Summary

  • Vardy scores twice as Championship leaders Leicester draw at Hull

  • Southampton beat Sunderland 4-2 to keep up automatic promotion hopes

  • Norwich thump rock bottom Rotherham 5-0

  • Stoke win at Preston to move out of drop zone

  • Millwall score 90th-minute winner against Birmingham

  • Plymouth draw at Blackburn, Boro win 2-0 at QPR

  • Wright scores twice as Coventry beat struggling Watford

  • Cardiff score in 95th and 100th minutes to stun Ipswich in early game

  1. The Championship always deliverspublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    #bbcefl

    We said it would be a rollercoaster of an afternoon six hours ago and we were true to our word!

    Twists and turns aplenty at the top and bottom with 29 goals across nine games.

    Leicester edged three points clear of Leeds at the top with Ipswich blowing a big win in injury time to lose at Cardiff and Norwich moving into the top six.

    In the relegation scrap, Stoke and Millwall were the big winners.

    The Championship returns for more of the same tomorrow with Huddersfield taking on West Brom (12:00 GMT) and Bristol City hosting Swansea (12:30 GMT).

    Thanks for your company. See you at 11:45 for that.

  2. 'Wasn't pretty but got us three points' - Schumacherpublished at 18:29 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Preston 1-2 Stoke

    Steven Schumacher celebratesImage source, Rex Features

    The Potters victory at Deepdale took them out of the bottom three and three points clear of the drop zone.

    “All three points are satisfying, but those three in particular because it was the type of game that I’m not used to playing in terms of style," Stoke manager Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "I thought it was necessary today to match Preston up because physically they are so strong and the pitch here is really difficult to play football on, so it had to be a battle.

    “It wasn’t pretty on the eye but it was a real battle and got us three points that we needed.

    “Lynden Gooch defended really well and then in the second half gave us a real creative spark and put a brilliant ball in for the first goal.

    “To take six points in a week, when we could maybe have taken seven as well, is a good response.”

  3. Stoke's two goals were 'Sunday league' - Lowepublished at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Preston 1-2 Stoke

    Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

    "I thought it was flat. We weren't at the races today or at the level we've been at. The attitude is there and the commitment but we lacked in certain areas with and without the ball.

    "The own goal summed us up. We've been excellent in blocking the space up. But we didn't do that.

    "We found a way back into the game, it was a great header from Milly (Milutin Osmajić) and then I think going in we would have had the freshness with them playing on Tuesday night.

    "To be done by a free-kick - which wasn't a free-kick - we need to do better from the cross and we got done on the back stick.

    "The two goals are Sunday league really to give away but credit where credit's due to Stoke, they kept working hard and wanted to get on the front foot and cause problems and they found a way."

  4. Postpublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Preston 1-2 Stoke

    And we'll end today's exhilarating Championship action with reaction from Deepdale, where Stoke moved out of the bottom three...

  5. Defeat gives Cifuentes 'empty feeling'published at 18:25 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: QPR 0-2 Middlesbrough

    QPR boss Marti Cifuentes speaking to BBC London:

    "I'm sad for the result as we started the week in a very good way and we had big hopes for this game. We leave the pitch with a very empty feeling.

    "Middlesbrough had a very good game against Norwich on Wednesday, playing against 10 men for a lot of minutes. We had a very, very difficult game against West Brom where we could only get one point.

    "And you could see the difference between the two sides in the second half in terms of energy."

  6. 'All four goals were avoidable' - Doddspublished at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Southampton 4-2 Sunderland

    Sunderland player on the floorImage source, Rex Features

    Sunderland interim head coach Michael Dodds told BBC Radio Newcastle:

    "The fans will stick with us if we give them what they want, which is 11 players giving everything.

    "I think all four goals were avoidable but on the flipside I've seen a team on Tuesday night go toe-to-toe with a Premier League team in-waiting in Leicester and Southampton will see themselves the same way.

    "Not only did we go toe-to-toe with them but we bettered them in spells.

    "It's been a difficult period in terms of injuries, suspensions and fixtures but, as I said to the players, nobody is going to feel sorry for us.

    "We have to keep doing what we are doing and believing in what we believe in and eventually that will stop."

  7. Postpublished at 18:23 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Southampton 4-2 Sunderland

    It's six defeats on the spin for Sunderland now. Let's see what interim boss Mike Dodds had to say...

  8. Loss 'a real pity' - Ismaelpublished at 18:20 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Watford 1-2 Coventry

    Watford manager Valerien Ismael speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio:

    “Finally, we started strong.

    "We should score a second goal and from nowhere they got the penalty, we pushed but they had one shot on target in the second half.

    "It goes in and you’re running after the result. It is a real pity, but there was a good dynamic.

    “Our fans are always good with us. If they are behind us we are doing the right thing. We didn’t see anything from Coventry today, it was a day like that where everything runs against you.

    “We kept pushing and were dangerous; we thought too much, we can compete, we know that and showed that most of the game.”

  9. Coventry keep 'ticking along' - Robinspublished at 18:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Watford 1-2 Coventry

    Coventry celebrate scoringImage source, Rex Features

    Coventry manager Mark Robins speaking to BBC CWR:

    “We didn’t start brilliantly and they were on the front foot. You can still see, if you pressure them, they’ll give you chances. Thankfully we dealt okay with their pace.

    “Second half we had a bit more. From that control we had, we got the penalty. The best passage of play we had all game ended up with Haji’s second goal and the winner. “It is a brilliant, really valuable three points that keep us ticking along. To keep a clean sheet in the second half was just what we wanted.”

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:17 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    #bbcefl, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Still fancy Leicester to be champions?

    Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

  11. 'For 99% of the game, we were outstanding' - Roseniorpublished at 18:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Hull 2-2 Leicester

    Hull boss Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Humberside:

    "For 99% of the game, we were outstanding. I was so proud of the way we played today.

    "We dominated the game in our way. For us to do that against an outstanding team gives me hope for the future. At the same time, as proud as I am of my players, I'm so disappointed we didn't win the game and get our just rewards.

    "I'm disappointed we gave a cheap penalty away from a throw-in. We go and re-take the lead and then from the kick-off, maybe too excited with the crowd, we switch off. If you switch-off with Jamie Vardy on the pitch, he punishes you.

    "To improve this team, it comes down to mentality. If we do that, I'm confident we can have a really exciting end to the season."

  12. Maresca happy with Foxes' performance levelspublished at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Hull 2-2 Leicester

    Enzo Maresca on the touchlineImage source, Rex Features

    Despite the Championship leaders winning only one of their past five Championship matches, boss Enzo Maresca was still pleased with Leicester's effort against Hull.

    "We expected a very tough game against a very good team. It was not easy as they went man-to-man so overall the players did a very good effort," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

    "We always judge the team on results, but we have played many fantastic games like Watford away, even Leeds away when we lost.

    "We had three defeats in a row, but the performance was there.

    "It's normal. Every team in the Championship is playing for something so it's more difficult for all of us."

  13. Postpublished at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    Now a bit of reaction from the MKM Stadium where Leicester's stuttering form continued...

  14. 'Proper Millwall centre-halves put ball in net' - Harrispublished at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Millwall 1-0 Birmingham

    Japhet Tanganga celebrates scoringImage source, Getty Images

    Millwall manager Neil Harris told BBC Radio London:

    "It's a brilliant result in a pressure atmosphere.

    "I've played and managed in games like this with two teams at the wrong end of the table looking over their shoulders. It comes down to character and personality and we had that in abundance.

    "Jake (Cooper) and Japhet (Tanganga) were excellent today, but to be a proper Millwall centre-half, you have to put the ball in the net.

    "And there's no better time to score in this stadium than the 91st minute."

  15. 'Everyone can see we want to stay up' - Eustacepublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Blackburn 1-1 Plymouth

    Sammie Szmodics scores for BlackburnImage source, Rex Features

    Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire:

    "I thought we started really well and played some really good football. It was a fantastic goal and we had a great chance to go 2-0 up which we didn't take, unfortunately.

    "We came in at half-time and adjusted a couple of things. We started the second half well then going down to 10 men it's a different game.

    "I thought the character the group showed, the togetherness, the fight not to lose the game was very evident for everyone to see."

    [On Kyle McFadzean's red card] "I think it was just a coming together. I'll have to look at it again. But we've got big positives to take out of the game and we stuck together and fought. It's there for everyone to see that we want to stay in this league."

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    #bbcefl, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Fancy Norwich for the play-offs?

    Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

  17. Wagner pleased with Norwich professionalismpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Norwich 5-0 Rotherham

    Norwich climbed into the play-offs following their big win over the Millers and boss David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:

    "The players have done exactly what we asked them to do. They showed hunger and passion, and did not worry about the opponent.

    "It's always looks easier when you beat a team who are perhaps not playing well but you have to make sure you show that professionalism."The players did that today. It was fantastic."

  18. 'I'm physically sick for travelling fans' - Richardsonpublished at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Norwich 5-0 Rotherham

    Rock bottom side Rotherham took another thumping, shipping five goals at Norwich. They've now conceded 77 this season and remain 19 points adrift at the foot of the Championship.

    "My main thought at the minute is that I am physically sick. For the travelling fans," Millers boss Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Sheffield.

    "I take full responsibility, I pick the team, I put them out there and the last two games we haven’t done the basics and fundamentals right.

    "We have to make sure we all come together and go forward as one. I’m the leader, so I take full responsibility.

    "We have nine games left and we have to take some pride out of those. I am prepared to do that and hopefully the players feel the same."

  19. 'Horrible way to lose' - McKennapublished at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Cardiff 2-1 Ipswich

    Cardiff celebrate scoringImage source, Rex Features

    In today's lunchtime kick-off, Cardiff scored 95th and 100th minute goals to beat promotion chasing Ipswich.

    "It's a horrible way to lose a game," Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk.

    "We haven't lost many games, we aren't used it and to lose it to two goals at the end of the game, it's hard to take.

    "We've had it on the other foot. We've tasted the nice taste of late winners in narrow games and today it went the other way.

    "We can do better in that last eight minutes. We ended up with a really attacking team. It's the third game in a week but despite that we could have done better.

    "The first half was pretty even but the second half we took complete control. If the game finishes on 90 minutes, we'd be talking about a really strong away performance but it doesn't. We didn't manage to see it out and now all we can do is learn from it."

  20. Venus bemoans Blues' blunt attackpublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March

    FT: Millwall 1-0 Birmingham

    Mark VenusImage source, Getty Images

    Birmingham assistant manager Mark Venus told BBC WM:

    "We edged the game, especially in the second half and created the better opportunities, but we should have made the goalkeeper make more saves.

    "Then we concede from a corner again - it's becoming a horrible situation.

    "We need a bit more care going forward, trying to get contact on the ball, flapping at things, mis-kicking in the box, kicking it over the bar.

    "It's a recipe for trouble really."