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. GREAT SAVE!published at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    QPR 0-1 Birmingham

    More pressure from Blues, this time Lukas Jutkiewicz's flicked header is well saved by Rs keeper Seny Dieng. Might have taken a deflection too. Vital stop.

  2. Postpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Blackpool 1-1 Coventry

    Almost immediate reply from Coventry, as Chris Maxwell does well to stop Viktor Gyokeres from sticking away his 20th of the campaign to keep Blackpool level.

    You're never so vulnerable from conceding as when you've just scored, the old adage says.

  3. Postpublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    QPR 0-1 Birmingham

    Blues think they have a chance for a second as George Hall breaks free, but big Tim Iroegbunam shows he's far more than a cheeky Scrabble escape with a timely block.

  4. League Two latestpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    #bbcefl

    Leyton Orient have gone ahead at home to Colchester as they look to tighten their grip at the top of League Two.

    George Moncur's penalty has put the leaders ahead, while the top-three clash between Carlisle and Stevenage remains goalless.

    Elsewhere, Stockport lead against fellow play-off hopefuls Mansfield through Paddy Madden.

  5. goal

    GOAL: Blackpool 1-1 Coventrypublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Jerry Yates pen (35 mins)

    Blackpool scoreImage source, PA Media

    Before netting in midweek against QPR, Jerry Yates hadn't scored a league goal since October - coincidentally against Coventry.

    Today, he's tucked away his second in as many games. The striker puts his penalty beyond Ben Wilson to level.

    Kyle McFadzean brought down Morgan Rodgers to earn it, and it was deemed to be in the box. Yellow card McFadzean. Phew. Busy.

  6. Postpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Middlesbrough 1-0 Preston

    The intensity and the physicality of this Championship encounter has been encapsulated by the tussle between Middlesbrough defender Dael Fry and Preston forward Tom Cannon.

    It was another coming together between the two which left them in a heap, but both are able to continue.

    Freddie Woodman has to be alert once play resumes, denying Chuba Akpom a second with alert goalkeeping.

  7. Postpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Watford 0-0 Wigan

    Wigan thought they had a free-kick on the edge of the box for a foul on Will Keane but the referee thought otherwise.

    Max Power was shown a yellow card for his protests while Omar Rekik, just off the bench if you recall, is already into the book after tempers flared in the area.

  8. Postpublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Millwall 0-0 Huddersfield

    Millwall v HuddersfieldImage source, PA Media

    Millwall's Dutch forward Zian Flemming hits a shot from the edge of the area that goes just wide of the post.

    A home win today could see the Lions end the weekend as high as fourth.

  9. Postpublished at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Blackpool 0-1 Coventry

    Ben Sheaf has the bit between his teeth this afternoon in game 100 for the Sky Blues, having scored one he's just come close to a second.

    Coventry were buzzing forward, Josh Eccles turning Jake Bidwell's cross into Sheaf's patch, but it zooms over the bar.

    Then Viktor Gyokeres has a shot deflected behind for a corner, but the home side mop up the set-piece.

  10. GREAT SAVE!published at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Stoke 0-0 Norwich

    We're going to have to change this page to Angus Gunn Live, at this rate. The keeper flies off his line to thwart Jacob Brown for the second time in quick succession.

    Norwich living dangerously in the Potteries.

  11. Postpublished at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Stoke 0-0 Norwich

    Angus Gunn called into action again, this time to keep out a far-post header from his new Scotland international teammate Jacob Brown.

    Stoke are unbeaten in three and Alex Neil has already toppled one of his former employers this season already, of course!

  12. League Two latestpublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    #bbcefl

    It's been a lively first 25 minutes at Spotland.

    Devante Rodney and Danny Lloyd have levelled for bottom side Rochdale against Swindon who had led 2-0 through Charlie Austin's double.

    Northampton could move into the promotion places today and are in front against Crewe thanks to Louis Appere, while Newport are ahead at Tranmere.

  13. Postpublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Middlesbrough 1-0 Preston

    Freddie Woodman is being tested now following Middlesbrough's taking the lead and makes a crucial stop to keep Preston's deficit at just the one.

    Cameron Archer failed to connect with Marcus Forss' delivery, but Ben Whiteman did - inadvertently.

    Woodman spared his teammate's blushes.

  14. goal

    GOAL: Reading 0-1 Hull Citypublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Regan Slater (26 mins)

    The away side take the lead through a fine strike from Regan Slater.

    Doesn't seem to be a huge amount riding on this one but defeat today would be a fifth straight for Reading who do have a potential points deduction hanging over them...

  15. GREAT SAVE!published at 15:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Stoke 0-0 Norwich

    Newly-minted Scotland international Angus Gunn has just showed his class with a fine stop to deny Stoke's Will Smallbone from close range.

  16. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 15:27 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Sunderland 0-0 Luton

    Sunderland have had the best chance so far, after Dan Neil smacked the woodwork with an effort.

    Luton survive.

  17. League One latestpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    #bbcefl

    Portsmouth celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Ipswich are also looking to close the gap to the leaders and are in front against Shrewsbury.

    George Hirst has finished a neat move for his first goal at Portman Road. The Tractor Boys go into today's game with six straight clean sheets.

    Portsmouth lead Bristol Rovers through Colby Bishop's 21st goal of the season, and second-bottom Cambridge are on the back foot again. They trail 1-0 at home to Charlton.

  18. Postpublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Watford 0-0 Wigan

    As you might imagine against a side who are winless in 13 on the road, Chris Wilder's side are bossing proceedings at Vicarage Road.

    For all their dominance, Latics keeper Ben Amos has not been really tested so far, however.

  19. goal

    GOAL: Middlesbrough 1-0 Prestonpublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Chuba Akpom (22 mins)

    Boro celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Another! It had to be him.

    Chuba Akpom continues his remarkable scoring form with a 24th Championship goal of the season to consolidate his position as the top marksman and put Middlesbrough in front.

    Cameron Archer was the architect, along with Jonny Howson, and Akpom tucked it in past Freddie Woodman to give the Riverside lift-off.

    A win today would see them close the gap on second-placed Sheffield United, who have an FA Cup quarter-final this weekend, to three points.

  20. Postpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2023

    Stoke 0-0 Norwich

    Ben Wilmot is into the referee's notebook early on after bringing down Teemu Pukki as the visitors launched a break from a Stoke corner.

    Long time to be on a yellow, but you can understand it, Pukki has scored more than half his goals away from Carrow Road this season.