Patson Daka’s second-half double helped Leicester move six points clear at the top of the Championship with a comfortable 3-0 win against bottom-placed Rotherham. Daka opened the scoring on the hour with a simple finish from close range before then converting from the penalty spot five minutes later after he was fouled by Rotherham goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. Substitute Cesare Casadei completed the scoring with a diving header in the 72nd minute, sealing a fifth straight league win and extending their lead at the top following Ipswich’s heavy defeat at Leeds. A Taylor Harwood-Bellis header gave Southampton a 1-0 victory at QPR to make it 15 matches without defeat – the Saints’ longest unbeaten run since 1950. The visitors ended the match with 10 men following the 89th-minute sending-off of Shea Charles, but they held on. Southampton’s fine run has included 10 wins and Russell Martin’s side, fourth in the table, remain very much in the race for automatic promotion. Rangers, meanwhile, have suffered back-to-back defeats and remain third from bottom, having previously won three matches in a row under recently appointed boss Martí Cifuentes. Middlesbrough moved to within three points of the play-off places with a deserved 1-0 win over West Brom at the Riverside. Morgan Rogers scored the only goal as Boro followed their midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final success at Port Vale with a third straight win in all competitions. Albion remain fifth, but Carlos Corberán’s side have now won just one of their last five league games. Michael Beale’s first game as Sunderland head coach ended in disappointment as his side were beaten 3-0 by Coventry at the Stadium of Light. Beale, confirmed as Tony Mowbray’s successor on Monday, watched as Tatsuhiro Sakamoto opened the scoring for Mark Robins’ side in first-half stoppage time, with Callum O’Hare and Kasey Palmer also finding the net in the second half. Coventry’s win means they have now lost just one of their last eight matches. Plymouth top scorer Morgan Whittaker hit a brilliant 86th-minute equaliser as managerless Argyle recovered from going 3-1 down to claim a dramatic 3-3 draw with Wayne Rooney’s 10-man Birmingham at Home Park. Playmaker Whittaker took his season’s tally to 10 with another long-range strike from outside the box, out of the reach of diving goalkeeper John Ruddy’s fingertips and down the inside of the side netting. Birmingham had been reduced to 10 players in 48th minute when Krystian Bielik was sent off for a foul on Argyle central midfielder Jordan Houghton. Norwich moved to within two points of the play-offs with a comfortable 2-0 win over lowly Huddersfield at Carrow Road. The Canaries were dominant throughout and finally made their superiority count with second-half goals from Sam McCallum, his first for the club, and Borja Sainz. The win made it five in eight games for David Wagner’s in-form side, who suddenly look like genuine promotion contenders after struggling for form earlier in the season. Watford produced a dramatic late comeback to overcome Blackburn 2-1 and move to within two points of the play-offs. Valérien Ismaël’s men were second best for much of this encounter against an energetic Rovers side, who led thanks to Adam Wharton’s first goal of the campaign in the third minute. Watford’s bench ultimately made the difference as Yaser Asprilla’s shot was parried into the path of Mileta Rajovic to equalise in the 83rd minute. Four minutes later Rhys Healey’s second of the season secured the points for Watford, who have won four of their last six. Two Akin Famewo own goals in the second half gave Cardiff a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. The home side had taken the lead through Anthony Musaba and had the lion’s share of chances but two unfortunate moments for Famewo ensured the away side claimed victory. The win helped Cardiff climb to 10th while Wednesday remain in the relegation zone and six points from a safe position. Steven Schumacher’s time in charge of Stoke began with a point as they were held at home to a goalless draw by Millwall. The 39-year-old’s opening match was promising but also frustrating as Stoke failed to make their dominance count. Stoke are now winless in nine games dating back to October, with only one goal scored at home in their last five outings. Meanwhile, Millwall’s dismal run under new manager Joe Edwards continued as they fell to a sixth straight game without victory.