Follow live coverage as Cardiff City face Derby County in the Championship today. An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

Cian Ashford's recent breakthrough under Omer Riza has been exceptional - but why did it take so long for the winger to get a run in the side?

FRANK LAMPARD is set to complete his first signing as Coventry manager. Lampard, 46, joined the Sky Blues in November and replaced the popular Mark Robins who left after seven years at the helm.

Coventry City are still hoping to wrap up a deal for Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo. But according to Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath, the Sky Blues have hit a stumbling block in negotiations, with the clubs yet to find an agreement regarding bonus payments and add-ons in the deal.

Follow live coverage as Cardiff City face Derby County in the Championship today. An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

Ben Brereton-Diaz is named among the replacements after his return from Southampton. Sheffield United head to Swansea tonight seeking to continue their ding-dong battle with Yorkshire rivals Leeds and return to the top of the Championship.

Bristol City 2 Blackburn 1 Cardiff 2 Derby 1 Coventry 2 Watford 1 Luton 0 Millwall 1 Norwich 5 Swansea 1 Preston 2 Middlesbrough 1 Queens Park Rangers 0 Sheffield Wednesday 2 Stoke 0 Oxford United 0 Sunderland 2 Plymouth 2 The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of the content above.

Coventry City’s pursuit of Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo is reported to have hit a snag, delaying confirmation of the deal. The Sky Blues were understood to be set to take Matondo on loan for the second half of the 2024/25 season. However, the Telegraph claim negotiations have now stalled and that there is “work to do to get the deal completed”.

Coventry City are understood to be set to take Rangers forward Rabbi Matondo on loan for the second half of the 2024/25 season.

Sheffield Wednesday-linked winger Rabbi Matondo has reportedly seen his proposed move from Rangers to Coventry City break down.

English Championship result on Friday: Luton v Millwall, Norwich v Swansea, Stoke v Oxford (all 1230 GMT), Bristol City v Blackburn, Cardiff v Derby, Coventry v Watford, Preston v Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland v Plymouth, West Bromwich Albion v Portsmouth

The win kept West Brom fifth in the EFL Championship table and firmly in the running for a place in the play-offs, while Portsmouth dropped to 21st, two points clear of the relegation zone