to move a point clear at the top after a 2-1 win.

Norwich trailed after only two minutes as Ben Davies headed in Paul Gallagher’s cross at Deepdale.

Preston’s Brad Potts then hit the crossbar before Emi Buendia brought down Darnell Fisher in the box to earn the hosts a penalty – which Gallagher converted.

Norwich had a penalty of their own before the break, but Marco Stiepermann missed the chance to get them back into it as Declan Rudd saved his spot-kick.

Sean Maguire made it 3-0 to the hosts before Teemu Pukki scored for Norwich in stoppage time but it was little consolation.

Sheffield United scrapped their way to victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Boro thanks to Richard Stearman’s header just after the hour mark.

Boro had Daniel Ayala sent off 26 minutes from time, but remained in the play-off places in sixth as Derby were held to a 1-1 draw at bottom side Ipswich.