Championship roundup: Norwich shocked at Luton as crowds return

London, Dec 2, 2020 (AFP) - Limited crowds returned to English football in the lower leagues on Wednesday as Championship leaders Norwich suffered a shock 3-1 defeat to Luton at Kenilworth Road.

Areas of England in tier two zones are now allowed up to 2,000 fans with six matches across the Championship, League One and League Two welcoming back supporters on the first day since a four-week lockdown was lifted.

The home crowd were happy at Luton as Matty Pearson and a penalty from James Collins secured victory for the Hatters after Norwich's Emi Buendia had cancelled out George Moncur's opener.

Defeat leaves Norwich just a point clear of Bournemouth at the top of the table with the top seven separated by just two points.

Watford and Reading failed to take full advantage of the Canaries' slip-up to move top as they were held to draws by lowly Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.

Duncan Watmore struck twice as Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough claimed a 2-1 victory over Swansea at the Riverside Stadium to move up to 10th.

Adam Armstrong hit a 90th-minute winner as Blackburn snatched a 2-1 victory over Millwall at Ewood Park to edge to within two points of the playoff places.

Stoke are also back in the promotion hunt as Nick Powell made it an unhappy night for the fans admitted at Adams Park as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Wycombe to leave his team three points off the top.

However, not everyone was happy to see the return of spectators as Charlton boss Lee Bowyer complained of the negative reaction to his side's 1-0 home defeat to MK Dons in League One.

"It was very quiet, except for some negative shouting," Bowyer told the Evening Standard. "Sometimes the players need a bit of help. It wasn't what I expected because they don't stop singing normally.

"I'd have liked for it to have been a bit more positive from the fans. We need them to be positive and pick the lads up when it's not going well."