Summary

  • Newcastle beat Huddersfield to go five points clear at the top

  • Ritchie penalty, Murphy and Gayle give Newcastle win

  • Mooy penalty had given Terriers hope

  • Second-placed Brighton beaten at Nottm Forest

  • Rhodes scores twice as Sheff Wed thrash Norwich 5-1

  • Emnes gives Blackburn victory over fellow strugglers Wigan

  1. Postpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Bristol City 0-0 Burton

    Bristol City carve an opening from a corner, as Aden Flint heads David Cotterill's inswinging delivery back across goal.

    However, Jackson Irvine manages to clear for Burton.

    Moments later, Lee Tomlin heads wide for the hosts.

  2. Postpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Nottm Forest 0-0 Brighton

    Still goalless at the City Ground although Albion had a goal ruled out a few minutes ago.

    Brighton's top scorer Glenn Murray had the ball in the net for the visitors, but he had handled the ball in the process.

    Glenn Murray goes closeImage source, Rex Features
  3. goal

    FIRST GOAL IN THE CHAMPIONSHIPpublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Sheff Wed 1-0 Norwich

    Ross Wallace has scored the first goal of this afternoon's Championship games.

    It's a crucial one for Sheffield Wednesday, who are sixth and entertaining play-off hopefuls Norwich.

  4. Postpublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Bristol City 0-0 Burton

    Burton forward Marvin Sordell tests home keeper Fabian Giefer with a curling effort from the edge of the area.

    Remember, Bristol City could drop into the relegation zone today even if they draw this match.

  5. Blades looking sharp early onpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    League One latest

    Mark DuffyImage source, Rex Features

    Sheffield United came into the day seven points clear at the top of League One, and they've taken an early lead in their game at Rochdale.

    It comes in rather unusual fashion, the hosts conceding a free-kick inside their own penalty area when keeper Ben Wilson picks up Matty Lund's pass back.

    Mark Duffy takes full advantage, hammering his shot through a mass of bodies and into the back of the net.

    A few minutes later it's 2-0, as Daniel Lafferty fires in a brilliant goal from 30 yards out.

  6. Postpublished at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Blackburn 0-0 Wigan

    Wigan are forced into an early change at Ewood Park, as the injured Shaun MacDonald is stretchered off and he is replaced by Max Power.

    The Latics started the day in 23rd, one place and two points behind Blackburn.

  7. Hokey-cokey at the top of the Championshippublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Mark Clemmit
    BBC Sport on Final Score

    "By 7.30pm tonight, if both Brighton and Newcastle win, then the top of the table will have changed hands 18 times this season."

  8. Postpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Nottm Forest 0-0 Brighton

    Brighton get the first opening at the City Ground, as Jordan Smith makes a double save to deny Anthony Knockaert and then Jamie Murphy.

    Victory this afternoon will take Brighton back to the top of the Championship table.

  9. Postpublished at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Bristol City 0-0 Burton

    Meanwhile at Ashton Gate, the hosts have hit the bar!

    Aaron Wilbraham heads down and Lee Tomlin's half-volley cannons back off the woodwork.

  10. Postpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Blackburn 0-0 Wigan

    Blackburn have the first sight of goal at Ewood Park, as Craig Conway picks out Liam Feeney on the edge of the box.

    Matt Gilks is down quickly to save.

  11. goal

    FIRST GOAL OF THE DAYpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Stevenage 1-0 Notts County

    The first goal of the 15:00 GMT kick-offs comes at Stevenage in League Two.

    Matt Godden gives the hosts the lead over struggling Notts County.

  12. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    #bbcefl

    We are under way up and down the country in today's Championship, League One and League Two games!

  13. Crunch game for Canariespublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich (15:00 GMT)

    Alex NeilImage source, Rex Features

    Today's match at Hillsborough could prove rather important in the race for the play-offs.

    Sheffield Wednesday currently occupy sixth place, and are five points ahead of the chasing pack headed by Fulham.

    But this afternoon's visitors Norwich are eighth, six points behind the Owls.

    Victory for Alex Neil's side today would bring them back in touching distance the play-offs, but the Canaries are winless in their last three.

    Wednesday have suffered defeat in their last two games, against Brentford and Leeds, and boss Carlos Carvalhal criticised fans who are negative on social media this week

  14. Villa look for hat-trick of winspublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Rotherham v Aston Villa (15:00 GMT)

    Steve BruceImage source, Rex

    Have Aston Villa finally turned a corner?

    The Claret and Blues have won their last two Championship games, following a run of 10 games without a win in all competitions.

    Currently 16 points off the play-offs, Villa's hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League are surely over - but Steve Bruce can continue his rebuilding job at Rotherham.

    The Millers have had a wretched season and are rock-bottom, 16 points from safety.

    Given Paul Warne's side have only picked up 17 points this season and have won just one of their last 12, their hopes of survival are forlorn.

  15. Royals and Wolves seek upturnpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Reading v Wolves (15:00 GMT)

    Ali Al-HabsiImage source, Rex Features

    Jaap Stam's Reading went off the boil slightly last month, winning just one of their five games in February.

    The Royals were beaten by promotion rivals Huddersfield and Brighton, leaving them 11 points off the top two.

    Reading have a seven-point gap to seventh-placed Fulham and have to stay clear of the chasing pack in the race for the play-offs.

    Today's visitors Wolves are also looking over their shoulders, but at the relegation zone.

    Paul Lambert's men have lost five of their last six games, and are just two points ahead of the bottom three.

    Can Wolves stop the rot at the Madejski Stadium?

  16. QPR mark League Cup triumphpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    QPR v Cardiff (15:00 GMT)

    QPR will be wearing a special commemorative kit against Cardiff at Loftus Road, marking the 50th anniversary of their League Cup victory.

    The R's - then in the third division - come back from 2-0 down to beat top-flight West Brom 3-2 at Wembley.

    Here are forward Jamie Mackie and keeper Alex Smithies modelling said strip, flanking former player Mark Lazarus.

    Jamie Makcie, Mark Lazarus and Alex SmithiesImage source, Back Page Images

    Rangers will welcome back players from their 1967 side, including Lazarus, Ian and Roger Morgan, Tony Hazell and Frank Sibley, and present them to the crowd at half-time.

    On the pitch, Ian Holloway's side are looking to move away from trouble at the bottom and entertain a Cardiff side who have picked up 22 points from their 11 games in 2017.

  17. Seagulls can go back to the toppublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Nottm Forest v Brighton (15:00 GMT)

    Anthony KnockaertImage source, Rex Features

    Brighton & Hove Albion suffered a blow to their title hopes on Tuesday evening, when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Newcastle United, who went to the top of the Championship.

    That was a first defeat in six for the Seagulls, who are still in a great position to clinch automatic promotion.

    Chris Hughton's side sit six points clear of third-placed Huddersfield with a superior goal difference and could go back to the summit - ahead of Newcastle's trip to the Terriers this evening - with victory at Nottingham Forest.

    Forest have lost three of their last four, and are four points above the relegation zone.

    There's been movement off the field at the City Ground this week, with Frank McParland appointed director of football - fanning speculation that former Brentford and Rangers boss Mark Warburton could take charge of the Reds.

  18. get involved

    Get Involved at #bbceflpublished at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    How far have you travelled to follow your team?

    Home ParkImage source, Rex Features

    As you can see from this afternoon's League Two fixtures, there are a couple of mammoth journeys, not least the 780-mile round trip faced by Carlisle fans for their top-of-the-table game at Plymouth?

    It's an issue fans of both clubs have become accustomed to over the years.

    But how far have you gone to watch your team? Let us know your longest away days at #bbcefl .

  19. Battle at the bottom in League Twopublished at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    League Two preview

    League Two leaders  Doncaster  face a trip to midtable  Crawley.  Darren Ferguson's side have won just one of their last six games but remain six points clear at the top.

    As with League One, today sees second host third, as  Plymouth  welcome  Carlisle . The Cumbrians will be hoping for any kind of positive result after their 390-mile journey.

    The league's form side  Stevenage  host Kevin Nolan's  Notts Count y, looking to make it seven wins and one draw from their last eight games.

    Leyton Orient's mascot comforts Josh KoromaImage source, Rex Features

    Down at the wrong end of the table Newport , whose manager Graham Westley said he was not bothered about fan abuse, host beleaguered Leyton Orient .

    The O's, second from bottom and six points adrift of safety, were served with a winding-up petition this week.

    It's a long way back for whoever loses, but Orient's mascot won't be on hand to comfort the players today.

    Here's the full schedule (all 15:00 GMT):

  20. Second versus third in League Onepublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    League One preview

    League One leaders  Sheffield United  look to continue their promotion bid when they travel to mid-table Rochdale.

    The Blades are seven points above  Scunthorpe United  and  Fleetwood Town,  who meet in a crunch game at Glanford Park.

    The Iron, without a win in their last six, entertain a Fleetwood side who are 17 matches unbeaten in the league.

    Fleetwood Town playersImage source, Rex Features

    At the bottom, Port Vale go to play-off chasing Southend while Swindon entertain fellow strugglers Chesterfield .

    Just above the drop zone, Oldham travel to Walsall and Bury host Gillingham .

    Here's the full schedule (all 15:00 GMT):