Huddersfield boosted their hopes of automatic promotion with a late 1-0 win over Reading at the John Smith’s Stadium, moving to within four points of the automatic promotion places. Philip Billing’s goal eight minutes from time earned a sixth consecutive victory for David Wagner’s Terriers, who recovered from a missed first-half penalty by Rajiv van La Parra to put pressure on the leaders, Newcastle, and Brighton. Billing’s volley also meant Jaap Stam’s Royals lost for the first time in seven games, increasing the likelihood that they will have to settle for a play-off place.

Sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday missed the opportunity to increase their seven-point cushion over Norwich City after a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Brentford. John Egan’s header gave the visitors the lead and Harley Dean put them two up shortly before half-time. Fernando Forestieri scored from long range in the third minute of second-half stoppage time but a comeback was not forthcoming and Wednesday’s run of four consecutive wins was halted by Dean Smith’s side. The Wednesday manager, Carlos Carvalhal, called the referee Darren Bond “a disaster”. He believed Wednesday should have had a penalty and that Dean’s goal should not have stood, saying: “[Bond] made everybody nervous. He made the fans nervous, he made the players nervous and he made me nervous.”

Derby’s stutter continued with a goalless draw against their local rivals Burton Albion at Pride Park. It was the first time the clubs had met on the Rams’ home turf competitively and the away side will have gone home happier. They sit five points above the relegation zone while Derby are 10 points shy of the top six with a game in hand and have not won in their last four outings.

In the night’s other game QPR kept Wigan in the bottom three with a 2-1 win at Loftus Road. Matt Smith opened the scoring and, although Omar Bogle equalised for the Latics from the spot, Conor Washington won the match on the hour.