Late goal for Coventry keeper, Akpom on target for Boro

Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson has scored a controversial stoppage-time goal to steal a 1-1 draw at Blackburn and boost his club’s hopes of reaching the play-offs for promotion to the English Premier League.

Rovers looked to be strengthening their own top-six ambitions after they led through Sam Gallagher’s first-half goal at Ewood Park.

But in the fifth minute of time added on Wilson came forward for a corner and was in the right place at the right time to bundle the ball home, as loud appeals for handball fell on deaf ears.

The draw left Blackburn in sixth, with the Sky Blues a point and two places behind.

Andy Carroll was the hero and villain for Reading in a 1-1 draw with third-placed Luton, whose slim automatic-promotion hopes took a hit.

The former England international headed his side in front in the 51st minute but five minutes later was sent off after a deliberate handball earned him a second yellow card.

The 10-man Royals, who have not won since February, could not hold out as Carlton Morris scored a leveller for Luton, who failed to fully close the gap on second-placed Sheffield United and look set for the play-offs.

Riley McGree’s Middlesbrough also have outside hopes of overhauling Sheffield United after a second-half blast earned a 3-1 win over Hull.

Mid-table Hull went ahead through Allahyar Sayyadmanesh’s goal four minutes before the break, but whatever Boro boss Michael Carrick said at halftime did the trick.

Hayden Hackney levelled matters 10 minutes after the restart, with Cameron Archer turning the game around three minutes later.

Chuba Akpom settled the match in the 61st minute, and claimed a piece of Championship history in the process as he became the first player to score in nine successive home games at this level.

Three goals in 10 first-half minutes saw Cardiff enhance their survival chances with a 3-1 win at Watford.

Ismaila Sarr put the hosts into an early lead but quickfire goals from Kion Etete, Cedric Kipre and Sory Kaba allowed the Bluebirds to take control before the break.

Preston’s top-six chances took a hit as they went down 4-2 at Swansea in a game that saw a full-scale brawl near the end.

Swansea coasted into a 3-0 halftime lead thanks to goals from Joel Piroe, Joe Allen and Harry Darling before Preston hit back through Tom Cannon and Troy Parrott.

Things turned sour as both sets of players and staff clashed, with Allen – who had been substituted off – sent off along with Preston manager Ryan Lowe before Piroe’s second goal in stoppage time killed the game.

A 1-1 draw between QPR and Norwich did little to help either side’s cause at respective ends of the table.