Soccer

Leicester back to the top of the Championship as Ipswich and Leeds both lose

Stephy Mavididi’s headed goal secures 2-1 win over Birmingham; Leeds lose to Coventry as unbeaten league run ends; Ipswich lose derby to Norwich

Marcelino Nunez of Norwich City is mobbed by team-mates as he celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship match against Ipswich Town at Carrow Road. Photograph: Stephen Pond/Getty Images
Marcelino Nunez of Norwich City is mobbed by team-mates as he celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship match against Ipswich Town at Carrow Road. Photograph: Stephen Pond/Getty Images
Sat Apr 06 2024 - 18:14

Stephy Mavididi headed Leicester back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship as top two Ipswich and Leeds fluffed their lines.

Mavididi’s 87th-minute goal secured a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Birmingham in which Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had put the Foxes in front with 28 minutes gone, only for Jay Stansfield to level on the stroke of half-time.

Ipswich, who had started the day at the top of the pile, suffered a serious blow to their automatic promotion hopes when they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to derby rivals Norwich.

A game of few clearcut chances at Carrow Road was settled by Marcelino Nunez’s 30-yard free-kick six minutes before half-time.

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Leeds slid to third place after a 2-1 defeat – their first in 16 league outings – at Coventry, who remain in the hunt for a playoff berth as a result.

Ellis Simms headed the Sky Blues into a ninth-minute lead and Haji Wright gave them breathing space four minutes after the restart to ensure substitute Joel Piroe’s 76th-minute strike counted for little.

Neither Southampton nor West Brom were able to take advantage with both having to settle for a point on their travels.

The Saints played out a 0-0 draw at Blackburn as Rovers built upon their impressive 5-1 win at Sunderland on Monday, while the Baggies squandered a 2-0 lead at Stoke.

[ Championship table ]

They looked to be cruising to victory when Ireland winger Mikey Johnston and Jed Wallace scored either side of the break, but Million Manhoef pulled one back for the Potters, who went on to make it 2-2 through Andre Vidigal, who converted the rebound after Alex Palmer had saved his 78th-minute penalty.

Emmanuel Latte Lath’s double maintained Middlesbrough’s playoffs push as they extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a 2-0 home win over Swansea.

They are level on 61 points – six shy of the top six – with Hull, who also enjoyed success against Welsh opponents with a 3-1 win at Cardiff.

Fabio Carvalho’s first-half double put the visitors in the driving seat and although Karlan Grant pulled one back 12 minutes after the restart, Jaden Philogene restored the Tigers’ advantage within two minutes.

Preston are a further point behind after they could only manage a 0-0 draw at Watford, who have drawn their last three games, and the mid-table clash between Sunderland and Bristol City also ended goalless.

At the foot of the table, Huddersfield boosted their survival chances when substitute Rhys Healey headed them to a priceless 1-0 victory over Millwall and out of the bottom three in the fourth minute of added time.

Sheffield Wednesday remain inside the relegation zone, but just a point behind the Terriers after a 2-0 win at QPR.

Substitute Djeidi Gassama’s 59th-minute strike set them on their way, and fellow substitute Anthony Musaba made sure with a second deep into stoppage-time.