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WATCH: Sky Bet Championship Bank Holiday Monday Report and video highlights: Sheffield United win again


Successive wins for Sheffield United, now on a run of five games unbeaten have moved them closer to securing automatic promotion to the Premier League, while Norwich's stutter continued on Bank Holiday Monday.


  • Aston Villa 1-0 Millwall
  • Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Bolton
  • Derby County 2-0 QPR
  • Hull City 0-3 Sheffield United
  • Ipswich Town 0-1 Swansea City
  • Nottingham Forest 3-0 Middlesbrough
  • Reading 0-0 West Brom
  • Rotherham United 1-3 Birmingham City
  • Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Bristol City
  • Stoke City 2-2 Norwich City
  • Wigan 2-0 Preston

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Sheffield United five unbeaten

David McGoldrick celebrates for Sheffield United as he scores against Hull City
David McGoldrick celebrates for Sheffield United as he scores against Hull City

Premier League destiny remains in Sheffield United's hands following an easy 3-0 victory at Hull City.

With two Sky Bet Championship games remaining - at home to Ipswich and away at Stoke - Chris Wilder's impressively-focused side are in pole position to return to the big time.

Hull were admittedly obliging hosts, but they had not lost in the league at home since November.

Yet the damage was done in the first half as two goals from David McGoldrick and an Enda Stevens header essentially confirmed an away win.

Wilder wisely battened down the hatches in the second half as his pioneering approach was replaced by pragmatism.

But United's vocal supporters, who came in their droves in anticipation of a season-defining victory, could not have cared less as they enjoyed a carefree afternoon in the Easter sunshine.

It was, of course, a soothing relief to the away fans that Wilder's men were quick to hit their stride - and with it the opening goal after 10 minutes.

John Fleck's corner from the right was not especially threatening, yet McGoldrick was given the freedom of East Yorkshire to plant a simple header into the roof of the net.

Hull's defence remained in a state of some disquiet as McGoldrick scored again after 22 minutes.

The 31-year-old striker was given an unforgivable amount of time to control the football and point towards goal from around 25 yards.

And once McGoldrick let rip with a curling right-footed attempt, it felt inevitable that the ball should slot snugly into the bottom right-hand corner.

Hull were again guilty of desperately poor defending as George Baldock was not efficiently closed down from the right flank.

Baldock lifted a neat cross towards the penalty spot which was devoured by Stevens, who rose unchallenged and headed home with lofty precision.

Norwich stutter continues

Norwich City manager Daniel Farke shows a look of dejection as his side draw with Stoke
Norwich City manager Daniel Farke shows a look of dejection as his side draw with Stoke

Norwich City could have secured promotion over the Easter weekend, but their fourth straight draw means the club and their fans will not just have to wait to pop the champagne but now are looking over their shoulder and fearing finishing in the play-offs.

Despite leading twice at Stoke City Norwich had to settle for a 2-2 draw to sit just three points ahead of second placed Sheffield United and six in front of third Leeds United, who play their game in hand against Brentford at 1715 BST.

Onel Hernandez fired Daniel Farke's side ahead after 24 minutes but Stoke responded after the break through Ashley Williams.

Teemu Pukki, netting his 28th league goal of the season, restored Norwich's lead against the run of play but a low strike from Tom Edwards ensured a deserved draw for the Potters.

Norwich's slip allowed second-placed Sheffield United to cut the gap at the top to three points with two games remaining.

Aston Villa - History makers

Jonathan Kodjia's strike handed Aston Villa a historic tenth straight win
Jonathan Kodjia's strike handed Aston Villa a historic tenth straight win

Full record here

Aston Villa secured a 10th successive win for the first time in the club's history with a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship victory against Millwall at Villa Park.

Jonathan Kodjia's goal in the 30th minute secured their memorable win and all but assured Villa of a place in the play-offs.

Villa had been languishing in mid-table before starting their amazing run, which has surpassed the previous best of nine consecutive victories set back in 1910.

Villa would have won by a greater margin but for Millwall goalkeeper David Martin who saved from Anwar El Ghazi, Jack Grealish and Andre Green.

While Villa are chasing promotion, Millwall are fighting desperately to avoid relegation and remain one place above the drop zone after seeing their four-game unbeaten run come to an end.

WBA seal play-off place

West Brom cemented their place in the Championship play-off place despite being held to a goalless draw by lowly Reading, which in turn means Reading must wait to official secure their survival in the division.

In a first half of few chances, Albion enjoyed the better of it but Hal Robson-Kanu and Jacob Murphy were denied by home goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Substitutes Danny Loader and Garath McCleary combined well up front, with the latter twice having shots blocked as he cut in from the right flank.

West Brom were gifted a half-chance when Ovie Ejaria's intended backpass seemed to be falling short of Martinez.

But Martinez raced out to clear the danger as Robson-Kanu - the former Reading winger - prepared to pounce.

Martinez was called on soon after to make smart saves to keep out efforts from Robson-Kanu and Murphy.

Reading kept up the pressure in the closing stages, with Johnstone again having to be at his best to tip over a well-struck Lewis Baker free-kick as the spoils were shared.


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Derby back in play-offs

Harry Wilson scored twice in stoppage time as Derby boosted their play-off prospects with a 2-0 victory over QPR.

Wilson converted a penalty in the fifth minute of added time and then broke away to clinch a vital win which lifts Frank Lampard's team up to sixth.

The Rams had scored 10 goals in their previous two home games and they went close in the fourth minute when Martyn Waghorn flicked on a Wilson free-kick but Joe Lumley parried before the ball was scrambled clear.

QPR broke dangerously with Luke Freeman's cross bouncing off goalkeeper Kelle Roos, before Fikayo Tomori had to get across to block Nahki Wells' shot in the eighth minute.

The home fans were cheered when nine minutes of added time were announced - and Derby were awarded a penalty in the fourth.

Bogle went over Freeman's leg and referee David Webb sparked furious protests from the visitors by pointing to the spot.

Wilson drove the ball low to Lumley's right and although the visitors' goalkeeper went the right way, he could not keep the effort out.

QPR pressed for an equaliser but were caught on the break when winger Wilson ran clear and squeezed his low shot past Lumley to make sure of the points.

Wigan seal survival

Wigan manager Paul Cook
Wigan manager Paul Cook

Wigan secured their Sky Bet Championship status in style with a 2-0 derby-day triumph over a Preston side who played for most of the game with 10 men after Ryan Ledson was sent off.

The Latics were already 1-0 up when Ledson lost his head - and almost removed that of Kal Naismith with a dangerously high foot on 34 minutes that left referee Andf Madley with no option.

Naismith had laid Wigan's opening goal on a plate for Leon Clarke inside 11 minutes after a mistake in the Preston defence.

And the win was secured midway through the second half when Lee Evans rifled home from 12 yards to kick the party into full swing.

With news of Rotherham's home defeat to Birmingham filtering through, Wigan could celebrate retaining their Championship status after suffering relegation in each of their last two second-tier campaigns.

Birmingham secure Championship status

Birmingham confirmed their Sky Bet Championship status for another season with a 3-1 victory at Rotherham which left the home side deep in the relegation fight.

Jacques Maghoma, Jota and Kerim Mrabti scored the second-half goals which earned the win after Matt Crooks had given Rotherham the lead midway through the first half.

The win took Garry Monk's side on to 50 points, 10 clear of Rotherham in the final relegation spot with two games of the season remaining.

But while Monk can now look to a summer of rebuilding after his club were docked nine points for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, Paul Warne faces difficult games with West Brom and Middlesbrough as Rotherham try to bridge the three-point gap to Millwall - who have a game in hand over the Millers.

But the home side took the lead after 22 minutes when a low ball by Ryan Williams was cleared by Morrison only as far as Crooks.

He shot low into the bottom corner from 12 yards with the Birmingham captain claiming the Rotherham player had controlled the ball with his arm.

Birmingham started the second half in determined mood and levelled after 56 minutes as Maghoma fired home from inside the area after taking a pass from Jota and running at a crowded defence before firing across Rodak and into the corner.

Rodak kept out a Jutkiewicz shot at his near post just after the hour was Birmingham looked for a second.

It came shortly after as Adams skipped past Richard Wood and crossed low for Jota to pick his spot and guide the ball into the bottom right corner.

Deep into the five minutes of stoppage time Birmingham wrapped up the win as substitute Mrabti scored his first goal for the club, firing low under Rodak after being fed by Maghoma.

Owls dent Bristol City's promotion hopes

Barry Bannan scores a superb goal from 30 yards out for Sheffield Wednesday
Barry Bannan scores a superb goal from 30 yards out for Sheffield Wednesday

Bristol City's play-off hopes were dealt a blow after their 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

First-half goals from Barry Bannan and Lucas Joao were enough to give the Owls all three points at Hillsborough.

Bannan who opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a stunning left-footed drive from 30 yards out. The Scotsman unleashed a spectacular strike which arrowed into the top corner, leaving O'Leary no chance.

The visitors were struggling to create many openings but when Jay Dasilva combined with Famara Diedhiou on the edge of the box, Dasilva found himself through on goal with a chance to score - but his shot was scuffed wide.

Six minutes before the interval Bannan turned provider, clipping a delightful ball over the defence to Joao, who calmly lifted the ball over O'Leary to double the Owls' lead despite Dasilva's best efforts to clear.

Swansea still in play-off hunt

Swansea ended their dismal away form with a 1-0 victory against already-relegated Ipswich at Portman Road.

The Swans had lost seven consecutive games on their travels prior to playing the Tractor Boys but Wayne Routledge's 57th-minute goal secured the points for the visitors.

The win keeps Swansea's outside hopes of reaching the play-offs alive with five points separating the Welsh side from sixth place.

For Ipswich, who will ply their trade in League One next year after relegation was confirmed nine days ago, it was the 24th defeat of a miserable campaign.

The visitors should have gone ahead as early as the fifth minute when a glaring error from Ipswich's Toto Nsiala let in Daniel James, but the Welsh striker could not find the target when clean through.

Ipswich's first effort came a minute later when Gwion Edwards curled his shot over from outside the box.

The visitors took the lead three minutes later when James' shot from distance was tipped onto the post by Gerken before Routledge pounced to slam the rebound home.

Forest end losing run

Joe Lolley moved into double figures for the season as Nottingham Forest demolished Middlesbrough
Joe Lolley moved into double figures for the season as Nottingham Forest demolished Middlesbrough

Nottingham Forest ended a run of four straight defeats with a resounding 3-0 Sky Bet Championship victory over Middlesbrough at the City Ground.

The result, which leaves Boro's play-off fate out of their own hands, came via Joe Lolley's brace either side of Alexander Milosevic's second-half strike. Lolley now has 11 goals for the season.

Forest's margin of victory would have been greater but for a fine performance from Darren Randolph in the Boro goal, with Tony Pulis' side turning in a desperate display in which they failed to muster a meaningful shot on target.

Martin O'Neill made four changes to the side which lost to Sheffield United on Good Friday, while Pulis' men were unchanged following a run of three successive wins which had boosted their promotion hopes.

The hosts were awarded a penalty six minutes before the break when Ryan Shotton tripped Ansarifard as the Iranian was about to pull the trigger, although referee Peter Bankes only produced a yellow card for the Boro defender.

Lolley stepped up and comfortably blasted his effort from 12 yards into the roof of the net.

Only Randolph's inspired save five minutes after the break prevented Forest from doubling their lead. The Republic of Ireland keeper showed fantastic reflexes to parry away Ansarifard's effort from six yards after Joao Carvalho's clever cross without the outside of his boot found the forward unmarked.

The home side did get their second after 65 minutes, as Carvalho's quick free-kick caught out Shotton and Cash's looping cross to the back post was volleyed in by Milosevic.

The third goal did come five minutes from time - Portuguese forward Carvalho went on a mesmerising run down the left before squaring to Lolley, who curled home his second.

Blackburn add to Bolton misery

Ben Brereton fires home for Blackburn Rovers against Bolton
Ben Brereton fires home for Blackburn Rovers against Bolton

Ben Brereton scored his first Blackburn goal as they sauntered to a 2-0 win over relegated Bolton.

The 20-year-old broke the deadlock in a tight first half when a neat move on the half-hour set him clear and he confidently stroked home.

Former Bolton loanee Adam Armstrong settled the game from close range five minutes after the break with his ninth goal of the campaign.

The game felt like a testimonial at times, with Rovers able to hand out home and league debuts, and whilst Callum Connolly had two decent chances for the Trotters, they never looked like scoring on another chastening afternoon.

Rovers still harbour hopes of a top-half finish after stretching their winning sequence to four - the second time this season they have managed it.

Rovers made the breakthrough in the 30th minute with the half's only moment of quality, as Bradley Dack slid a perfect ball to Brereton who calmly slotted into the bottom right corner from 12 yards out. It was harsh on the balance of play but indicative of the league's second leakiest defence.

Luke Murphy came close an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, but his thunderous 25-yard drive was just too high.

Rovers doubled their lead in the 50th minute. Dack's low ball found Joe Rothwell, whose point-blank shot was superbly saved by Ben Alnwick, but Armstrong was quickest to react and fired into the roof of the net.

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