Summary

  • Le Fondre earns Bolton win over Aston Villa

  • Championship leaders Wolves beat Burton to go six points clear at the top

  • Struggling Birmingham win first game under new boss Garry Monk

  • Sheff Wed earn injury-time win over Leeds

  • QPR come from 2-0 down to hold promotion-chasing Fulham

  1. Until tomorrow...published at 19:50

    And that is all we have time for today.

    Please do check back here tomorrow for coverage of Derby v Cardiff, as Steve Marshall will be on hand to take you through another big promotion battle.

    Thank you for sticking around to read my waffle once again. Until the next time, goodbye.

  2. REACTION: Owls 'needed that win'published at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Leeds United 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

    Atdhe Nuhiu scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as Sheffield Wednesday earned a dramatic 2-1 victory over Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

    Owls boss Jos Luhukay, who had won just once in his previous 11 games in charge said: "Atdhe made the difference but the team worked very hard.

    "It was big to have Sam Hutchinson and Barry Bannan back because they bring big personality and character. Sam is a fighter and a winner.

    "You could see that the team needed that win. It gives us something to build on after the international break."

    Sheffield Wednesday boss Jos LuhukayImage source, Empics
  3. Post-match reactionpublished at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Bolton celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Bolton boss Phil Parkinson told Sky Sports: "It's a huge win for us going into the international break against a very good side.

    "It was an excellent performance and we deserved to win. Our keeper has had to make a good save towards the end but our application and the way we went about our job tonight was excellent."

  4. Get involvedpublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    #bbcefl

    Mike: Looks like the end of automatic promotion for Villa. How can they be so bad in the last 2 games after such a good win against Wolves. Not sure we have the fight for the play-offs.

    Jon: Ignoring the game and conditions tonight, if Bruce got the team playing football rather than scrapping all season, we wouldn't be struggling against teams like QPR...

    ...Bruce to go at the end of the season if no promotion. I like him but this team should be top 2 and the football has been poor. Rarely dominated matches mostly scraped through. Failed this season. Bottled at every opportunity.

  5. Post-match reactionpublished at 19:37 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Bolton defender Mark Beevers told Sky Sports: "We were compact as a team from the front to the back, and Ben Alnwick made a fantastic save at the end to keep us 1-0 up.

    "As a team we were fantastic today and deserved the three points.

    "The conditions weren't ideal but we played to the conditions and we didn't mess about at the back. When we had to get rid we did."

  6. REACTION: Wolves boss chuffed with control and characterpublished at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Wolves 3-1 Burton

    Wolves boss Nuno Espirito SantoImage source, Rex Features

    Wolves extended their lead at the top of the Championship to six points as Benik Afobe's double helped earn a convincing 3-1 win over lowly Burton Albion.

    Manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: "We know that playing well takes you to victory. The consistency from the team that we asked for was there.

    "The crowd supported us and I think they enjoyed it, but at the same time the lads enjoyed playing.

    "The talent comes when you are organised and when you are intense and you are in shape and reacting to the loss of the ball.

    "It was a good performance that showed control and character."

  7. Post-match reactionpublished at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Adam Le Fondre celebratesImage source, Rex Features

    Matchwinner Adam Le Fondre told Sky Sports: "It's a massive win. Birmingham had a good result earlier, a couple of other teams dropped points and we needed to capitalise.

    "It was a great, battling performance tonight."

  8. Where that leaves thempublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    It wasn't always pretty to watch in that second half, but that was still a lot of fun for a neutral.

    Bolton climb above Reading to 19th in the Championship, three points above the Royals and another three ahead of Birmingham and Barnsley.

    Aston Villa remain seven points behind second-placed Cardiff, who face Derby on Sunday.

    The only good news for Steve Bruce's side is that they look assured of a play-off spot, eight points clear of Bristol City in seventh.

  9. FULL-TIMEpublished at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    What a phenomenal contest, and what a huge three points that is for Bolton Wanderers.

    The Trotters go six points clear of relegation, while Aston Villa look destined for the play-offs after a second shock defeat in a week.

  10. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Brilliant save by Ben Alnwick to keep Bolton ahead.

    James Bree's diving header is on its way to the far corner, but Alnwick changes direction and springs to his left to palm the ball to safety.

  11. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    There are only three minutes of added time.

    It's looking good for Bolton...

  12. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Antonee Robinson darts in behind the Aston Villa back line and stabs in a cross from the left, only to find out none of his team-mates were interested in attacking it.

    They're into the final minute of the 90.

  13. Postpublished at 88 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Keinan Davis' introduction means Aston Villa are now playing what amounts to a 4-2-4 formation.

    They may as well try it, as only victory would keep their realistic hopes of automatic promotion going for another week.

    Bolton are holding on though, on course to go six points clear of the relegation zone.

  14. REACTION: Djuric return comes at a key time for Johnsonpublished at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Bristol City 1-0 Ipswich Town

    Milan Djuric proved the matchwinner as Bristol City beat Ipswich Town to earn just their third victory in 14 games and move to within a point of the Championship play-off places.

    Manager Lee Johnson said: "Milan has had a lot of fitness problems since joining us.

    "He deserved that after the season he has had and he could be a big player for us over the remaining games.

    "But is one of a number of players we have come back from long lay-offs at a key time.

    "It was a massive win for us in terms of maintaining belief among our fans."

    Bristol City striker Milan Djuric celebrates scoring against Ipswich TownImage source, Rex Features
  15. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Let's just call that brave keeping by Bolton's Ben Alnwick.

    The Trotters stopper races out of goal to try to stop a long ball reaching Scott Hogan outside the penalty area on the left, makes only the faintest of contact with the ball, but is fortunate to see a team-mate bail him out.

  16. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    The Beast from the East Part Two is giving the Bolton pitch a proper test here, the snow making it pretty hard to see the action from the stands.

    Both sides make changes, Antonee Robinson replacing Will Buckley for the hosts, while Keinan Davis has come on for Rob Snodgrass for Villa.

  17. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Jon Flanagan may have just saved Bolton all three points.

    Jack Grealish lifts a delightful pass to Robert Snodgrass, his cross is perfectly into the path of Scott Hogan, who shoots first time.

    Ben Alnwick can't stop the ball completely, but Flanagan gets himself in just the right spot to throw his body in the way and divert it back away from goal and into the arms of Alnwick.

  18. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    A testing delivery from Bolton right-back Jon Flanagan is headed behind for a corner.

    Sammy Ameobi's set-piece is safely seen off by Aston Villa, whose already faint hopes of a top two finish are slipping away from them.

  19. REACTION: 'A SunderIand team pushed to the limit'published at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    FT: Sunderland 0-2 Preston

    Frustrated Sunderland boss Chris Coleman watches from the sidelines against PrestonImage source, Rex Features

    Sunderland boss Chris Coleman said he was bored of having to repeat himself after seeing his bottom-of-the-table side beaten 2-0 at home by Preston.

    On-loan defender Jake Clarke-Salter was sent off for a second caution with the Black Cats already 1-0 down and they never looked like staging a fightback.

    Coleman said: "There's nothing new I can tell you. Same mistakes, same theme.

    "I keep saying the same things every week. First 45 minutes were OK but after that we give away a ridiculous goal. We work on set-plays but we don't mark and you get punished.

    "Six times since I've been here we've had men sent off. Maybe that's a team that's struggling and pushed to the limit."

  20. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 72 mins

    Bolton 1-0 Aston Villa

    Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce looks to the subs' bench to turn the score around.

    Winger Albert Adomah is off, striker Scott Hogan coming on.