Summary

  • West Brom draw 0-0 with Birmingham but go top on goal difference

  • Fulham beaten by Brentford in early game, Leeds play on Sunday

  • Charlton battle to win at Hull in big game at bottom

  • Bottom side Barnsley beat QPR, Wigan also win

  • Victories for Derby, Swansea and Blackburn, all other games end in draws

  • Fans experience problems with EFL's iFollow system

  • First Championship fixtures since 8 March

  • Get involved via #bbcefl on Twitter

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    Well, that is where we'll call time on our coverage of the Championship's return.

    After more than 100 days on pause, we've been treated to 11 interesting games I think it's fair to say.

    Some significant results at both ends of the table and they'll be little time to rest up for all these sides as the closing games come thick and fast over the next month or so.

    To catch up on all of today's reports - click here.

    Until our coverage continues on Sunday lunchtime - thanks for being with us.

  2. Still to come....published at 18:43 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    Cardiff City v Leeds United (Sunday, 12:00 BST)

    There's more live action from the Championship on its way this weekend.

    Sunday sees Leeds United with a chance to regain top spot and put a bit more daylight between themselves and the chasing pack with a victory.

    But Cardiff City will be keen to try and throw a spanner in the works against one of their old rivals knowing a win for themselves would put them firmly back into play-off contention.

    We'll have full live text coverage for you here on BBC Sport with all the build-up coming to you before kick-off at 12:00 BST.

    Be sure to catch it!

  3. Bowen bemoans missing out on winpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Reading 1-1 Stoke City

    Mark BowenImage source, Getty Images

    Reading boss Mark Bowen was unable to get a win over former employees Stoke City as their early lead was cancelled out by Nick Powell's stoppage-time leveller at the Madejski Stadium.

    "We thought we’d done enough, I thought we played well through the game and controlled for long periods, we had ample opportunities to get the second goal," Bowen told BBC Radio Berkshire.

    "I thought we had two definite penalties turned down, so all those things adding together you're thinking you get to a stage where you see the game out.

    "We were a bit a sloppy in giving them the corner that led to the equaliser."

  4. Bristol City players 'need a deep think' - Johnsonpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Blackburn 3-1 Bristol City

    After his side's 3-1 defeat against fellow play-off hopefuls Blackburn at Ewood Park, Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson said:

    "There weren’t really any excuses today. It’s disappointing to see.

    "I do feel sorry for the people watching it because I know they’ve been waiting for a long time.

    "And I think the players have got to really have a deep think, because we’re fantastic in training, we played really well against Southampton [in a friendly] last week, but we’ve got to go out on the pitch with that football arrogance to go and be the best player on the pitch on the day.

    "Maybe barring Korey Smith, I didn’t see enough of that attitude."

  5. Cocu believes Derby confidence growingpublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Millwall 2-3 Derby County

    CocuImage source, Getty Images

    Derby County manager Phillip Cocu hailed the belief of his side to not only get a vital win at Millwall but have the confidence to play the way they did.

    The win keeps Derby in the hunt for a play-off place as they moved to within three points of the top six.

    "Apart from the football we played, we also showed again that mentally we are a strong side," Cocu said.

    "We have confidence in our way of playing the game, we know we're going to be able to score one or two goals.

    "The first time they really came close to our goal, they scored. And that's hard. We'd been really good, and then they get the goal.

    "Some parts of the season we'd struggled in that aspect but we've improved a lot - confidence in the team and each other is high, and we showed that again."

  6. Lamouchi left to rue late Forest dramapublished at 18:29 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    Sabri Lamouchi could almost have hummed Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' to himself on the touchline, with his Nottingham Forest side 1-0 up against Sheffield Wednesday - in stoppage time - a day after he signed a new deal.

    Cue Connor Wickham. The former Ipswich, Sunderland and Palace striker nodded in a corner to cancel out Joe Lolley's opener for Forest, and deny the Reds three big points in their promotion bid after three months off.

    “Unfortunately we can’t celebrate my contract with the three points,” Lamouchi said. “Maybe next week I hope.

    “I am disappointed about the two points we missed. We have a fantastic challenge until the end. We just want to achieve our target. We want to play in the play-offs and we should give our best for that.

    "The best way was to start with the three points today, unfortunately not. But a point is a point.”

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  7. Cowley disappointed in Huddersfield losspublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Huddersfield 0-2 Wigan

    Huddersfield Townn boss Danny Crowley looks on during his side’s loss against Wigan.Image source, Getty Images

    Speaking of the Terriers, their manager Danny Cowley was not holding back in his assessment of his side's performance in their 2-0 defeat by Wigan Athletic.

    "We're bitterly disappointed with the levels of our performance. We worked very hard in the lead up to this game and we didn't get value for our hard work and that's tough to take," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

    "We'll go back and watch it back but we wanted to play with power and aggression and intensity and we didn't do that. We wanted to be dynamic and we weren't.

    "I don't think it's time for excuses. I don't like to make them. They're for weak people and I don't think anyone wants to hear them."

  8. Huddersfield to 'make thoughts known' to EFLpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    The start of today's 15:00 BST kick-offs was dominated more by streaming problems for fans attempting to watch games via the English Football League's iFollow platform than the actual action.

    Huddersfield Town have, in the last few moments, just issued a fairly strong statement on the matter.

    "The club, via chief executive Mark Devlin, has made its thoughts known to the EFL after today’s game on behalf of supporters, and await confirmation of what will be done to ensure this service works for our fans for the rest of the season," it says.

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  9. Struber delighted to see 'spirited' Barnsley rewardedpublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: QPR 0-1 Barnsley

    Gerhard StruberImage source, Rex Features

    Barnsley picked up a vital victory to move themselves off the bottom of the table and to within four points of safety as Elliott Simoes goal proved the difference against QPR.

    “For us it (the win) is very important," manager Gerhard Struber said. "We know our situation - we need points.

    “This gives every single player a good feeling and self-confidence for the next difficult task. The mood in the changing room was great.

    “In the last few weeks, we spent a lot of time on our style. It was very difficult for the opponent and that was the aim.

    “Our defensive structure, and especially the spirit and energy to work together like this, against this massive opponent, was key to a good performance and to getting the necessary points.”

  10. 'We've got to take the positives'published at 18:12 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Hull 0-1 Charlton

    Hull dropped into the Championship relegation zone with their defeat by Charlton today. The Tigers have lost 10 of their past 12 league games either side of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Manager Grant McCann told BBC Radio Humberside: "I thought in general play we did really well. The most disappointing thing for us was conceding from a set-play.

    "We switch off, we lose the first header, we lose the second header and allow a tap-in our box.

    "We're never happy when we lose a game. What we've got to do is make sure we take the positives out of the game, We've got eight big games left and it's really tight down there.

    "There are going to be lots more twists and turns, I know we'll get better and sharper as the games come, and we need to start that next week now."

  11. Cook not overstating Wigan win at Huddersfieldpublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Huddersfield 0-2 Wigan

    Wigan Athletic boss Paul Cook was eager not to overstate his side's achievements after their impressive 2-0 victory away at Huddersfield, which moved them three points clear of the Championship relegation places.

    "The reality is it's just about the points on the board now and while clean sheets are great, the brutal reality we've got to get more points," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

    "I'd rather look forward than back. If we've been on a great run, it doesn't mean we're going to stay on a great run.

    "The challenge for us now it train hard, recover. We've got to make sure we look after our lads and keep believing in what we're doing."

  12. Sibley thrilled with hat-trick displaypublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Millwall 2-3 Derby County

    It was a pretty special return to Championship action for teenager Louie Sibley earlier.

    His three goals at The Den helped Derby County to a vital win against Millwall.

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    Sibley, 18, also scored on his full league debut against Blackburn earlier this season.

    That victory saw The Rams move to within three points of the play-off places.

  13. 'It's in our hands', says Bowyerpublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Hull 0-1 Charlton

    Charlton moved out of the bottom three with a crucial victory at fellow strugglers Hull, who are now in the relegation zone.

    Manager Lee Bowyer told BBC Radio London: "I think it was well deserved. From the first whistle we looked sharp.

    "To get the goal quite early on was nice, we settled down and got into some good areas. On another day, we could have scored another two or three goals.

    "A clean sheet as well - I'm very pleased.

    "We're out of the bottom three and now it's in our hands. It's a good start but it's not over yet. We've got to keep fighting for every point and the players did that today. I'm really proud of them."

  14. Monk proud of 'dominant' Owls displaypublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Nottingham Forest

    Sheffield Wednesday might have left it late to rescue a point in their 1-1 draw against play-off hopefuls Nottingham Forest, but that does not tell the full story of the game according to boss Garry Monk.

    Connor Wickham headed in a corner in stoppage time to level, after Joe Lolley had put Forest ahead against the balance of play earlier in the half.

    "I thought it was a quite dominant performance against a very good side," Monk told BBC Radio Sheffield

    "We could have felt sorry for ourselves when they got that unbelievable block (from Worrall and Samba) and then they score from the one lapse we have all game. But we came fighting back, showed real fight to get back into the game and scored a deserved equaliser.

    "Physically, I think it showed just hard the players had been working. It wasn't the win we probably deserve."

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  15. Mowbray on 'comfortable win'published at 17:53 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Blackburn 3-1 Bristol City

    After his side came from behind to beat play-off rivals Bristol City 3-1, Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray said:

    "[Once we led] It felt reasonably comfortable. It felt as if anyone was going to score, we were going to score another one. Adam Armstrong had a great chance.

    "We have total respect for them but ultimately it turned out to be a reasonably comfortable day for us.

    "It was great to have the bench we had today. We did pick up a few niggles, which I think every team will, having not really had a pre-season, if we call it a pre-season, for these nine games."

  16. Parker feels Fulham were hit by 'sucker punch'published at 17:50 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Fulham 0-2 Brentford

    FulhamImage source, PA Media

    Fulham manager Scott Parker was pleased with his side's effort despite them eventually ending up on the wrong end of the scoreline at Craven Cottage earlier.

    "I thought we had a very good spell in the second half when we had a goal disallowed. Then the keeper pulled off a great save from Mitrovic," he said.

    "We just needed one of those to go in and see out the game. So it's a killer blow, a sucker punch, and the second is a runaway goal when we were trying to push.

    "Overall it's disappointing but we dust ourselves off and move on. I was pleased with the players' application and efforts."

  17. Brilliant Benrahma delivers for Brentfordpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Fulham 0-2 Brentford

    Brentford boss Thomas Frank was full of praise for match-winner Said Benrahma as his side continued their push for a place in the top flight for a first time since 1946-47 with a 2-0 win at Fulham.

    "Said is a top player in this division and an extremely important player for our team," Frank said.

    "We know if we want to have a chance to achieve what we're dreaming about, he and some of our top players need top form.

    "I was very satisfied with his goal today, because he just managed to be patient, stay away from the ball and work that last line in the box and that's something we've constantly been working with him on."

  18. Woodgate bemused by Boro showingpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-3 Swansea

    Boro head coach Jonathan Woodgate admitted he was left “stunned” on the sidelines by a first-half display which belied what he had seen on the training ground earlier in the week.

    Boro were 3-0 down at the break, and are now just outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.

    “It’s hard to explain that type of performance," Woodgate said.

    "It wasn’t nice to see.

    “In the week if you had seen how we were training, it was very good and to turn in a performance like that isn’t good enough.

    "But we’ve got a week to put it right now.”

  19. Team helped Brewster score - Cooperpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Middlesbrough 0-3 Swansea

    BoroImage source, PA Media

    Swansea boss Steve Cooper says his team's style of play allowed Rhian Brewster to become the matchwinner at Middlesbrough.

    The on-loan Liverpool striker netted twice in three first-half minutes to set the Swans on their way to victory.

    "In the first half in particular, he looked a real threat," Cooper said.

    “He’s a really good player. Rhian obviously will get some headlines today because he’s got a brace, but it’s as a consequence of the team playing the way we want to play.”

    Brewster celebrated his opener by holding up a t-shirt bearing the message “Our colour is not a crime” in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign on a day when the players of both sides and the match officials took a knee before kick-off.

    “Rhian has a voice like everybody else and we all support each other," Cooper added.

    "We’re as one here and it was just another example of that.”

  20. Cocu praises teenage match-winner Sibleypublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 20 June 2020

    FT: Millwall 2-3 Derby

    Derby boss Phillip Cocu hailed a “complete” performance from teenage hat-trick hero Louie Sibley after his side earned a 3-2 win over Millwall at The Den earlier today.

    Eighteen-year-old Sibley, making only the second league start of his career, scored a magnificent solo goal to level the game, put the Rams ahead with a second with 20 minutes to play and wrapped up the points in closing stages.

    “He played a massive game,” said Cocu.

    “Not only the way he played, but his total development as a young player is a real positive for us as a club.

    “He scored great quality goals, a very complete game in his position. When we don’t have possession he does his job, he works for the team."