Watford took a giant step towards automatic promotion from the Championship as they beat the promoted leaders Norwich at Carrow Road. Dan Gosling’s winner moved the Hornets nine points clear in second after Swansea lost at home to QPR and Brentford drew with Cardiff.
Xisco’s side bounced back from a shock defeat at Luton in the best possible fashion as Dan Gosling’s second-half goal earned them a priceless victory. For Norwich, this was a second home defeat in four days since booking their Premier League return. Daniel Farke’s team could have secured the title with a win, but are still five points clear of Watford with three games to play.
Gosling should have opened the scoring after just six minutes when he headed Craig Cathcart’s cross over the top from a good position, before the lively Ismaïla Sarr fired just wide. Norwich had their moments as the half progressed, Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell both seeing shots deflected just over.
Tim Krul did well to foil Sarr at the near post before producing a superb double save to thwart first Ken Sema and then Sarr on the rebound. Cantwell tested Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann after a slaloming run to the edge of the box, but the Hornets deservedly took the lead on 57 minutes.
An attack down the right saw the ball reach João Pedro just inside the box and the striker picked out Gosling, who sidefooted home at the back post. The hosts responded well, with Cantwell lifting the ball just over the bar from Max Aarons’ cross.
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Leaders Hull twice came from a goal down to earn a 2-2 draw against Sunderland. The Black Cats went ahead through Jordan Jones' early goal before being pegged back by Josh Magennis. Grant Leadbitter restored Sunderland's lead from the penalty spot but Magennis struck again midway through the second half to earn the hosts a point.
The Tigers are now 11 points ahead of Sunderland and Lincoln, who beat Burton 1-0 thanks to Timothy Eyoma's first-half header. Second-placed Peterborough suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Gillingham, with Connor Ogilvie thundering home a 15th-minute winner.
Charlton moved into the top six with a 6-0 mauling of Plymouth at Home Park. Jake Forster-Caskey, Jayden Stockley, Alex Gilbey, Liam Millar and Chuks Aneke all netted as the Addicks moved above Oxford, who lost 2-1 at Wimbledon, and Portsmouth, who lost 3-1 at Swindon.
It was a night of surprise wins for the clubs battling the drop, with Wigan winning at Shrewsbury, Northampton beating Ipswich 3-0 and Rochdale sinking play-off chasing Blackpool. Those results mean Bristol Rovers are all but down after a 2-0 home defeat to MK Dons. Scott Fraser and Will Grigg struck to leave Joey Barton's side bottom.
At the other end, Grant Hanley’s superb challenge denied Watford substitute Andre Gray 15 minutes from time. Norwich kept pushing and almost grabbed an equaliser in stoppage time. With nine minutes added on, Will Hughes made a brilliant block to deny substitute Mario Vrancic a dramatic late leveller.
Brentford look destined for the play-offs after a 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff. Kieffer Moore gave the Bluebirds the lead from the spot just before the hour after Ethan Pinnock handled Curtis Nelson’s goal-bound header on the line. Tarique Fosu levelled six minutes later, his dipping 25-yard drive deceiving Alex Smithies, who let the ball squirm through his hands and in.
Swansea’s automatic promotion hopes are effectively over after QPR claimed a 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium. Lyndon Dykes struck the winner in the final minute after being set up by substitute Albert Adomah. Ilias Chair had twice struck the woodwork for the in-form Hoops, with Wayne Routledge hitting the post for Swansea. Steve Cooper’s side now trail Watford by nine points with an inferior goal difference.
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Southend look doomed to non-league football after a 2-0 defeat by Colchester. The Shrimpers, who have been a league club since 1920, are eight points from safety with only three games remaining after first-half goal from Michael Folivi and Harry Pell sealed defeat against their Essex rivals.
Grimsby's 3-0 defeat by fourth-placed Morecambe means they stay nine points off safety with four games to play. Only Barrow are still realistically within touching distance for the bottom two after a 2-0 defeat to Port Vale, Tom Conlon scoring both goals.
At the other end, Cambridge stayed two points clear of Cheltenham thanks to a 4-2 victory over Leyton Orient. Joe Ironside scored twice in a lively contest at Brisbane Road, while George Lloyd got the only goal as Cheltenham won at Stevenage. Bolton maintained their promotion push as Eoin Doyle got the winner against Carlisle.
Tranmere won 1-0 at Bradford, and Forest Green were held at home by Exeter. Newport beat Crawley 2-0 thanks to goals from Liam Shepherd and Aaron Lewis, while Ian Henderson and Jordan Turnbull earned Salford a 2-0 victory at Walsall.
Derby’s relegation worries deepened as they were beaten 3-0 at Preston. Wayne Rooney’s side are just four points above Rotherham in 22nd, with the Millers having three games in hand. Goals from Ben Whiteman, Ched Evans and Ryan Ledson edged Preston up to 14th.
Sheffield Wednesday kept their slim survival hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Blackburn at Hillsborough. Josh Windass got the first-half winner to move the Owls four points behind Derby with three matches left to play.