Championship roundup: Burnley maintain surge towards promotion

London, Jan 14, 2023 (AFP) - Burnley maintained their march towards promotion to the Premier League as the Championship leaders won 1-0 against Coventry on Saturday.

Vincent Kompany's side are on course for an immediate return to the top flight after last season's relegation.

They sit five points clear of second-placed Sheffield United after Jordan Beyer headed the winner in the 82nd minute at Turf Moor.

Sheffield United kept pace with the Clarets after a 3-1 win against Stoke.

Iliman Ndiaye netted his 10th goal of the season to give the Blades a ninth-minute lead and Jayden Bogle made it two when his deflected effort found the back of the net.

Nick Powell cut the deficit on the stroke of half-time before Bogle bagged his second on 90 minutes.

Watford moved into third place after Tobi Adeyemo's second-half strike and Ismaila Sarr's penalty sealed a 2-0 victory over lowly Blackpool at Vicarage Road.

Marcus Forss scored the second-half winner in fourth-placed Middlesbrough's 1-0 win against Millwall as the hosts' promotion charge gathers pace under the management of former Manchester United star Michael Carrick.

Blackburn dropped to fifth after a surprise 4-0 defeat at Rotherham, while Swansea beat 10-man Sunderland 3-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Luton blew a two-goal lead in their 3-2 defeat against West Bromwich Albion at Kenilworth Road.

Mark Sykes scored his first two goals for Bristol City in a 4-2 win over Birmingham at Ashton Gate.

Tyler Roberts' brace saw QPR battle back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at Reading, whose goals both came from Jeff Hendrick.

Kieran Dowell and Teemu Pukki both scored twice as Norwich beat Preston 4-0 at Deepdale to move into seventh place.

Cardiff and Wigan drew 1-1, while Huddersfield's trip to Hull also ended 1-1.