Leeds and Burnley Held as Championship Intensifies

The English Championship remains fiercely competitive as leaders Leeds United were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackburn Rovers, with Pascal Struijk's late penalty nullified by Danny Batth's equalizer. Burnley, positioned second, also missed the chance to close the gap with a 0-0 draw against Stoke, further marred by Hannibal Mejbri's late red card. Sunderland's promotion hopes were given a boost with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United, moving them closer to the automatic promotion spots. In other results, Plymouth Argyle secured a 2-2 draw with Bristol City after Wayne Rooney's departure, and Portsmouth climbed out of the relegation zone with a 4-0 win over Swansea. The Championship playoffs, a crucial stage for teams finishing third to sixth for a chance at the Premier League, promise intense competition as the season progresses. Meanwhile, QPR continued their resurgence with a 3-1 victory over Watford, while Oxford maintained a strong start under new management.