Oxford boss Des Buckingham rued missed chances as his side’s promotion hopes took a blow with a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury.
Buckingham’s side dropped out of the top six in League One after letting a lead slip.
The visitors went ahead eight minutes into the second half through Billy Bodin, but Shrewsbury substitute Jack Price earned his relegation-battling side a valuable point.
“I think we have created enough chances to win a couple of games there,” Buckingham said.
“Not just chances but big moments – I think it was three or four key moments in the game.
“It is making sure, especially when the game is at 1-0, that you put the game to bed otherwise that can happen.
“If we want to be where we are at the end of the season, those moments need to turn into goals, which then obviously turn into three points and make the game a lot easier.
“We shouldn’t have the game in the state of 1-0 that allows them to come away with a point when we should be two or three clear.
“We want to make sure it points rather than goal difference. It is in our own hands how we finish our season.
“If we do what we want, we won’t need to worry about goal difference.”
Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst believes his side were deserving of a point, which left them six points clear of the relegation zone.
“For large parts, I thought we were more than in the game and competed well,” Hurst said.
“First half, I thought we perhaps shaved it and had the best chance with Aiden (O’Brien) and Marko (Marosi) made one good save earlier on.
“Second half we actually started better and on the front foot and then gave away a disappointing goal on our part.
“It is movement we highlighted. They got in behind us.
“Then you could see their confidence grow a little but credit to the players, we hung on in there.
“Eventually, they got their rewards, which their efforts deserved with an unusual goalscorer, shall we say, but he has got that quality in him in Jack Price.
“It’s a nice moment for him as he has played higher and in a different county and at different levels.”
Lincoln head coach Michael Skubala praised substitute Jovon Makama after his last-minute winner in their 1-0 Sky Bet League One victory over Leyton Orient propelled the Imps into the play-off places for the first time this season.
City were not at their best as Orient more than matched them, but they claimed the three points after Makama came on to score a dramatic late goal as they stretched their unbeaten run to 14 matches.
“Jovon is still learning and he has the profile and ability to do well and we know he has that finish in him,” said Skubala.
“I see him in training in every day and I known the quality he has.
“I am really pleased he came on he got the goal to help us get the three points.”
Skubala admitted the free-scoring Imps had had a battle on their hands, producing just two shots on target as they struggled to get the better of a lively-looking Orient side, backed by nearly 1,000 fans.
“It was a tough game for us and we had to scrap it out,” he said.
“We were struggling with the physicality, we were struggling with the wind and with the scrappiness. They played some nice football and it was one of those games when we had to grind it out.
“We weren’t great, but we know we have to have these types of games if we are to do well and scrap it out and fight for points.
“Our back line was phenomenal and it was a tough shift for them. The game is built on clean sheets and all round it was a resilient performance.”
After only mustering one shot on goal in the previous 90 minutes, Makama settled the contest when he blocked an attempted clearance, collected the ball and confidently curled a low shot into the bottom corner.
Orient head coach Richie Wellens felt the “best team lost” after seeing his side dominate possession and chances, only to fall to the late sucker punch.
He also as good as wrote off their play-off hopes, saying: “It was a big mistake at the end and the best team lost. I felt we nullified them and they weren’t really a threat.
“Up until the 90th minute they’d had one shot on our goal and it was a sickener to lose. I thought we were brilliant in the last 15 minutes and looked like the only team going to win it, but when you’re on the crest of a wave like they are, things go for you.
“I thought tactically we were better than them, but we’re lacking in the final third. We should have won it – we have lost two games against these now in the final minute. I feel for the players and supporters.
“The play-offs are all but gone now, but you never know. It’s going to be tough and we’re going to have win all our last six games.”
Boss Darrell Clarke hailed the attitude of Cheltenham striker Aidan Keena after the Irishman’s first goal of the season secured a vital 2-1 win at relegation rivals Fleetwood.
Liam Sercombe put the Robins in front after half an hour but Ryan Graydon levelled for Fleetwood in the 79th minute.
Keena, publicly backed by Clarke all season, then fired in from close range after good work from Joe Nuttall on the left to end a 327-day drought and Fleetwood’s six-game unbeaten run.
Clarke said: “It’s about the lad’s attitude and how he goes about it. He is a great character in the changing room and he has a lot of bad banter but he is working very hard to improve his game.
“That’s all you can ask from your players, showing that commitment and desire and when you work hard and play well you get those opportunities to be able to score a goal.
“It was a nice bit of play, with a great little ball from Joe, who is getting fitter and stronger by the day which is good because we are going to need him with the injuries to our forwards.
“All I can ever ask of my boys is to keep listening, taking on board what we are trying to do and I back everybody that plays for me, giving the effort and commitment that these lads do.
“Keeno has done that since I’ve been in the building and I said to him when you do that, when you work hard, your luck changes. It’s a massive win for us.”
Cheltenham were the better side during a first half played in almost continuous rain on a heavy pitch.
Sercombe opened the scoring after a nod down from George Lloyd, switching the ball on to his left foot and curling into the bottom-left corner for his ninth of the season.
Cheltenham pushed for a second but it remained 1-0 at half-time and Fleetwood asked more questions of their visitors in the second period.
Bosun Lawal shot just wide in the 59th minute after Ryan Broom’s pass and Graydon saw an effort parried by Robins goalkeeper Luke Southwood.
Promise Omochere set up the equaliser for substitute Graydon but Fleetwood were only on level terms for three minutes as Keena won it to take Cheltenham to within two points of Burton in 20th.
Fleetwood boss Charlie Adam was angry with his team’s performance.
He said: “We are extremely disappointed. We asked the crowd to come and give us energy and enthusiasm and they did that.
“But unfortunately we never performed. In the first half, it was unacceptable. I felt it was back to where we were at the start, when we first came in the building.
“Again, I won’t accept it. I won’t accept people jogging or not being at it because it’s not what we can afford.
“We’ll look at it, we’ll dissect it and we are hugely disappointed in terms of the result. It’s a little setback for us but we have to go again on Monday.”
Interim manager Mike Dodds hailed the impact of Jobe Bellingham as a centre-forward after Sunderland beat Cardiff 2-0 to claim their first win since February 10.
Bellingham, the 18-year-old younger brother of England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude, won an early penalty before scoring his seventh goal of the season in all-round mature performance.
“We should be excited about his performance, something we can build on moving forward,” said Dodds, who revealed he has held conversations with Bellingham about his best position after tending to play him in midfield.
“He’s scored a goal and done well in the the game. He’s a coach’s dream, if I said go and play in goal he would just crack on with it.
“What he has got, which many number nines don’t have in this league, is unbelievable quality with his feet – a centre-midfielder playing up front.
“He gave us a platform to play off but you’ve got to remember he’s a second-year scholar playing in the Championship.
“He’s 18 and I know he carries the weight of his brother, which I think sometimes is unfair.
“But if you put that to one side, you’ve just seen a second-year scholar who has been exceptional and should be playing youth-team football.”
Dodds succeeded the sacked Michael Beale on February 19 and Sunderland had lost six and drawn one of their previous seven games to slide down the Sky Bet Championship table.
He said: “I think it was a real professional performance and I’ve tried to stay really balanced in this seat looking at performances.
“I am more happy for the group and the fans because the result makes everything feel a little bit lighter but I’m quite balanced.
“The (first) goal was a huge psychological factor in us just relaxing, after that we were excellent and cut through them really well.”
A second successive defeat – Cardiff had lost 2-0 to Welsh rivals Swansea before the international break – ended the Bluebirds’ slim play-off hopes.
Erol Bulut’s one-year contract expires at the end of the season and the Bluebirds manager conceded that uncertainty over his future could be impacting on performances.
Bulut said: “It can be (affecting players). I don’t have any problems. I respect it from the board if they are not coming with a new offer.
“I’m focusing on my job until the end of the season. Until now we haven’t had any communication about that, so let’s see.”
On a poor performance, Bulut added: “During the international break, the players trained really well so I was expecting a much better game.
“To see that performance, it hurts. I have to be honest, from the 39 games we’ve played this season, this was one of the worst.”
Michael Carrick revealed details of Middlesbrough’s scary 24 hours before securing a late 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Southampton.
Emmanuel Latte Lath headed in a 90th-minute equaliser after Adam Armstrong had put Saints into the driving seat.
It had come after 70mph winds battered the south coast and forced a hairy two attempts at landing into Southampton Airport on Thursday.
Boro boss Carrick said: “We didn’t get to the hotel until about 10pm last night after our flight was abandoned coming into land.
“We were getting blown all over the place as we were trying to coming into land and then we ended up having to take off again. We almost got diverted to Birmingham.
“It was tasty. Some of the boys were slightly tetchy, it wasn’t pleasant.
“Some of the boys are talking about getting onto the coach on the way back!”
Middlesbrough have 11 injuries, including four centre-backs on the sidelines, which forced midfielder Jonny Howson into the backline.
Howson’s horrifically sliced attempt to clear Kamaldeen Sulemana’s cross gifted Armstrong the opener – his 19th goal of the season and 30th he has been involved with in the league.
“To go 1-0 down and Jonny playing centre-half, it felt like a long day but I’m proud of them,” said Carrick.
“The boys showed what they were capable of against a strong side and with the jabs the boys have had with injuries.
“A lot of teams have had injuries but it has been a revolving door. The boys have adapted unbelievably well.
“I am so so pleased with the boys. We felt we deserved something from the game. I enjoyed watching it. I was desperate for the boys to get something after their effort.”
Ivorian striker Latte Lath’s late header was his 10th of the season and made Saints pay after Che Adams missed a series of gilt-edged chances.
“Che will be frustrated he hasn’t scored,” said Southampton manager Russell Martin. “But it isn’t the reason we lose.
“We still need to defend properly and win the game 1-0.
“I’m really disappointed and frustrated. We should have scored three or four goals. If you aren’t going to score enough to win it you need to defend with your lives.
“The goal is rubbish, it is nowhere near as good a chance as any of ours but he has taken it well.
“We created a lot of chances and on another day we win with a lot of goals but we couldn’t get that next goal and it really hurt us.
“What better way to take out our frustration than on Monday in a really big game (away at promotion rivals Ipswich).
“The lads are annoyed. I was so angry straight after the game so I took a bit of time to talk to them because there was an opportunity there, especially with the result at Leicester (who lost 1-0 to Bristol City).
“But there will still be a lot of twists and turns and some crazy results because the end of the season does some crazy things to teams and people feel pressure in strange ways.
“The game on Monday is perfect for us to bounce back and no one needs to build it up at all.
“We will do everything we can to learn from today. Hopefully we can use the frustration and turn it into a positive.”
Paul Simpson hailed hat-trick hero Jon Mellish after Carlisle produced one of the shocks of the season in Sky Bet League One.
Matchwinner Mellish bagged a first career hat-trick as the basement boys left Posh’s automatic promotion hopes in tatters with just their sixth win of a miserable season.
Mellish headed Simpson’s men into a 27th-minute lead, which he doubled with a smart volley three minutes into the second half.
The midfield ace completed his treble just before the hour with another spectacular volley before captain Harrison Burrows pulled a goal back for the hosts.
Substitute Jonson Clarke-Harris hit the bar late on as Darren Ferguson’s high-fliers flopped to fall 10 points behind the top two.
Simpson said: “I’m absolutely delighted for the players and the staff but even more happy for the supporters who made the long journey.
“The lads deserve huge credit for the way they went about it and they were three fantastic finishes from Jon. It’s a brilliant win and it’s all about getting some respect and pride back.
“I told Jon I wanted him to get his crazy legs going and cause problems and everyone saw that is what he did!
“We were brave to go short with our first corner and it led to Jon getting himself a free header for a good goal and the next two are fantastic finishes.
“And when we had to change to a back-five to shore things up, he slotted in at centre-back and did a good job.
“He’s an important player for us and he’s had a tough season in terms of goals as he usually gets a lot more, but a hat-trick like this is a great reward.”
Stunned Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson said: “It’s a terrible result and I’m very disappointed.
“How do I explain today? Probably the best way is that collectively we had an off-day and I include myself in that.
“Forget about league tables and how many points you have – if a team performs like we did today they will get beaten.
“We conceded three really soft goals and the lack of quality in the last third is not something I’ve seen from my players this season.
“You can get away with it when two or three players aren’t at it – but not when we all got a three out of 10.
“Maybe I gave the lads too many days off and maybe I could have made changes sooner. These are all things I have to question before I look at the level of performance.
“We’ve got a mountain to climb to get into the top two, but I’m experienced enough to know there is no reason to press the panic button.”
Liam Rosenior admitted his shot-shy Hull players need to learn how to win when they do not play well.
The Tigers failed to produce a shot on target against a Stoke side who eased their Championship relegation fears with a 2-0 away win courtesy of goals from Josh Laurent and Ki-Jana Hoever.
Defeat dropped Hull two places to ninth in the table as the Potters moved five points clear of the drop zone.
Rosenior said: “There are games in the Championship when some teams have an off day, but they find a way to win. We have to find a way to win when we don’t play well.
“When you don’t play to your level you have to keep the back door shut and nick the win. We found a way to lose today.
“Some of our decision making in the final third, we showed such a lack of killer instinct. We didn’t have a shot on target. We got let down in both boxes which is really disappointing.
“I think the fans were great. Today we didn’t give the fans enough to shout about. It was brilliant to see a full house, but we didn’t give them enough to get behind.”
A first half devoid of chances saw one effort on target and it took until well into the second period before the deadlock was finally broken from a corner.
Ryan Mmaee headed towards the left post where an unmarked Laurent side-footed home from close range with 21 minutes to go.
The game was well into four minutes of stoppage time when Hoever sealed the victory for the visitors.
Stoke head coach Steven Schumacher praised a team performance which saw his side control the game.
He said: “I thought we played well, I thought we were the better team from the first whistle.
“In the first half, our performance was excellent, and we just lacked a goal. In the second half we had to weather the storm for the first 10 minutes. The lads were nice and calm and stuck to the plan.
“We’ve got a big squad so I can’t pick everyone every week. We felt in the last four games we had played well in three of them and not in the last one.
“Over the international break we had conversations with a few of the lads who started today, and we said it was up to them to come into the team and play well.”
Laurent got his first league goal of the season and Schumacher praised the forward who showed composure following a first-half yellow card.
“He had to use his brains because he was closing down and putting people under pressure,” Schumacher said.
“It was a captain’s performance. He was in the right place at the right time to get his goal.
“That’s three wins in five which is good for a team in the bottom half of the table. Showing some consistency is key now.”
Rehan Ahmed is relaxed about his potential opportunities over the coming months after enjoying every minute of England duty this winter.
Leicestershire leg-spinner Ahmed became the country’s youngest ever men’s Test player in 2022 when he claimed a five-wicket haul on debut against Pakistan in Karachi, but had to wait a further 14 months for another shot at red-ball cricket for England.
The teenager relished the prospect of doing battle with India and picked up 11 wickets across three Tests.
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Ahmed, 19, is refreshed and ready to go again but has not set himself any major summer targets despite a T20 World Cup being on the horizon along with home Test series against West Indies and Pakistan.
“I’m not really fussed about what I’m trying to achieve this year,” Ahmed insisted when asked about the prospect of a home Test debut this summer.
“I’ve tried to do as much as I can within myself. So, whether that’s me getting my overs in, me getting as many runs as I can, because I love my batting and I’ve underperformed; I want to bat better.
“There’s a couple of things I really want to work on and if that takes me there, that takes me there.
“And if it doesn’t, and the balance of the teams is not right and whatnot, there are loads of things to take into account.
“I’ll be playing county cricket straight away. Leicester comes first when I’m not playing for England. I didn’t know if I wanted to play because I wanted a break, but I’ve had two weeks off and I just want to play again.”
Ahmed was part of a novice three-man spin-attack alongside Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir that flourished at times in India, but there are concerns over the number of overs the trio will get during the opening months of the domestic season.
However, the 19-year-old is not about to make any outlandish demands to his Leicestershire coaches over his bowling or batting role in a team-comes-first mentality that clearly owes much to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
He added: “It’s not a case where I come in and bat where I want.
“Obviously I’ve not been here all winter. The lads have been working hard so they deserve it first, so if I make the team and I play, then hopefully I’ll get a bat.
“Bowling in matches is something I’ve lacked a bit. I’ve bowled a lot in white-ball, not heaps of overs in red-ball plus it’s April, going to be nipping round corners.
“I don’t expect to bowl loads of overs because if the seamers are getting wickets, they are getting wickets and the team comes first, but I’ll be bowling loads in training.”
Ahmed is also sure to be bouncing ideas off new buddy Bashir, who may struggle for overs at Somerset, after the pair struck up a close bond during the India tour.
“Bash was unbelievable to be with. He made the made the trip so (much) fun for me,” Ahmed revealed.
“And his confidence was different level and that’s something I love to see because that’s exactly like how I was as well, we just kept bouncing off each other. It was great.
“I think the way Bash came into the game. Even with Harts coming in, the way I came in, it gives hope for everyone else as well.
“It doesn’t mean you have to bowl a load of overs in the champo and focus on swing and seam. You just need to be different and be committed to it.”
Jamal Lowe’s second-half goal cancelled out Bailey Cadamarteri’s opener as Swansea drew 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday on Good Friday.
The home side had several golden opportunities in the second half but a Swansea equaliser in the last quarter of an hour ensured the Owls remain in the relegation zone.
Wednesday boss Danny Rohl made four changes from the 6-0 demolition at Ipswich, with Pol Valentin, Akin Famewo, Liam Palmer and Cadamarteri joining the starting XI. A late fifth change had to be made when Di’Shon Bernard suffered an injury during the warm-up. Bambo Diaby took his place.
Swansea manager Luke Williams made a couple of switches to the side that claimed a 2-0 victory in the South Wales derby, with Josh Key coming in alongside Jay Fulton.
The home side had the first sight of goal, with Anthony Musaba heading wide within a minute of the start.
The Swans controlled the majority of play in the first half following that. Przemyslaw Placheta stung the palms of Wednesday keeper James Beadle. Liam Cullen also had his header saved but a foul was given against the striker anyway.
The Owls had a huge chance to take the lead as two ex-Cardiff men combined. Ike Ugbo squared for Will Vaulks but the midfielder scuffed his shot well wide.
Against the run of play, Wednesday did go ahead after 41 minutes. Diaby flicked on Vaulks’ free-kick from the right and Cadamarteri poked home on the stretch to give Wednesday the lead going into the break.
Beadle tipped over from Jamie Paterson’s volley from the edge of the box in the first chance of the second half. Matt Grimes then volleyed wide from a corner.
Substitute Djeidi Gassama came close to doubling Wednesday’s advantage after some good work on the right by Valentin but Carl Rushworth made a low save to keep him out.
The home side came agonisingly close again as Ugbo hit the crossbar from close range.
Just as in the first half, a goal was scored against the run of play as the Owls were made to pay for not taking their chances. Harry Darling’s header from a corner fell at the feet of substitute Lowe. The striker could not miss as Wednesday’s appeals for handball were waved away and Swansea were level in the 76th minute.
Valentin had a glorious chance to put Wednesday back in front but the winger dragged his shot wide. In added time, Rushworth stayed alert to saved Vaulks’ deflected effort.
The Owls remain in 23rd and stay in the bottom three on goal difference.
In-form striker Ellis Simms bagged a first-half double as play-off chasing Coventry recorded a 3-1 win at struggling Huddersfield.
Simms took his tally to 12 goals in his last nine matches across all competitions to boost Coventry’s hopes of securing a top-six finish.
Substitute Rhys Healey claimed his first goal in Huddersfield colours to reduce their arrears in the 79th minute but Haji Wright added a third for Coventry late on to send them up to seventh.
It was the visitors who created the first meaningful opportunity in the eighth minute when Wright tested the reflexes of Lee Nicholls after a quick counter attack.
But Town, unable to call upon star man Sorba Thomas due to suspension, wasted a glorious chance to get their noses in front on the 15-minute mark.
Josh Koroma seized on a loose ball after Milan Van Ewijk slipped over and the makeshift striker saw his low drive from an acute angle kept out by Brad Collins.
It proved a big moment as Coventry broke the deadlock in the 16th minute in spectacular fashion.
Palmer, a thorn in Huddersfield’s side throughout the first half, played in Simms down the left and he skipped past Michal Helik before unleashing a stunning right-foot curler into the top corner.
Things got even better for the FA Cup semi-finalists when Simms doubled their advantage midway through the half after a well-worked move.
Palmer freed Van Ewijk down the right, who neatly pulled the ball back for Simms to rifle in his second.
Moments later, Simms could have completed his hat-trick following excellent approach play by Wright but Nicholls was equal to the former Everton man’s effort.
The home side finished the half strongly, with wing-back David Kasumu rattling the post with a 25-yard piledriver.
Lady luck did not shine on Andre Breitenreiter’s side after the break as Jack Rudoni’s rasping left-foot drive struck the crossbar from just inside the penalty area.
It then took a brilliant last-ditch intervention from Spencer to prevent Wright from getting a sight at goal as Coventry pressed for a third.
Breitenreiter turned to his bench in an attempt to spark his team into life, throwing on Pat Jones, Ben Wiles and Healey.
Yet Huddersfield were indebted to Nicholls for keeping them in the contest as he produced good stops to foil substitute Callum O’Hare and Wright in the final quarter.
A blunder from Coventry shot-stopper Collins handed Huddersfield a lifeline. His pass was intercepted by Healey and Wiles kept his cool to square the ball to the striker, who drilled home.
Healey’s strike visibly lifted the crowd and swung the momentum Huddersfield’s way, with Collins pulling off two terrific saves to deny Jones.
Wright wrapped up the points deep into added time, lashing a left-foot shot into the bottom corner to send the away end delirious.
Play-off chasing Hull’s poor home form again cost them as second-half goals from Josh Laurent and Ki-Jana Hoever earned relegation-battling Stoke a 2-0 win at the MKM Stadium.
Hull went into the game with seven wins out of 19 at home this season and were on a run of just one win in their last 10 Championship matches at the MKM.
Defeat dropped Hull two places to ninth in the table as the Potters moved five points clear of the drop zone.
Stoke did not start like at team at the wrong end of the table, forcing a corner after a minute, and from their next five minutes later Michael Rose could only steer a low delivery from Sead Haksabanovic wide of goal.
Hull tried to respond but a volley from Anass Zaroury was well off target following a long kick by Ryan Allsop.
Sean McLoughlin headed wide as Hull forced two corners in quick succession and then the defender, in for suspended skipper Jacob Greaves, headed another chance over as the Tigers started to exert more pressure.
Regan Salter’s surging run was ended with a foul by Rose and Zaroury’s free-kick was scrambled clear for a corner just before the half-hour mark, but Alfie Jones headed the delivery well over as both sides struggled to carve out a clear opening.
Stoke captain Laurent was booked for his challenge on Fabio Carvalho and was then warned by referee Graham Scott he risked another after arguing about the caution.
Stoke’s Mehdi Leris headed a free-kick tamely at Allsop with 10 minutes of the half remaining in the only on-target effort of the first half.
Noah Ohio flicked on rather than shooting from a Carvalho low cross and Jones headed a free-kick wide.
At the other end Haksabanovic shot over as Hull struggled to clear from their own area in the final action of a poor first period.
The game desperately needed a spark at the start of the second half but both sides continued to struggle to find a cutting edge.
Ryan Giles again probed down the left as the hour approached but his cross was headed wide by Ohio.
Hull broke through substitute Abdulkadir Omur but when his pass found Jaden Philogene the forward’s shot failed to trouble Daniel Iversen when he had team-mates better placed.
Jordan Thompson shot high and wide after working an opening on the edge of the Hull area but shortly after the visitors went in front from a corner.
Ryan Mmaee headed towards the left post where an unmarked Laurent side-footed home from close range with 21 minutes to go.
Leris forced Allsop into a save to his left, but Omur and Philogene both went close to an equaliser before Hoever fired home Stoke’s second in stoppage time.
Norwich maintained their Sky Bet Championship play-off push as they saw off plucky Plymouth 2-1 to make it seven successive home wins in the league.
The struggling visitors stunned the Canaries by taking in the lead after 10 minutes as Morgan Whittaker headed home his 20th goal of the season.
But David Wagner’s side, who had lost 6-2 at Plymouth earlier in the season, responded well to the setback and two goals in seven second-half minutes, from top scorer Josh Sargent and an Ashley Phillips own goal, settled a hard-fought encounter in which the relegation threatened Pilgrims played their part.
Plymouth found themselves on the backfoot from the off but managed to take the lead from their first attack.
An impressive switch in play from Alfie Devine allowed Matthew Sorinola to make ground down the right flank before crossing for Whittaker to find the bottom corner with a powerful header.
Norwich had a chance to hit back a few minutes later when Sargent burst through but a superb last-ditch block from Phillips snuffed out the danger.
Sargent later hit the post with a deflected drive from a Gabriel Sara corner, while on the stroke of half-time Borja Sainz got to the byline, only to fail to pick out an unmarked Sargent, who would have had a simple tap-in.
Plymouth were largely on the defensive, although they nearly made it 2-0 after 37 minutes when Ryan Hardie skipped past keeper Angus Gunn only to miss the target from a narrow angle.
Norwich continued to dominate after the break and deservedly got back on level terms after 67 minutes from a clever short corner routine.
Substitute Christian Fassnacht picked out the deep lying Sargent with a low delivery and the United States international had the space to sweep home his 14th goal of the season.
The Canaries now had the bit between their teeth and seven minutes later took the lead from another corner.
This time Sara took it and his conventional delivery was headed goalwards by Sam McCallum, with Argyle defender Phillips then inadvertently deflecting the ball home from close range.
Gunn produced an excellent block to foil Hardie as Plymouth pressed for an equaliser before an audacious 30-yard free-kick from Sara hit the underside of the crossbar, with Fassnacht’s follow-up header going just over.
Emmanuel Latte Lath’s 90th-minute equaliser saved a 1-1 draw for Middlesbrough to puncture Southampton’s Sky Bet Championship automatic promotion ambitions.
Adam Armstrong had seemingly fired Saints towards a 23rd victory of the season with his 30th goal contribution in the Championship this season – more than any other player.
But Ivorian Latte Lath nodded in his 10th goal of the campaign late on to extend Boro’s unbeaten run to five matches.
Saints ended their 20-day break since their last game with a goal inside 12 minutes.
Kamaldeen Sulemana lifted a ball from the left side into the box and it should have been dealt with by makeshift centre-back Jonny Howson – who was forced to fill in at the back with Boro contending with 11 injuries, six of them to defenders.
Howson sliced his attempted clearance to Armstrong, who settled himself before using his composure to slot into the bottom corner for his 19th goal of the season.
Armstrong almost pilfered his 20th two minutes later but his fierce effort was deflected just over.
Boro grew into the half and struck the post in the 28th minute with their first shot of the afternoon. Kyle Walker-Peters had given the ball away in midfield before Finn Azaz rattled the base of the upright.
Isaiah Jones could not find a stretching Latte Lath while Sulemana blazed over to end a first half that promised more.
The second period started like a runaway train as Gavin Bazunu stood strong to deny Latte Lath at one end before Che Adams pounced on Seny Dieng’s parry to put the ball into the net at the other before the flag went up for offside.
Adams then had two gilt-edged chances in two minutes to double Southampton’s lead.
The Scotland international was dinked through by Taylor Harwood-Bellis but took so long to settle himself Dieng had time to position himself to save the eventual shot in the box, then Adams was able to control and turn seven yards out when unmarked but somehow missed the target.
Armstrong was brilliantly denied from close range by Nieng before his follow-up was blocked on the line by Lukas Engel.
Ryan Fraser had a shot parried before Will Smallbone shinned the rebound over as Saints were made to pay for their wastefulness in the dying embers.
Alex Gilbert’s cross from the right was met by Latte Lath, who craned his neck to divert into the bottom corner.
Gary O’Neil said there is no truth in reports that he will leave Wolves in order to replace Erik ten Hag as manager of Manchester United.
A number of names have been linked with Old Trafford since minority investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe took charge of football operations earlier this year.
O’Neil, appointed at Molineux days before the start of the current season, has overseen an impressive campaign in which Wolves have far exceeded expectations.
They currently sit ninth and are 20 points clear of the relegation zone despite having been tipped to struggle following the departure of former boss Julen Lopetegui in August.
Instead they have sights on possible European qualification and could finish the weekend in seventh – likely to be worth a place in next season’s Europa Conference League – if they beat Aston Villa on Saturday evening and other results go their way.
Despite his rising personal profile, O’Neil dismissed suggestions he is being lined up for the United job.
“I don’t know where it came from,” he said.
“Growing up, Liverpool and Manchester United always felt special. It’s an honour to be linked even if there’s no truth in it.
“I love it here. I’m a head coach, I’m always going to be a head coach. I’m really enjoying my time at Wolves. I was only made aware of (the links) by the media team to prepare for your questions.”
Matheus Cunha is in contention to feature against Villa having missed most of the last two months with a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old went off during his team’s home defeat to Brentford on February 10 but could return to the fold on Saturday.
He has scored 11 goals in all competitions in what is is his first campaign since signing permanently from Atletico Madrid.
“He will play some football for us this week,” said O’Neil. “He’s back, he’s fine and has worked his socks off. He’s shaved an enormous amount of time off the medical diagnosis of what he had.
“He’s done unbelievably well and now the decision for me is when and how long he plays. He is training, sprinting and has done everything you can do to test the hamstring, apart from being put into a Premier League game.
“It’s now on me to decide if that’s from the start tomorrow, the bench tomorrow or from the start on Tuesday (against Burnley).
“We’re trying to get it right for him as he’s massively important to us for tomorrow’s game, but also the nine after that.”
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