Key Takeaways from the Championship: Ipswich on Track for Second Place, Leicester in Trouble

Ipswich Town have taken a significant step towards securing the second spot in the Championship, following their convincing win over rivals Norwich City at Carrow Road. The victory marked their first win at the venue in 20 years and completed the league double over the Canaries, dashing their slim hopes of reaching the playoffs. Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna hailed the result as 'brilliant' for the club, acknowledging the significance of the fixture and the joy it brings to the fans. With a two-point lead over Millwall and a three-point advantage over Middlesbrough, Ipswich are in a strong position, despite having challenging games ahead, including matches against Boro and Southampton. Meanwhile, Coventry's promotion hopes were delayed after they failed to beat Sheffield Wednesday, but they remain 12 points clear of third-placed Millwall with four games left to play. Frank Lampard attributed the draw to tension among his players, who are experiencing the pressure of securing promotion for the first time. A point against Blackburn on Friday would be enough to seal their spot in the Premier League. Elsewhere, Southampton's resurgence continues, with their fifth consecutive win lifting them into fifth place. They could overtake Middlesbrough into fourth if they beat Blackburn on Tuesday. Hull City's playoff hopes suffered a setback with a defeat at Sheffield United, while Wrexham's loss to Birmingham has left them four points adrift of the playoff spots. Leicester City's relegation worries deepened with a 1-0 home defeat to Swansea, leaving them four points from safety with four games remaining. Manager Gary Rowett lamented the 'stupid goal' they conceded and called for his team to show more fight and desperation in their upcoming matches. Oxford, on the other hand, continued their impressive form with a 2-0 win over Watford, earning 15 points from their last eight games.