Championship roundup: Ahmedhodzic fires Sheffield United into 1st

Anel Ahmedhodzic's 79th-minute goal was enough to give Sheffield United a 1-0 win at lowly Luton on Saturday to take them to the top of English football's second-tier Championship.

A match between two teams relegated from the Premier League last season was heading for a goalless draw until Ahmedhodzic struck 11 minutes from time following a long throw.

Victory left the Blades a point ahead of Yorkshire rivals Leeds, who are at home to Sunderland on Monday, and meant Luton remained bottom of the table.

Only the top two teams at the end of the regular season are guaranteed promotion to the Premier League, with the other place in the top-flight decided by play-offs involving the teams finishing third to sixth. 

Third-placed Burnley's bid for automatic promotion was hampered on Saturday by a goalless draw at Lancashire rivals Preston.

But the result was overshadowed by a heated on-field exchange lead Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri to accuse Preston's Milutin Osmajic of racism.

Blackburn made light of former boss John Eustace's departure to Derby with a 2-0 win over FA Cup giant-killers Plymouth.

Adam Forshaw broke the deadlock in the 55th-minute before Tyrhys Dolan made the game safe 12 minutes from time.

Defeat left Plymouth, fresh from knocking Premier League leaders Liverpool out of the FA Cup, firmly in the relegation zone.

West Brom were left in sixth place following a 1-1 draw at Millwall where unlucky home defender Joe Bryan scored a second consecutive own-goal.

Ellis Simms struck twice as Coventry won 2-1 away to Sheffield Wednesday, a result that left Frank Lampard's side just a point behind West Brom. 

Portsmouth continued their climb away from danger with a 2-0 win at Oxford after second-half goals by Andre Dozzell and Mark O'Mahony earned Pompey just their second away win of the season in the league.

The south coast club are now seven points clear of the bottom three.

Moussa Sissoko eased the pressure on Watford boss Tom Cleverley with the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough to end a run of five winless games.

Elsewhere, Wouter Burger, Bae Jun-ho and Lewis Baker all scored in the second half as Stoke come from behind to win 3-1 at home to Swansea.

Hull are a point outside the relegation zone after Matt Crooks's goal earned a 1-1 draw with Norwich, while Yousef Salech's stoppage-time equaliser ensured Cardiff drew with Bristol City.