Coventry City took another significant step towards a long-awaited return to the Premier League after a tense 0-0 draw against fellow promotion contenders Hull City on Monday.
The stalemate keeps Coventry firmly at the top of the Championship, holding a commanding 12-point lead and moving them within four points of ending a 25-year absence from England’s top flight.
Hull, meanwhile, remain fifth — inside the play-off positions — and still have an outside chance of automatic promotion with five games left to play.
In the Championship, only the top two teams secure automatic promotion, while those finishing between third and sixth battle it out in the play-offs for the final Premier League spot.
Elsewhere, Norwich City boosted their play-off hopes with a 2-1 comeback win over Millwall. Substitute Mihailo Ivanovic had fired Millwall ahead shortly after half-time, but Pelle Mattson’s long-range effort and a late winner from Oscar Schwartau turned the game around.
The result proved crucial for Ipswich Town, who climbed into second place after coming from behind to beat Birmingham City 2-1. Kasey McAteer netted his first goal for the club just before the break, sealing a vital victory for the Tractor Boys.
Middlesbrough sit third on level points with Ipswich but have played two more games, following a 2-2 draw away at Swansea City. In a dramatic encounter featuring three penalties, Zan Vipotnik converted twice for Swansea, while Tommy Conway’s second-half spot-kick rescued a point for Boro.
Bristol City continued their resurgence under interim boss Roy Hodgson, securing a second straight win with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United. Mark Sykes scored the decisive goal, while goalkeeper Radek Vitek delivered a standout performance to preserve the lead.
At the bottom end, Portsmouth grabbed a crucial late point in a 2-2 draw against fellow strugglers Oxford United, with Andre Dozzell equalising in the 87th minute despite Pompey being reduced to 10 men. The result keeps them just above the relegation zone, with a game in hand.
Sheffield Wednesday, already relegated after a heavy points deduction, were denied a first home league win of the season as Leicester City’s Jordan Ayew struck late to secure a draw. Jerry Yates had given Wednesday an early lead, but Leicester remain stuck in the bottom three.
