Automatic promotion battle intensifies as Leeds beaten Southampton hit last-gasp winner to stay in the chase Ipswich moved a point clear at the top of the Championship after a thrilling 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough at Portman Road. Ipswich went into the game looking to take advantage after seeing automatic promotion rivals Leicester beaten on Friday, but in a breathless first half the visitors took the lead through a header from Emmanuel Latte Lath. Town struck back 10 minutes later, though, when Massimo Luongo crashed home a corner ..read more

Longman scores Den winner, Southampton beat Coventry Sheffield Wednesday snatch draw, Huddersfield thrashed Leicester missed the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Championship after a 1-0 loss at Millwall. Ryan Longman’s brilliant top-corner finish was the difference for the Lions, who climbed into 17th. Leicester stayed one point clear at the summit after Leeds moved into second following a goalless draw against Sunderland. The substitute Milutin Osmajic bagged a quickfire hat-trick as Preston completed an incredible second-half comeback to beat relegation-threatened Huddersf ..read more

No wonder the Portman Road fans went ballistic at the final whistle. Almost every minute of this absorbing, frantic match between the ­Championship’s top scorers and a free-flowing ­visiting opposition intent on catching them pulsed with the vibrancy of an encounter deserving of the top flight in which they both aspire to be. By the end of it, two automatic promotion possibles had surely been whittled down to just one. Ipswich remain the ­standard‑­bearers; ­Southampton are now not far off clutching at straws ..read more

Formal talks mark next step in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s overhaul Saints’ football director previously oversaw City’s academy Manchester United have made a formal approach to take Jason Wilcox from Southampton as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s summer recruitment overhaul. United want Wilcox, who joined Southampton as director of football last year, to fulfil a prominent role in the revamped footballing ­department as technical director. United are confident of ­securing Wilcox but Southampton, who are vying for an immediate return to the Premier League, are seeking a greater compensation ­package and ..read more

Fourth-placed Saints falter after drawing with Boro Norwich come from behind to beat Plymouth Ipswich kept their automatic promotion bid on track after Conor Chaplin’s 13th goal of the season gave them a 1-0 win at Blackburn – and they ended Good Friday top of the Championship after Leeds’ draw at Watford in the late game. Kieran McKenna, Ipswich’s manager, was delighted with the result, but less so with his side’s showing at Ewood Park. “You have to enjoy every win you get in the Championship,” he said. “The performance was mixed. I thought first half we started ever so well, especially aft ..read more

Southampton put four past struggling Sunderland Watford sack manager Ismaël after latest defeat Newcastle-born striker Adam Armstrong helped extend Sunderland’s losing run to six matches as Southampton’s 4-2 victory breathed new life into their promotion push. Armstrong, who played 21 times for the Magpies after coming through their youth set-up, converted a first-half penalty after Stuart Armstrong had already poked Saints ahead. Romaine Mundle and Jobe Bellingham pulled it back to 2-2 but Joe Rothwell’s quick-fire double off the bench - both with heavy input from Adam Armstrong - maintaine ..read more

We run the rule over the four clubs battling for two automatic promotion slots to the Premier League as season’s climax nears With 10 games to go, Leicester, three points clear at the top, are in the box seat but three defeats in their past four matches has offered encouragement to rivals and for what so long looked like a procession is shaping up to be anything but ..read more

Blaze being tackled close to St Mary’s Stadium Safety fears lead to Championship match being called off The Championship match between Southampton and Preston North End on Wednesday has been postponed after a large fire broke out close to St Mary’s Stadium a few hours before kick-off. Eighteen fire engines were at the scene of the blaze, which involved four industrial units just yards away from the ground ..read more

Saints battle to 4-3 victory at 10-man Birmingham Leicester’s lead down to three points after loss to QPR Substitute Joe Aribo struck at the death to seal a dramatic, much-needed 4-3 victory for Southampton at 10-man Birmingham. Russell Martin’s Saints were in desperate need of a morale-boosting win having lost four of their five games in all competitions since their club-record 25-match unbeaten run came to an end. Birmingham threatened to further dent their fading automatic promotion bid but Southampton’s strong bench and spirit paid dividends as substitute Aribo struck deep in stoppage ti ..read more

Jürgen Klopp was full of praise for his youthful side after Liverpool beat Southampton 3-0 in the FA Cup fifth round with goals from 18-year-olds Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas. Klopp, who leaves the club at the end of the season, urged his successor to promote the youth at the club rather than prioritising new signings saying: "Hopefully people don’t forget it when the transfer window opens, some pretty promising players are already here – don’t close the door for them with signings." Danns double sinks Southampton as youthful Liverpool hit FA Cup heights ..read more