Summary

  • Reading beat Cardiff to move up to third

  • Nigel Clough's Burton win at QPR

  • Burton allow Clough to talk to Forest

  • Barnsley beat local rivals Rotherham

  • Norwich ease past Birmingham

  • Last-gasp Preston draw with Ipswich

  1. Final Scorepublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    #bbcefl

    You can keep up to date with all the goes as they go in via Final Score.

    You can click the link above to watch alongside our live text offering, or find it on the Red Button now and BBC One later.

    Jason Mohammad, Garth Crooks and Kevin Kilbane will keep you up to date with all the action in the FA Cup as well.

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  2. League Two previewpublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Dave Jones

    Dave Jones returns to management proper this afternoon after taking over at Hartlepool United. He watched on from the stands as Pools beat Stevenage last weekend, today at Rodney Parade he'll be in the dugout for the trip to Newport County.

    High-fliers Doncaster and Exeter City have won their past four games in League Two, they travel to Yeovil and Portsmouth respectively. Pompey are fourth, and have Carlisle three points above them in their sights.

    Struggling Notts County are hoping to channel a bit of optimism at Meadow Lane this afternoon, following the news the club have had their transfer embargo lifted by the EFL. Crawley Town are the visitors, and a win could take the Magpies out of the bottom two if other results go their way.

  3. League One previewpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Josh MorrisImage source, Getty Images

    Scunthorpe United can go top of the table IF they can beat Port Vale at Glanford Park this afternoon, with leaders Sheffield United not playing today. 18-goal Josh Morris has scored in his past three league games and netted against Vale earlier in the season - although the Iron lost that one 3-1.

    Third-placed Bolton take on Charlton in a game in which 10 years ago was a Premier League encounter. The Trotters haven't won in the past four... although two of those games were against top flight Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. Charlton have rallied of late, unbeaten in their past four.

    Two of football's current most unfortunates meet at Sixfields, when Northampton Town - having lost their past five - host former tenants and fellow strugglers Coventry City who have not won in 12. Could someone banish their run today?

  4. Bodin haunts dad's old clubpublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    FT: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Swindon Town

    Billy Bodin scores for Bristol RoversImage source, Rex Features

    I wonder whether Billy Bodin will get any tea tonight at home - because he's scored the crucial goal for Bristol Rovers that has won the derby with Swindon Town in League One.

    Billy's dad Paul played almost 250 league games in two spells for Swindon and even had a spell as caretaker boss there, but there was no sentiment from his son at the Memorial Ground.

    He smashed in from the edge of the box just before the half-hour, enough to seal the three points in a game they edged on the stats and the scoreboard.

    The win moves Rovers up to eighth in League One, three points off the play-offs, ahead of the 15:00 GMT kick-offs.

  5. Brewers boss Clough to hold Forest talkspublished at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017
    Breaking

    Some breaking news for you which we mentioned at the start of our live text.

    Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough has been granted permission to talk to Nottingham Forest about their vacant managerial role.

    Click the link below to find out more.

    Clough 'interested' in Forest talks

    Burton boss Nigel Clough is interested in speaking to Nottingham Forest about their vacant managerial role.

    Read More
  6. Tykes to get better of Millers again?published at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Rotherham v Barnsley (15:00 GMT)

    RotherhamImage source, Getty Images

    It's a Yorkshire derby at the New York Stadium, but Rotherham have been the poor relations in this fixture recently, losing six of the last 10 meetings and winning just once.

    The Millers seem doomed to relegation after a poor start to the campaign, with their goal difference of -33 effectively leaving them 10 points from safety.

    Victory over a Barnsley side who are are four points off the play-offs and have suffered just one defeat in six would give Paul Warne's side a much-needed boost.

  7. Royals target third placepublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Reading v Cardiff (15:00 GMT)

    Reading playersImage source, Getty Images

    Reading could go third with victory over Cardiff at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon.

    Jaap Stam's side have had their momentum checked in recent weeks by defeats against QPR and Derby.

    The Royals got back on track by beating Fulham in midweek after Ali Al-Habsi saved a late penalty.

    Stam's side have won six of their last seven at home in the league, but the Bluebirds will provide a stern test.

    Neil Warnock has guided Cardiff eight points clear of the relegation zone, and the Welsh side have lost just two of their last nine in the Championship.

  8. Holloway leads R's revivalpublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    QPR v Burton (15:00 GMT)

    Ian HollowayImage source, Rex Features

    After a stick start, things are looking brighter for Ian Holloway at Queens Park Rangers.

    The 53-year-old won his first game in charge after being reappointed as boss in November, but then lost the next six on the bounce.

    However, the R's then won three in a row and are unbeaten in four Championship games.

    Holloway is putting his own stamp on the side, promoting youth and shipping out Sandro, Tjaronn Chery and Sebastian Polter to free up some funds for new signings.

    Today's visit of lowly Burton provides a chance to move further away from the relegation zone.

  9. Lilywhites aim to boost play-off bidpublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Preston v Ipswich (15:00 GMT)

    Paul Huntington and Paul GallagherImage source, Rex Features

    Preston are one of three teams looking to move within striking distance of the play-off places today.

    They should be pleased that Ipswich are the visitors to Deepdale today, as the Tractor Boys have only won on one of their past 12 league trips to Preston - although that victory came last season.

    Mick McCarthy's Blues have endured an inconsistent season and have their lowest points total at this stage of a season since 2012-13.

  10. Will Zola's wait end?published at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Norwich v Birmingham (15:00 GMT)

    Gianfranco ZolaImage source, Rex Features

    Eight games after taking charge of Birmingham City, Gianfranco Zola is still waiting for his first win.

    The Blues were outside of the Championship play-off places on goal difference when Gary Rowett was sacked on 14 December, and subsequently replaced by the Italian.

    City are now eight points off sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday and, with the Owls not in league action today, could do with a victory today to get their play-off bid back on track.

    Can Zola taste victory for the first time at Norwich, who have won four of their last five league games at home?

  11. Pressure still on Neilpublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Norwich v Birmingham (15:00 GMT)

    Alex NeilImage source, Rex Features

    The last three months have not been kind to Alex Neil and Norwich.

    Top of the Championship with 26 points from their first 12 games, the Canaries have since taken 14 points from their last 15 games.

    The Carrow Road side are now 10th, five points off the play-offs, heading into today's game against Birmingham.

    Norwich chairman Ed Balls came out in support of Neil in November but the Scot surely does not have much margin for error after their automatic promotion faded.

  12. All eyes on Cloughpublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    QPR v Burton (15:00 GMT)

    Nigel CloughImage source, Rex Features

    We'll start with the big Championship news which broke yesterday.

    Nigel Clough returned for a second spell in charge of Burton in December 2015, but he could be on his way out of the Pirelli Stadium.

    The 50-year-old has been linked with the vacant post at Nottingham Forest, a club which he has a long association with.

    His father Brian is a Forest legend, leading the club to a league title, four League Cups and two European Cups in 18 years in charge at the City Ground.

    Nigel then scored 131 goals for the Reds in 10 years with Forest as a player.

    He met with Brewers chairman Ben Robinson yesterday after Forest approached the club to speak to Clough about the job.

  13. Today's actionpublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    Here are the five Championship games on today:

    • Norwich v Birmingham (15:00 GMT)
    • Preston v Ipswich (15:00 GMT)
    • QPR v Burton (15:00 GMT)
    • Reading v Cardiff (15:00 GMT)
    • Rotherham v Barnsley (15:00 GMT)

    We'll have team news and previews from those matches on the way shortly.

  14. The magic of the EFLpublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2017

    #bbcefl

    Good afternoon and welcome along to our live text coverage of today's English Football League action.

    The fourth round of the FA Cup means that there are just five Championship games today, but we'll bring you every goal as they go in.

    There are also 18 further games in League One and League Two, with Scunthorpe aiming to go top of League One.

    People talk about the magic of the FA Cup, but the EFL provides magic every week. QPR boss Ian Holloway is happy to be in league action, judging by this pre-match shot from Loftus Road...

    Ian HolowayImage source, Rex Features