Summary

  • Sheff Wed sack Xisco Munoz after winless start in Championship

  • Leicester return to top of Championship after beating Preston

  • Sunderland continue fine form with win over Watford

  • Summerville gives Leeds win against QPR

  • Humphreys seals 2-1 victory for Swansea over Norwich

  • Wright gives Coventry late victory against Blackburn

  • Bristol City score stoppage-time winner at Rotherham

  1. Postpublished at 19:56 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Swansea 1-0 Norwich

    Norwich boss David Wagner had made three changes to his side tonight, with Adam Forshaw, Tony Springett and Ui-jo Hwang all starting.

    But the visitors have been on the back foot in the opening stages.

    Jamie Paterson has fired over for the Swans from the edge of the area.

  2. goal

    GOAL: Leeds 1-0 QPRpublished at 19:55 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Crysencio Summerville (9 mins)

    Tidy goal and the home side lead.

    Georginio Rutter gets the ball in space 25 yards out and spots Crysencio Summerville charging forward in the inside right channel.

    He squares a neat ball to the winger who controls well and clips home a composed finish.

    Just what the Whites wanted after losing 3-1 at Southampton on Saturday.

    Leeds United celebrate scoringImage source, Rex Features
  3. Postpublished at 19:54 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Coventry 0-0 Blackburn

    Coventry are unchanged from their victory at Loftus Road.

    There are four changes for Blackburn as Leo Wahlstedt makes his first start in goal in place of the injured Aynsley Pears.

    The Swede has already been called into action to save a low long-range effort from Luis Binks.

    James Hill also makes his first league start for Rovers as Joe Rankin-Costello and Tyrhys Dolan also get the nod.

  4. Millers in need of a win against Robinspublished at 19:54 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Rotherham v Bristol City (20:00 BST)

    Bristol CityImage source, Rex Features

    It's been a tough start to the season for Rotherham and they will end the night in the relegation zone even if they record a win this evening.

    The Millers have only registered one victory from their opening nine games and defeat this evening could leave them five points adrift of safety.

    The home side welcome back full-back Cafu for the first time since their sole win over Norwich on 2 September.

    Most people expected Bristol City to be firmly ensconced in midtable once more this season and, true to form, they have won three, drawn three and lost three of their opening nine games.

    Nigel Pearson's men blew a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Stoke on Saturday and are four points off the top six and four points above the relegation zone.

  5. Chair is QPR's dangermanpublished at 19:52 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Leeds 0-0 QPR

    Ross McCormack
    Former Leeds United forward on BBC Radio Leeds

    Ilias Chair is the one in that QPR team who can go and do something out of the ordinary.

    They'll be looking for him to create something for them.

  6. goal

    GOAL: Swansea 1-0 Norwichpublished at 19:50 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Jamal Lowe (3 mins)

    Swansea celebrate scoringImage source, Rex Features

    Swansea grab the first goal of the evening after hitting Norwich with a high press.

    Jamal Lowe tracks back to put pressure on a Canaries defender and the ball then falls to Matt Grimes.

    He advances to the edge of the area and slips in Lowe, who needs no second invitation.

    That's three goals in three games for Lowe, and a dream start for the Swans.

  7. Postpublished at 19:47 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Leicester 0-0 Preston

    Conor Coady warming up for PrestonImage source, Rex Features

    Conor Coady makes his first league start for Leicester following his summer move from Wolves.

    The England centre-back comes in for the suspended Jannik Vestergaard.

    Preston boss Ryan Lowe has responded to Saturday's 4-0 defeat by West Brom by making four changes.

    Greg Cunningham, Jack Whatmough, Ben Whiteman and Robbie Brady come into the side.

  8. KICK-OFFpublished at 19:45 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    #bbcefl

    Five of this evening's Championship games are getting under way.

    Leicester versus Preston is the stand-out tie at the top of the table, but tonight's results will have consequences at the bottom of the pile too.

  9. Swans turning corner under Duffpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Swansea v Norwich (19:45 BST)

    Jamal Lowe (right) celebrates scoring for Swansea City against MillwallImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Jamal Lowe (right) has scored from the penalty spot in Swansea's past two games, setting the ball rolling for consecutive 3-0 victories

    Swansea City remain a work in progress under Michael Duff, who succeeded Russell Martin in the dugout this summer.

    The Swans made a very slow start to the campaign, failing to win in their first seven games, but back-to-back victories have lifted the South Wales side out of the relegation zone.

    Opponents Norwich began the season well, but then the Canaries went off song with three defeats in four - including a 6-2 thrashing at Plymouth.

    The Norfolk side got back on track at the weekend, securing a 2-0 home win over Birmingham, and sit just inside the play-off places on goal difference.

    But David Wagner's side are looking to avoid a third straight defeat on the road as Swansea aim to make it four unbeaten.

  10. Sky Blues host off-colour Roverspublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Coventry v Blackburn (19:45 BST)

    Lewis Travis in action for Blackburn RoversImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Lewis Travis and Blackburn Rovers were well beaten by high-flying Leicester at the weekend, suffering a third straight league defeat

    In some regards, it looks like Coventry City are still regrouping after losing the Championship play-off final last season.

    The Sky Blues sold top scorer Viktor Gyokeres over the summer, but new signing Ellis Simms got his first two goals in their 3-1 win at QPR on Saturday.

    That was one occasion Mark Robins' side have managed to hold on to a lead this season, given they have lost a division-high nine points from winning positions already.

    Coventry sit 14th in the table, one point and four places above visitors Blackburn Rovers.

    Blackburn could do with a shot in the arm, having lost three in a row and four of their past five outings.

    The form of Sammie Szmodics is one positive, with the forward grabbing six goals so far this season.

  11. Time for Leeds to show bouncebackability?published at 19:39 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Leeds v QPR (19:45 BST)

    Jaidon AnthonyImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Jaidon Anthony makes his full debut for Leeds United this evening

    Leeds had been making solid progress after a difficult start to the season before Saturday's surprise 3-1 reverse at Southampton.

    That was just a second league defeat of the season for Daniel Farke's men though and they could shoot up to fifth from 12th with a win this evening.

    Farke has made four changes from the team that slipped to defeat on the south coast, with defenders Luke Ayling and Joe Rodon returning to the starting XI.

    Visitors QPR also lost 3-1 on Saturday.

    The R's home defeat by Coventry stretched their winless run to four games and they start tonight in the bottom three.

    Gareth Ainsworth is able to call on the services of veteran midfielder Jack Colback after he completed his three-match suspension.

  12. Hornets look to sting Black Catspublished at 19:37 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Sunderland v Watford (19:45 BST)

    Sunderland forward Jack CarkeImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Sunderland forward Jack Clarke is the Championship's joint-leading scorer with seven goals so far this campaign

    Sunderland look like being one of the only teams who could threaten to stop Leicester and Ipswich cutting loose at the top of the Championship.

    Tony Mowbray's men demolished lacklustre Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 last time out and go with the same XI who started the win at Hillsborough on Friday.

    Watford gave boss Valerien Ismael a new contract on Tuesday despite their poor start to the campaign.

    The Hornets have conceded six goals in losing their past two matches and have made two changes from the 3-2 home defeat by Middlesbrough on Saturday.

    Giorgi Chakvetadze comes in for his first start for the club and Tom Ince also returns to the starting line up.

  13. Can Preston halt Leicester momentum?published at 19:35 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Leicester v Preston (19:45 BST)

    Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi celebrate a goal for Leicester against Blackburn RoversImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Jamie Vardy (left) struck to help give Leicester victory at Blackburn on Sunday, and the former England striker is now one shy of 175 goals for the Foxes

    This is an early season top-of-the-table clash as second-placed Leicester City entertain third-placed Preston North End.

    Yet, after nine games of the season, the question seems to be if anyone can stop Leicester from marching back to the Premier League?

    The Foxes have won eight of their nine games under new boss Enzo Maresca, and will return to the top of the Championship if they avoid defeat tonight.

    Preston made a bright start to the campaign themselves but suffered their first defeat at home at the weekend, losing 4-0 against West Brom.

    The Lilywhites go in search of a first win in three against the Championship's best defence - with just six goals conceded - as they aim to move a point behind their hosts.

  14. Tonight's fixturespublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    Here's what's coming up in the Championship tonight, with five of the six games kicking off at 19:45 BST.

    • Coventry City v Blackburn Rovers
    • Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers
    • Leicester City v Preston North End
    • Sunderland v Watford
    • Swansea City v Norwich City
    • Rotherham United v Bristol City (20:00 BST)
  15. Foxes in full flight and not-so-merry Millerspublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 4 October 2023

    #bbcefl

    Leicester and Preston scarvesImage source, Rex Features

    There's an old saying about not paying attention to the league table until 10 games into the season.

    Well, any believers in that will be pleased to know they can look at the Championship standings after this evening's action is wrapped up.

    We've got six games for you to round off this midweek round of matches in the second tier, featuring second v third and games for four of the bottom five teams.

    An EFL season is undoubtedly a marathon not a sprint but if some of these teams don't start hitting their stride soon they could find themselves cut adrift from the pack.

    Good evening and welcome to Wednesday's EFL live text.