Championship wrap: Leaders Coventry held by Oxford, squirrel delays play at Hull

A squirrel runs past the dugouts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City AFC and Norwich City FC at MKM Stadium on February 15, 2025 in Hull, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Championship leaders Coventry stumbled again as they were held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Oxford United at the CBS Arena. Frank Lampard’s side have now won just four of their last 13 league matches and, having been 10 points clear in December, will drop to second on Monday if second-placed Middlesbrough beat Sheffield United.

The relegation-threatened U’s had Will Lankshear sent off in the 77th minute but held on for a valuable draw that leaves them four points from safety.

Leif Davis’s superb late header gave Ipswich a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Derby to strengthen their promotion challenge. The visitors took the lead in the eighth minute when the Derby captain, Lewis Travis, headed a corner into his own net but Derby hit back in the second half and drew level through Rhian Brewster’s penalty.

But Davis had the final word and the home side ended the match with 10 men after Travis’s miserable afternoon ended with him sent off in added time for a second yellow card.

Hull’s hot streak fizzled out with a 3-2 defeat at home to Bristol City in a game delayed by a pitch-invading squirrel. Sergey Jakirovic’s men had won four of their last five games to cement a position in the playoff places, and looked set to maintain that run of form when Oli McBurnie scored after 24 minutes.

But Bristol City responded with purpose and were 2-1 up at the interval after Rob Atkinson headed home a 33rd-minute corner and Ross McCrorie scored shortly afterwards. Gerhard Struber’s side then put clear water between themselves and Hull when Emil Riis converted Scott Twine’s fine assist after 50 minutes.

Not even the presence of the rogue squirrel on the pitch – the game had to be delayed twice – and a second Hull goal from Kieran Dowell in the 78th minute could prevent Bristol City from claiming three deserved points.

Millwall consolidated their place in the top five with a 2-0 win at play-off rivals Wrexham. Max Cleworth’s own goal from a Femi Azeez cross after 59 minutes gifted the Lions a fortunate lead, and they did not manage an attempt on goal until five minutes from time when substitute Josh Coburn smashed home the second. Millwall stay fifth but are now within a point of third, while Wrexham remain sixth and in the playoff spots on goal difference – six points adrift of the Lions.

Alfie Devine secured Preston’s first win in five league matches as they edged past struggling Portsmouth 1-0 at Deepdale. The 21-year-old struck a 40th-minute winner – his sixth goal of the season – with a well-directed header from Andrija Vukcevic’s cross. It was a big win for Paul Heckingbottom that puts his team back on track for a playoff push, but they had to dig deep against John Mousinho’s visitors, who were unfortunate not to take something from the game.

Tonda Eckert hailed the impact of Southampton new boy Cyle Larin after the Canada international, who arrived on loan from Mallorca on deadline day, scored the winner in their 1-0 victory over Watford. The 30-year-old headed home a James Bree corner less than three minutes after coming off the bench.

Eckert said: “We knew with Cyle we would have the physical presence we need. He scored the goal but it was also the way he defended at the other end. I think it couldn’t go any better than it did for him. He has a proper presence. It has been very easy for him to find his spot in the changing room.” 

Watford have not won since New Year’s Day and haven’t scored in their last three matches, but their interim manager, Charlie Daniels, called it “another good performance, especially in the first half … We created a load of chances but we didn’t work the goalkeeper enough.”

Eric Ramsay is still awaiting his first win as West Brom head coach after his side were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke, but Albion did at least climb out of the bottom three after a more positive performance in the Welshman’s fifth game in charge. Stoke, who have now failed to win in the league since 4 January, could have claimed all three points late on as Million Manhoef’s powerful effort was stopped by Max O’Leary.

Leicester’s week hit a new low as they lost 2-1 at improving Birmingham. The Foxes, who had six points docked after breaching the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability rules, fell to a third straight defeat and had Bobby De Cordova-Reid sent off before half-time. They could have few complaints as Ibrahim Osman punished Ricardo Pereira’s awful mistake to give Blues a third-minute lead then Jay Stansfield netted the second, two of many chances the hosts created.

Abdul Fatawu’s memorable equaliser was a lone highlight for Andy King’s much-changed side, who have now taken just one point out of the last 15 and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Philippe Clement felt his Norwich side got what they deserved after they scored two second-half goals to see off relegation-rivals Blackburn 2-0 at Carrow Road to make it four wins in five league games. In-form Anis Ben Slimane broke the deadlock by scoring his fourth goal in five and Mohamed Toure marked his debut with the simplest of tap-ins.

“It’s never easy when you have to break down a team who adapts to the way you play,” said Clement. “But in the end we showed the fight to get the three points. We scored two good goals, created other chances, and kept a clean sheet with no saves that I can remember.”