Wayne Rooney was sent off in a dramatic finish at Home Park, moments before Plymouth midfielder Morgan Whittaker scored a dramatic added-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Blackburn. Whittaker nodded home Adam Randell’s header back into the goalmouth from Lewis Gibson’s deep cross as Argyle piled on the pressure in the seventh and final minute of stoppage time.

Plymouth had taken a 15th-minute lead against the run of play through the on-loan Burnley striker Michael Obafemi, but the Blackburn substitute Joe Rankin-Costello levelled in the 86th minute from Dominic Hyam’s cross. Rooney was dismissed for his furious reaction to the equaliser – meaning the Plymouth manager was not on the touchline to see Whittaker’s last-gasp winner.

A masterful 22nd birthday performance from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi gave Sheffield United an assured 2-0 victory over struggling Luton at Bramall Lane. A goal in each half from the Crystal Palace loanee gave the Blades a comfortable win over the Hatters, who offered little on the day. Victory for the Blades drew them level on points with Sunderland at the top of the table.

Watford came from behind against Middlesbrough to go into the international break on the back of a 2-1 victory. The game burst into life after George Edmundson put the visitors ahead before the substitutes Edo Kayembe and Kwadwo Baah hit back – Baah’s half-volley, on 87 minutes, sealing the points.

Paul Heckingbottom was frustrated that his Preston side’s training ground work on free-kicks was thwarted by a “bad” offside decision as they earned a 0-0 draw at Burnley. Preston were denied a fourth-minute goal when Emil Riis timed his run onto Ben Whiteman’s free-kick to sweep a shot into the net – with replays showing the Danish forward was onside. “It’s disappointing for me, disappointing for them and the fans,” said Heckingbottom. “It’s a bad decision. If that had gone in and we’d got three points, I don’t think anyone could have begrudged us that.”

West Brom failed to turn home advantage their way again as they drew 0-0 against Millwall at The Hawthorns. After Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough, the Baggies struggled in front of goal once more as they made it three games without a win. Seven-goal top scorer Josh Maja missed Albion’s best chance but after dominating the first half they failed to create an opening after the break.

Norwich’s keeper Angus Gunn is a doubt for Scotland’s forthcoming Nations League matches after picking up a knock in his side’s 4-0 win over Hull. Gunn, who has established himself as Scotland’s number over the past year, was injured during the closing stages of the first half at Carrow Road and did not appear after the interval, with understudy George Long taking his place.

Norwich’s display was impressive as they made it four wins in six games to maintain their climb up the table after a slow start. Helped by some poor defending, they scored two early goals through Marcelino Núñez and Josh Sargent to take control. They could then afford a missed penalty from Sargent before wrapping up a comfortable win through Kaide Gordon – with his first goal since his loan move from Liverpool – and an eighth of the season from the Spanish flyer Borja Sainz.

Portsmouth’s head coach John Mousinho apologised to assistant referee Bhupinder Singh Gill for an alleged discriminatory comment made from the stands during Portsmouth’s 1-1 draw with Oxford. Singh Gill informed the referee Lewis Smith about the alleged offensive remarks made towards him during the second half at Fratton Park. Smith paused the match and reported the comments to the fourth official before a PA announcement was made to warn spectators. “I’ve apologised to the linesman after the game if anything was said and I know that it will be dealt with appropriately,” said Mousinho. “Everyone here will condemn it.”

The incident put a negative on an otherwise entertaining clash, which saw Louie Sibley net his first Oxford goal to cancel out Brighton loanee Mark O’Mahony’s second strike of the week.

Marcus Harness struck his first Derby goal as a quickfire double at the start of the second half helped the Rams to a 2-0 win against struggling QPR at Pride Park. Derby broke the deadlock after 54 minutes when Curtis Nelson rose superbly to head in at a corner before Harness doubled the home side’s lead with a fine first-time finish less than a minute later. The victory ended Derby’s three-game losing run, while QPR remain in the relegation zone.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Shea Charles fired a stoppage-time winner to clinch his side a 2-1 win at Coventry. Djeidi Gassama had cancelled out Jack Rudoni’s opener for Coventry before half-time and on-loan Southampton midfielder Charles struck in the third minute of added time. Swansea were held 0-0 at home by Stoke. Stoke could have claimed all three points when Tom Cannon went through on goal, but he fired straight at Lawrence Vigouroux.