Russell Martin has warned his players that Southampton’s new unbeaten club record will not carry as much weight if the club fails to return to the Premier League. Southampton broke a 103-year-old club record by extending their unbeaten run to 21 games with a 3-1 victory at Martin’s old club Swansea, lifting them to second place in the Championship, above Ipswich on goal difference. First-half goals from Che Adams, Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes – his first for Saints coming on his 25th birthday and against his former club – put Southampton in control. However, they had to withstand late home pressure as Swansea twice hit the post and Gavin Bazunu made a couple of useful saves. “It is a nice moment,” Martin said after his side completed Southampton’s best unbeaten run in all competitions since joining the Football League in 1920, eclipsing the 20 games undefeated achieved the following year. “I’m really grateful to the players for what they’ve done, the courage they’ve shown. I’m immensely proud. The way they did it in the first half, one of the best performances I’ve ever been involved in as coach. “It’s taken a lot of hard work and they’ve really stepped up. They’ve written themselves in to the history books - and let’s keep it going. It will have more significance, importance and standing if we achieve what we want at the end of the season, otherwise it will be just something we’ve achieved together.” Elsewhere, Norwich recorded a hard-fought 2-0 win over West Brom to move to within four points of the fifth-placed Baggies in the promotion race. Norwich found themselves on the back foot for long periods at Carrow Road but made two of their chances count. Josh Sargent scored his second goal since returning from an ankle injury to set the ball rolling early on before top scorer Jon Rowe doubled their advantage midway through the second half. A headed debut goal from on-loan forward Scott Twine earned Bristol City a 1-1 draw with Watford in a closely-fought encounter at Ashton Gate. The visitors took a 13th-minute lead when referee Andrew Kitchen spotted a handball by centre-back Rob Dickie after a free-kick had been played into City’s box and Tom Dele-Bashiru fired home a right-footed penalty. But the home side were level after 25 minutes as Tommy Conway’s shot was blocked by goalkeeper Ben Hamer and Burnley loanee Twine climbed above a defender to head the rebound into an unguarded net. Rotherham’s long wait for an away win continues after Marcus Forss struck late on to force a 1-1 draw for Middlesbrough. Boro failed to find the firepower to turn possession into enough goals to close the gap to the play-off spots – and it looked as if Rotherham, still rooted to the foot of the table, had made Michael Carrick’s men pay with Cafu’s 59th-minute opener. But Forss struck with eight minutes to go. Tony Mowbray’s unbeaten start to life as Birmingham manager continued with an impressive 2-1 win at Stoke. Fulham loanee Jay Stansfield handed the visitors a dream opening when he fired in an eighth league goal of the season after 10 minutes. Juninho Bacuna’s exquisite free-kick in the second-half doubled their lead before the home side teed up a tense finish when Jordan Thompson pulled one back. Ian Foster claimed his first win as Plymouth manager as Argyle came back from 1-0 down to earn a first win in six league matches with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff. Perry Ng fired Cardiff ahead just 10 minutes in but Ryan Hardie’s double either side of half time and a fine finish from Morgan Whittaker secured Foster’s first win at Championship level. Victory lifted Plymouth to 15th and four points behind Cardiff as the Bluebirds lost for the third time in four matches. Captain Ben Sheaf scored twice as Coventry claimed a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday to strengthen their bid for a play-off place. The visitors took the lead five minutes before the break when Josh Eccles found Sheaf and he slipped the ball past his marker before firing into the roof of the net. Sheaf scored his second of the afternoon in the 57th minute. Josh Windass pulled one back ten minutes later but Coventry held on. Michal Helik’s eighth goal of the season gave relegation-threatened Huddersfield a 1-1 draw at Blackburn. The Terriers gifted Blackburn the opener after Adam Wharton profited from a poor pass, but Helik’s towering header midway through the first half restored parity. Huddersfield were guilty of missing opportunities to claim victory through Jack Rudoni and David Kasumu. Goals from Ilias Chair and Sinclair Armstrong gave relegation-threatened QPR a vital 2-0 win over Millwall at Loftus Road. It was Rangers’ first victory in eight league matches and lifted them up a place, to third from bottom. It means they will move level on points with Huddersfield, the team immediately above them in the table, if they beat the Terriers in another crucial game next weekend.