Craig Halkett has challenged Hearts to round off a productive festive period by ensuring they head into the winter break in third place in the cinch Premiership.

The Jambos have taken 10 points from their last four matches and have won seven of their last 10 league fixtures to get themselves into a strong position in the battle for a European place.

A victory at bottom-of-the-table Livingston on Tuesday would keep Steven Naismith’s side clear of Kilmarnock and St Mirren in third place.

“We were disappointed not to beat Ross County on Saturday, but the draw has kept the momentum going,” said defender Halkett.

“We want to finish this tough run of games on a high, so it’s a crucial one.

“December’s a really tough month for everyone. We have done brilliantly to get into third and then just to finish off this block with a win would be good.”

Halkett recently returned to action following almost a year out with a knee injury and he admits the break is probably coming at a good time in order for him to get fully fit.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “It has been a long year and myself, the manager and the sports scientists all know it’s going to take a few games to get back up to 100 per cent.

“But right now I am feeling as good as I can be.

“It was always important for me to come back in and play a couple of games before the break. I didn’t want to go into the break not having featured, so it was good to get some minutes under my belt.

“We have another game at Livingston and then I can work hard during the break to come back.”

Halkett joined Hearts from Livingston four and a half years ago and he is surprised to see his former side adrift at the foot of the table.

“Livingston have been in the top league for five or six years now and it was a great achievement every single year they did it,” said Halkett.

“So to see where they are is a bit of a surprise but I still think they’ll have enough to get out of it.

“We’ve spoken about the break for us and the break is probably coming at a good time for them as well.

“They can go away, rest, recover and reset before they come back and I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to stay up.”

Mohamed Salah registered a 150th Premier League goal for Liverpool after scoring and missing a penalty in his last involvement before the African Cup of Nations as Jurgen Klopp’s side extended their advantage at the top of the table.

The Egypt international did eventually end the night well in credit as he also provided the assist for substitute Cody Gakpo’s crucial third and also had a hand in Curtis Jones goal which restored their lead.

It moved Liverpool three points clear of second-placed Aston Villa and, more importantly, out of the reach of Manchester City, who are now five behind with a match in hand.

How they cope in Salah’s absence will be crucial to their title aspirations, but the sharpness of Gakpo and Diogo Jota, who won the 86th-minute penalty from which Salah scored his 151st Premier League goal, provides plenty of optimism.

Salah should have put his side in front in the first half when Luis Diaz was brought down by Sven Botman, who added to Alexander Isak’s equaliser to briefly make it 3-2, but his fourth miss in his last 10 spot-kicks provided the determination to put things right after the break.

Newcastle were without Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson through injury and their 4-5-1 formation suggested they were not looking to be too ambitious in trying to break a near-30-year winless run at Anfield.

That the game was not beyond their reach by half-time owed much to the profligacy of Nunez and the premature desperation shown by Klopp’s side as shots rained in from all angles.

Best of those saw Trent Alexander-Arnold hit the top of the far post from an acute angle from the right wing.

Liverpool wasted numerous first-half opportunities, none more so than Salah’s failure from 12 yards when he fired straight down the middle at Martin Dubravka.

Newcastle’s goalkeeper, in the side due to Nick Pope’s long-term injury, had one of those nights where he looked like stopping almost everything.

He was helped by Nunez in particular, who was guilty of one big miss from Alexander-Arnold’s long pass from inside his own penalty area, shooting straight at Dubravka with Salah charging up in support on his right.

Dubravka saved the Uruguayan’s follow-up effort, with chances also falling to Alexander-Arnold and Jones, in addition to Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal for Nunez’s offside.

Dan Burn also had a goal ruled out for offisde, but it was a rare attack for the visitors.

Nunez looked a different player after half-time. He was picked out by Diaz when Dominik Szoboszlai launched a counter-attack, this time chose the right option in squaring for Salah.

Dubravka denied Nunez from point-blank range and a volley on the run, and even Isak’s well-taken breakaway goal with their first effort since the eighth minute failed to halt the onslaught.

Nunez flicked a header wide, Jones had a shot blocked by Tino Livramento and Dubravka repelled Gakpo.

But Jones was not to be denied, tapping home after Jota had squared from Salah’s pass.

Gakpo bundled home Salah’s cross, Botman headed in from a corner but when the returning Alexis Mac Allister sent Jota racing through, he was brought down by Dubravka and Salah was able to sign off in style.

However, the top-four hopes of Newcastle, with one win in six and and just a solitary victory in their last 12 away league games, look increasingly remote with an 11-point deficit to make up.

Sheffield Wednesday’s upturn in form continued as they recorded a 3-1 Championship victory over 10-man Hull at Hillsborough on New Year’s Day.

Three second-half goals from Marvin Johnson, Djeidi Gassama and Josh Windass saw the Owls past their Yorkshire rivals, who had Tyler Morton dismissed in the first half.

The result sees the Owls move up to 22nd and three points from safety, whilst the Tigers slip to seventh in the table.

Wednesday manager Danny Rohl made two changes to the team that beat Preston 1-0 at Deepdale, with Liam Palmer and Windass coming in.

Hull boss Liam Rosenior also made two switches to the side that won 3-2 at home to Blackburn, with Sean McLoughlin and Jason Lokilo joining the starting XI.

In the first chances of the game, Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan had a go from range but his effort went comfortably wide.

Next, Johnson’s terrific cross from a short corner was headed narrowly wide by Michael Ihiekwe.

The home side’s pressure continued as Bannan’s corner found the head of Windass but goalkeeper Matt Ingram saved well.

It was an action-packed first half and it was only some brilliant last-ditch defending from both sides that stopped the opener from going in.

The contest became a much tougher one for the away side when they were reduced to 10 men in the 35th minute after Morton was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Gassama.

Striker Bailey Cadamarteri blazed a shot over the crossbar in Wednesday’s last chance of the half.

The Owls made a lightning quick start to the second half and took the lead in the 49th minute. Johnson crashed the ball into the roof of the net to get his second as in many matches.

Wednesday doubled their advantage with a Gassama wonder goal, 55 minutes in. The youngster cut in from the left before curling a beautiful effort from range past goalkeeper Ingram.

Substitute Ashley Fletcher’s header went just over the crossbar as his search for a first goal in Wednesday colours continued.

Windass added a third in the 72nd minute with a superb half-volley from the edge of the box which arrowed into the bottom corner and put the game beyond any doubt.

The Tigers pulled one back in the 76th minute when Ihiekwe was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and substitute Scott Twine stepped up to convert the penalty.

Leicester manager Enzo Maresca said he put no pressure on Tom Cannon to perform ahead of the Championship leaders’ 4-1 win against Huddersfield.

Cannon scored twice on his full debut for a Leicester side who now have a 10-point lead at the top of the table ahead of Ipswich.

The 21-year-old opened the scoring and added another just after the hour mark, as well as seeing another effort ruled out for offside.

Goals from Leicester captain Ricardo Pereira and Stephy Mavididi completed the scoring for the hosts. Huddersfield captain Michal Helik pulled one back but Maresca’s side were always in control as they stretched their unbeaten record to 10 matches.

Cannon had been out of action until last month due to a stress fracture of the back which Leicester discovered when the player signed in September.

“It hasn’t been easy for Tom, he was two or three months out with the injury, then we’d been winning games with Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka,” said Maresca.

“Tom’s had to wait for his chance and, yes he scored two goals. But when you don’t play games, and suddenly you get your chance, everyone is expecting big things.

“But it’s difficult to do those things.

“I told him to ‘just go out there, and don’t think it’s your first time and you need to show people, or me, that you’re good. Because if you’re here, we think you’re good enough. Just enjoy it’.

“It’s not easy, but he gave everything along with the whole team.”

Maresca explained what happened when Cannon signed.

“We bought Tom thinking he was fit. We saw from the medical and saw he had a problem, we didn’t know that,” he said.

“It was strange as he had been playing at Everton. But I knew Tom from his loan spell at Preston last season, and he scored eight goals.

“But even though he was fit, he wouldn’t have played from the start because there are so many good forwards here.”

Cannon says he hopes to emulate Vardy at Leicester, and Maresca says he will learn from the former Golden Boot winner.

“I think if you ask any striker in the world, they would want to learn something from Jamie Vardy,” said the Italian.

“But if Tom’s 50 per cent as good as Jamie, then I’ll be happy.”

Huddersfield manager Darren Moore said Leicester showed why they are promotion favourites.

“We were beaten by the better side on the day, they’re top of the league for a reason – the players can’t feel any disgrace for their performance,” said Moore.

“The second goal was disappointing for me as that took the game away from us.

“At 3-1, we had some wonderful opportunities, if we’d taken them then it might’ve been a different end to the game.

“That’s credit to how we set up and how we go about games.

“From a mental aspect, we have that endeavour not to give up and show commitment. That’s really important and we did get back into the game.

“But when they scored the fourth goal, that was it for the game. But Michal has scored seven goals as a centre-back, but if you ask him, he’d rather have the clean sheets and the wins.

“We feel more now that we are fitter and more robust.”

Swansea caretaker boss Alan Sheehan called for the process of appointing a full-time manager to be completed this week in the wake of a 1-0 home win over West Brom.

Sheehan was speaking after seeing his side notch a first win over a top-six team in the Championship since February 2022 – and keep a clean-sheet for the first time in 11 games since November 4.

“I’d say we are closer to a decision on the new manager but at the moment I’m just trying to enjoy this victory,” said Sheehan, who has picked up 11 points from his seven games in temporary charge.

“I’ve had conversations this week but like I keep saying, there is a process to go through and I understand there’s obviously a lot of people interested in the job. It needs to be concluded this week, I’d say.”

A goalless first half in torrential rain at the Swansea.com Stadium gave way to a far more dynamic and free-flowing second period. Liam Cullen’s goal ended a purple patch for the home side, although Josh Tymon also hit the post.

“To get back-to-back home wins and to beat a top-six side builds confidence,” added Sheehan.

“What we saw out there was a team fighting for the badge and working hard together in and out of possession.

“We have had a difficult period – Southampton and Coventry away and then West Brom at home. If we had taken all our chances at the start of the second half the game could have been done.

“There were goals that were just one pass or touch away and we also hit the post. We need to get better at beating the press, although it is a really positive day.”

Defeat on New Year’s Day ruined the festive record of Carlos Corberan’s Baggies, who came into the game on the back of 1-0 home wins over Norwich and Leeds.

“We are disappointed in the result but it is no big disappointment other than that,” said Corberan. “I saw the team compete in the way we have to compete.

“We were better than them in the second half of the first half but then they found a way to compete with their set pieces in the first half of the second half.

“We were better in the second part of the second half but couldn’t score. We had two good chances to score in the first half, of which (Brandon) Thomas-Asante’s was the biggest.”

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes bemoaned his team’s “unacceptable” defending from set-pieces after their 2-1 defeat at home to Cardiff.

Struggling Rangers have consistently conceded from set-pieces this season and did so twice more against the Bluebirds.

Paul Smyth equalised for the hosts to cancel out Dimitrios Goutas’ opener, but Rangers’ defensive shortcomings were badly exposed again as Perry Ng scored the winner.

Cifuentes, who took over at the end of October, said: “We knew that they were a good team from set-pieces and then they score from that situation.

“We got good momentum in the second half and scored a goal. Then we lost this momentum. We conceded another goal from a set-piece, which is unacceptable.

“I’ve been in charge for 12 games and we’ve conceded 11 goals, which is quite a decent defensive performance. But seven of them have been from set-pieces, which is unacceptable.

“That area of the game should be an asset, not a liability, and we are getting extremely punished.

“If we concede two goals from set-pieces then we cannot expect to win matches.”

Rangers are third from bottom, have gone five matches without a win and badly needed three points from the first of four crucial home league matches this month.

They picked up a useful point in a 0-0 draw at Ipswich on Friday, but playmakers Ilias Chair and Chris Willock both went off injured in that game and were badly missed against the Bluebirds.

“It was definitely very far from the result and performance we wanted,” Cifuentes admitted.

“It was an opportunity to kick off the year with a positive result for our fans, to change the energy a little bit and to keep building after a good point against Ipswich.

“Unfortunately, we were not good enough. The first half is really disappointing – really poor. It’s not that Cardiff created chances.”

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut praised his players and is hoping to add to his squad during this month’s transfer window.

He said: “From tomorrow, we’re going to start to have some meetings so we can make some quick movements with the transfers.

“So let’s see. I hope that in the weeks of January we will finalise what we need.

“We’ll discuss what we can do – what is the best way for Cardiff City and the team.”

Bulut’s side defended well at Loftus Road and took their chances when they came.

“It was perfect to have a win for the new year. It was not the greatest game, but the way we won it was great,” said the Turkish manager.

“We have injuries and illness so I have limited possibilities, so I can say it was a great game for us.

“The team showed fighting spirit – winning spirit. Some games are like that and today it was like that.

“Of course, for the offensive part, we want to create more and finalise more, but we have to compliment our defenders. Sometimes you have to count on your defenders and they are doing well.”

New Fleetwood boss Charlie Adam was full of praise for his side, despite seeing them lose 3-1 at Shrewsbury in his first game in charge.

Adam is the third manager in the Fleetwood hot seat this season after succeeding Lee Johnson, with Monday’s defeat leaving them bottom of the table.

Shrewsbury got the first goal in the ninth minute after Nohan Kenneh scored from an Elliott Bennett corner.

Chey Dunkley scored the second from another Bennett corner just before half-time.

Jordan Shipley smashed home the third for the Shrews from a Tunmise Sobowale cross just before the hour mark before Fleetwood pulled one back in the 66th minute through Nathan Rooney.

Adam said: “I’m really proud to get the opportunity to become the manager of the football club.

“It has been a tough 48 hours really in turnover and one session with the players, but I have seen enough in that 90 minutes to show that there were some real positives.

“We just never seemed to get to grips with the set-plays, but that is something we will work on and get better.

“I said to the lads in there, even though we lost 3-1, I am delighted we kept going until the end. They were brave and wanted to play.

“We have only worked out of possession. We have not touched on anything in possession yet and I still thought at times we caused them problems and some good performances from the lads.

“Shaun Rooney coming back in was exceptional and the standards day to day for him to really drive the team were brilliant.

“It’s important that we stick together and everybody becomes aligned in what we want and it will take time, but we have to win football matches.”

Shrewsbury boss Matt Taylor said: “We have got three points today and, if I’m being picky, we should keep a clean sheet.

“The third goal that we scored today was excellent. We got into their half and there were numerous passes. It was a fantastic ball in from Tunmise, who was really good today, and Jordan Shipley, with that calmness, put it into the back of the net.

“We looked a threat today from set-plays. We changed our set-up because we conceded four goals in the last four games and it was costing us points.

“We were far better with the ball and, when we got those big moments, we took them.”

Ten-man Wycombe ended a run of 12 games without a win in League One as they defeated Bristol Rovers 3-2 in a thriller at Adams Park.

Chairboys fans would have been forgiven for fearing the worst when Josh Scowen was sent off with just over an hour played, but their side started the year with three much-needed points.

Wycombe began well and deservedly took the lead after 29 minutes when Ryan Tafazolli planted home a header from Luke Leahy’s cross.

Aaron Collins struck a post for Rovers before half-time and their hopes were raised by a straight red for Scowen in the 61st minute for a reckless tackle on Sam Finley.

Despite being a man down, the Chairboys extended their lead as Sam Vokes bundled in Tafazolli’s knock-down from Leahy’s corner before Leahy himself calmly rounded Matt Cox to add a third.

They were still made to sweat in stoppage time, however, as Chris Martin pulled two goals back for the Pirates from Harvey Vale crosses, but time for an unlikely equaliser ran out.

Rotherham twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw at out-of-form Blackburn.

Leam Richardson’s men were second best for much of this encounter but showed the kind of resilience needed if the league’s bottom club are to have any chance of survival.

Rovers went ahead through Arnor Sigurdsson’s well-taken eighth-minute finish and it looked to be the perfect platform for a routine afternoon.

But, given the two sides have the league’s worst defensive records, it was no surprise Rotherham exposed Blackburn’s frailties. After a trio of superb Viktor Johansson stops, they equalised through Sean Morrison’s header.

Sammie Szmodics’ composed finish restored Blackburn’s lead straight after the restart but Rotherham hung in and Tom Eaves’ powerful header eight minutes from time gave them an improbable draw.

They are seven points from safety but it’s three unbeaten for Richardson while Blackburn’s wretched run continues with just one win in eight.

Rovers were ahead early after Szmodics’ shot was blocked across the box and Sigurdsson controlled well before stabbing home his sixth of the campaign from 12 yards.

Johansson produced a flying save moments later to tip Harry Pickering’s rasping drive over and they almost equalised in the 18th minute when a corner found Christ Tiehi but Rovers scrambled his close-range shot behind.

Rovers continued to threaten and Callum Brittain’s cross found Sigurdsson but his first-time shot was blocked by Morrison, who flung himself at Semir Telalovic’s shot to prevent a certain second.

Brittain was then denied by Johansson at full stretch before Szmodics sliced wide with the goal gaping.

They paid for their profligacy as Rotherham’s testing corners yielded a 31st-minute equaliser when Sam Clucas found Morrison six yards out and he nodded home with ease.

Johansson was at it again in the 34th minute when he produced a stunning reaction stop to repel Szmodics’ powerful low effort from the right of the area.

Rotherham’s Ollie Rathbone almost grabbed a second in first-half stoppage time but curled against the crossbar and Rovers responded straight after the restart when Szmodics ran onto a James Hill pass and rounded Johansson to notch his 16th of the season.

The second half wasn’t as frenetic but the Millers missed a glorious 63rd-minute opportunity to level when Sam Nombe crossed into the path of Eaves six yards out but the striker contrived to direct the ball over.

Rovers dominated proceedings without forcing Johansson into heroics like those in the first half and they were sucker-punched again with eight minutes remaining.

Sebastian Revan whipped a dangerous cross from the right onto the head of Eaves, who stooped to convert into the bottom-right corner to secure only Rotherham’s third away point this season.

Southampton extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches as they drew 1-1 with Norwich in the Championship at Carrow Road.

The Saints dominated the game for long periods and looked to be heading for all three points when Adam Armstrong converted from close range midway through the second half.

But Norwich kept battling away and earned themselves a share of the spoils in the 78th minute as fit-again substitute Josh Sargent finished off a slick move to register his first goal for the Canaries since picking up a serious injury in August.

The pattern of the game was established in the opening period, with Southampton dominating possession and Norwich keeping them largely at arm’s length, whilst relying on the occasional breakaway to pose a threat.

The end result was a half of few clear-cut chances at either end, with both keepers largely untroubled.

The Saints came closest to breaking the deadlock two minutes before the break when Jack Stephens hit the woodwork after being set up by a delightful touch inside the box from Armstrong.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis had sent a free header straight at Angus Gunn for the visitors, who were hampered by the loss of Samuel Edozie midway through the half following a poor challenge from Jack Stacey.

Norwich looked a threat on the rare occasions they had the ball in the Southampton half and thought they had scored on 20 minutes when Sam McCallum volleyed home a Stacey cross, but the flag had already gone up for a tight offside decision.

Half-time substitute Che Adams was only narrowly off target with an audacious 45-yard lob as the Saints continued where they left off after the break, with Joe Aribo then sending a back-post header flashing past the upright.

Creating clear-cut chances was once again an issue for the dominant Saints however, and it must have come as relief as much as anything else when they finally got the goal they deserved on 70 minutes.

The dangerous Kyle Walker-Peters did the damage as he burst into the box from the left and got to the byline before sending in a low cross that flicked off Grant Hanley for Armstrong to volley home from close range.

Norwich looked down and out at that stage but they finally put together a decent move of their own with 12 minutes remaining to get back on level terms.

Gabriel Sara and Jon Rowe were both involved as the Canaries worked the ball neatly through the middle to give substitute Sargent the chance to roll the ball past the advancing Gavin Bazunu from just inside the box.

Adams headed a Ryan Fraser cross over in injury-time and Armstrong was denied by a good stop by Gunn as Southampton sought to restore their lead but Russell Martin’s side had to settle for a point.

Liam Cullen gave Swansea’s caretaker boss Alan Sheehan the perfect New Year’s gift as he scored the only goal in a home win over West Brom in atrocious conditions.

After a 5-0 drubbing at Southampton on Boxing Day and a 2-2 draw at Coventry three days later, it was a return to winning ways for the west Wales club thanks to Cullen’s 55th-minute strike.

The home side, still managerless after the departure of Michael Duff last month, made a solid start but despite many passes and much probing could not find a way through the Albion defensive lines.

Chances were few and far between in the first half, with Conor Townsend’s rasping shot from the left edge of the box after a wonderful through ball from Cedric Kipre forcing Carl Rushworth to stretch full length and tip the ball away for a corner in the 20th minute.

Swansea’s first chance fell to Cullen after a cross from the left by Josh Tymon but his header was saved before Jay Fulton’s first-time shot sailed wide.

The visitors should have replied soon after when Fulton gave the ball away and Brandon Thomas-Asante picked up the pieces and drove deep into the home half before crossing for Jayson Molumby to head over.

The impressive Tom Fellows then set-up Thomas-Asante for a clear run on goal with a brilliant turn and lay-off pass but he could only strike the ball straight at Rushworth.

Swansea must have had a stern half-time lecture from Sheehan because they were a side transformed after the break, moving the ball more quickly and were far more direct.

That caught Albion on the hop and Jamie Paterson’s volley from a cross from Charlie Patino was blocked.

Jut before the goal, a Paterson free-kick from the right was headed goalwards by Harry Darling and it took a brilliant reflex save from Alex Palmer to keep it out.

But the Swans now had real momentum and a Tymon cross from the left into the path of Jamal Lowe allowed him to force another good save out of Palmer.

From the corner, the ball was headed clear, only to be pumped back into the box by home skipper Matt Grimes. Darling rose high to head the ball down and Cullen was on hand to sweep the ball past Palmer.

Tymon then hit the right hand post with a chip shot before the visitors mounted pressure at the other end to try to rescue a point.

Ten-man Stoke held promotion-chasing Ipswich to a goalless draw on New Year’s Day.

Midfielder Jordan Thompson was sent off in the second half for two bookable offences as the resilient hosts’ held on for a well-deserved point.

Southampton missed a glorious chance to slash Ipswich’s lead in second to just a point after they were held to a frustrating draw at Norwich.

Steven Schumacher, who took over the Potters last month, masterminded Plymouth’s Sky Bet League One-winning campaign last term as the Tractor Boys finished second.

The former Everton youngster frustrated Kieran McKenna once again as Ipswich’s winless run stretched to five – their longest in the league since April 2022.

For Stoke, they have now gone six games without defeat, but have only won one game in two months.

The Potteries fans were hopeful 2024 would spark a new dawn of results.

As much as they saw Town dominate the ball, it was the hosts who had the better chances in the contest.

They will be buoyed by the fighting spirit and resilience shown after going down to 10 men.

The hosts were the first to show their intent as Lewis Baker forced Vaclav Hladky into an early save.

Daniel Johnson received his first yellow card for a seventh-minute foul on Kayden Jackson.

Schumacher’s Stoke came close to an opener when Moroccan Ryan Mmaee’s volley was well kept out by Hladky.

Ipswich found their way into the contest as Conor Chaplin was denied by Jack Bonham.

Referee James Bell was replaced by the fourth official on the half-hour mark due to injury.

The hosts continued to threaten as half-time approached, with Baker again frustrated by Hladky after he cut onto his left foot before the Ipswich goalkeeper denied the midfielder in stoppage time.

McKenna’s visitors were quick out of the blocks after the break.

Bonham was strong at his near post to keep out Wes Burns’ strike, while at the other end, Dutchman Wouter Burger had a goal chalked off for offside on the hour mark.

But it was backs to the walls for the Potters after Thompson was sent off for a second yellow card when he felled Chaplin.

Burns then nodded over the bar at the back post from Sam Morsy’s cross as Ipswich pushed for a winner.

Ipswich huffed and puffed, but Stoke held firm for a valiant point.

Ryan Andrews’ second-half equaliser secured Watford a 3-3 Championship draw from a topsy-turvy New Year’s Day thriller at Plymouth.

Visiting goalkeeper Ben Hamer made a brilliant stoppage-time save to deny Plymouth’s 13-goal top scorer Morgan Whittaker and central defender Lewis Gibson nearly sealed it with a thumping 18-yard shot, which flew just over in the final minute.

Despite torrential rain throughout, Argyle and Watford served up a thrilling, five-goal first half at Home Park with Plymouth taking a 3-2 lead into half-time.

Watford were rewarded for their bright start in the 11th minute when Matheus Martins cut the ball back from the byeline following a quick throw-in on the right.

Edo Kayembe profited with a clinical finish, clipping the ball past Conor Hazard at his near post.

Home keeper Hazard did well to race out and prevent Watford taking a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes as he beat striker Rajovic to a through ball.

Two minutes earlier he had tipped over Ismael Kone’s goal-bound shot which was heading for the top corner until Hazard’s timely intervention.

Their lead did not last long. Argyle levelled with a brilliant first-time side-foot volley from Finn Azaz – on loan from Aston Villa – from the edge of the box after 20 minutes.

Scorer turned creator seven minutes later as Azaz’s cross-field ball from left to right set fellow playmaker Whittaker away down the right.

Top scorer Whittaker’s first shot was blocked but as it rebounded to him, he roofed home a thundering strike to beat Hamer from an angle.

As well as hitting the upright, Ryan Hardie saw his 35th-minute shot superbly save by Hamer, while – two minutes earlier – Andrews fired the ball just past the far post.

Watford responded by levelling in the 38th minute with another superb goal as Kone played a one-two with Mileta Rajovic before sending a curling shot from the left out of the reach of out-stretched goalkeeper Hazard.

There was still time for the hosts to regain the lead and again they did in style with Whittaker releasing Scottish striker Hardie through the middle of the Watford defence.

Hardie, who had earlier seen his 18th-minute effort come back off the post, raced forward before sending a low shot past Hamer, which gave the Watford stopper little chance as it flew off the surface and in.

In an end-to-end first half, both sides had other golden opportunities to score.

Hazard could do little when Andrews raced through on an incisive Jake Livermore through ball in the 57th minute to cleverly make it 3-3.

Andrews clipped the ball past marker Bali Mumba and then flicked it over Hazard to level.

Hamer made a top-drawer acrobatic save to keep the score to 3-3 as he went full-stretch to keep out Azaz’s 78th-minute goal-bound free-kick from the edge of the box as the spoils were shared.

Skipper Shaun Hutchinson struck an added-time winner to give Millwall a 1-0 Championship victory over Bristol City in a drab contest at Ashton Gate.

The centre-back went forward for a corner from the right deep into five minutes of stoppage time and, when City failed to clear, thumped a sweet left-footed volley past Max O’Leary from 12 yards.

It was enough to settle a poor quality game in which both sides struggled to create meaningful openings.

That did not worry the 600 travelling Millwall fans, who celebrated wildly at the final whistle after seeing their team continue their recent run of good results.

Both sides adopted an unadventurous approach in a drab first half, which was bereft of clear-cut chances.

Jason Knight headed wide from a Matty James corner after 11 minutes for City before producing the one save of note from Matija Sarkic.

The Millwall goalkeeper did well to dive to his right and get a firm hand to Knight’s 17th-minute downward header.

Striker Tom Bradshaw had the visitors’ only first-half goal effort when his low 22nd-minute attempt was blocked by centre-back Rob Dickie.

Andreas Weimann hit twoshots wide for City, but for all their possession Liam Manning’s side lacked tempo to their attacks and a telling final ball.

The last 15 minutes of the half were played out without a scoring opportunity and there was little to encourage supporters of either team on a cold afternoon.

Millwall threatened at the start of the second period. Ryan Leonard saw a low drive blocked by George Tanner and Murray Wallace sent a powerful header over the bar.

Manning responded with two substitutions after 54 minutes, sending on Mark Sykes and Taylor Gardner-Hickman for Weimann and James.

Still Millwall pressed and Wallace was wide with another header as the match finally showed signs of warming up.

Visiting boss Joe Edwards made his first change after 62 minutes, with Aidomo Emakhu replacing Duncan Watmore.

If anything, the play became more scrappy, with passing errors on both sides. O’Leary made his first save after 76 minutes, dealing comfortably with a Brooke Norton-Cuffy header.

City lost Sykes to injury a minute later, Harry Cornick replacing the substitute.

There was still no bite to their attacks and a goalless draw looked certain until Hutchinson’s dramatic late contribution.

Ricky Jade-Jones scored in stoppage time to give Peterborough a dramatic 3-2 win at rival League One promotion hopefuls Derby.

Derby made a dream start with Tom Barkhuizen crossing for James Collins to head past Fynn Talley after only 22 seconds.

But Peterborough hit back in the ninth minute when Kwame Poku got away on the right and picked out Harrison Burrows who found the bottom-left corner from 15 yards.

Peterborough’s pace and movement was unsettling Derby and Ephron Mason-Clark and Jade-Jones missed good chances.

Both teams looked a threat and after Collins headed straight at Talley, Joel Randall forced Joe Wildsmith into a diving save in the 42nd minute.

Posh had another chance in the 50th minute but Randall fired over from eight yards.

Derby took advantage 10 minutes later when Hector Kyprianou handled a free-kick in the area and although Collins’ penalty was saved, he headed in the rebound.

But Peterborough equalised in the 84th minute through Poku’s header and Jade-Jones pounced from close range in the third minute of added time to snatch the points.