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Football League: Preston hit back to beat Blackburn, Exeter take derby spoils

Championship

Preston moved up to second after coming back from two goals down against Blackburn in a Lancashire derby. Things could not have started worse for the hosts when they went 1-0 down within 30 seconds when Sam Gallagher’s rebounded off the post and went in via goalkeeper Declan Rudd’s back. Gallagher doubled the lead 10 minutes later but Preston bounced back in the second-half and level things up through Tom Barkhuizen and Daniel Johnson’s penalty. The game was settled in fitting style when Barkhuizen found the top corner from 25 yards.

Related: Josh Cullen penalty earns Charlton draw to frustrate 10-man West Brom

Leeds were the side leapfrogged as they could only muster a goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday. The points were also shared between West Brom and Charlton, thanks to a 94th minute penalty Josh Cullen penalty, meaning the Baggies are two points clear of Preston.

Gary Rowett started his career as Millwall manager with 2-0 victory over former employers Stoke City. James Wallace created the opener with a perfect cross for Ben Thompson to convert and then slotted home a penalty after being felled by Badou N’Diaye. Stoke remain in the relegation zone where they are joined by managerless Barnsley who went behind to Christopher Schindler tap-in from a Karlan Grant cross at Huddersfield. Grant then scored himself, finding the top corner for his eighth goal of the season. Jacob Brown did pull a goal back but the Tykes lie bottom of the table.

Completing the relegation zone are Middlesbrough following their 0-0 draw with 10-man Fulham. The result will be particularly disappointing considering visiting goalkeeper Marek Rodak was dismissed in the 17th minute for a handball outside the box.

Two Jarrod Bowen strikes earned Hull all three points against Derby. One place above the Tigers sits Birmingham who saw off Luton Town as Lukas Jutkiewicz head home with eight minutes left on the clock.

Sheff Wed 0-0 Leeds, Birmingham 2-1 Luton, Huddersfield 2-1 Barnsley, Hull 2-0 Derby, Middlesbrough 0-0 Fulham, Millwall 2-0 Stoke, Nottm Forest P-P Reading, Preston North End 3-2 Blackburn, West Brom 2-2 Charlton

League One

Sol Campbell witnessed his new Southend side lose 3-1 at home to first-placed Ipswich Town. James Norwood struck twice and Kayden Jackson got the other with Emile Acquah netting the consolation. The result leaves the two clubs 25 points apart with Paul Lambert’s side joint-top with Wycombe Wanderers. The Chairboys went ahead in the fifth minute when Scott Kashket fired home from the edge of the box at Rotherham.

Sol Campbell was appointed Southend manager last week.
Sol Campbell was appointed Southend manager last week. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

Sunderland were brought back down to earth following their 5-0 midweek victory over Tranmere by losing to a single Jason Cummings goal at Shrewsbury. Mo Eisa earned Peterborough a dramatic draw against Coventry when he hit his 11th of the season in the 95th minute. The result leaves them third, one place above Fleetwood after Ched Evans capitalised on an error from MK Dons goalkeeper Lee Nicholls to prod home the winner with five minutes to go.

Fifth place was claimed by Oxford United who brushed aside Rochdale, a task made easier when Aaron Wilbraham was dismissed for a reckless challenge. Portsmouth dropped two points against Bristol Rovers when the a corner hit goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray and bounced into the net.

Accrington 0-1 Gillingham, Bristol Rovers 2-2 Portsmouth, Burton 0-0 Blackpool, Fleetwood 1-0 MK Dons,Lincoln P-P Bolton, Oxford Utd 3-0 Rochdale, Peterborough 2-2 Coventry, Rotherham 0-1 Wycombe, Shrewsbury 1-0 Sunderland, Southend 1-3 Ipswich, Tranmere P-P Doncaster 

League Two


Exeter made the most of Crewe and Cheltenham having their games postponed by beating Plymouth 4-0. Nicky Law struck twice with Tom Parkes and Randell Williams goals sandwiched in between. Swindon won by the same scoreline at Crawley, where Eoin Doyle picked up a hat-trick.

Stevenage are off the bottom of the table after captain Scott Cuthbert headed home a late corner against Morecambe, who replaced them at the foot of the table.

Exeter 4-0 Plymouth, Colchester 3-1 Newport, Crawley 0-4 Swindon, Forest Green P-P Crewe, Grimsby P-P Cheltenham, Leyton Orient 1-1 Carlisle, Macclesfield P-P Bradford City, Northampton 2-0 Cambridge, Port Vale 0-0 Oldham, Salford 1-1 Scunthorpe, Stevenage 1-0 Morecambe, Walsall 1-2 Mansfield