Coventry, the leaders, recorded their sixth win in a row with a 3-1 victory over 10-man Watford, putting the pressure on second-placed Middlesbrough, who are hosting Wrexham in a later kick-off.
Frank Lampard’s side got off to a flying start when Brandon Thomas-Asante and Jamie Allen scored within the first seven minutes. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto made it 3-0 on 42 minutes before James Abankwah was sent off for the visitors. Imran Louza’s second-half penalty proved nothing more than a consolation for Javi Gracia’s side.
It could have been a very different start to the afternoon but for Carl Rushworth in Coventry’s goal, who denied Rocco Vata when the Watford winger was put through one-on-one a minute before Thomas-Asante’s opener. Abankwah’s red card was for hacking down Haji Wright as the American bore down on goal.
Lampard said: “It was a challenging game today because Watford are a good team, and pound for pound that squad’s a strong team in this league. There’s no doubt they’ve got a really good coach there and I think they’ll move up the league. It was a tricky game for us and I thought we did the job and we did it well.”
Jack Clarke came off the bench to net the only goal as Ipswich got back to winning ways against West Brom at Portman Road.
Ipswich were the dominant side throughout but could not make their supremacy pay until Clarke’s fifth goal of the season seven minutes from time. It was a welcome result after back-to-back Championship defeats and lifted Ipswich to a point behind their opponents.
Clarke pounced on a defensive lapse from West Brom with help from two fellow Ipswich substitutes. Alex Mowatt, the West Brom captain, was robbed by Jens Cajuste, who found Iván Azón and his effort was parried to Clarke who fired high into the net.
Mikey Johnston had the ball in the net for West Brom in added time but it was ruled out for a foul in the penalty area.
Ryan Mason cut a frustrated figure afterwards. The West Brom manager said: “I think to concede in the nature that we did is extremely disappointing.”
after newsletter promotion
The Portsmouth defender Hayden Matthews scored a second-half own goal to hand Stoke a much-needed 1-0 win at Fratton Park. Mark Robins’ side had to work hard to claim only their second win in seven league games.
The goal came 20 minutes from time, when Matthews headed a cross from the Wales winger Sorba Thomas beyond his own goalkeeper, Josef Bursik. After a promising start to the season, Portsmouth have now won just one game since the end of August.
Mark Robins thought both sides were tired. The Stoke manager said: “It was one of the most important wins we’ve had this season. I think we’ve shown great character. You can see what happens in a three-game week when you’ve had the mileage and everything else and both teams are giving the ball away needlessly, cheaply.”
