14.03.2019 00:00 h

Norwich back on top as Farke signs new deal

Emi Buendia's double helped Norwich return to the top of the Championship with a 3-2 win over Hull on the night manager Daniel Farke signed a new contract to keep the German at Carrow Road till 2022.

Buendia's brace helped the Canaries secure a fifth consecutive win that takes them two points clear of Leeds and four ahead of third-placed Sheffield United in the race for automatic promotion.

"At the moment, it feels a bit like all Canaries are flying and Carrow Road is a pulsating ground with big unity in the club and city," said Farke in a club statement to announce his new deal.

"It's really a great pleasure to work each and every day for this amazing club."

Farke was celebrating as early as the 11th minute when Marco Stiepermann's solo effort gave Norwich the lead.

Buendia soon tapped home a second from close range, but Marc Pugh halved the deficit just before half-time.

Norwich's two-goal cushion was restored when Buendia struck again on the hour, and the Canaries held on for a precious victory despite Chris Martin's late strike.

West Brom beat Swansea 3-0 in their first game since the sacking of Darren Moore.

Jimmy Shan was in caretaker charge as the fourth-placed Baggies claimed a first league home win since Boxing Day.

Chris Brunt, Mason Holgate and Jay Rodriguez were on target as Swansea were left to rue an extraordinary penalty miss with the score at 1-0.

Bersant Celina slipped as he took the 40th-minute spot-kick and scuffed the ball only a couple of yards before Albion cleared.

Fifth-placed Middlesbrough lost 2-1 at home to Preston as Daniel Ayala was sent off for the second time in five games.

Ashley Fletcher's deflected drive gave Boro a 32nd-minute lead, but Ayala was shown a straight red card after the restart for his sliding tackle on Brandon Barker.

Paul Gallagher curled home the resulting free-kick and Jayden Stockley's 81st-minute header extended Preston's unbeaten run to 11 games.

Derby moved back into the play-off places following a goalless draw at home to Stoke.

Aston Villa won 3-1 at Nottingham Forest with John McGinn netting a brace for the visitors.

Millwall eased their relegation worries with a 2-0 victory at Birmingham, but the FA Cup quarter-finalists remain just a point above the drop zone.

That is because Semi Ajayi scored a last-gasp winner as 22nd-placed Rotherham beat QPR 2-1 at Loftus Road to move to within one goal of safety on goal difference behind Wigan.