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• Matt Smith give Salford last-gasp win at Newport

  Substitute Matt Smith’s stoppage-time strike earned Salford a 1-0 win at Newport, ending their four-game losing streak and condemning County to a seventh successive defeat.

  Smith had headed against the post moments earlier but when fellow substitute Junior Luamba also hit the woodwork, the giant striker was in the right place to slam the rebound through a host of bodies on the line.

  County had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but Salford ended the first half on top. Callum Hendry and Matthew Lund both missed the target with half-chances before Curtis Tilt and Adrian Mariappa had shots cleared off the line.

  After the break, Nick Townsend saved from Lund and Luamba clipped a cross onto the top of the bar.

  Omar Bogle also hit the woodwork with a free-kick at the other end.

  Kelly Nmai was shackled by Matty Baker just as he was about to pull the trigger, and Callum Hendry was denied by Townsend before Smith won it in the 92nd minute.

• Famara Diedhiou and Cian Ashford goals seal Cardiff comeback against Southampton

  Cian Ashford struck a 96th-minute winner for Cardiff as they put a huge dent in Southampton’s bid for automatic promotion with a 2-1 win at Cardiff City Stadium.

  The Saints took an early lead through Joe Aribo and looked comfortable for much of the game before they were overhauled by a tremendous fightback from the Bluebirds.

  Southampton came into the game on the back of picking up nine points from three games in a week.

  They saw Leicester go top of the table with their 2-0 home win over West Brom prior to their kick-off and were chasing a fourth win in a row to go level on points with Leeds in third.

  Saints boss Russell Martin saw his team get off to a flying start with a goal in the 12th minute.

  Prior to that Stuart Armstrong’s shot across the home goal had hit the post, but there was no stopping Aribo’s shot as he gave the Saints the lead. Ethan Horvath had managed to keep out Adam Armstrong’s initial effort, but Aribo showed good composure to strike the rebound home.

  If it had not have been for the heroics of American goalkeeper Horvath the game could have been out of sight by the break. His form, and the lack of finishing skills from Southampton’s players, meant there was still only a goal in it at half-time.

  Two terrible back passes, firstly from Rubin Colwill and then from Ollie Tanner, put Horvath under huge pressure. He saw Adam Armstrong shoot over the top from the first and then watched in amazement and relief as David Brooks failed to beat him from point blank range with the second.

  It ended up as 12 shots to four in favour of the visitors in the first half alone, with six of them on target.

  The pressure continued after the break with shot after shot whistling past the home posts.

  Just short of the hour mark Adam Armstrong had a diving header at the far post from a Che Adams cross superbly saved on the line by Horvath as Cardiff once again rode their luck.

  With the score still delicately poised going into the final quarter Southampton were in danger of getting caught out due to their failure to finish their chances and so it proved in the 68th minute when a neat raid down the right flank saw 21-year-old substitute wing back Raheem Conte make a name for himself on his debut.

  He raced to the byline, crossed into the danger zone and Famara Diedhiou side-footed home the equaliser.

  What had been a stroll in the park for much of the game suddenly turned into a dog fight for the Saints in their battle for automatic promotion.

  Alex McCarthy was then forced to tip over a a vicious shot from the right by Yakou Mete to keep the scores level and Cardiff became bolder and bolder as they pushed forward looking for a second.

  It almost came from Diedhiou early on in the nine minutes of added time when he headed down from a Joe Ralls free kick on the right to force McCarthy into another important save.

  Then came Ashford’s pile-driver from 25 yards that was helped on its way with a deflection past McCarthy.

• Chris Mochrie effort enough as Dundee United celebrate return to Premiership

  Dundee United celebrated their return to the cinch Premiership at the first time of asking after substitute Chris Mochrie’s 78th-minute goal broke the resistance of 10-man Ayr to secure a 1-0 victory and spark a Tannadice title party.

  A crowd of almost 10,000 home supporters looked like they might end up frustrated as Scott Brown’s stubborn side kept them at bay, but the dismissal of Nick McAllister on the hour paved the way for Jim Goodwin’s team to get the win they needed, resulting in a post-match pitch invasion.

  Although they are not mathematically assured of finishing top of the Championship just yet – second-placed Raith Rovers would have to overturn a six-point deficit, while requiring an unrealistic goal difference swing of 36 over the closing two matches of the campaign.

  A run of just five wins from 12 league matches in the opening months of 2024 had threatened to derail their title bid, but United regained their poise at the perfect time, with four consecutive wins over Rovers, Queen’s Park, Morton and now Ayr taking them clear of their rivals when it mattered most.

  Goodwin can now start preparing with clarity for a return to the top flight, 11 months after his side were officially relegated from the top flight.

  The absence of key midfielder Ross Docherty from the teamsheet through injury served as a pre-match blow for the expectant home support.

  However, the hosts started with intent and Kai Fotheringham shot over from just outside the box before Tony Watt’s low angled shot was blocked in a crowded six-yard box. Fotheringham then headed wide from a Glenn Middleton cross.

  Ayr had a couple of threatening moments when Kurt Willoughby saw an angled effort from inside the box deflected behind before Mark McKenzie had a low shot blocked.

  At the other end, Craig Sibbald’s powerful strike from 25 yards out was deflected just wide.

  United finished the half strongly and Fotheringham saw an attempt deflected just over the crossbar before Watt scuffed a tame effort straight at Josh Clarke after strike-partner Louis Moult flicked a throw-in into his path.

  The home support were starting to suspect they might be made to wait a while longer, but a straight red card for McAllister after he caught Middleton with an elbow gave them fresh impetus for the closing half hour.

  Moult shot over from a Middleton cross and Sam McClelland and Fotheringham both headed wide from corners as United continued to be frustrated.

  But they eventually made the breakthrough with 12 minutes remaining when substitute Mochrie – who had just entered the fray two minutes previously – forced home the rebound from eight yards out after Watt’s header from Wotherspoon’s cross had been blocked by Clarke.