Summary

  • Third-placed Boro thrash Preston to move three points behind Sheff Utd

  • Late penalty sees Sunderland hold fourth-placed Luton

  • Rotherham v Cardiff abandoned after downpour with Bluebirds 1-0 up

  • Victories for Coventry, Huddersfield, Birmingham

  • League One - MK Dons get crucial win at relegation rivals Accrington

  • League Two - Charlie Austin scores four as Swindon draw 4-4 at Rochdale

  1. Postpublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Sunderland 0-1 Luton

    Sunderland's intricate play gets them into a position to challenge Luton goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.

    Jack Clarke is released by Luke O'Nien's eagle-eyed pass and his ball in is screwed wide by Leeds loanee Joe Gelhardt.

    Lots of pressure on the centre forward, who is carrying the burden of replacing the injured Ross Stewart.

    Luton's promotion bid is going sensationally well again, and they know how to manage games like this perfectly.

  2. goal

    GOAL: Millwall 0-1 Huddersfieldpublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Danny Ward (67 mins)

    Huddersfield celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Huddersfield NEED a win today and they have the breakthrough!

    Experienced forward Danny Ward gives the away side the lead from close range against the play-off hopefuls.

  3. Postpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Middlesbrough 3-0 Preston

    As it stands, Middlesbrough have not only whittled second-place Sheffield United's lead to three points, but they've also got a better goal difference now.

    Sixty-eight goals is only inferior to leaders Burnley too. The Teessiders are running hot.

    Preston's fine run coming to an end.

  4. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Watford 1-1 WIgan

    Imran Louza thuds the upright from well outside the penalty area for the hosts. Both sides desperate for the third goal for very different reasons.

  5. League Two latestpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    #bbcefl

    Salford look set to strengthen their play-off hopes as Luke Bolton extends their lead to 3-1 over Doncaster.

    Walsall are winless in 12 matches but have broken the deadlock against Gillingham through Isaac Hutrchinson.

    At the top, Orient still lead Colchester 1-0 and are going eight points clear as it stands, with Stevenage and Carlisle still drawing 0-0.

  6. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    QPR 0-1 Birmingham

    Lukas Jutkiewicz is denied by Seny Dieng once again, this time the keeper tips his header onto the crossbar. So close to a second.

  7. Postpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Blackpool 1-3 Coventry

    Coventry come close to a fourth and a goal for top-scorer Viktor Gyokeres, but he can't connect with Tyler Walker's delivery.

    At the other end, Sonny Carey has come on as Mick McCarthy tries to rotate the pack but his long-ranger is no trouble for the Sky Blues.

  8. 'Never seen a pitch flood so quickly'published at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Rotherham 0-1 Cardiff

    John Bennett
    BBC Final Score

    Rotherham v CardiffImage source, Rex Features

    Players off the field at the moment. Play suspended after a downpour at half-time which completely flooded the pitch.

    I’ve never seen a pitch flood so quickly. Not called off yet but seriously doubtful that the game will continue.

  9. GREAT SAVE!published at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Watford 1-1 Wigan

    Ben Amos to the rescue for Wigan, who look a different side in the second half. He denies Imran Louza's low shot from the edge of the area.

  10. Postpublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    QPR 0-1 Birmingham

    Jimmy Dunne has seen a glancing header saved by John Ruddy as the Hoops seek a way back into this one.

  11. goal

    GOAL: Middlesbrough 3-0 Prestonpublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Cameron Archer (58 mins)

    Boro celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Cameron Archer makes it three in three for Middlesbrough with a second to really take the game away from Preston.

    Chuba Akpom showed his unselfish side to tee up the forward who was in a better position, and he made no mistake.

    Archer and his club teammate Aaron Ramsey - who's on the bench at the moment - have been inspired additions to the Teessiders cause.

  12. GREAT SAVE!published at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Stoke 0-0 Norwich

    Jacob Brown will probably have words with Angus Gunn when they meet up next on Scotland international duty. The Norwich keeper has denied the Stoke forward with another fine close-range stop.

  13. League One latestpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    #bbcefl

    Ipswich celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Ipswich are on course to close within three points of the leaders as they double their lead against Shrewsbury.

    Just moments after Conor Chaplin's goal was disallowed for the Tractor Boys, Massimo Luongo found the bottom corner with a first-time shot for his first league goal in three years.

    Elsewhere, Jonny Smith's penalty has put Burton 2-1 up at Port Vale having trailed.

  14. Postpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Millwall 0-0 Huddersfield

    Huddersfield on course for a third draw in their past four games.

    It's an improvement but they badly need wins if they're to climb away from trouble at the bottom of the table.

  15. Postpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Sunderland 0-1 Luton

    Sunderland are behind but they've sent on Amad Diallo, who is as good a creative outlet as exists in the Championship.

    The Manchester United loanee has been given chance to rest and recuperate, and it's time for him to deliver.

    Luton make a change too. Luke Berry is replaced by Jordan Clark.

  16. goal

    GOAL: Watford 1-1 WIganpublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    James McClean (51 mins)

    Wigan celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Wigan level. James McClean with a flying header which Keith Houchen (maybe ask a parent) would be proud of. The ball thundering in off the bar after Callum Lang's cross.

    The division's bottom side have never won at Watford. They have lost their past three on the road. They are winless in 13 on their travels... but, they're level.

  17. goal

    GOAL: Middlesbrough 2-0 Prestonpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Cameron Archer (52 mins)

    Superb second for Middlesbrough and it's ex-Preston loanee Cameron Archer who sticks it away.

    He rode a challenge to ease past Bambo Dieng and fired beyond Freddie Woodman.

    Big goal for a man who boss Michael Carrick said would bring something different when loaned in from Aston Villa. He's done just that.

  18. Rain stops playpublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Rotherham 0-1 Cardiff

    Rotherham v CardiffImage source, Rex Features

    The game at the New York Stadium has been suspended while groundstaff try to clear standing water off the pitch.

    It's teeming down in South Yorkshire.

    We'll let you know when play recommences.

  19. Postpublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Stoke 0-0 Norwich

    Sight of goal for the Canaries early in the second half. Max Aarons does well down the right and centres for Teemu Pukki but the Finn can't make a clean connection.

  20. goal

    GOAL: Blackpool 1-3 Coventrypublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Kyle McFadzean (50 mins)

    Coventry celebrateImage source, PA Media

    He might well have Coventry's second taken off him for the Blackpool own-goal from Curtis Nelson, but Kyle McFadzean has total claim over their third.

    It was a thumping effort after a Gustavo Hamer free-kick squirted to him, and it was an excellent reaction, instinctive from McFadzean to finish it.