Championship: Burnley battle back to regain top spot as Luton boost survival hopes

Burnley returned to the Championship summit after coming from behind to beat nine-man Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

With fellow promotion hopefuls Leeds United and Sheffield United not playing until later on Friday, Scott Parker’s side took full advantage to move a step closer towards sealing an immediate return to the Premier League.

Although, Burnley made a slow start and trailed after just eight minutes with Mamadou Doumbia giving Watford the lead.

Nevertheless, Zian Flemming equalised before the break and Josh Brownhill completed the turnaround in the second half, as the Clarets extended their unbeaten league run to a joint-club record of 30 games (also in March 1921).

Meanwhile, the hosts’ faint play-off hopes are mathematically over, and they finished the game two players short with Moussa Sissoko and Edo Kayembe both shown red cards in the second half.

Maximum points in Watford.pic.twitter.com/NNElt2bOkq

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 18, 2025

At the other end of the table, Luton Town boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 victory over relegation rivals Derby County.

Millenic Alli’s early strike proved the difference at Pride Park, where the Hatters moved level on points with the 21st-placed Rams, who they only now trail on goal difference.

The victory also saw Luton complete a first league double over Derby since the 1989-90 top-flight campaign.

Meanwhile, Bristol City tightened their grip on fifth place after coming from behind to edge out 10-man Sunderland 2-1.

The Black Cats, who had Trai Hume sent off after just seven minutes, took a first-half lead through Eliezer Mayenda, but second-half goals from Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie turned the contest around.

COLOSSAL. pic.twitter.com/UUXoCqqxFb

— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) April 18, 2025

The Robins are four points clear of seventh-place Middlesbrough, who kept their own play-off ambitions alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over bottom side Plymouth Argyle.

It looked set to be a stalemate at the Riverside Stadium, where Mustapha Bundu cancelled out Finn Azaz’s earlier effort, but Tommy Conway snatched all three points with a 93rd-minute penalty.

Michael Carrick’s side stay within three points of sixth-place Coventry City, who beat 10-man West Brom 2-0.

Jack Rudoni struck after just six minutes for the Sky Blues, while Matt Grimes doubled their lead early in the second half.

It proved another to deal a blow to the play-off hopes of West Brom, who had Callum Styles sent off, with the Baggies now six points adrift of the top six with three games remaining.