Sheffield Utd seize pole position in Championship
Sheffield United powered to the top of the Championship as they stepped up their promotion charge with a 3-0 win against Oxford on Tuesday.
Goals from Callum O'Hare, Tyrese Campbell and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi fired Chris Wilder's side at Bramall Lane.
The Blades, chasing an immediate return to the Premier League, have won five out of their last six games, putting in fine form before Friday's crucial clash with promotion rivals Sunderland.
Burnley moved up to second place, two points behind the leaders, as they secured a third successive victory, beating managerless Coventry 2-0 at Turf Moor.
The Clarets took the lead two minutes into the second half through Jeremy Sarmiento.
Scott Parker's men doubled their advantage when CJ Egan-Riley looped in with 10 minutes remaining.
Seventh-placed West Bromwich Albion, unbeaten in nine games, earned a 0-0 draw at third-placed Sunderland, who have gone 10 matches without defeat.
Borja Sainz netted his second hat-trick of the season as Norwich thrashed Wayne Rooney's Plymouth 6-1 at Carrow Road.
Without a win in their seven previous league games, the Canaries were in control from the moment Sainz fired them into a second-minute lead.
Sainz went on to add two more to take his season's tally to 15 while Shane Duffy, Anis Ben Slimane and Ante Crnac were also on target as the hosts got their season firmly back on track.
Sheffield Wednesday won 2-0 at Hull to ramp up the pressure on Tigers boss Tim Walter.
Josh Windass opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Michael Smith sealed the points late on.
Hull have gone nine games without a win and supporters chanted "we want Walter out" during the second half.
Watford moved back into the play-off places after Ryan Andrews' second-half strike secured a 1-0 home win against Bristol City.
Stoke were held to a 0-0 draw by Preston, who had goalkeeper Freddie Woodman sent off for handling outside the area after a short back-pass in the closing stages.