Sunderland missed out on the chance to close to within a point of the automatic promotion places in the Championship as Nathanael Ogbeta’s 90th-minute strike gave bottom club Plymouth a surprise 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats looked set for another home win as second-half goals from Wilson Isidor and Trai Hume overturned a Plymouth lead that had come through an own goal from home goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. However, Ogbeta struck in the final minute to secure Plymouth only a fourth away point of the season. “In the end, I think we were a bit lucky to win a single point,” said the Sunderland manager, Regis Le Bris.

Grady Diangana scored twice as Tony Mowbray enjoyed a glorious homecoming in West Brom’s 5-1 mauling of Portsmouth in what was a nightmare game for Nicolas Schmid at The Hawthorns. Portsmouth’s goalkeeper handed goals to Alex Mowatt and Diangana before the former Pompey winger Jed Wallace – and Diangana again – made it 4-0 before half-time.

John Swift scored the fifth in the 56th minute, while substitute Thomas Waddingham scored a late debut consolation. Mowbray’s last win at the Hawthorns in charge of Albion was 5,740 days ago – on 9 May 2009 – as they won 3-1 against Wigan.

Emil Riis came off the bench to make it two wins on the bounce for Preston as they beat Middlesbrough 2-1. The 26-year-old capitalised on a defensive horror show from the visitors in the 78th minute to score his eighth goal of the season. Stefan Thordarson had opened the scoring before Delano Burgzorg’s equaliser. Boro have now won just one of their last six away matches, leaving Michael Carrick looking over his shoulder in the playoff race.

“We were shooting ourselves in the foot from nowhere and the boys are devastated,” said Carrick. “I’m devastated. It’s a horrible day to be sitting here with nothing.”

Substitute Nahki Wells struck a 77th-minute winner as Bristol City stepped up their playoff challenge with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Ashton Gate. The home side took a 12th-minute lead when free-kick specialist Scott Twine curled a right-footed shot beyond the reach of Aynsley Pears. Blackburn were on terms five minutes before the break through former City player Andreas Weimann but Wells settled it, running on to a pass from fellow substitute Joe Williams to score from a narrow angle.

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Victor Torp’s brace earned Coventry their third successive win with a 2-1 victory over Watford at the CBS Arena. The Danish midfielder opened the scoring when he latched on to Jack Rudoni’s cross in the first half before lashing home a free-kick with just under 15 minutes left. Liam Kitching’s own goal gave the visitors hope but they were unable to force an equaliser. The defeat piled more pressure on Watford manager Tom Cleverley as his side slumped to a sixth defeat in eight matches in all competitions.

Johannes Hoff Thorup was delighted to see Josh Sargent back among the goals as his Norwich side recorded a thumping 5-1 win over Swansea at Carrow Road. Starting a game for the first time since picking up a groin injury in October, the American produced two well-taken strikes to set the Canaries on the road to victory after successive defeats on the road at high-flying Sheffield United and Leeds.

“Josh is a quality striker and we have obviously missed him – you could see what a difference he made today,” said Thorup. “He is a big voice in the dressing room and a big player on the pitch. They were two quality finishes and he also showed how good he is running behind defenders and finding space.”

Goals from Michael Smith and Callum Paterson gave Sheffield Wednesday a 2-0 victory at Loftus Road and halted QPR’s winning run. Smith struck on 72 minutes, shortly after coming on as a substitute, and Paterson’s 88th-minute goal sealed the Owls’ win. Rangers had won their previous four Championship matches and five in a row at home – but this defeat took them down to 13th. Wednesday, who won for the first time in four league games, are 10th.

Alex Neil praised a “brilliant” goal from striker Mihailo Ivanovic which secured his first league win as Millwall manager, beating Luton 1-0 at Kenilworth Road. The Serbia international fired home a wonderful strike from the edge of the box on the hour mark, an effort that lit up a contest woefully short on quality. The result leaves Luton in real danger of a second successive relegation.

Neil, whose previous four matches had seen him take just two points, said: “Naturally it’s going to be a bit scrappy, obviously coming to Kenilworth Road is always difficult, but I thought the players were sensational. We lost our goalkeeper, lost our left winger, we’re already light in numbers, so for the lads to do what they did today speaks volumes of the character and togetherness of the squad.”

Callum Robinson made it six goals in his last six league games as he spearheaded Cardiff’s 2-1 win over Derby. The Republic of Ireland striker finally broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute as he beat Jacob Widell Zetterstrom in the Derby goal with his second touch after the keeper had saved his first flick-on from Joe Ralls’ cross. A minute later Robinson set up Anwar El Ghazi for the second. Lars-Jorgen Salvesen headed home in the 70th minute to give the Rams some hope.

Struggling Stoke remain without a win in the league under manager Mark Robins after a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Oxford. The Potters have now drawn three of Robins’ four league games in charge and have only one victory in their last 15 Championship matches to remain dangerously close to the relegation zone. Oxford are now unbeaten in eight league matches since Gary Rowett took charge just before Christmas.

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