Coventry 0 Hull 1: Blues get sinking feeling
Hull added to Coventry’s woes when they extended their unbeaten away run to a club record 14 matches thanks to Aaron Mclean’s goal. Coventry are in serious danger of being drawn into the relegation battle — they have now managed to win only one game in 16. Hull scored after 32 minutes when Matty Fryatt chased down a long ball before teeing up strike partner Mclean, who arrived from nowhere to thump a low shot past Keiren Westwood. Coventry, who failed to register a shot on target during the opening 45 minutes, were much improved after the break and came close to equalising on several occasions, but efforts from Richard Wood and Aron Gunnarsson were cleared off the line.
Nottingham Forest 0 Doncaster 0: Frustrated Forest draw a blank
Nottingham Forest have now gone six matches without a victory after being held at home by a Doncaster team who have managed only two wins in 15 games. As it turned out, Billy Davies’ Forest increased their lead over seventh-placed Burnley, who were beaten by Millwall. Chris Cohen and Garath McCleary had good chances to score for the home team, with Mark Wilson going close at the other end, but Forest’s poor run continues, and it could have been worse. Doncaster started on the front foot, with James Hayter’s confident midfield play creating numerous early chances. McCleary had the best chance of the afternoon in the dying minutes, receiving the ball in a good position in the box, but he dithered and tamely clipped the ball towards Doncaster defender George Friend — his Forest teammates were not impressed.
Burnley 0 Millwall 3: Robinson double sinks Clarets
High-flying Burnley suffered a surprise home defeat by Millwall. It is a result that dents their hopes of securing a playoff place, although they do have games in hand on all the teams ahead of them. Unbeaten in six matches and just three points adrift of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest at the start of play, Burnley had every reason to be confident. But Millwall beat league leaders QPR in midweek and still harbour their own promotion hopes. They took a surprise lead in the 51st minute when Paul Robinson converted an Andros Townsend corner, and he secured the points when he was on target again in the 70th minute — Townsend worked a short corner to Alan Dunne, who delivered the ball for Robinson to score from close range. Townsend deservedly got on the scoresheet himself when he rifled the ball home three minutes from time.
Scunthorpe 0 Leicester 3: Vitor gets Foxes back on track
Leicester City got their challenge for a playoff place back on course with this win against Scunthorpe, whose plight is looking increasingly desperate. With three defeats and a draw in the four games leading up to this, Leicester really had to win this. Losing to a last-minute goal at QPR was bad enough, but Norwich rubbed salt in the wound when inflicting another defeat on Sven-Göran Eriksson’s side in midweek. Leicester went in front after half an hour, a Paul Gallagher corner eventually finding Angelo Miguel Vitor who scored from close range. The same two players were involved again when Vitor made it 2-0 in the 71st minute, Kyle Naughton securing the points when he scored five minutes later.
Watford 3 Sheffield Utd 0: Misery for nine-man Blades
Sheffield United had two players sent off as Watford inflicted yet another defeat on Micky Adams’ team. Watford took the lead in the 10th minute when Danny Graham headed home from close range. Darius Henderson, who had already been booked, was sent off in the 27th minute after a late tackle on Lee Hodson that led to the Watford player being carried off on a stretcher, replaced by Adam Thompson. The Blades were reduced to nine men when Lee Williamson was shown a red card against his former club after a late challenge on Lloyd Doyley. It was the ninth of his career, and his second this season (the other came against Ipswich). To their credit, the Blades held out until the 56th minute, when Martin Taylor scored. Ross Jenkins completed the scoring for Malky Mackay’s team with a header in the 86th minute.