The Championship fixture between Rotherham United and Sheffield United may well have attracted the attention of Barnsley lad Mick McCarthy early on Saturday afternoon. The hosts included loanees Ryan Manning and Richie Towell in their starting eleven while the trio of John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for the visitors as the sides played out a two all draw. Later in the day, Millwall, where McCarthy cut his managerial teeth, played out a one all draw with visitors Bolton Wanderers with Shaun Williams in the hosts starting eleven and Aiden O’Brien a thirty seventh minute substitute. Callum Robinson was again on the scoresheet as his Preston North End defeated local rivals Blackburn Rovers by four goals to one at Deepdale. Alan Browne also scored for the hosts while Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams were in defence for the visitors. Richard Keogh skippered Derby County in their two one victory at Sheffield Wednesday while James McClean started for Stoke City who played out a two all draw with visitors QPR. In the late kick-off, Alan Judge started and scored for Brentford but in vain as visitors Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph secured a two one victory.
In League One, Ronan Curtis was in action for leaders Portsmouth who secured a two one victory at Scunthorpe United.