Watford climbed into the playoff places after Vakoun Bayo struck four times in their 6-2 win at Sheffield Wednesday. After Wednesday’s Michael Smith cancelled out Ryan Porteous’s opener, Watford restored their lead through penalties from Tom Ince and Bayo, an Ivory Coast forward. Bayo completed his hat-trick either side of Pol Valentín’s goal for Wednesday before scoring his fourth in the 88th minute. Leeds swept aside Plymouth 3-0 to extend their unbeaten run to eight games and underline their promotion credentials. Goals from Dan James, Joël Piroe and Brenden Aaronson put Daniel Farke’s men 3-0 up at the end of a one-sided first half at Elland Road. It was a tough afternoon for Wayne Rooney’s Argyle, who set up in an ultra-defensive system but ultimately had no answer to Leeds, who brought on the teenagers Sam Chambers and Charlie Crew and last month’s signing Joshua Guilavogui for their debuts in the final quarter. Farke’s side were good value for a thumping win but for half an hour were frustrated by Plymouth’s stubbornness, despite dominating possession. It needed James to find the top corner with a superb right-foot shot from 25 yards in the 30th minute to make the breakthrough. Three minutes later, the Dutch striker Piroe then tapped in and the USA midfielder Aaronson slotted home from close range in the 38th minute. Leeds are three points behind the leaders, Sunderland, who had Jobe Bellingham sent off in a 0-0 draw at QPR. Bellingham was dismissed 13 minutes into the second half for a crude challenge on Zan Celar when trying to retain possession after a heavy touch. Struggling Rangers, one off the bottom and without a home win, were unable to capitalise. But a second successive goalless draw against one of the division’s heavyweights – they held Burnley in their previous match – seems like another step in the right direction for Martí Cifuentes’s side. Sunderland went closest to scoring in the first half when Dan Neil volleyed against a post from near the edge of the area. Wilson Isidor missed a chance for the visitors, shooting wide after being found by Trai Hume, who also fired an effort wide. After Bellingham’s red card Celar fired just wide and Jimmy Dunne’s had a header saved. Sheffield United made it back-to-back wins with a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers which leaves them third. Chris Wilder’s men bossed the game from the moment Harrison Burrows’ crisp strike – his first for the club – gave them a 16th-minute lead. They created numerous opportunities, with Kieffer Moore twice going close in the second half before Tyrese Campbell’s second in as many matches just after the hour put the game to bed. The Blades threatened to add to the lead through Gus Hamer and Wilder will be pleased with a professional performance that blunted Blackburn, whose unbeaten start at Ewood Park was comprehensively ended. Cardiff scored two late goals to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win at home against promotion-chasing Norwich. Borja Sainz, the division’s top scorer, hit his 11th league goal of the season to put Norwich ahead early in the second half but Callum Robinson came off the bench grab an 89th-minute equaliser before Callum O’Dowda’s left-foot winner deep into stoppage time. Victory extended Cardiff’s unbeaten run under their caretaker manager, Omer Riza, to six games and climb a further four places clear of the relegation zone. The defeat was a first in eight games for Norwich, who had looked to be moving into sixth place before slipping to ninth. Coventry won on their travels for the first time after taking advantage of Hayden Hackney’s first-half red card to beat Middlesbrough 3-0. Hackney was booked after 11 minutes for a foul on Josh Eccles and got his second yellow card 11 minutes later after lunging in on Brandon Thomas-Asante. Bobby Thomas headed in just before half-time and Haji Wright and Eccles secured the points in the final quarter of an hour. Michael Carrick’s Boro have one victory in their past five outings. Ben Gibson headed a late winner as Stoke beat Derby 2-1. The Potters led through Tom Cannon’s ninth-minute penalty after he was taken down by Jacob Widell Zetterström. Derby, somewhat against the run of play, levelled in bizarre fashion after Gibson’s header beat his own goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson, who got the last touch as the ball went into the net. But Gibson secured all three points for the home side with eight minutes left. Swansea scored their first goals in more than nine hours as they beat Oxford 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium. It was Oxford’s first home defeat and they have gone eight Championship matches without a win. After failing to find the net throughout October, the Swans ended their barren run in the 38th minute when Zan Vipotnik turned in Ronald’s cross from the right. The substitute Florian Bianchini sealed victory in the 80th minute when he ran on to Gonçalo Franco’s pass and finished neatly from 16 yards. Dane Scarlett halved the deficit with a low drive two minutes from time. Bristol City moved eight games unbeaten after defeating Preston 3-1. Sam Greenwood levelled after Yu Hirakawa’s early goal for City but Nahki Wells instantly restored the away team’s advantage and Max Bird making the game safe. Bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth earned a valuable point with a 1-1 draw at Hull, Josh Murphy equalising at the start of the second half after the hosts led through João Pedro. On Friday night, West Bromwich Albion’s winless run was extended to seven Championship matches after Tahith Chong’s superb equaliser helped Luton to a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.