Football in brief
Norwich draw as Leeds go top
Norwich lost their status as Championship leaders but rescued a point in a 2-2 cracker at Ashton Gate thanks to a header from Max Aarons. Goals from Famara Diedhiou – on his 26th birthday – and Callum O’Dowda looked like they had given Bristol City victory after Marco Stiepermann’s opener. But Aarons levelled at the back post to ensure Daniel Farke’s men remain just a point behind Leeds at the summit after the West Yorkshire side won 1-0 at Bolton, Patrick Bamford scoring the only goal. Farke revealed afterwards that he had four players suffering from the flu. “So many things were against us, so I’m pleased with our character,” he said.
Kodjia rescues point for Villa
Jonathan Kodjia came to Aston Villa’s rescue to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw with Stoke. Stoke twice took the lead through Joe Allen and Benik Afobe but Kodjia demonstrated his value by winning a penalty that Tammy Abraham tucked away and then scoring the equaliser after Allen and Afobe had netted for the visitors. Elsewhere, Ipswich manager Paul Lambert hopes the 1-0 victory over Wigan can drive his team forward as they look to climb off the foot of the Championship table. Freddie Sears scored the only goal in the 67th minute as Ipswich picked up their first home win of the season. “The atmosphere in the stadium – I have never experienced an atmosphere like it when you are bottom of the table. This is not normal,” said Lambert.
Luton close gap in League One
Luton closed the gap on Portsmouth at the top of League One to four points after a 2-1 win at Coventry. Goals from Matthew Pearson and James Collins earned a sixth successive victory to take advantage of Portsmouth dropping points in a 1-1 draw at Barnsley. Jonson Clarke-Harris netted a consolation from the penalty spot in stoppage-time for Coventry. At the other end of the table, an 80th-minute error by Rochdale goalkeeper Josh Lillis handed Plymouth all three points in a 2-1 win as he allowed a backpass to trickle under his foot.
Lincoln back at the summit
Danny Cowley’s Lincoln jumped back to the top of League Two with a comfortable 3-1 win over Morecambe at Sincil Bank. Harry Anderson swept the hosts into a seventh-minute lead and John Akinde’s penalty, followed by a Jason Shackell free-kick, effectively ended the contest before half-time as Lincoln took advantage of MK Dons’ game being postponed. Cambridge are a point outside the relegation zone after a goalless draw with Yeovil at the Abbey Stadium, where the hosts had a Christmas tree mowed into the turf.
Campbell wins first match
Sol Campbell enjoyed his first win as a manager as his Macclesfield side beat Crawley 2-0. “We need to win and we need to get up,” he said after goals from Elliott Durrell and Harry Smith. “It’s a real thing, it’s not Mickey Mouse football. It’s real-time football with people, players, fans and the whole club, this club needs to stay up. Saying it’s League Two for me is a bit harsh on it. For me, it’s football.”