Luton set a new club record of 20 league games unbeaten with a 2-1 win at Fleetwood.

George Moncur’s 25-yard free-kick put the League One leaders ahead just before the break, with Pelly Ruddock doubling the lead early in the second half.

Paddy Madden scored a consolation for the home side in stoppage time.

(From left to right) George Moncur, James Collins and Matty Pearson celebrate as Luton Town make it a club record 20 games unbeaten with a 2-1 victory at Fleetwood Town

The Hatters’ run sees Mick Harford’s men beat the previous best set twice in successive years during 1968 and 1969.

Second-placed Barnsley remain six points behind, having played a match less, after they beat Wycombe 2-1 at Oakwell – where there was a lengthy spell of stoppage time following injury to Chairboys midfielder Luke Bolton

Cauley Woodrow put the hosts in front with a penalty on 13 minutes, and grabbed his second just after the hour.

Moncur’s free-kick gave the Hatters a 1-0 lead heading into half-time at Highbury Stadium

Shortly before that goal there had been an extended delay when Bolton needed treatment from both medical teams and was eventually substituted, which resulted in almost 13 minutes of action-packed additional time being played.

Wycombe defender Adam El-Abd was shown a late red card for violent conduct following an off-the-ball incident with Cameron McGeehan.

Joe Jacobson then pulled a goal back for Wycombe from the penalty spot, but there was to be no more drama before the full-time whistle eventually blew.

In Saturday’s early kick-off at Roots Hall, Portsmouth saw their hopes of making up ground in the promotion race dented as Simon Cox’s hat-trick saw Southend battle back to earn a 3-3 draw.

Bryn Morris, Ben Close and Oliver Hawkins put Pompey 3-0 up inside 31 minutes, with Cox’s goal before the break seemingly only a consolation.

However, the winger set up a tense finale when he converted a penalty with 12 minutes left and then curled in a late equaliser.

Blackpool put their off-field problems to one side to record a goalless draw at Charlton

Blackpool put their off-field problems behind them as they battled to a goalless draw at fifth-placed Charlton.

Owen Oyston’s 31-year reign at Blackpool was ended in the High Court of Justice on Wednesday when a judge appointed receivers to take control of the club.

Coventry beat Walsall 3-0 at the Ricoh Arena.

Amadou Bakayoko and Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila scored against their former club, both goals coming in the space of six first-half minutes. Bright Enobakhare added a late third from the penalty spot.

Gillingham ended a four-match winless run with a 1-0 home win over Scunthorpe.

Mark Byrne’s goal on the half-hour proved enough for all three points to lift the Gills out of the relegation zone

Ivan Toney scored a late winner as Peterborough defeated Oxford at the Kassam Stadium

Ivan Toney scored a late goal as play-off chasing Peterborough won 1-0 at Oxford, who drop back into the bottom four.

Relegation battlers Shrewsbury were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Burton.

Tyrese Campbell gave the Shrews an early lead, but David Templeton headed in a swift equaliser on 11 minutes.

Second-bottom Bradford played out a goalless draw at home against Plymouth.

Sheffield United cruised back into the top two with a major demonstration of their firepower – after Chris Wilder rested leading marksmen Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick.

Reading were ripped apart and, although the strugglers contributed to their own destruction, there was something ominous about how easy it was for the Blades. 

With Leeds not playing, they set about reclaiming second place with a goal after only 38 seconds. 

John Fleck’s deflected shot made it 4-0 to the home side and compounded misery on Reading

The goal came just after the break and Fleck celebrated the goal with his Blades team-mates

Kieran Freeman’s strike straight from kick-off was followed by a brace from Gary Madine, his first for the club, for a 3-0 half-time lead. 

The former Sheffield Wednesday striker, whose signing divided United fans, snatched the chance presented by his first start – alongside fellow January loan signing Scott Hogan, making his debut on loan from Aston Villa.

Madine left the field to an ovation – and the man of the match award after completely turning around critics in the crowd. This was a big game at both ends of the Championship. 

And much as the focus was on the Blades’ tilt for the Premier League, there was no less urgency in Reading’s attempt to escape dropping into League One.

The Christmas appointment of Portuguese manager Jose Manuel Gomes has taken time to have an effect – but the Royals arrived on the back of a four match unbeaten run after the late midweek victory over Blackburn. 

Gary Madine smashes home after the Royals failed to clear a cross into the box at Bramall Lane

Madine celebrated scoring his second of the game and his side’s third of the day

Simultaneously, United were squeezing past Middlesbrough to maintain strong form showing only one defeat in ten matches. With Leeds not in action – and Wilder’s side boasting a better goal difference than both the top two – this was a big chance to move back into the automatic promotion places. 

It was evidence of United’s strength that Wilder left 34 goals on the bench, electing to rest both Sharp and McGoldrick. The recalled Mark Duffy also wasted no time reasserting his importance as he broke down the left to cross low for Freeman, also back in the starting line-up, to poke home. 

The second was down to Reading keeper Emiliano Martinez whose poor kick fell for Madine to rifle into the roof of the net. After Martinez had partially redeemed himself with saves from Duffy and John Fleck, Reading fell apart again before the break. 

Marvin Johnson’s low cross should have been dealt with at the near post and Madine again hammered high into the net. John Fleck piled on the punishment after the break, although his 25 yard strike – teed up by Madine – took a big deflection past Martinez. 

The Reading keeper made a series of saves to limit the damage. Johnson and Oliver Norwood were both denied – and foiled, too, twice, was Hogan, seeking a debut goal. Madine, whose signing on loan from Cardiff, angered many Blades fans, left the field to a well deserved standing ovation when substituted near the end. 

Emiliano Martinez played the ball out to Kelly, who was not ready and the attacker nipped in

The ball fell to Gary Madine who smashed home to double Sheffield’s advantage on Saturday

Mark Duffy delivered a low cross and Kieron Freeman slid in an easy tap-in to make it 1-0

Andy Yiadom was caught out for the Sheffield goal – he allowed Duffy time and space to cross

Jesse Lingard showed his class on Friday afternoon as he handed out free ice cream to local kids in his home town of Warrington.

The Manchester United star enjoyed some downtime by visiting the children at Saint Margaret’s school before giving the youngsters, and himself, a sweet treat.

The 26-year-old signed autographs and took pictures with the kids on a beautiful day in the north west of England. 

Jesse Lingard poses with an ice cream as he enjoys some downtime in Warrington on Friday

The 26-year-old bought ice cream for local kids as he visited his home town on his day off

Lingard does his signature pose with some local kids after buying everyone ice cream

The England international clearly enjoyed himself as he wolfed down his ice cream with his entourage and the children.

In a video on his Instagram page, Lingard excitedly says: ‘Man’s going to the ice cream van, yeah!’ as locals followed suit.

After making the wonderful gesture, Matt’s Ices took to social media to sing Lingard’s praises. 

The Manchester United star eats an ice cream on a beautiful day in the north west of England

The United playmaker posed for pictures before signing autographs on Friday afternoon

‘Jessie (sic) lingard decided to treat the kids at St Margaret’s school to free ice cream today what a lovely gesture from a great footballer,’ Matthew Bain wrote on Facebook.

It’s not the first time Lingard has reached into his own pocket to help fans out.

Wimbledon supporters lost the chance of winning £500 after Lingard missed a penalty on Soccer AM.

However, after the programme had ended, the United playmaker was seen giving £600 to the group of Dons fans so they could enjoy their weekend.