Summary

  • Brighton beat Cardiff to go top of the Championship

  • Tomer Hemed's strike gives the Seagulls all three points

  • Roy Beerens gives Reading win over Fulham

  • Beerens scored after John Swift penalty saved

  • Ali Al-Habsi saves late Chris Martin penalty for Fulham

  • Wins for Fleetwood and Oldham in League One

  1. Until tomorrow, farewellpublished at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Tomer HemedImage source, Rex Features

    Despite warnings of fog, the weather gods were kind tonight, as we were treated to a pair of low-scoring, but highly-entertaining Championship games.

    Thanks for joining me tonight - we'll have more live text coverage of the Championship tomorrow, when promotion-chasing Leeds host Nottingham Forest.

    Until then, goodbye.

  2. Relive the actionpublished at 22:06 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    If you missed any of the action, you can catch up by reading our match reports.

    Brighton went back to the top of the Championship with a hard-fought win over Neil Warnock's Brighton, a game you can relive by clicking here.

    Meanwhile, Adam Williams was at the Madejski Stadium to watch Reading cling on for a 1-0 victory over Fulham - his report can be found here.

  3. Full-time around the groundspublished at 22:01 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    It's all over in League One, with victories for Fleetwood and Oldham.

    The Cod Army extended League One leaders' Sheffield United's run without a win to three games courtesy of goals from Conor McLaughlin and Devante Cole.

    And, at the other end of the table, Oldham moved to within three points of safely with a 2-0 win over Peterborough with goals from Paul Green and Ryan McLaughlin.

    And in the EFL Trophy, Coventry and Wycombe are the first two sides through to the semi-finals.

    The Sky Blues, bottom of League One, beat Swansea's Under-21s 4-2 on penalties, while Adebayo Akinfenwa got Wycombe's winner as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Mansfield.

  4. FULL-TIME: Reading 1-0 Fulhampublished at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Roy BeerensImage source, Rex Features

    After a nail-biting final five minutes, the referee blows for full-time and Reading take all three points.

    Roy Beerens scored the only goal of the game, and Ali Al-Habsi's late penalty save preserves Reading's record of winning all five of their games when Beerens gets on the scoresheet.

    The Royals are up to third, level on points with fourth-placed Huddersfield and six points above seventhy-placed Derby.

    Fulham meanwhile stay ninth, still five points outside the play-off places.

  5. Postpublished at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Still three minutes left to play, and Fulham do themselves no favours with a bizarre handball.

    Reading defender Danny Williams looks to head the ball out of play, but Stefan Johansen - clearly in a rush to get the throw back into play - catches the ball before it goes out.

  6. Postpublished at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Mick Gooding
    Ex-Reading player/manager on BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Ali Al Habsi, take a bow, take another bow and another bow.

    He has made himself big, Chris Martin has blasted the ball and it has come off his thigh.

    Jaap Stam's heart would have sunk when the referee gave that penalty and then it would have jumped for joy when it was saved.

  7. MISSED PENALTYpublished at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Saved!

    Chris Martin tries to put it in the bottom corner, but Ali Al-Habsi dives low to his right and makes a vital save.

    On first viewing, the decision to award the penalty looked fair, as Lucas Piazon was felled by a tackle inside the box. Can Reading cling on?

  8. Penalty to Fulhampublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Chris Martin to take it...

  9. Postpublished at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Time to turn our attention back to the Madejski, where Reading still hold a slender 1-0 lead over Fulham heading into the final five minutes.

    Both sides make changes, with George Evans and Yann Kermorgant coming on for the hosts, and the hugely-experienced Scott Parker on for Fulham.

    Reading will be up to third if they hold onto this lead.

  10. Postpublished at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    FT: Brighton 1-0 Cardiff

    Warren Aspinall
    Ex-Brighton striker on BBC Sussex

    It was a workmanlike performance tonight from Brighton. 

    Teams will come to The Amex and frustrate, we had to scrap for the win.

  11. FULL-TIME: Brighton 1-0 Cardiffpublished at 21:42 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Tomer HemedImage source, Rex Features

    They had to really fight for it, but Brighton go back to the top of the Championship.

    Tomer Hemed's lovely turn and thumping finish was the only difference between the two sides in the end, and it's a result which the hosts probably deserve on balance after a much-improved second-half showing.

    Brighton are now 11 points clear of third-placed Huddersfield with only 19 games left. That is huge.

  12. Postpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Adam Williams
    BBC Sport at Madejski Stadium

    Fulham struggling to find that killer final ball when they threaten the Reading area.

    Lots of space available on both flanks for the visitors to deliver crosses, but little on the end of it.

    Chris Martin, booked earlier for a cynical trip on Liam Moore, cuts a dejected figure as he mishits a somewhat ambitious attempt on the volley from the edge of the area.

  13. Postpublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Brighton 1-0 Cardiff

    Cardiff are only a goal behind, but Brighton still look more likely to score as the teams approach the end of 90 minutes.

    Anthony Knockaert is left with just enough room on the corner of the box, curling the ball just over Allan McGregor's goal.

    That's Knockaert's last contribution of the game, as Jiri Skalak comes on for the four added minutes left to play.

  14. Oldham at the doublepublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Into the closing minutes at Oldham where the Latics now lead Peterborough United 2-0.

    Ryan McLaughlin taps in at the far post for the home side after good work from Aaron Amadi-Holloway on the break.

    "Wonderful goal, fabulous finish!" says BBC Radio Manchester's Jack Dearden.

    In the EFL Trophy, Wycombe, who face Tottenham in the FA Cup on Saturday, have come from behind to lead 2-1 at Mansfield.

    After Scott Kashket came off the bench to level, Adebayo Akinfenwa has not put the Chairboys in front.

    And in south Wales, Swansea and Coventry are level at 1-1.

  15. Postpublished at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Reading's Garath McCleary is really starting to impose his will on this game, testing David Button with another shot which Button can only gather at the second attempt.

    Fulham have made their second change of the night with 20 minutes to go, Ryan Sessegnon coming on for Scott Malone.

  16. Postpublished at 21:28 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Brighton 1-0 Cardiff

    Anthony KnockaertImage source, Rex Features

    That would have been game over, but Brighton centre-half Lewis Dunk heads just wide of the goal as the Seagulls press forward for a second goal.

    Cardiff bring Craig Noone and Rhys Healey on to try to swing the momentum back in their favour, and they are nearly rewarded within a minute of the changes.

    Noone is involved in it, driving a shot low towards goal, but a Brighton defender gets in the way of it. 10 minutes left.

  17. Postpublished at 21:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Adam Williams
    BBC Sport at Madejski Stadium

    It's been all Reading since the break in this one. No idea what Jaap Stam had to say in the changing room at half-time, but it looks like it went in.

    Fulham's decision to bring on former Reading loanee Lucas Piazon in midfield hasn't had the desired effect yet and the visitors are struggling to keep hold of the ball.

    The next goal looking more likely to come from the home side.

  18. goal

    GOAL (Hemed)published at 21:21 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Brighton 1-0 Cardiff

    Tomer Hemed scoresImage source, Getty Images

    Oliver Norwood wastes no time making an impact, feeding a pass to Tomer Hemed just outside the box.

    From there, it's all about the Israel striker, who turns sharply and thunders a shot beyond Allan McGregor. Great finish.

    Brighton are going back to the top of the table unless the Bluebirds can respond.

  19. Postpublished at 21:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Reading 1-0 Fulham

    Garath McClearyImage source, Rex Features

    Off the bar!

    Garath McCleary cuts in from the left and is so close to a wonderful goal.

    HIs shot is firmly hit, dipping and curling, but it strikes the bar and Fulham survive.

  20. Postpublished at 21:18 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2017

    Brighton 0-0 Cardiff

    Into the final 20 minutes between Brighton and Cardiff at the Amex Stadium, where the hosts are creating a bit of pressure, but with no reward.

    Chris Hughton turns to Oliver Norwood as he looks to make a breakthrough, with Beram Kayal coming off.