Darragh Lenihan was in central defence for Blackburn Rovers who were held to a one all Championship draw by Ewood Park visitors Rotherham United who included Ryan Manning and Richie Towell in their starting eleven on Saturday afternoon. Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute for Bristol City who went down to a one nil home defeat by Preston North End for whom Callum Robinson scored the winning goal. Fellow striker Sean Maguire also started while Alan Browne was a seventy fourth minute substitute. Derby County, captained by Richard Keogh, suffered an emphatic three nil home defeat by visitors Aston villa for whom Conor Hourihane scored a magnificent free kick goal. Scott Hogan got a few substitute minutes at the end of the contest while Glenn Whelan was an unused substitute. Darren Randolph kept another clean sheet as his Middlesbrough secured a two nil home victory over Wigan Athletic. Leaders Norwich City defeated visitors Millwall by four goals to three with Shaun Williams in his customary midfield role for the ‘Lions’ while Aiden O’Brien was unused on the substitute bench. James McClean completed an industrious ninety minutes for Stoke City in their scoreless draw at Nottingham Forest while Alan Judge was a first half added time substitute for Brentford in their three two defeat at QPR.
In the first round of the FA Cup, Ronan Curtis was named man of the match for Portsmouth who defeated their non-league hosts Maidenhead United by four goals to nil.