EFL Championship LIVE: Coventry 3-0 Sunderland; Burnley go second; Derby win amid late drama

Derby have a deserved lead at the break, but this game is by no means over.

Mustapha Bundu's free-kick has given the home side a glimmer of hope when it looked as though they were dead and buried.

But they will have to improve if they are to get anything out of this game - Derby have been the better aside for long spells and have had chances to be further in front.

One thing is for certain - the next 45 minutes could be absolutely crucial to both sides' hopes of avoiding relegation.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Preston 0-0 Portsmouth

Portsmouth's Freddie Potts stabs a shot wide

The visitors have had the better openings, but Preston have only lost two at home all campaign for a reason.

It would be an 18th draw from 38 games for the Lilywhites if this was the score at full-time.

'Coventry wanted it more'published at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

HT: Coventry 2-0 Sunderland

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

The decision making has been really poor, Coventry have wanted it way more than we did.

It's a comfortable 2-0 lead, you've got to ask questions.

The first goal we give away is poor, it wasn't the best throw to him but he's lost it and Coventry can break.

The amount of times we gave the ball away you're bound to be punished.

The second goal was a blatant penalty.

It's as if we have no fight, there's no urgency.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Blackburn 1-1 Cardiff

Blackburn striker Yuki Ohahsi celebrates

A goal apiece and a header apiece and we go into the break level in east Lancashire.

Yuki Ohashi cancelled out Yousef Salech's early opener for Cardiff, but with results elsewhere, both sides could do with a winner in the second half.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Plymouth 1-2 Derby

Derby's resurgence is continuing at the break and they deservedly lead.

Bundu's free kick has halved the deficit, though, and Argyle are right in it.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Oxford 0-0 Watford

Jeremy Ngakia of Watford battles for possession with Oxford's Siriki Dembele

Nothing to separate these two so far, and few openings at either end to speak of.

Time for a 15-minute regroup.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Luton 0-0 Middlesbrough

No goals in the first half at Kenilworth Road and no idea how.

Luton have dominated but do not have a goal to show for that domination.

Middlesbrough have taken lots of punches, but they are still on level .

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

West Brom 0-0 Hull

Alex Mowatt of West Bromwich Albion wins the ball from Hull's Charlie Hughes

West Brom dominant and Tony Mowbray will be encouraged, but they need to convert some of these chances.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Swansea 0-2 Burnley

Burnley's Josh Brownhill celebrates scoring the opener at Swansea

Scott Parker's promotion-chasers doing what you would expect promotion chasers to do.

The Clarets have only conceded three goals after half-time all season.

It would take something special from Swansea to get anything from this one.

Postpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

West Brom 0-0 Hull

More West Brom chances go begging. Armstrong fired over before Isaac Price followed suit.

The Baggies will be very frustrated.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Coventry 2-0 Sunderland

Coventry players celebrate with Haji Wright

A great half for Coventry and their American striker, Haji Wright, as his left-right combination has the Sky Blues two up.

If Sunderland lose, it's safe to completely rule out their chances of automatic promotion.

Postpublished at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Blackburn 1-1 Cardiff

Cardiff have been forced into a change with Joe Ralls going off and Ruben Colwill on in his place.

Then Simon Mannsverk has a go from the edge of the box with a volley but he is just wide.

Postpublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Coventry 2-0 Sunderland

Sunderland have only lost six league games out of 37 before today under Regis Le Bris.

All of those have been by one goal. They have not suffered many halves like this all season.

'The game has opened up'published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Plymouth 1-2 Derby

Malcom Christie
BBC Radio Derby

The game has opened up a little.

We wanted to quieten the crowd down which we had done.

You don't know if the game being more open suits the Rams, but Plymouth will give them chances.

The Plymouth fans have more belief, the goal came from giving away a silly free kick.

Postpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Preston 0-0 Portsmouth

Pompey continue to ask the questions at Deepdale.

Freddie Potts is unable to turn the ball home from close range after an inviting cross from Josh Murphy.

Postpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Plymouth 1-2 Derby

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport at Home Park

There is hope yet for Argyle. Home Park has erupted after that superb free-kick from Mustapha Bundu.

It is the second goal is as many games for the Sierra Leone forward and what a time to get it.

The atmosphere has changed here at Home Park - can Argyle come back or will Derby regain control?

Postpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Luton 0-0 Middlesbrough

If Luton do not win this game, they will absolutely kick themselves!

So many chances to score. Mark Travers denies Carlton Morris and then Elijah Adebayo's follow-up is blocked on the line by Samuel Iling-Junior.

Then from the corner, Mark McGuinness nods wide.

Still goalless, somehow.

GOAL - Plymouth 1-2 Derbypublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Mustapha Bundu (38 mins)

Plymouth goalscorer Mustapha Bundu celebrates

Back in it!

Brilliant free kick from Mustapha Bundu from a tight angle on the edge of the area. Superb technique!

Postpublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Swansea 0-2 Burnley

We know all about their prowess at the back, but the Burnley defenders are dangerous at the other end too.

Marcus Edwards' ball finds centre-half Maxime Estève, but his attempt flies just over the top.

Postpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Blackburn 1-1 Cardiff

Blackburn have been buoyed by their equaliser and they go in search of the lead as Yuri Ribeiro clips the cross over but Makhtar Gueye can't direct his header on target.

Rovers are looking for their first win under Valerien Ismael and to re-ignite their play-off hopes.

Championship Table

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Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1 Leeds United	38	23	11	4	76	25	51	80	Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Draw
2 Burnley	38	21	15	2	52	11	41	78	Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Win
3 Sheffield United	37	24	7	6	52	28	24	77	Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Draw
4 Sunderland	38	19	12	7	55	37	18	69	Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Loss
5 Coventry City	38	17	8	13	55	48	7	59	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win
6 West Bromwich Albion	38	13	18	7	48	34	14	57	Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw
7 Bristol City	38	14	15	9	49	41	8	57	Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win
8 Middlesbrough	38	15	9	14	57	48	9	54	Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Draw
9 Blackburn Rovers	38	15	7	16	42	40	2	52	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss
10 Watford	38	15	7	16	47	51	-4	52	Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
11 Millwall	38	13	12	13	37	39	-2	51	Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win
12 Sheffield Wednesday	37	14	9	14	53	58	-5	51	Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win
13 Norwich City	38	12	13	13	60	54	6	49	Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss
14 Preston North End	38	10	17	11	39	44	-5	47	Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Win
15 Queens Park Rangers	38	11	12	15	44	50	-6	45	Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw
16 Swansea City	38	12	8	18	38	49	-11	44	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Loss
17 Portsmouth	38	11	9	18	46	61	-15	42	Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Loss
18 Oxford United	38	10	12	16	39	55	-16	42	Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Win
19 Hull City	38	10	11	17	39	47	-8	41	Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Draw
20 Stoke City	38	9	12	17	37	51	-14	39	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
21 Cardiff City	38	9	12	17	42	62	-20	39	Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
22 Derby County	38	10	8	20	40	51	-11	38	Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Win
23 Luton Town	38	9	8	21	34	60	-26	35	Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Draw
24 Plymouth Argyle	38	7	12	19	40	77	-37	33	Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Loss

Key

Position 1, 2 : Promotion
Position 3, 4, 5, 6 : Promotion Play-off
Position 22, 23, 24 : Relegation

Sheffield United have been deducted two points for defaulted transfer payments.

Last Updated 15th March 2025 at 21:22

Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made.

HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

'Coventry wanted it more'published at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

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'The game has opened up'published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

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GOAL - Plymouth 1-2 Derbypublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

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Postpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 15 March

Championship Scores and fixtures

Saturday 15th March

Championship Table

Key