In a display of dominance, Leicester soared to a commanding 10-point lead at the top of the Championship after a resounding 4-1 victory over Huddersfield. Meanwhile, promotion contenders Ipswich and Southampton encountered stumbling blocks in their pursuit of victories to kick off the year 2024.
Tom Cannon, on loan from Everton, delivered an impressive brace on his full debut for Leicester, extending the Foxes’ unbeaten streak to an impressive 10 games. Cannon’s contribution was notable as he overcame a back injury, delaying his debut until three weeks ago. His impact was immediate as he scored the opener five minutes before halftime and secured the win with another clinical finish on the hour mark, bolstering Leicester’s lead. Goals from Ricardo Pereira and Stephy Mavididi sealed the comprehensive victory after Michal Helik briefly reduced the deficit for Huddersfield.
Ipswich’s quest for consecutive promotions hit a snag as they faced their fifth consecutive winless match, settling for a goalless draw against Stoke despite playing with a man advantage for the final 30 minutes after Jordan Thompson’s dismissal.
Southampton missed an opportunity to narrow the gap to one point from the automatic promotion spots as their winning streak concluded in a 1-1 draw against Norwich, with Josh Sargent equalizing Adam Armstrong’s opener for the Saints.
In other Championship action, Leeds reduced the distance between themselves and Ipswich to seven points with a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham, featuring goals from Patrick Bamford, Dan James, and Crysencio Summerville at Elland Road.
Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham continued to struggle under his leadership, winning just one of their 16 games since his appointment in October.
Sunderland’s 2-0 victory over Preston propelled them into the playoff spots, offering a timely boost ahead of their significant FA Cup clash against local rivals Newcastle.
Meanwhile, fifth-placed West Brom suffered a setback, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat against Swansea.
The Championship action continues to bring twists and turns, setting the stage for an intriguing season ahead.
