Ashley Phillips was the unlikely late match-winner as Middlesbrough edged a seven-goal thriller, beating Norwich 4-3 at Riverside Stadium.
The Canaries, looking for a third win on the bounce, made the perfect start with just 50 seconds on the clock when striker Mohamed Touré hammered in, but within six more minutes Boro had gone ahead. Sebastian Berhalter powered in his first Middlesbrough goal to level it, before winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, making his first league start since arriving on loan from Brighton, had the Riverside crowd bouncing with a tidy finish a few minutes later.
Norwich fell further behind when Berhalter added his second in the 36th minute to put Kim Hellberg’s side in the driving seat, but then fought back when Jovon Makama’s predatory finish 20 minutes from time was followed by an equaliser from fellow substitute Jacob Wright five minutes later.
However, defender Phillips – with his first league career goal after arriving from Tottenham – popped up in the area with the killer blow to secure a third straight home win for Middlesbrough.
Quick GuideLeague One roundup: Leicester ease pressure on Martin with much-needed win at Stockport
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Beleaguered Leicester manager Russell Martin saw his side claim a much-needed win in a League One thriller against Stockport.
The Foxes held on for a 4-3 victory at Edgeley Park, their second of the league season, after a brace from Emil Riis and one from Johan Lundstram had put Leicester three goals in front. Jack Diamond had cancelled out Liam Cullen’s early opener for Leicester, and two goals in four minutes from Oliver Norwood and Kyle Wootton put the pressure right on the visitors, but they did not buckle.
Leaders Sheffield Wednesday dropped points at home as they were held to a goalless draw by Wigan, while it was the same score for second-placed Huddersfield at Mansfield despite the Stags having Owen Dodgson sent off only moments after he came on at half-time. Bradford sit only one point off the top thanks to George Pratt, whose first EFL goal earned a 1-0 win to end Notts County’s unbeaten start to the campaign.
Managerless Wycombe claimed their first victory of the season, triumphing 3-2 away at Leyton Orient. Interim head coach Tom Hounsell, who took the reins after Michael Duff’s dismissal this week, saw new signing Jayden Wareham make it two goals in two matches before Jack Grimmer’s own goal pulled Orient level. Fred Onyedinma put Wanderers back ahead just before half-time and Dan Harvie doubled the lead moments after the break, but Jaze Kabia quickly reduced the deficit again.
Cambridge are up to fourth after goals from Liam Bennett and Kelland Watts saw them come from behind to beat Reading 2-1, while two very late strikes from Louie Sibley and Gatlin O’Donkor earned Oxford a 3-0 success against Burton.
Plymouth were also 3-0 winners, Olivier Irow, Ronan Curtis and Aribim Pepple scoring against Barnsley, while bottom side Doncaster lost again, Myles Hippolyte scoring in a 1-0 victory for AFC Wimbledon. An entertaining encounter between Blackpool and Bromley ended 2-2, and Chris Conn-Clarke levelled late on for Peterborough in a 1-1 draw with MK Dons. Press Association
Cyle Larin scored twice as Southampton hammered Bristol City 4-1 at St Mary’s. Larin scored in either half, with late goals from Kuryu Matsuki and Finn Azaz after Lorent Tolaj had pulled one back for visitors City. The Saints are formidable opposition at St Mary’s and have not lost on their own patch since January.
Swansea moved back into the automatic promotion places as they piled more misery on the new Burnley manager Nicky Hayen, whose side slumped to the bottom of the Championship with a 3-1 defeat. The victory took Vitor Matos’ side level on points with West Ham at the top of the table and erased the memory of the 3-1 midweek mauling at Southampton. For Burnley, it was a fourth defeat in seven league games and they are still awaiting their first win.
Both goals they conceded in the first half were avoidable and had their shooting been more precise they could have been at least on level terms. The former Leicester and England striker Jamie Vardy came on with half an hour left, and had the ball in the Swansea net nine minutes later only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Chris Davies said his Birmingham side are heading in the right direction after they fought back to win 2-1 at Derby. Davies saw his players dig in through more than 13 minutes of added time to secure a second league win of the season. Derby had gone ahead against the run of play in the 40th minute through Bobby Clark. Birmingham’s response was instant with Carlos Vicente heading in at the back post from Liam Millar’s cross. They scored again in the 64th minute when Paik Seung-Ho headed in a corner for his first goal since December.
Davies said: “I think I’m right in saying we’ve got the same amount of points from the same amount of games as we did last season but we’ve looked a completely different team. Not only stylistically but just the strength and mental strength we’ve shown and the desire. It pains me to say it but we would have lost that game last season.”
Steven Schumacher called Bolton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s performance “outstanding” after a 1-0 victory over Cardiff. Substitute Thierry Gale headed in a last-minute winner to earn Wanderers only a second win since returning to the Championship as last season’s League One play-off champions. But before and even after, the former Southampton and Stoke keeper contributed 10 saves, including a stunning second-half stop to deny Yousef Salech’s close-range downward header.
“You need goalkeepers who win you points and today he has done that,” said Schumacher after Bolton ended a run of four consecutive defeats. “Cardiff created the clearer opportunities, more in the final third. When that happens, you need your goalkeeper.”
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Quick GuideLeague Two roundup: Charlie Lakin scores twice as Barnet beat Accrington and go top
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Barnet took over at the top of the League Two table after they beat Accrington 2-1 and Bristol Rovers lost 2-0 to Grimsby. Charlie Lakin’s double saw Barnet come from behind after Charlie Caton’s first-half opener, with Devon Matthews seeing red for Stanley. Rovers were also reduced to 10 men, but Tommy Leigh’s dismissal came when they were already 2-0 down after goals for Kieran Green and Geza David Turi.
York are a point adrift after a 4-0 thumping of 10-man Swindon, in-form Alex Newby scoring twice, and Cheltenham also sit on 11 points thanks to a 3-1 win over Crawley. Dylan Morgan opened the scoring early on for Crawley, but two goals for Charlie McCann and one for Andreas Weimann turned the tables.
A topsy-turvy clash between Rotherham and Salford ended 3-3, with the Ammies going from two up to 3-2 down and having Abraham Odoh sent off but Macaulay Langstaff equalised from the penalty spot.
Port Vale are off the bottom thanks to George Byers’ penalty in a 1-0 win over Exeter and are replaced by Rochdale, who drew 0-0 with Walsall. Shrewsbury and Gillingham were 2-0 winners against Northampton and Tranmere, respectively, while Chesterfield defeated Oldham 2-1. Colchester and Crewe played out a 1-1 draw, as did Newport and Fleetwood. Press Association
Dapo Afolayan’s double helped Blackburn secure a much-needed 3-1 win over Millwall at a discontented Ewood Park. The game had not kicked off before the first “Venky’s out’’ chants could be heard but Afolayan, who turned 29 on Friday, gave the home fans something to cheer with a deft improvised flick to open the scoring in the 41st minute.
Although Lydon Dykes’ penalty levelled matters six minutes after the restart, Afolayan’s thumping strike around the hour mark restored the lead. Rovers managed the closing stages well and substitute Andri Gudjohnsen made the game safe in stoppage time with a breakaway goal to end a four-game winless run.
Jack McGlynn orchestrated Stoke’s first away win since January with a deserved 2-1 success at Watford. A 1-1 draw at Cardiff in midweek had ended a sequence of nine consecutive defeats away from Staffordshire, and the Potters were good value for their first win in 11 road trips – and their third success in four league games. McGlynn opened the scoring for Stoke on half-time with Eric Bocat doubling the lead 13 minutes into the second half. Amin Nabizada’s reply came too late for the Hornets.
Callum Styles earned West Brom a point as they came from behind to draw 1-1 against QPR at The Hawthorns. QPR led through a Chris Mepham own goal in the 38th minute which came completely against the run of play. That lead lasted just three minutes as Styles equalised to extend the Baggies’ unbeaten home record to 11 games, while Rangers have yet to lose on their travels this season.
Freddie Draper came off the bench to net a late winner in a 1-0 win for Lincoln away at Preston. The first half ended goalless with the hosts having their moments, but failing to convert their chances. It was more of the same in the second half and those missed opportunities proved costly as Draper headed in Andrei Coubis’ long throw in the 81st minute. The Imps are now unbeaten in their last four league games, while Preston’s nightmare start continues, with three points from the first 21 available.
Charlton maintained their unbeaten home record this season with a 0-0 draw against Portsmouth. The game may have lacked goals, but it was not devoid of entertainment, particularly in an open second half.