Sheffield United return to Championship summit, Luton drop deeper into the mire

Sheffield United went back to the top of the Championship following a 2-1 comeback victory away to Swansea City on Tuesday.

Chris Wilder's side went in for half-time a goal down at the Liberty Stadium, following Florian Bianchini's strike from a set-piece after just seven minutes.

But after the break, the Blades had a renewed sense of purpose and they got level through Rhian Brewster inside the opening two minutes of the second period.

Swans defender Harry Darling was then given a straight red card three minutes later for a violent lunge on Tyrese Campbell.

Harrison Burrows completed the turnaround with a 68th-minute penalty after Josh Key had given away a foul in the box.

Sheffield United now lead second-placed Leeds United, who play on Wednesday, by two points, while Swansea are 15th.

A PERFECT SECOND HALF 1-2 | #SWASHU pic.twitter.com/y0ZVmIynq0

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) January 21, 2025

Sunderland also kept the pressure on with a 1-0 victory away to Derby County, which leaves them third in the table and two points behind Leeds.

Eliezer Mayenda scored the only goal in the first half and the Black Cats deserved their victory.

Defeat leaves Derby just one point above the relegation zone, having played two games more than third-bottom Portsmouth.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough got their flagging play-off chase back on track with a 2-0 victory over promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside, in what was Tony Mowbray's first game in the dugout since rejoining the visitors.

Hayden Hackney got Michael Carrick's side ahead in the first half, while Ben Doak scored a delightful placed effort in the 83rd minute to seal their first victory in three in all competitions. The result takes Boro up to fifth, while West Brom slip to seventh.

Oxford United continued their good form under Gary Rowett with their fifth victory in eight matches as they beat Luton Town 3-2 at the Kassam Stadium.

Tuesday night W. #OUFC | FT: 3 - 2 pic.twitter.com/aAFbQ5zdHy

— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) January 21, 2025

Luton initially went ahead through Tom Krauss after just 11 minutes, but they were pegged back by Michal Helik's first goal for the hosts since joining from Huddersfield Town in the 23rd minute.

But just three minutes later, Mark McGuinness got the Hatters back in front for a lead they would take into the break before everything went wrong for them.

Ciaron Brown got Oxford level 14 minutes after the restart, while Greg Leigh put them ahead for the first time 10 minutes later. The result leaves Luton second-bottom, level on points with two teams above them, while Oxford go 14th.

Another relegation-threatened team in Cardiff City managed to nick a draw despite being behind 2-0 down away to Millwall after 19 minutes, in a game that ended 2-2.

Callum Scanlon got the hosts off to a flyer on two minutes, while Casper De Norre made it two on 19 minutes. But Chris Willock's effort out of nothing in first-half stoppage time gave the visitors a way back into the game.

But it wasn't until the 97th minute that Yousef Salech got the equaliser to claim a point that lifts Cardiff to 19th – two points above the bottom three. Millwall are on 31 points, two places above Cardiff.