Ipswich go top as Leicester, Leeds United falter

Ipswich have moved to the top of the Championship table thanks to a 1-0 victory over Blackburn, while fellow title-contenders and promotion aspirants Leeds United were held by Watford.

Conor Chaplin's 13th goal of the season was enough for Ipswich to take all three points at Ewood Park, leaving them one point ahead of previous leaders Leeds.

With the top two earning automatic promotion, Australian footballer Massimo Luongo must be quietly confident of playing in the Premier League next season with Ipswich.

Leeds were in action later on Friday evening and twice had to come from behind to secure a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road.

Vakoun Bayo smashed in the opener for Watford in the 31st minute before a stunning finish from Crysencio Summerville six minutes later levelled matters.

There was still time for Watford to go in ahead at half-time thanks to another excellent goal from Emmanuel Dennis, but Leeds' second-half pressure paid off when Mateo Joseph secured a point five minutes from time.

Long-time leaders Leicester are now out of the top two after Anis Mehmeti's brilliant strike put another dent in their stuttering bid for automatic promotion.

The Bristol City winger accepted a square ball from Mark Sykes on the edge of the box and sent a sweet left-footed shot into the roof of the net in the 73rd minute to earn his side a 1-0 victory at Ashton Gate.

Leicester had arrived looking to reignite their promotion push after just one win in five Championship games but paid for missed chances, with Jamie Vardy twice denied by outstanding Max O'Leary saves.

Fourth-placed Southampton missed the chance to close the gap on the Foxes after a 90th-minute equaliser from Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Latte Lath cancelled out Adam Armstrong's early opener in a 1-1 draw.

Socceroo Sammy Silvera, who played in Tuesday's 5-0 win over Lebanon in Canberra, came off the bench for Middlesbrough.

Sixth-placed Norwich came from behind to beat lowly Plymouth 2-1. Arygle had led through Morgan Whittaker's 10th-minute opener but Josh Sargent equalised before an own goal from Ashley Phillips in the 74th minute.

Coventry and Preston both kept alive their hopes of snatching a play-off spot with victories over Huddersfield and Rotherham respectively.

Ellis Simms continued his hot streak in front of goal with an early double in Coventry's 3-1 win over struggling Huddersfield while Emil Riis struck twice to add to Duane Holmes' opener in Preston's 3-0 victory against bottom side Rotherham.

Jimmy Dunne's brilliant injury-time volley gave QPR a dramatic 2-1 victory in the big battle at the bottom against Birmingham.

Juninho Bacuna gave City the lead in the 62nd minute but Steve Cook equalised with a deflected effort three minutes later before Dunne fired in the winner from the edge of the box.

Birmingham remain just outside the bottom three after Sheffield Wednesday were pegged back in a 1-1 draw with Swansea.

Bailey Cadamarteri gave the hosts the lead at Hillsborough four minutes before half-time but Jamal Lowe levelled in the 76th minute.

Second-half goals from Josh Laurent and Ki-Jana Hoever gave Stoke a precious 2-0 win over play-off chasing Hull to move the Potters five points clear of the bottom three.

Adil Aouchiche and Jobe Bellingham were on target for Sunderland in the first half in a 2-0 victory over Cardiff while John Swift's penalty rescued a point for play-off chasing West Brom in a 1-1 draw at Millwall.

The Lions were a goal ahead at the break after a fine finish from Duncan Watmore but Swift converted from the spot in the 67th minute after Grady Diangana was fouled.

In League One Yusini Yengi, fresh from scoring for the Socceroos against Lebanon, came off the bench as Portsmouth extended their cushion to Bolton in third place to 11 points with a 3-1 win at Wycombe. The top two go up automatically.

Pompey now need eight points from their remaining six games to secure promotion, and are favourites for the title with a five-point lead over Derby.

Australian Associated Press