Championship (England)

Koroma scored his first goal since September to cancel out Morgan Whittaker’s early effort, denying Plymouth boss Ian Foster a winning start in his first Sky Bet Championship game in charge.

The shared points did little to ease either sides’ relegation fears, with Huddersfield now winning just one of their last nine league matches and Plymouth’s winless run extending to five.

Huddersfield’s American owner Kevin Nagle, watching from the stands, wants more new recruits before the transfer window closes and will step up his bid after the Terriers missed the chance to pull further clear of the bottom three.

Whittaker’s early effort was turned away by Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and at the other end Koroma shot narrowly wide as both sides set a lively tempo.

Plymouth opened the scoring with the game’s first cohesive move in the 12th minute.

Callum Wright sent Bali Mumba scampering clear down the left and his excellent cross was volleyed home at the far post by Whittaker for his 14th league goal of the season.

Alex Matos, on loan from Chelsea and making his league debut for the Terriers, fired into the side netting from four yards out, but Plymouth went close to a second when Ryan Hardie’s free-kick was deflected just off target.

Plymouth looked the more likely to add to the scoring until Huddersfield hit back in the 38th minute.

Mumba’s misdirected pass was pounced on by Sorba Thomas and he picked out Koroma, who cut inside on to his left foot and fired beyond Conor Hazard into the bottom corner.

Both sides were intent on chasing all three points at the start of the second half.

Whittaker’s long-range effort narrowly cleared the crossbar and Koroma’s deflected shot forced Hazard into a low save.

Clear-cut chances dried up and, while Huddersfield dominated possession, they lacked the cutting edge to seriously trouble a well-organised Plymouth defence.

Huddersfield’s Ben Jackson’s low effort was saved by Hazard and Jack Rudoni headed wide as Plymouth settled for a point and closed the game out, while some Terriers fans booed at the final whistle.

Juninho Bacuna’s goal on the stroke of half-time proved enough to decide an entertaining encounter at Cardiff City Stadium that was low on quality.

The result ends a run of eight away defeats in a row for Birmingham and five for former England striker Rooney since taking over at St Andrew’s in October.

Victory sees Blues move up two places to 16th, while Cardiff missed the chance to climb up to seventh and stay in contention for the play-off places, instead dropping to 10th.

Siriki Dembele tested Runar Runarsson from a tight angle in the early stages before Birmingham’s midfield pair carved out a chance for Jay Stansfield but the Fulham loanee fired his effort across goal.

Cardiff lost defender Perry Ng to a head injury – he was replaced by Mahlon Romeo after just 13 minutes – but had plenty of chances of their own in a lively first half.

Birmingham goalkeeper John Ruddy almost put the ball into his own net when he failed to gather a high ball and forward Kion Etete twice shot over the crossbar from Yakou Meite deliveries.

Ryan Wintle was also a threat with his set-piece deliveries as Dimitrios Goutas’ header had Ruddy scrambling low to his right.

Birmingham’s Lee Buchanan and Cardiff’s Etete both fired efforts over the crossbar as both teams continued to create chances, so it was no surprise that the first half should provide a goal in the third minute of added time.

Cardiff felt Etete was fouled when he lost possession but referee Stephen Martin waved play on and Birmingham took off upfield.

Jordan James and Dembele combined to release Bacuna who calmly rounded the onrushing Runarsson to finish into an empty net.

Cardiff began the second half on the front foot but had two early penalty appeals waved away by Martin and boss Erol Bulut was forced into early chances with the introduction of Callum Robinson and Josh Bowler.

However, it was Birmingham who looked most likely to grab a second.

Stansfield timed his run perfectly to break the Cardiff offside trap but his tame effort went straight into Runarsson’s hands.

Moments later and centre-back Emanuel Aiwu snatched at a chance from five yards after James fired in a volley.

Cardiff gradually ran out of ideas and energy, though Rubin Colwill had a chance to snatch a draw with the final effort of the game only to fire his free-kick straight at Ruddy.

It had been a spirited display from the Millers but Kasey McAteer’s double proved enough for Enzo Maresca’s side, who snatched maximum points with seven minutes left to play.

Rotherham thought they had taken a ninth-minute lead when Jordan Hugill flicked in Cafu’s wicked corner but referee Simon Hooper ruled it out after consulting his assistant.

Leicester were instead celebrating in the 12th minute when Kelechi Iheanacho delivered to the back post for McAteer to nod beyond goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

Only a solid tackle from Tyler Blackett denied Leicester a second when Stephy Mavididi threatened.

Fred Onyedinma’s cross then found Cafu but his looping header back across goal went over the Leicester crossbar.

Rotherham again caused trouble down the right and Ollie Rathbone’s deflected cross had to be clawed away from trouble by Mads Hermansen.

Ricardo Pereira then tested Johansson with a powerful strike from range but the former Foxes goalkeeper managed to keep hold of it.

Leicester launched a counter-attack just before the break, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall setting Mavididi through down the left but he took the effort on his right foot and it was gathered by Johansson.

The home side made a positive start to the second half with Andre Green rising highest from Cafu’s corner but his effort was off target.

They made the pressure count after 53 minutes when Green crossed for Onyedinma, whose flicked header snuck in at the far post.

Rotherham were restricting the visitors to shots from distance, with Wout Faes being denied by a block and Callum Doyle firing over.

A more intricate move led to a shot from Mavididi but it was held by Johansson.

Substitute Jamie Vardy was lurking in search of a winner and had a great opportunity from Dewsbury-Hall’s centre but Blackett got in the way. Cesare Casadei then headed straight at Johansson in the aftermath.

The winner came after 83 minutes. Doyle picked out McAteer who took the ball onto his left boot and curled an effort into the far corner.

Rotherham could have levelled again but substitute Tom Eaves could not head in Dexter Lembikisa’s cross from close range.

Gary Rowett, who had taken stick from his own supporters in defeat at Norwich last weekend, saw his side control the first half at the Den and deservedly go in with a lead courtesy of a strike from summer signing Kevin Nisbet.

Stoke came into the game after a quadruple substitution at half-time as Andre Vidigal went close with a one-on-one and forced a fine save from Matija Sarkic, while Tyrese Campbell hit a post and Wouter Burger had a late drive fizz wide.

But it was Millwall who hung on and Rowett continues his hold over his old side, having won six out of nine encounters since leaving the Potters in 2019.

Millwall had taken hold of a scrappy match midway through the first half and Mark Travers made a series of saves.

The goalkeeper had to be down smartly to keep out a low, whipped free-kick from wide on the left by Zian Flemming. George Saville thought he had scored with the rebound only for Ben Wilmot to flash across to deflect wide with a header.

Stoke fans were still singing Travers’ name when he shifted across to keep out another Flemming free-kick and then acrobatically got his fingertips to stop a close-range header from Jake Cooper.

Millwall found the breakthrough when Stoke failed to deal with a loopy long throw from the right, bouncing kindly for Nesbit to find the bottom right corner.

Stoke manager Alex Neil handed debuts to new signings Mehdri Leris and Burger in a major half-time reshuffle.

The visitors did come to life and, after Campbell had their first shot on target, Wesley pushed a through-ball to Vidigal to clip a shot just past Sarkic and the post. Campbell cracked a shot just over the crossbar from the right corner of the area.

Stoke dialled up the pressure as the heavens opened and Campbell had a shot blocked by Shaun Hutchinson before Leris shot just over in a scramble.

Flemming had half a chance to seal the win, but his shot was blocked by Luke McNally and Sarkic was forced into a flying stoppage-time save to keep the score at 1-0, diving to his left to tip over a dipping 30-yard drive from Vidigal.

Travers joined the Stoke attack for a couple of late corners, seeing Campbell flick a header onto the far post before Burger flashed onto a loose ball in the dying moments and skidded a shot past the left post.

The Tractor Boys scored a goal in each half to secure a third straight win and stay a point behind leaders Leicester – even though goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky had to make a few important saves.

Ipswich are also 18 points clear of seventh place after 20 matches and the festive period approaching, with McKenna wanting his side to keep going.

The impressive Conor Chaplin’s eighth goal of the season put Ipswich on track nine minutes before half-time when his half-volley deflected off Matt Clarke and flew in.

And 20-year-old substitute Omari Hutchinson, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, finished brilliantly after he had been put through by Chaplin with 23 minutes left to seal the win.

Ipswich manager McKenna said: “This was a really complete performance, especially for an away game. We controlled most elements of the game, high and low, out of possession and in possession.

“The only thing I think we could have done better was we should have created cleaner chances. First half we should have done that with the moments we had.

“We were good value for the first goal. The second goal was very important. Defensively we felt in control, but at 1-0 anything can happen. It was a big goal and I am delighted for Omari.

“That was a good team goal. The execution of the finish for a young player was good too. It was a nice combination and a nice finish.

“There was also a really good performance for the keeper. His composure on the ball helps our build-up in the first phase and he made some big saves. He was there when we needed him”

McKenna and Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick are good friends from their time together as coaches at Manchester United.

And Carrick was left frustrated that his side could not find the extra gear in the final third to cause more problems for Ipswich.

Carrick, who had nine players ruled out, said: “I’m disappointed obviously. We knew coming into this that they are a good team. We had to be at our best to get a result. We were a little short on a number of things, we were not quite firing.

“Second half we were better in terms of pressing, regains, and I fancied us to get back into it and then the second goal came. We did try to press and left some space, that was the way we went in the second half. That was their second shot on target.

“I feel for the boys in there because of the effort, they just lacked the fine edge, the quality in the bigger moments.

“Both boxes are what makes the difference, everything in between gives you a chance. We just didn’t quite have that little bit extra.”

Carrick, who has nine players ruled out, said: “We have a number of games coming up. We would like everyone to choose from, we will try to get everyone back.

“That’s the challenge we have. It is not easy. There are challenges we face and we have to make the best of it. All the boys have different timeframes, a few are touch and go for Wednesday (against Hull), we will see.”

George Hirst scored early on and Wes Burns’ cracker put the hosts further in front, before Matt Godden’s penalty cannoned off the underside of the bar.

Although the visitors did manage a breakthrough thanks to Brandon Williams’ headed own goal, it could not stop Ipswich recording a ninth win in 10 Sky Bet Championship matches.

McKenna said: “(It was) a fantastic result and a top, top performance in the first half so (I’m) really pleased, really proud of the players.

“I thought (our) first half performance was outstanding. I know how much hard work goes in to deliver a performance like that, especially a couple of days after your last game. (There’s) so much to enjoy.

“Of course (the) second half (is a) different half…we could have got through the pitch a little bit quicker.

“I think the intent on the pitch was right, to try and control the game. But we just needed to control it higher up the pitch.

“(There are) things to improve there but even having said that apart from two moments really – the penalty and then the goal at the end, which I think is a foul – they have (had) very, very few chances and we controlled a lot of the game well.

“(It was) an excellent effort from everyone. The atmosphere was great, the football was great, the goals were great, it was a super first half of football.

“We’ve executed really well the last two games and got off to great starts and backed it up with goals.”

Opposing boss Mark Robins said: “It felt like watching us last season.

“You could see that the connections have been made between the players so for instance Conor (Chaplin) and Wes Burns in those positions, they link up really well together.

“Hirst off the back and (Nathan) Broadhead comes in off that left hand side and makes good runs and they have got some pace and power within the team and they keep the ball pretty well, so they make it difficult for you.

“There’s a couple of moments we get it clearly wrong, the first was the first goal and the second was a worldly goal so I don’t think you can really put that down to anything other than a great finish.

“The second half we grew into it a little bit more but they had plenty of possession.

“The penalty came and went, it just hits the underside of the bar, it’s just one of those things, had we taken that chance that would have put them on the back foot.

“We just looked like we were a little bit timid at times. It’s one of those games that we have to learn from.”

A nightmarish opening 10 minutes saw the Tractor Boys go 2-0 down, with the final result seeing them drop out of the automatic promotion places.

Bournemouth loanee Moore was introduced at the interval and changed the game with two goals in 12 second-half minutes to give the visitors a late sniff.

And although Ipswich still came up short, McKenna feels Moore can play an important role in future matches.

“You’re always trying to have that variety you need in your playing squad,” said McKenna. “Having options like Kieffer means you can help to have variety in your play, especially in your attacking play.

“I think that’s something we’ve done really well over the past 12 months. We’ve been good at finding those different ways to threaten teams.

“My belief has always been that we have to adapt to the quality of the players at our disposal and try our best to utilise their best attributes. That’s while staying true to our beliefs about how we want to play and how we want an Ipswich team to look.”

Ultimately Ipswich’s shocking start would prove their undoing as they failed to shake off the scars of last week’s FA Cup humbling at the hands of non-league Maidstone.

Will Keane fired home from 20 yards via a heavy deflection off George Edmundson, who was again left cursing his luck when he directed the ball into his own net three minutes later.

Keane then made it 11 for the season after 36 minutes when Mads Frokjaer pounced on an awful pass out from keeper Vaclav Hladky and teed up his striker to slot home from close range.

“It proved to be a really difficult first half at what is a difficult place to come to,” said McKenna.

“We lacked enough profile and presence in that first half and ultimately it cost us.

“We needed to improve of course, and we did, and by the end of the game I thought we probably deserved to get something out of the game.

“It’s a blow at this stage of the season, but we can only improve on that first-half performance. There’s still a long way to go.”

Moore gave Ipswich hope by rising highest to nod home a cross after 74 minutes and then tapped home with three minutes left to make for a nervy conclusion, but the Lilywhites held out for a second successive home win.

Preston manager Ryan Lowe said: “The lads have been fantastic. I thought everything they did from start to finish was brilliant.

“It had to be because Ipswich are a top quality side. It was great to be three up at half-time, but we knew Ipswich weren’t out of it and they’d fight so hard in the second half.

“We knew there would be a reaction. They brought Moore on and he was a real handful, and they went a bit more direct but we defended brilliantly.

“The players have showed a terrific mentality today. We’ve shown we can beat a top side like Ipswich, so now it’s maybe about beating more of the teams in and around us if we’re going to challenge near the top.

“Even at 3-0 at half-time I was a little bit scared to say too much in the dressing room.

“That was for fear of upsetting our rhythm too much, but we’ve hung on against a good team with a great manager who has really got them going this season.”

A strike from Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo 11 minutes from time helped seal their seventh win in eight Championship games this season.

Goals from Harry Clarke, Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst put Town in control in the first half after Arnor Sigurdsson equalised.

An own goal from Clarke cut the deficit before Sammie Szmodics levelled but Luongo’s effort fired Town into second place.

McKenna said: “It was obviously a thrilling game. I don’t think many of us will have seen or have been involved in too many open games.

“It was really open at times and we scored four but we could have scored many more goals, they scored three and could have added another one.

“A thrilling game, I think one we need to really enjoy and enjoy in the moment.

“Lots of good things in the performance, lots of things to learn, things to improve but the quality of the players, the spirit, the effort was there for all to see and I think we deserved the three points.

“We have got a real belief in how we play and how we work and our fitness levels and there’s a real belief around to just keep just doing the right things irrespective of the scoreline or the setbacks.

“We have shown a real good capacity to move onto the next moment to try and get back on the ball and try and create chances.”

Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson admitted the first half cost his side dearly but they had chances to score further goals in the second period.

He said: “We knew it was going to be tough coming to Ipswich who have an excellent home record and have started extremely well in the Championship.

“Probably our first half cost us the game, we were not quick enough on the ball, not playing quick enough, not moving quick enough.

“I think coming into the second half the guys showed a great mentality, resilience and had a good performance.

“It’s tough scoring three goals away and you don’t get a result but all credit for the boys for the second half and all those traveling fans who were behind the team.

“We probably could have scored six or seven goals as well if you look at the chances. It was an open game for each team but coming here and creating that amount of chances was really positive.

“But I knew it was going to be a tough game and we saw that.”

Town were eager to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 loss at bitter foes Norwich and had watched promotion rivals Leicester and Leeds drop points on Tuesday.

It meant victory for Ipswich would have sent them to the summit but a dominant first-half failed to bring a crucial opener with Nathan Broadhead firing against the inside of the post after 36 minutes before Daniel Bachmann denied Kieffer Moore’s flying header just before the break.

While home substitute Ali Al-Hamadi had a late effort deflected wide, Ipswich struggled to fashion chances in the second period and almost lost in stoppage-time when Edo Kayembe’s clearance from inside his own half nearly caught out Vaclav Hladky.

McKenna’s side instead had to settle for a point, which at least moved them back above Leeds with four matches to go and Middlesbrough the next visitors to Portman Road on Saturday.

“First half we created a couple of what would have been really good goals for us but it just wasn’t our night in terms of going into the back of the net,” McKenna reflected.

“We take the positives from the performance. I thought you could see in our performance in the first half, we played with no tension, no worries.

“I thought it was a really good performance and it didn’t look like it was the 41st game or the 14th game. We just played as us and that’s what we want to do.

“Our focus is just on the next game. Every game is really hard-fought, every point is hard won and we’ve had to fight really hard to win one tonight.

“We know it’ll take a hell of an effort and a hell of a performance to get anything on Saturday as well, so that is where our focus is.

“Not on anyone else or the table, it is just on trying to get ready for the next game and it certainly takes that in this division and this group have done that really well.”

Tom Cleverley expressed his pride after he watched Watford extend their unbeaten run to five games under his short managerial tenure.

The Hornets have now claimed draws with Leeds, West Brom and Ipswich since Cleverley was appointed interim boss on March 9 and targeted three points from this weekend’s trip to Southampton.

Cleverley added: “I’m incredibly proud of the group.

“Three clean sheets in five and that’s a solid foundation moving forward.

“We’re setting small markers down with the draw against Leeds, the draw away at West Brom and now the draw away at Ipswich.

“Now we want to put one big marker down with a win away at Southampton on Saturday and that is the challenge we face.”

On Kayembe’s 95th-minute lobbed effort, Cleverley admitted: “That would have been the best goal I’ve ever been present for.”

He said it was a “difficult game” against a “well-organised” team, with the second half opening up with the substitutes making a massive difference.

Meanwhile, Bristol City’s head coach Liam Manning was disappointed not to come away with a point, saying that the goals they conceded were “soft” and when you “switch off you get punished”.

An 89th-minute goal from Leif Davis ensured Ipswich retained second place and kept pace with league leaders Leicester.

All five goals came in a frantic second half, with the Robins taking the lead through Anis Mehmeti only for substitute Ali Al-Hamadi to equalise.

Tommy Conway put City back in front but Conor Chaplin drew the teams level with a header from a free-kick before Davis sealed the three points for Town with his first goal of the season.

Al-Hamadi had a penalty saved by City’s goalkeeper Max O’Leary but he was unable to stop Ipswich posting their sixth victory on the trot.

McKenna said: “It was a brilliant way to win a football match. A night and an end to a match and an atmosphere we have to enjoy and some quality that was shown in the second half that we have to be very, very proud of.

“Another really good night for the football club.

“It was a difficult game, we knew that it was going to be.

“They (City) are very good at blocking off areas you want to get to, they are athletic, disciplined and well-organised and they are a hard team to play against and they carry a threat on the counter and they showed that tonight and against other teams in the division and shown that against a couple of Premier League teams in the FA Cup.

“It was a difficult game.”

Manning said his immediate reaction was that his side had to “come away with something”.

He said: “I thought the game plan worked in terms of frustrating them and controlling space where we wanted for 90 per cent of the game.

“We did a terrific job to go ahead and then what you get is key bits of momentum in the game, we had a couple of half-chances. If you go two (in front) it changes the emotional state of the lads and obviously they make the four changes and it shifts back and that cost us in the end.

“We get emotional and we get caught up in the game a little bit and we end up switching off and not doing what we need to do and when you’re playing against a strong side like them with their attacking threats you switch off and you get punished.”

He added that there were so many positives for him from the game but to “come away with nothing is a frustrating thing”.

Leicester are aiming to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking under former Manchester City coach Maresca.

But they were made to work hard by a Coventry side who could have had more than the one goal they scored when skipper Kyle McFadzean’s close-range header gave them a deserved lead.

With Leicester struggling for a foothold in the game, midfielder Dewsbury-Hall equalised with a header before netting a spectacular winning goal.

Both sides named four debutants in the starting line ups following their summer transfer activity; but Coventry manager Mark Robins chose to leave new record signing Haji Wright, a USA international, on the bench after completing his £7.7million move on Friday. He would make an appearance with 19 minutes to go.

Maresca gave the Leicester captain’s armband to veteran striker Jamie Vardy.

The game was played in front of a sell-out crowd at the King Power Stadium, and had the atmosphere of a Premier League game.

Robins has rebuilt his squad with nine new signings following their Championship play-off final defeat to Luton last May but the Sky Blues showed Leicester they were not going to have it all their own way.

Kasey Palmer was a threat for Coventry and, after 26 minutes, he found space 20 yards from goal and produced a shot which drifted just over the crossbar.

Leicester came more into the game as the half drew on and former Coventry loanee Callum Doyle saw a header blocked at the near post from Stephy Mavididi’s corner.

Palmer continued to cause problems and it took an excellent interception from Harry Winks to stop him getting a shot in on goal.

Leicester youth product Kasey McAteer was put through by Ricardo Pereira before the break but he was denied by Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

Coventry should have scored straight after the break when Ellis Simms was put clear but took his shot first time and sliced wide.

Robins’ side went ahead after 47 minutes when Gustavo Hamer delivered a corner to the near post and McFadzean glanced home from close range.

Coventry then created a string of chances, with Leicester’s new goalkeeper Mads Hermansen twice saving from Matt Godden.

Leicester equalised after 77 minutes when substitute Dennis Praet delivered a cross into the Coventry area where Dewsbury-Hall was on hand to head past Wilson.

Coventry almost regained the lead when Hall broke clear and saw his shot deflected on to the crossbar.

But with three minutes left, Dewsbury-Hall scored the winner. He played a one-two with Mavididi before finding the net with a powerful left-foot drive.

The former Walsall defender was admitted to University Hospital Coventry this week with the infection which stemmed from a problem in his neck.

He missed Monday’s final day 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough but will be in the dressing room for Sunday’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg against the same opponents at the CBS Arena on Sunday, although cannot work as he recovers.

The effervescent Marsh credits club doctor Ganeshan Ramsamy for acting quickly and knows there could have been a very different outcome.

He told the PA news agency: “I thought it was a wasp sting but I had a really bad night’s sleep so when I came into the training ground the next day (Sunday), I saw the club doctor and he said ‘we need to rush you to A&E’.

“He was worried it was Mastoiditis (a serious infection that affects the mastoid bone behind the ear).

“I was in overnight and they released me so I watched the Boro game on TV before the doc asked me to send him a picture of my neck.

“He told me I was still in trouble – my neck was blistering – and I needed to go back to hospital. I went back and they’d given me the wrong medication so kept me in and it was sepsis.

“They got to it quickly. If I had left it which I probably would have done, it would have been serious. The club doctor was outstanding. He is top-drawer. He cares and I’ve got a lot of time for him, he’s brilliant.

“I’m back home and feeling better. My appetite returned on Wednesday so that tells you you’re on the mend. I can’t work for the next week but they want me in the dressing room on Sunday which is great.”

It is not the first time Marsh has survived a traumatic experience having suffered a slow bleed on the brain on Christmas Day in 2016.

Three days later wife Sabina took him to a walk-in centre where – after she demanded treatment – his blood pressure was found to be dangerously high and he was rushed to hospital. It was a decision which saved his life.

“I was in hospital for a week and on the fifth or sixth day when I was better the consultant sat on my bed,” said Marsh.

“He said ‘I’ve heard all the stories, heard off your wife that she kicked up a fuss at the walk-in clinic and you wanted to go home. Categorically, had you gone home that night and slept like you wanted to do, you weren’t waking up’.

“The bleed was that bad, I would have been gone.

“I’ve always said my wife saved me then. They always know, right? She sensed there was something wrong and she acted upon it right away.”

Soon after his recovery, and unable to do his day job as a driver, the ex-Northampton man joined the Sky Blues as kit man having played with manager Mark Robins and assistant Adi Viveash at Walsall.

There, he was a key part of promotion squads, including the Saddlers’ famous 1998-99 season when they finished runners-up behind Fulham and ahead of Manchester City in the old Second Division.

Coventry are now seeking to end their 22-year exile from the Premier League.

They have never been closer since their 2001 relegation, despite playing seven of their opening nine games away because the Commonwealth Games’ Rugby Sevens wrecked the CBS Arena pitch.

“One thing with this management team, not just Robbo, it’s Adi, Dennis Lawrence, everyone, they don’t take anyone for granted,” said Marsh, who has been a restaurateur and sandwich shop owner since retiring from playing.

“The players are not allowed to take the foot off the gas. Especially with the start we had, we were bottom, the pitch, we had to play so many away games at the start.

“To climb the table and be consistent, every single member of that team has played a part, every single one.

“Talk about David v Goliath or whatever analogy you want. We haven’t just swum The Channel, we’ve swum the Atlantic already – there and back.”

Greece international Goutas pounced direct from a corner in the 78th minute to seal three points the Bluebirds scarcely deserved.

An encounter dreadfully low on quality looked destined to end goalless, before a brief spell of pressure in the closing stages swung it in the Bluebirds’ favour.

It was a grim afternoon for Millwall who now have just one win in their last 10 league games and are sinking into a Championship relegation battle under boss Joe Edwards, who replaced the sacked Gary Rowett in October.

Neither side went into the game with any momentum, the hosts having lost their previous two matches against Southampton and West Brom, and Millwall with one win in their last nine.

The first half typified their respective struggles. It was desperately low on quality and meaningful attacking play at either end.

A strong swirling wind did not help the fluency, but poor passing and aimless defensive clearances characterised some frustrating fare.

Millwall had the better of the territory and possession in the opening 45 minutes, yet Bluebirds goalkeeper Alex Runarsson was not tested at all.

Josh Bowler, operating on the right of the Cardiff midfield, produced some promising moments for the home side that fizzled out before seriously troubling defenders.

There were 42 minutes on the clock when Millwall midfielder Ryan Leonard produced the first shot of the game – which posed more of a threat to the corner flag than the back of the Cardiff net.

It marked the start of a mini-purple patch for the visitors just before the interval and striker Kevin Nisbet should have done better when a low Leonard cross found him in space eight yards out.

Millwall began the second half with more urgency and the pace of Brooke Norton-Cuffy on the right flank gave Cardiff some uncomfortable moments.

Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut had brought on striker Yaku Meite and Wales midfielder Rubin Colwill at the break but his attempt to shake up his lethargic side looked to be floundering.

Millwall built pressure up the hour mark and when Nisbet flashed a direct free-kick just wide in the 56th minute, there was a sense a Lions breakthrough might be imminent.

Instead it was Cardiff who fashioned the first gilt-edged chance of the game.

It fell to Meite 15 yards out after Colwill squared, but the Ivory Coast international’s effort lacked conviction and was straight at the body of Matija Sarkic in the Millwall goal.

Cardiff began to show some long overdue urgency going into the final 20 minutes and finally broke the deadlock through the head of Goutas.

His effort found the net via the hand of Sarkic and was not a goal for the purists but it proved enough to earn maximum points for the hosts.

Brighton loanee Yasin Ayari, 19, had seemingly ended the Sky Blues’ five-game winless run in the Sky Bet Championship with a first-half goal he knew little about.

However, Terriers defender Helik equalised five minutes into stoppage time to ensure former Sheffield Wednesday boss Moore avoided defeat in his return to management.

It meant Coventry stopper Ben Wilson’s string of fine second-half saves were in vain as he was eventually beaten, meaning Huddersfield are now unbeaten in four matches.

Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Moore, who got the South Yorkshire club promoted last season before leaving in the summer, made four changes as he took the helm for the first time.

There was a sedate start to the game before Ayari fired a speculative 25-yard strike wide of the mark.

Town caught the hosts on the counter attack and Mark Robins’ charges were indebted to Liam Kelly as he blocked Josh Koroma’s effort.

The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute as summer signing Ellis Simms, still seeking his first Coventry goal, saw his rasping drive tipped onto the bar by Town goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and bounce in off an unsuspecting Ayari.

Moore’s men finished the first half strongly without creating any clear-cut chances to equalise and they also threatened early in the second period without any end product.

Jack Rudoni created space to get a shot off from outside of the box, but his left-footed strike flew high and wide.

Minutes later the former AFC Wimbledon man squandered another chance as his scuffed effort, after being nicely teed up by Jaheim Headley, was easily saved by Wilson.

After a routine first save of the evening, Wilson was forced into a much tougher save to beat away Delano Burgzorg’s powerful strike.

Josh Eccles produced a last-gasp diving block to deny a Koroma strike after a spell of sustained pressure in the hosts’ box.

Wilson produced another fine save to deny substitute Sorba Thomas’ free-kick from the left-hand corner of the box.

Nicholls pulled off a super save from Bobby Thomas’ snapshot to keep the visitors in the game, before substitute Haji Wright poked the rebound over from close range, with just three minutes left.

That huge save was worthwhile as Helik took advantage of a scrappy clearance in the Coventry box and expertly found the top corner with his guided left-footed volley.

Bambo Diaby’s first-half own goal had put Rangers on course for three points on the road but Cadamarteri equalised in the 86th minute before Musaba won it for Wednesday in stoppage time.

The result leaves both teams in the Championship relegation zone but Wednesday cut the gap to Rangers to four points.

Wednesday manager Danny Rohl made three changes to the team that lost 3-1 at Norwich, with Di’Shon Bernard, Pol Valentin and Marvin Johnson coming in.

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes made five changes to the side that drew 0-0 at home to Plymouth, with Jake Clarke-Salter, Paul Smyth, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Reggie Cannon and Sinclair Armstrong joining the starting XI.

Problems off the pitch for Wednesday continued, with fans marching in protest at Dejphon Chansiri’s running of the club before the game.

It was a cagey opening 45 minutes with very little in the way of clear-cut chances. Wednesday captain Barry Bannan whipped in a free-kick from the left but Callum Paterson could not find the target.

The away side broke the deadlock in the 37th minute. Ilias Chair struck from distance and Diaby headed into his own net to give QPR a narrow lead going into the interval.

In the first act of the second half, the home fans thought they were level from Will Vaulks’ corner but referee Andy Davies blew for a foul.

Substitute Lyndon Dykes could only flick over the bar from Kenneth Paal’s cross. Bannan then had a go from distance but opposition skipper Asmir Begovic was at full stretch to deny him.

Wednesday brought on Djeidi Gassama and John Buckley during the second half to try and get back in the game as Paterson was carried off on a stretcher.

Sam Field had a huge chance to seal victory for QPR but Cameron Dawson got down low to keep the home side in it and it proved to be a huge turning point.

The Owls equalised when Gassama crossed from the left and 18-year-old Cadamarteri was there to claim his third goal in four Championship games.

Just as it seemed the game was destined to finish level, Musaba scrambled in after the ball hit the post in the fourth minute of injury time to send the Owls faithful crazy and give them all three points.

The first half was largely lacking in quality and entertainment, but Southampton squeezed ahead in added time thanks to Adam Armstrong’s 10th goal of the season.

But the visitors could not hold out as Jackson’s late leveller rescued battling Huddersfield.

The hosts’ game plan to shut out Southampton from minute one was clear, with the majority of the first period being played in the Terriers’ half.

Despite having 11 men behind the ball for the majority of the first half, Town still had opportunities to work the goalkeeper but ultimately lacked quality.

Multiple counter-attacks broke down due to poor decision-making from the Huddersfield attack which laid bear the gulf in quality between the two sides.

Aside from the goal, Saints’ best opportunity came from Stuart Armstrong, whose strike from 20 yards crashed against the left post.

It was one of a succession of chances, with a Kyle Walker-Peters opportunity deflected away for a corner moments later.

The hosts looked like they would hold on to regroup at half-time but conceded just before the whistle.

A cross from Stuart Armstrong was won at the near post by Adam Armstrong, who slotted the ball across goal and into the far corner.

Huddersfield knew they had to commit more men forward and it almost paid off after the restart.

A cross from Sorba Thomas missed every Southampton player in the box and eventually went out.

The Terriers looked up for the fight and switched to a back four, providing more cover which allowed their attacking players to take more risks.

Josh Koroma’s audacious attempt in the area tested Gavin Bazuna for the first time, but he stood tall and collected it.

The away support was clearly the loudest, but that did not put off Huddersfield as they continued to look the more likely to score.

The perfect chance for a leveller came after 68 minutes. A ball over the top found Thomas alone in the area, but he opted for a diving header which went wide of the target.

With just one goal in it, Southampton boss Russell Martin, watching on from the stands as he served a ban, knew his side could not relax.

The test for them was to prove they could hold on and pick up three points against a team that made things far from easy.

And it was a test they failed as, with just minutes of normal time to go, Jackson’s ball into the area from the right flank evaded everyone and found the back of the net to make it 1-1.

It secured a well-earned point for Darren Moore’s side after an impressive second-half performance.

Loanee frontman Charlie Wyke scored the winner with four minutes left to ensure Rotherham staved off relegation for at least another week.

It was the Millers’ first win since Boxing Day and only their second under Richardson.

The victory, coupled with Plymouth’s loss, helped preserve Rotherham’s status for at least one more game but they are 18 points adrift with only that many points left to play for and a wildly inferior goal difference.

Rotherham had gone in front through Seb Revan’s powerful strike, his first senior goal, but a scrappy effort from substitute Ryan Longman levelled the scores up.

Millwall then pushed for the winner but were sucker-punched when Wyke got on the end of Revan’s cross and buried a header beyond Matija Sarkic.

Richardson said: “Millwall are going to bring certain things to the table and we had to match that. We did that in large parts.

“I am pleased for certain players who have kept themselves available and put themselves out there in many situations where some wouldn’t.

“I am pleased for the fans, it’s easy to say that, but they do live and breathe it. They have seen a competitive display.

“As a club we need to come together and become a better version of ourselves.

“I was made up for Seb. Because he is learning and seeing things for the first time. He has kept himself going and available.

“Many people in January turned their nose up to the challenge (of joining) but Charlie took the challenge on and wanted to be part of it. Credit to him because he deserved the goal too.

“We need to go into the summer with some sort of momentum. The main thing is we are very aware of what we are doing. We are doing a rebuild.”

Millwall created a host of chances either side of the break but found Millers’ star man Viktor Johansson in inspired form.

Millwall head coach Neil Harris was frustrated and his team are now just four points above the drop zone.

He said: “We threw it away. We were the better team and created the most chances.

“We certainly controlled the second half. The first half was very scrappy.

“I thought we created numerous chances and they scored two goals against the run of play.

“When you get back to 1-1 and you’re controlling the game and created chance after chance, what you can’t do is throw it away. Ultimately, Rotherham did not win the game, we lost it.

“The positives I can take is that chances were created and the character we showed after going behind.

“We did not wilt, we pushed forwards to go for it. We just did not do the basics right defensively.

“That is the first time I have said that since I’ve come back. We let ourselves down.

“What it shows is every point is vital. It was a strong opportunity for us against a team below us on a poor run of form but football’s football.

“Ultimately we did enough to win two games. But we weren’t clinical and ruthless at one end and at the other end we were too soft and conceded two poor goals.”

The Championship’s bottom club went into the game with two draws and six goals on the road all season and Arnor Sigurdsson’s stabbed finish in the eighth minute put them on the back foot.

Sean Morrison’s close-range effort restored parity before the break, only for Sammie Szmodics to roll in his 16th of the season less than 40 seconds after the restart.

But Tom Eaves powered in a low header late on to secure a resilient point.

Rotherham have picked up points in three of Richardson’s six games in charge and he saluted his team’s effort.

He said: “I thought we started both halves unlike ourselves and were punished. Very respectful of Blackburn. They’ve got some good players, been together for a while and quite fluent in what they’re doing.

“But for the level of effort and endeavour in what we are trying to do with the bodies – I don’t think there will be another team in the country who’ve used less bodies than us over the Christmas period – it’s commendable to the players so they take the credit for this period. Take the point and move on.

“They didn’t give up. The game got stretched, possibly doing the wrong thing for the right reasons at times, but we tried to take control of the game. The subs helped us. To go behind at any stage is difficult so to have the mindset to come back into the game and possibly go and get more from it is pleasing.”

Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson admitted his team needed a two-goal lead after watching his side drift from the play-offs with a run of one point over the festive period.

He said: “With the performance we probably deserved more. We knew we were playing a team fighting against relegation.

“We knew what they were good at, second balls, chaos moments, set plays, crosses into the box and defending in a low block which they did really well so I was impressed with the amount of chances we were able to create.

“This team probably needs a 2-0 lead when you’re playing against teams good at set plays. The goals we gave away on set plays, we should have done better.

“The second goal, we should also have done better. First of all preventing the cross where we had two against one at the side and two against one in the box where we are losing that dual.

“But I think the amount of chances was a lot. I think the goalkeeper of the opponent was probably the best player. He was excellent.”

Chairman and majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani agreed to sell his controlling stake last month and the deal, which valued the club at around £170million, has now been confirmed.

49ers Enterprises, which owns NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers, has steadily increased its stake in Leeds since becoming a minority shareholder in 2018, while the deal includes full ownership of Elland Road.

Paraag Marathe, previously vice-chairman, will take over as chairman, chief executive Angus Kinnear will remain in his current position and Rudy Cline-Thomas, founder and managing partner of venture capital firm MASTRY, will join the board as co-owner and vice-chairman.

Former Norwich boss Daniel Farke was appointed manager on a four-year deal earlier this month ahead of the coming season’s bid to secure an immediate return to the Premier League following relegation in May.

Marathe said in a Leeds statement: “This is an important moment for Leeds United and we are already hard at work.

“This transition is a necessary reset to chart a new course for the club. We have already appointed a highly-respected first-team manager with a track record of success, and we are confident Leeds will field a competitive squad to contend for promotion next season.

“It’s a privilege to carry this torch as I know we have a responsibility to ensure this club makes our staff, players, supporters and the Leeds and Yorkshire communities proud.”

Cline-Thomas said: “With my family hailing from Leeds, it’s an honour to be able to uplift this incredible community.

“This is more than just an opportunity, it’s a personal mission. The chance to reinvigorate the cherished Leeds culture, to create a platform that attracts the world’s finest players, and build a truly global brand that celebrates diversity, is a prospect that thrills me.”

49ers Enterprises increased its stake in Leeds to 44 per cent in 2021 with the option of buying Radrizzani’s remaining 56 per cent before January 2024.

The Americans had been keen to push through a full takeover this summer, but that agreement, which had valued Leeds at around £400million, was contingent on the club remaining in the Premier League.

Leeds’ relegation forced both parties back into intense negotiations and a valuation of close to £170m was agreed.

The deal marks the end of a six-year ownership of Leeds for Radrizzani, who said: “It has been an honour to guide Leeds United…and to spend so much time with the best fan base in the world.

“49ers Enterprises have been fantastic partners for years and I’m confident they will take Leeds to the next level.”

Radrizzani completed a full takeover from fellow Italian Massimo Cellino in 2017 and was initially hugely popular.

He bought back Elland Road stadium, which had been in private ownership since 2004, and brought in fresh investment when 49ers Enterprises purchased its first 10 per cent stake in 2018.

The appointment of Marcelo Bielsa soon after proved a masterstroke as Leeds won promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.

But Radrizzani’s relationship with the Leeds fan base began to sour when Bielsa was sacked in February 2022.

Leeds escaped relegation on the final day of the 2021-22 season and Radrizzani promised that the club would not be involved in another survival fight.

But results this past season failed to improve under three different managers. Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia were both sacked, while Sam Allardyce left after his four-game rescue mission ended in failure.

When relegation was confirmed with a final-day defeat to Tottenham, Radrizzani was absent from Elland Road, opting instead to remain in Italy to finalise his takeover of Sampdoria.

He later admitted Leeds’ board had made mistakes and apologised for the club’s relegation in a personal statement posted on social media.

But after it emerged he had offered to use Elland Road as collateral when securing a £26m bank loan to buy Sampdoria – one of his companies and not Leeds owned the stadium – his legacy was further tainted.

Georginio Rutter set up Wilfried Gnonto’s 10th minute opener and then capped a comfortable away win with a thumping 72nd minute strike to secure three points and help United move to second on the back of an eight-match winning streak in the league.

Farke said: “I am a happy man first of all because no other side since October has managed to come away from here with three points.”

“We got a really good start with the goal early on because Plymouth are a good side and hard to beat, especially in home games, so it was a very good opening 10 to 15 minutes for us.

“We stayed focused throughout and scored a really good second goal and I think in the last minute it should have been a penalty and not a free kick so it could have been three.

“So overall I am really pleased with the maturity we showed to win this game.”

Farke singled out goalkeeper Illan Meslier for particular praise.

He said: “Melier was outstanding today. That’s one of his best performances this season. The last free kick from Whittaker for example, he put out. Today he did everything right.

“The Championship is relentless. It’s all about consistency, which is what we are showing.

“We must not forget we have one of the youngest sides in the Championship, especially near the top of division so they have shown a lot of maturity.

“After two fine away wins we need to rest and be ready and have energy for the game coming up at home to Leicester next Friday.”

Argyle head coach Ian Foster said: “I am proud of the players and the way they stuck to the game plan.

“Overall, performance-wise I am pleased. We have limited an unbelievable team in this division to two shots on target.

“I thought we were too passive in the first 20 minutes, which is not like us.

“It perhaps took their goal to settle us down.

“We were disappointed with the first goal and could have done better with the second but overall, like I said, we were pleased because Leeds are such an unbelievably good side.

“I thought we were dominant possession-wise in the second half but we needed to do more with the ball.

“Leeds are devastating in attack and ruthless with their finishing and they showed that today.

“I thought overall in the second half we did well but could not find a way to get the ball in the box.

“Leeds and us have got two different objectives this season.

“There were a lot of positives to take from the game but obviously we are disappointed to lose.

“We dust ourselves and get ready for Tuesday at home to West Brom now.”