Match Centre: Hull City and Leeds United lose leads late on, Barnsley, Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Bradford City all beaten

Championship

Hull City 1 Reading 1

Simon Church's goal eight minutes from time helped Reading move into the npower Championship play-offs as they claimed a 1-1 draw at Hull.

The substitute netted from close range after Nigel Pearson's men had failed to clear Ian Harte's free-kick.

It was just reward for the Royals, who had seen a Shane Long penalty saved by Vito Mannone after Paul McShane had cynically brought down the striker.

However, Hull will feel they should have claimed victory after hitting the woodwork twice through Robert Koren and Cameron Stewart.

James Harper, who spent nine years at the Madjeski Stadium, had put the Tigers in front in the first half when he drilled a long-range effort past the helpless Adam Federici.

That looked to be enough to seal the win, but Church ensured the spoils were shared as both sides extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches.

Leeds United 3 Portsmouth 3

Andy O'Brien's own goal in stoppage-time denied Leeds a return to the top two in the npower Championship as Portsmouth twice fought back from two goals down.

Leeds centre-half O'Brien deflected Pompey substitute Nadir Ciftci's 93rd-minute cross into his own net for his second own goal of the afternoon to hand the visitors an unlikely point.

Simon Grayson's side extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches, but failed to capitalise on Cardiff's 4-1 defeat at Watford and closed out 2010 in fourth place in the table.

Max Gradel struck his fifth goal in four matches and skipper Jonny Howson slammed home his eighth of the season inside the opening 10 minutes to set Leeds on their way in front of a crowd of 31,556 at Elland Road.

But Portsmouth, who had beaten promotion-chasers Swansea and Norwich in their last two away games, hit back in the first half through David Nugent's superb strike.

Bradley Johnson gave Leeds another two-goal cushion in the 62nd minute, but Leeds defender O'Brien deflected Richard Hughes' shot beyond his goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for his first own goal within 60 seconds to reduce the deficit again.

Leeds had vociferous appeals for a late penalty turned down by Lancashire referee David Webb and were then denied three points three minutes into time added on when O'Brien again deflected into his own net.

Norwich City 4 Sheffield United 2

Wes Hoolahan stepped off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick as Norwich won for the fourth time in five games.

Andy Reid, on loan from Sunderland, fired Sheffield United - who have now lost on their last five visits to Carrow Road - ahead in the 17th minute with a fantastic 25-yard free-kick but defender Michael Nelson headed Norwich level within three minutes.

Richard Cresswell, on his return from suspension, put United back in front after 29 minutes although Norwich replied for a second time in the 64th minute when Hoolahan converted from the penalty spot.

Hoolahan then grabbed the winner with six minutes left with his second spot-kick conversion after Kyle Bartley was penalised by referee Phil Crossley for handball.

The Blades then finished the game with 10 men when Stephen Quinn was sent off for violent conduct after a bad foul on Hoolahan, who duly claimed the match ball in injury-time.

Swansea City 1 Barnsley 0

Jermaine Easter's first goal for Swansea was enough to beat Barnsley and ensure Brendan Rodgers` side ended a three-match winless run to move level on points with second-placed Cardiff.

Easter, who completed an emergency deadline-day loan move from MK Dons, will have done his chances of earning a coveted January switch to the Liberty Stadium no harm.

The Wales international`s 27th-minute close-range finish from Nathan Dyer`s cross proved the difference between the two sides and provided a much-needed victory for the Swans, who lost 4-0 at leaders QPR on Boxing Day.

They now head into 2011 in third place in the npower Championship, level on points with Cardiff and Leeds and with Norwich just one behind in what is rapidly becoming a thrilling promotion tussle.

It has been a disappointing Christmas period for Barnsley who have now lost both of their festive fixtures after a five-match unbeaten run and are down in 16th.

League One

Southampton 4 Huddersfield Town 1

Huddersfield threw away a 1-0 lead as Southampton scored four unanswered goals to move within a point of the third-place Terriers.

Lee Novak put Town in front by heading home Gary Roberts' cross before Rickie Lambert restored parity when his shot slipped past goalkeeper Alex Smithies.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put Saints ahead before the break with a shot from the edge of the area.

Radhi Jaidi's header made it 3-1 before Richard Chaplow completed the comeback with a shot from the edge of the area.

League Two

Cheltenham Town 4 Bradford City 0

Bradford City were thrashed as Jeff Goulding scored twice for free-scoring Cheltenham.

The striker capitalised on Tom Adeyemi's defensive error to put the Robins ahead, although his shot took a cruel deflection off Rob Kiernan.

Marlon Pack fired home the second from 25 yards and, after the break, Goulding netted again from a goalmouth scramble.

Dave Syers put the ball in the net for the visitors but it was ruled offside, before Wesley Thomas's sublime strike completed the rout and sent Peter Taylor's side home with little consolation.

Bradford remain in the bottom half, six points adrift of Cheltenham who moved into the play-off places thanks to this convincing victory.

Results

Premier League

Man City 4-0 Aston Villa

Stoke 0-2 Fulham

Sunderland 0-2 Blackpool

Tottenham 2-0 Newcastle

West Brom 1-3 Blackburn

West Ham 1-1 Everton

Championship

Bristol City 1-1 Crystal Palace

Burnley 0-2 Scunthorpe

Coventry 0-2 QPR

Hull 1-1 Reading

Leeds 3-3 Portsmouth

Millwall 2-0 Leicester

Norwich 4-2 Sheff Utd

Preston 1-3 Middlesbrough

Swansea 1-0 Barnsley

Watford 4-1 Cardiff

League One

MK Dons 2-0 Bournemouth

Plymouth 1-1 Notts County

Southampton 4-1 Huddersfield

League Two

Barnet 1-3 Stockport

Cheltenham 4-0 Bradford

Gillingham 3-0 Port Vale

Oxford Utd 2-1 Macclesfield

Postponed

Championship - Doncaster Rovers v Ipswich Town

League One - Sheffield Wednesday v Yeovil Town

League Two - Rotherham United v Accrington Stanley

Blue Square Premier - Altrincham v York City

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