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Leeds United promotion edges nearer, record-breaking Burnley and Swansea manager search amid FA investigation

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Leeds United came from behind to beat Championship promotion rivals Sunderland after a dramatic 95th-minute Pascal Struijk header rounded off a dramatic weekend in the second tier of English football.

Sunderland’s slim automatic promotion hopes now look near impossible after Leeds stretched their unbeaten run to 15 Championship games.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: “These types of wins are the best kind you can have in football for the supporters and the whole group.

“They are priceless points. It’s a great night for everyone connected to Leeds United.”

Position Team Played MP Won W Drawn D Lost L For GF Against GA Diff GD Points Pts
1 LeedsLeeds33 21 9 3 68 20 48 72
2 Sheff UtdSheffield Utd33 22 6 5 47 23 24 70
3 BurnleyBurnley33 17 14 2 39 9 30 65
4 SunderlandSunderland33 17 11 5 50 30 20 62
5 BlackburnBlackburn33 15 6 12 39 31 8 51
6 West BromWest Brom33 11 15 7 42 31 11 48

Here is a reminder of the biggest talking points across the Championship this weekend.

QPR 4-0 Derby County: Nightmare first day for John Eustace

John Eustace became just the second permanent Derby County manager to lose his first game in charge since Nigel Clough was appointed in 2009, the other being Wayne Rooney.

The Rams moved quickly to secure the services of Eustace from Championship play-off hopefuls Blackburn Rovers last week.

Eustace has discussed the long-term plan he sees at Pride Park but, despite just one full day of training, the thumping they received at Loftus Road highlighted that this may be a bigger job than even he envisaged with Derby’s immediate task of avoiding the Championship drop zone.

They have now scored only one goal from open play in their last eight league outings, and Eustace has just 13 games to turn things around.

Preston North End FC v Burnley FC - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images

FA investigating Hannibal’s racism claim

The Football Association is investigating an alleged racist comment made to Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri in a 0-0 draw with Preston North End on Saturday.

Preston forward Milutin Osmajic “strongly refuted” the claim according to a club statement from Preston after Hannibal reported the allegation to referee Andrew Kitchen who is expected to provide a report to the FA this week.

Preston said on Saturday: “Milutin Osmajic has strongly refuted the claims of a comment made towards Hannibal Mejbri in a post-match meeting with today’s match officials.”

The two sides will meet again in less than two weeks as they face each other in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Deepdale.

Burnley break ridiculous Championship record

Scott Parker’s Burnley made it 11 consecutive clean sheets in the Championship following their 0-0 draw with Lancashire rivals Preston over the weekend, a new league record.

Burnley are now within touching distance of an all-time English football record. Only Manchester United have kept more consecutive clean sheets in England’s top four tiers, with in a row in the Premier League during the 08/09 season.

Goalkeeper James Trafford is now just two clean sheets away from a Championship record. It’s now 22 clean sheets in 31 league appearances. The record of 24 is held by Dorus de Vries (Swansea City), Paddy Kenny (QPR) and John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Sheffield United FC v Hull City AFC - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images

Sheffield United super sub

Callum O’Hare made an instant mark from the bench as he provided the assist for Anel Ahmedhodzic to send Sheffield United back to the Championship summit with a 1-0 win over Luton Town (at least until Leeds beat Sunderland in dramatic fashion on Monday night.)

Chris Wilder introduced O’Hare in the 78th minute in search of a winner, and just 70 seconds later he played in Bosnia-Herzegovina international Ahmedhodzic to secure all three points from close range.

If Sheffield United want to avoid the play-offs, they’re going the right way about it, and appear set for a top-two finish now.

After a run of seven defeats in nine Championship games, head coach Luke Williams left Swansea City, the club confirmed on Monday evening.

Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan will take charge as caretaker boss for a second time with the search for William’s successor “already under way”.

Swansea face Blackburn Rovers next, where Sheehan will be hopeful of repeating the work of his opposite number, David Lowe, who made it two wins out of two for Rovers against Plymouth after an impressive win over West Brom last week.

Swansea Chairman Andy Coleman said: “This was a difficult decision and one that has not been taken lightly.

“Unfortunately, since the turn of the year our performances and results have not been of the standard required at this level. Ultimately, that has led us to conclude a change is required in order to bring about an improvement in our showings on the pitch.”