Summary

  • FT: Burnley 4-0 Huddersfield - Championship leaders run riot

  • FT: Sheff Utd 1-0 Watford - Blades win through own goal

  • FT: West Brom 2-0 Middlesbrough - Dike double sees Boro lose

  • Birmingham 0-1 Luton, Bristol City 1-0 Hull, Norwich 2-0 Cardiff, Preston 2-1 Wigan, QPR 1-3 Blackburn, Reading 3-1 Blackpool, Stoke 0-1 Millwall

  • Coventry beat Sunderland 2-1 in early Championship game

  • League One - Plymouth thrashed 5-2 at Peterborough as rest of top four win

  • League Two - Carlisle up to second as Orient & Stevenage drop points

  1. Away fans show power of League One footballpublished at 14:46 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Plymouth playersImage source, Rex Features

    The top of League One has a real heavyweight feel this season and the fans have really lapped it up.

    Service stations and railway stations up and down the country have been busy this afternoon as away supporters from four of the top six follow their teams in very impressive numbers.

    Over 6,800 Ipswich fans heading to MK Dons. Some 4,800 from Derby going to Barnsley. More than 3,100 Sheffield Wednesday supporters en route to Charlton. Fifteen hundred members of the Green Army travelling north to watch Plymouth away at Peterborough.

    That is more than 16,000 and proof of how glorious the English football pyramid truly is.

  2. Squad Goals League One game of the daypublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Shrewsbury Town v Wycombe Wanderers (15:00 GMT)

    Sanny Rudravajhala
    Presenter, Squad Goals

    The appointment of Matt Bloomfield to Wycombe ticks every box of the football cliche of ‘knowing the club’. But he arrives for his first game in charge of the Chairboys with experience under his belt that can help them continue to kick on, in Gareth Ainsworth’s wake.

    Bloomfield’s tenure at Colchester may have been cut short to go back to the club that he captained into the Championship across his 558 appearances, but his time in Essex showed he can galvanise a side and of course - he’ll be working with players he knows everything about.

    Lewis Wing has been in red-hot form with eight so far and scored a beauty in their victory against Bolton last time out. Wycombe are looking for a sixth win in a row and I wouldn’t bet against Garath McCleary getting a seventh for the season in what will be his 500th professional appearance.

    Shrewsbury's six-game winning streak may be over and they followed up a stalemate at Exeter with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Accrington. That’s motivation enough for Steve Cotterill’s side who, like Wycombe, will be at least looking for a place in the play-offs come the end of the season.

    Luke Leahy and Christian Saydee have impressed in their positive showings this season, they'll be trying to burst Bloomfield’s bubble at the New Meadow.

  3. League One previewpublished at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    #bbcefl

    A reminder that Bristol Rovers thrashed out-of-sorts Oxford United in the day's early game, while Matt Bloomfield begins his spell in charge of Wycombe Wanderers at Shrewsbury Town.

    Elsewhere, leaders Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to extend their 19-game unbeaten run in the league that stretches back to the start of October when they travel to Charlton Athletic, who have lost three of their last five games.

    Second-placed Plymouth Argyle trail Wednesday on goal difference and are on the road too, facing ninth-placed Peterborough United.

    The intriguing game in the play-off spots comes at Oakwell, where sixth-placed Barnsley take on the team above them, Derby County, knowing that a win will see the teams change places this evening.

    High-scoring Ipswich - in third place - travel to struggling Milton Keynes Dons. The Tractor Boys have lost only once in their last 10 league games and they are a point above Bolton Wanderers, who host Port Vale.

    At the bottom, Forest Green Rovers' hopes of climbing the table come up against the obstinacy of 15th-placed Lincoln City, who have lost only once in nine league games since the start of the year.

    Cambridge, in 23rd, know that a win at mid-table Exeter City could start their climb out of the League One drop zone.

    • FT: Oxford United 0-3 Bristol Rovers
    • Barnsley v Derby County
    • Bolton Wanderers v Port Vale
    • Burton Albion v Accrington Stanley
    • Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday
    • Exeter City v Cambridge United
    • Fleetwood Town v Morecambe
    • Forest Green Rovers v Lincoln City
    • Milton Keynes Dons v Ipswich Town
    • Peterborough United v Plymouth Argyle
    • Portsmouth v Cheltenham Town
    • Shrewsbury Town v Wycombe Wanderers
  4. Can Baggies end bad run against Boro?published at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough (15:00 GMT)

    West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan is facing the first mini-crisis of his short reign at The Hawthorns. Just one win and four defeats in their last six league and cup games. Four points from a possible 15.

    And, at Watford on Monday, his decision to start with John Swift wide left, and Jed Wallace in the number 10 role, was criticised by fans.

    Corberan himself admitted that it simply hadn’t worked in the first half, changed it in the second, Albion rallied, played as well as they have done in weeks and should have got at least a draw as Watford got lucky.

    Albion boss Carlos Corberan has seen his side win just once in six league and cup gamesImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Albion boss Carlos Corberan has seen his side win just once in six league and cup games

    But they now bump into the Championship's bang in-form side in Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough.

    Five straight wins. Fourteen goals scored. Only three conceded. And now looking good to overhaul Sheffield United for the other automatic promotion spot behind runaway Burnley.

    Carrick has taken 40 points from a possible 51 since becoming Boro boss on 24 October - the day before Corberan took over at Albion, who have picked up 32 points out of a possible 48 in the same time span.

  5. Blades look to shake off back-to-back defeatspublished at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Sheffield United v Watford (15:00 GMT)

    A Sheffield United player reacts during their defeat at MillwallImage source, Rex Features

    It has not been a good month for automatic promotion-chasing Sheffield United, who have suffered successive defeats against Middlesbrough and Millwall and seen their buffer to the play-off places eroded.

    The Blades were 14 points clear of third place on 20 January, but one win in four since then has seen that gap cut to just four points, with a resurgent Boro breathing down their necks.

    But Paul Heckingbottom's side were unbeaten in 10 games before those back-to-back losses, so have quality to draw on as they aim to get back on track.

    Watford make the trip north outside the play-off spots on goal difference.

    The Hornets are four unbeaten but a spate of draws mean they only have one win in their past six. However, it's also just one win in eight league outings for Slaven Bilic's men.

  6. Cool Claret Kompany against Mr Championshippublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Burnley v Huddersfield (15:00 GMT)

    Kompany-WarnockImage source, Rex Features

    There have been few things to get in the way of Burnley and Vincent Kompany in the Championship this season.

    The Clarets sit 12 points clear at the top and 16 points ahead of third and look destined for an immediate return to the Premier League.

    Kompany has remodelled the squad and has seen them lose only two games all season in the league.

    The Belgian has taken the Championship by storm, but it's fair to say he won't have encountered too many like his opposite number in the dugout today.

    The man who just can't say goodbye, Neil Warnock, takes his Huddersfield side to Turf Moor for his second match in his second spell in charge of the Terriers.

    At 74, Warnock has come out of retirement to try to keep Huddersfield up - the TENTH different club he has managed in the second tier.

    He began with a win against Birmingham last Saturday and he would love to show Kompany a trick or two of the managerial trade this afternoon.

  7. Coming up next...published at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    #bbcefl

    Thanks Matt. After a thrilling finish in the early kick-off, it's now time to turn our attention to the rest of the day's Championship and EFL action.

    Here are today's 15:00 GMT fixtures in the second tier:

    • Birmingham City v Luton Town
    • Bristol City v Hull City
    • Burnley v Huddersfield Town
    • Norwich City v Cardiff City
    • Preston North End v Wigan Athletic
    • Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers
    • Reading v Blackpool
    • Sheffield United v Watford
    • Stoke City v Millwall
    • West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough

    We'll start our previews with the runaway leaders Burnley...

  8. Postpublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    FT: Coventry 2-1 Sunderland

    It's all over at the CBS Arena but we're only just getting started so far as the EFL goes.

    So, what time to introduce the dream team of Rob Stevens, Adam Lanigan and Rob Dugdale.

    Take it away...

  9. FULL-TIMEpublished at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Coventry 2-1 Sunderland

    Ben WilsonImage source, Rex Features

    Coventry City show their mettle and morale to overcome fellow promotion chasers Sunderland, thanks to goals from Jamie Allen and Championship hot-shot Viktor Gyokeres.

    They're now a point behind their vanquished opponents, and two behind the top six before kick-offs.

    It was a display of defensive composure and a perfect counter-attacking game.

    Sunderland's quality is undoubted in terms of technicality, and Amad Diallo's late effort was evidence of that.

    But a squad stretched by the workload and intensity of the Championship maybe lacks a bit of real grunt and grind. They had plenty of possession here.

    Promotion is by no means miles away from them, but they need a reset sharpish to recharge and regroup.

  10. goal

    GOAL: Coventry 2-1 Sunderlandpublished at 90+4 mins

    Amad Diallo

    Faint hopes for Sunderland...

    Jewison Bennette's wriggling run down the left sees a cross headed out to Amad Diallo for Sunderland.

    He then stops the ball dead and curls it into the left corner beyond Ben Wilson with a sublime effort.

    Belting goal but time against them.

  11. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90+2 mins

    Coventry 2-0 Sunderland

    Sunderland feeling the fatigue of a congested run, given the Saturday-Tuesday nature of the Championship and a gruelling cup replay against Fulham.

    This is their second defeat in a week, and seeing the absence of Ross Stewart through injury might be tougher than first thought to cover.

    Into SIX minutes of added time.

  12. goal

    GOAL: Coventry 2-0 Sunderlandpublished at 89 mins

    Viktor Gyokeres

    Coventry scoreImage source, PA Media

    GAME OVER.

    There have been few more tireless runners out there today than Viktor Gyokeres and now he's got a goal for his reward.

    Coventry seize possession and Gustavo Hamer was incisive, quickly releasing Matty Godden on the right of the box.

    He pushes on before rolling a tempting centre into Gyokeres' path, and he steers it beyond Anthony Patterson despite Dan Ballard's attentions.

  13. Postpublished at 88 mins

    Coventry 1-0 Sunderland

    Sunderland in last chance saloon now.

    Alex Pritchard tees up a cross after Dan Ballard connected with a header from a separate delivery.

    Cleared.

  14. YELLOW CARDpublished at 88 mins

    Coventry 1-0 Sunderland

    Ben Wilson booked for Coventry for timewasting.

    Won't be popular next time he pops out for a pint in hometown Stanley, County Durham.

  15. Postpublished at 86 mins

    Coventry 1-0 Sunderland

    Coventry clear with so many Sunderland players around the box, and a big boot away gets Viktor Gyokeres on his bike.

    The Swede races after the ball, teasing out the covering Sunderland defenders, but is unable to get a shot away.

    At the other end, Josh Wilson-Esbrand chases back to deny Patrick Roberts a free-run down the right, and wins Coventry a free-kick.

    Sunderland on course for frustration, and a long trip home.

  16. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Coventry 1-0 Sunderland

    Brooke Norton-Cuffy hacks away after Sunderland get in behind on a rare raid beyond their line.

    Coventry being made to graft late on.

    Tony Mowbray, pacing in his hooded gilet, has shown his hand with the subs.

    Tony MowbrayImage source, Rex Features
  17. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 81 mins

    Coventry 1-0 Sunderland

    Off come Callum Doyle and Jake Bidwell for Coventry.

    Michael Rose and Matty Godden are sent on by Mark Robins.

    Jewison Bennette is sent on by the Wearsiders, with Aji Alese making way.

    Definite attacking ploy.

  18. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Coventry 1-0 Sunderland

    Sunderland's intricate football on the edge of the box almost sees Patrick Roberts get a shot away, then Amad Diallo, then Alex Pritchard.

    However, there are so many Sky Blues shirts in the frame on each occasion, there just isn't the space.

    They defend as such a unit, with genuine zeal.

  19. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Coventry 1-0 Sunderland

    Huge tackle from Sunderland stops Viktor Gyokeres from wriggling clear.

    Coventry retrieve possession and it's out to Gyokeres on the left, who powers toward goal before squaring to Josh Wilson-Esbrand, who tries to tee it onto his left but is tackled.

    Great end-to-end feel and a nervy finish.

  20. Rovers put result beyond doubtpublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Oxford 0-3 Bristol Rovers

    Earlier this week Oxford United CEO Tim Williams said finances were not preventing the board from sacking head coach Karl Robinson.

    If that's true then this could spell trouble for Robinson.

    Bristol Rovers have a third - Luca Hoole powers home a header from a set-piece to seal victory for Joey Barton's visitors.