Leeds eye promotion after returning to top of Championship

Leeds moved closer to the Premier League after beating Preston 2-1 to regain top spot in the English Championship, while promotion rivals Sheffield United suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at Plymouth on Saturday.

Manor Solomon's superb opener for Leeds was cancelled out by Kaine Kesler-Hayden's equaliser before Jayden Bogle restored Leeds' advantage inside the opening 13 minutes at Elland Road.

Relegated from the top-flight last season, Leeds climbed above second-placed Burnley on goal difference following the Clarets' 2-1 win against Norwich on Friday.

Daniel Farke's men are five points clear of third-placed Sheffield United, who slipped to a third successive defeat as Plymouth fought back at Home Park to boost their survival chances.

👊 4 games to go! We keep fighting! pic.twitter.com/kh1rJ08QhU

— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 12, 2025

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi fired the Blades in front before halftime, but late goals from Ryan Hardie and Muhamed Tijani dealt a major blow to the visitors' automatic promotion hopes with four games left.

Millwall bolstered their late charge to reach the play-offs with a 1-0 home win against top-six rivals Middlesbrough at The Den.

Camiel Neghli's second-half goal gave Millwall a third successive win and lifted them to within two points of sixth-placed Coventry, who play at Hull on Monday.

Fourth-placed Sunderland were beaten for just the second time at the Stadium of Light this season, with Ben Cabango's close-range finish securing Swansea a 1-0 win.

Bristol City remain fifth after drawing 1-1 at QPR, while West Bromwich Albion got their play-off challenge back on track after three consecutive defeats with a 2-1 win against Watford.

Karlan Grant fired West Brom into a halftime lead at the Hawthorns and Mikey Johnston doubled their advantage before Moussa Sissoko pulled one back for Watford.

At the other end of the table, Portsmouth defender Rob Atkinson headed a stoppage-time equaliser and scored an own goal in a 2-2 draw with strugglers Derby at Fratton Park.

Oxford gave their survival chances a major boost as Sam Long's second-half header clinched a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Ten-man Blackburn halted their eight-game winless run with a 1-0 victory against second-bottom Luton.

Cardiff remain in the bottom three after losing 1-0 to Stoke in a game that was delayed for 23 minutes due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

Will Fish's late own goal moved Stoke two points clear of the relegation zone.