Town's Championship survival hopes receive a massive boost as results go their way

Luton's hopes of staying in the Championship this season received a massive boost after an excellent afternoon in the second tier yesterday.

Nathan Jones’ side had done the business themselves with a 2-0 win at fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town on Friday night to move on to 44 points and off the bottom, leapfrogging Barnsley.

They then sat back and watched Charlton Athletic lose 1-0 at home to Reading in the early kick-off to stay on 46 points, fifth bottom, before Barnsley were held to a 0-0 draw by Wigan Athletic at Oakwell.

That result means the Tykes stay bottom by a point while Wigan, although in 15th and 10 points above Luton, are due to be deducted 12 points for entering administration.

There was further good news as Hull in third bottom lost 1-0 at home to Millwall to leave the Tigers a single point above Town while 18th-placed Middlesbrough lost 3-1 at home to Bristol City, remaining just three points above Luton.

The only team to enjoy a good result was Sheffield Wednesday, 3-0 winners at QPR to move on to 55 points, but they too might be docked points after an FA misconduct charge.

Fourth bottom Stoke could move four points clear of the drop zone when taking on Birmingham City this afternoon, but it now means Town have a huge chance to climb out of the bottom three when hosting QPR on Tuesday night.

The other matches on that evening see MIddlesbrough go to Reading, Wigan host Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday entertain Huddersfield Town.

On Wednesday, Stoke go to Bristol City and Charlton visit Birmingham City, with Barnsley at Leeds United on Thursday.