Championship roundup: Leeds end 2024 top but Rooney admits Argyle fears | Championship
Leeds will head into 2025 top of the Championship after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Derby. Sheffield United had briefly returned to the summit following their lunchtime kick-off against West Brom, which ended 1-1 at Bramall Lane.
However, Leeds closed out the year in pole position in the race for automatic promotion after Brenden Aaronson’s solitary second-half strike secured them an eighth win in their last 10 matches.
Eleven minutes from time, Leeds expertly passed around and finally through their hosts in a stunning exhibition of pass-and-move football, with USA midfielder Aaronsen charging into the area and sidefooting in past stricken goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström.
Tom Cannon’s stoppage-time goal ended struggling Stoke’s long wait for a win in the Championship as they snatched a 1-0 victory over promotion-chasing Sunderland.
Just when it looked as though the two teams would be settling for a point each, Cannon won it for Stoke at the death when he battled for possession before firing into the bottom corner from just outside the area. The Potters were under the caretaker charge of Ryan Shawcross after sacking Narcís Pelach on Friday, and the club great wildly celebrated what was their first win in 10 games. It lifted them four points clear of the relegation zone and it came following a superb performance in goal by Viktor Johansson, who produced a series of fine saves to thwart the visitors.
“We rode our luck at times, but I knew that was going to happen,” admitted Shawcross. “I wanted us to press, I wanted us to get after the ball and I knew if we got it slightly wrong, they would cut through us, which they did because they’re a really good team … The fans have always been great to me and when you give them something to look on and understand what you’re trying to do, they get behind you.”
Stoke players celebrate after Tom Cannon’s late winner against Sunderland. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
Ciaron Brown and Przemyslaw Placheta both scored for the second game running to help Gary Rowett make it two wins from two as Oxford’s new boss with a 2-0 victory over bottom club Plymouth. This was an 11th defeat in 13 games on the road for Argyle’s under-pressure manager Wayne Rooney.
Northern Ireland international Brown met Tyler Goodrham’s cross with a diving header to put the U’s in front in the 14th minute. Both teams struck the bar before Placheta doubled the lead with a superb individual goal in the 61st minute, outpacing Brendan Galloway and turning back on himself inside the area to fire low past keeper Conor Hazard. That brought the familiar chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” not just from the home fans, but many in the away section too, towards the former Manchester United and England striker Rooney.
“You have to look at every possible outcome, that’s normal with the results we’re going through,” said Rooney. “You have to feel ‘do we have the players to turn it around? Can I turn it around? Can the coaching staff turn it around?’ Ultimately I know football and how it works.
It was another day to forget for Wayne Rooney. Photograph: Alan Stanford/PPAUK/Shutterstock
“I understand the fans. I’ve been there myself. As a fan you want to see your team win, to see your team running, making tackles and when your team is losing games, as we are, the frustration is there. I get it. I know the work we’re doing is good work. Unfortunately we’re not getting the results.”
Blackburn’s promotion bid was dealt a blow as they lost 1-0 at home to Hull. Ryan Longman’s first goal of the season was enough to secure the Tigers their first away win since October and leave Rovers with just one point from their last three matches.
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League One: Wrexham the day's big winners
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League One leaders Birmingham had their winning run halted by Blackpool and Wrexham moved up to second after Steven Fletcher's last-minute goal sealed a 2-1 win over Wigan.
Birmingham had won their last six league games but were held to a 0-0 draw after Jay Stansfield's deflected shot late on was cleared off the line, while Kyle Joseph hit a post for mid-table Blackpool. It marked a satisfying return to St Andrew's for the Blackpool boss, Steve Bruce, a former Birmingham player and manager, but Blues stay atop the division one point ahead of Wrexham, who leapfrogged Wycombe.
Ryan Barnett put the hosts ahead on the hour and after the Wigan substitute Joe Hugill equalised with 11 minutes left, Fletcher's superb finish as full-time approached sealed a crucial three points for Wrexham.
Wycombe dropped to third as their 19-match unbeaten streak in the league was ended by Charlton, who won 2-1 courtesy of Miles Leaburn's brace, with Richard Kone's strike scant consolation for the Chairboys.
Michal Helik popped up two minutes from time to spare Huddersfield's blushes as they claimed a 1-1 draw with rock-bottom Burton, who finished the contest with 10 men. Burton appeared on course for just their third win of the season when Charlie Webster struck in the 13th minute but Helik headed home late on before Terence Vancooten was dismissed in added time.
The game of the day was at Exeter, who came from 4-1 down to claim a thrilling 4-4 draw against struggling Crawley. Vincent Harper, Ryan Woods and Demetri Mitchell all struck in the final half-hour, Woods direct from a corner, to ensure the match finished honours even and keep Crawley in the bottom four.
Louie Barry netted his 15th goal of the season from the spot but Stockport were held to a 1-1 draw at Rotherham, while goals from Mamadi Camará and Tyler Bindon helped Reading battle past Mansfield 2-1.
Jay Matete's double led to Bolton sweeping aside 10-man Lincoln 3-0, Stevenage beat Bristol Rovers by the same scoreline, Leyton Orient overcame Cambridge 2-0, Barnsley won 3-1 at Peterborough and Northampton drew 1-1 at Shrewsbury. PA Media
Watford also suffered a setback in their bid for a top-six finish as they lost 2-1 at home to Cardiff, who won for the first time on the road this season. Callum Robinson put the Bluebirds ahead inside the opening minute and struck his second for the visitors after Giorgi Chakvetadze’s equaliser.
Anis Mehmeti fired a first-half double as Bristol City beat Portsmouth 3-0 at Ashton Gate, with Rob Dickie also on target for the Robins. Back-to-back defeats have left Pompey second-bottom, two points from safety.
Marcelino Núñez’s late strike rescued Norwich a point in a 1-1 draw against QPR at Carrow Road after Ante Crnac’s own goal had given the visitors the lead just before half-time.
Myles Peart-Harris’ stoppage-time header clinched Swansea a 2-1 home win against 10-man Luton, who slumped to their 10th league defeat on the road this season. Gonçalo Franco cancelled out Carlton Morris’ early opener for Luton before the break and after visiting defender Joe Johnson had been sent off for his second bookable offence, Peart-Harris struck in the first minute of added time.
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League Two: Walsall surge 12 points clear
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Teenager Nathan Lowe struck a second-half double as runaway League Two leaders Walsall finished 2024 in style with a sixth successive league win as they defeated Newport 2-0.
Alassana Jatta book-ended Notts County's scoring as they moved up to second in the standings with a 5-3 victory at Cheltenham. The Robins took an early lead through Sam Stubbs but Jatta hit back while Josh Martin, George Abbott and Sam Austin were also on target for County before Jatta made sure of the win.
The Magpies are level on 37 points – 12 behind Walsall – with three other teams, two of whom were in action against each other as Grimsby eased to a 3-0 victory over Port Vale. Ten-man Doncaster drew 1-1 at Colchester.
Kadeem Harris and Luke Armstrong struck as Carlisle moved off the bottom of the Football League with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Accrington, who are now just a point and a place ahead of the Cumbrians.
Salford climbed to sixth by edging out new basement club Morecambe 1-0 through Matthew Lund's header, while Crewe remain in the playoff places following a 1-1 draw at MK Dons.
Barrow's visit to Tranmere finished in a 1-1 draw, as did Bromley's fixture against Swindon and Fleetwood's clash against Harrogate, while Bradford beat Chesterfield 2-1. PA Media
Coventry were held 0-0 at home by Millwall and Preston made it back-to-back league wins for the first time this season thanks to Emil Riis’ double in a 3-1 home win against Sheffield Wednesday. Danish forward Riis struck either side of Sam Greenwood’s second-half penalty, which the latter converted five minutes after Josh Windass had struck a long-range equaliser for Wednesday.
