Championship Sunday round-up: Birmingham City deliver derby blow to Coventry City

Despite the worst of the winter weather forcing three fixtures to fall by the wayside, eight Championship matches beat the freeze – led by Birmingham City’s thrilling Midlands derby victory over high-flying Coventry City.

The Blues emerged 3-2 winners to halt their winless run and deal a blow to the Sky Blues’ promotion push.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough underlined their Premier League credentials with an emphatic win over Southampton, while victories for both Preston North End and Millwall gave their respective play-off ambitions a timely lift.

Here is the full round-up of Sunday’s Championship action.

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Birmingham City 3-2 Coventry City

Marvin Ducksch scored twice as Birmingham ended their seven-game winless streak against Coventry.

The Blues led three times but were pegged back twice by Frank Lampard’s side, who have now won just twice in their last eight outings.

Chris Davies’ side opened the scoring when Kai Wagner crossed for Ducksch to find the back of the net with a measured finish on the volley.

Coventry were level inside two minutes when Josh Eccles let fly from 25 yards before Birmingham soon regained the lead as Lewis Koumas rounded Carl Rushworth to restore the hosts’ advantage.

After the visitors levelled again through Jack Rudoni on the hour, Ducksch struck the winner three minutes later, defeating Rushworth at his near post.

As Birmingham retreated and the Sky Blues pushed for an equaliser, Bobby Thomas was dismissed in stoppage time after exchanging words with Phil Neumann before slapping the German centre-half, which was spotted by referee James Linington.

QPR 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Rayan Kolli scored twice late on as QPR claimed a 3-0 home victory over Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.

Rumarn Burrell’s 10th goal of the season set Rangers on their way and Kolli’s double sealed their first win in four matches.

Burrell, signed from Burton Albion in the summer, opened the scoring when he was played through and slotted past Pierce Charles.

The hosts were forced into changes, with Burrell’s afternoon cut short by injury, but Wednesday struggled to mount a response.

Substitute Kolli doubled the lead, firing past Charles at the near post after exchanging passes with Richard Kone.

He struck again, finishing emphatically to cap a comfortable win for the R’s and deepen Wednesday’s troubles at the foot of the table.

Middlesbrough 4-0 Southampton

Middlesbrough ended a four-game goal drought in emphatic fashion as they thrashed Southampton 4-0 at the Riverside to move back into the Championship’s top two.

Boro struck four times after the break to condemn the Saints to a sixth straight match without a win and close to within six points of leaders Coventry.

Morgan Whittaker broke the deadlock, rolling the ball calmly past Gavin Bazunu after racing on to Matt Targett’s through-ball.

Sam Silvera doubled the lead just after the hour, controlling Luke Ayling’s diagonal pass before curling a fine finish into the far corner.

Whittaker struck again, turning in Aidan Morris’ low cross at the back post to put the result beyond doubt.

Substitute Alan Browne completed the rout late on, tapping home after Bazunu could only parry Hayden Hackney’s effort, as Boro moved two points clear of third-placed Ipswich Town, whose game against Portsmouth was postponed.

Bristol City 0-2 Preston

Lewis Dobbin and Alfie Devine earned Preston a 2-0 victory over fellow play-off contenders Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Dobbin put the visitors ahead, firing low into the bottom corner after Jordan Thompson intercepted Max O’Leary’s clearance following Zak Vyner’s loose backpass.

Devine doubled the lead, keeping his composure after an initial miscue to beat O’Leary with a low drive from a tight angle.

City pressed late on but could not find a way through a well-organised North End side, who cemented their place in the Championship play-off positions.

Millwall 2-1 Swansea City

Caleb Taylor’s header deep into stoppage time sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Swansea City at The Den.

The Lions had taken a deserved lead when Femi Azeez’s cross was flicked on by Tristan Crama before Taylor nodded it back across for Mihailo Ivanovic to put his side in front.

Swansea levelled when Ben Cabango finished at the back post after Ethan Galbraith’s cross was helped on.

Despite a superb display from Swans goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, Millwall found a late winner when Taylor rose highest to head in Alfie Doughty’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time.

The win moves Alex Neil’s side up to fifth, keeping them firmly in the Championship play-off hunt.

Norwich City 0-2 Stoke City

Stoke City made it back-to-back Championship away wins without conceding as they claimed a 2-0 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road.

After a scrappy first half, the breakthrough came when Sorba Thomas reached the byline and squared for Sam Gallagher to tap home from close range.

The visitors quickly doubled their lead, Thomas this time finishing himself after meeting Million Manhoef’s low cross following a long kick from Tommy Simkin.

Norwich, who would have climbed out of the bottom three with a point, offered little in response and slipped to a ninth home defeat of the season as Stoke completed a comfortable away success.

Derby County 1-2 Wrexham

Matty James’ superb second-half strike sealed a 2-1 victory for Wrexham at Derby County in Phil Parkinson’s 250th game in charge.

The win made it four in a row for the Welsh side and strengthened their play-off push after James curled home from 20 yards.

Wrexham had taken a first-half lead when Sam Smith volleyed in from close range after Nathan Broadhead’s cross.

Derby responded through Ben Brereton-Diaz as he surged forward and fired low past Arthur Okonkwo to restore parity.

James’ quality finish ultimately proved decisive, with Wrexham seeing out the closing stages to deny the Rams despite late pressure from the hosts.

Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Charlton Athletic

Moussa Baradji scored his first goals for Blackburn Rovers, as the home side came from two down to claim a 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Charlton Athletic.

Winless and without a goal in their last three games, Rovers were rocked by a quickfire Charlie Kelman double, the striker volleying home from close range before converting a controversial penalty to put the visitors firmly in control.

Blackburn responded before the break when Baradji powered home a header to halve the deficit and lift the hosts.

The on-loan midfielder later completed the comeback, arriving late in the area to fire beyond Thomas Kaminski and earn Valerien Ismael’s side a point.

The draw moves Rovers four points clear of the relegation zone, while Charlton remain winless in four and just a point above them.

Sky Bet Championship – Sunday scores

Birmingham City 3-2 Coventry City
QPR 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United P-P Oxford United
Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Charlton Athletic
Bristol City 0-2 Preston North End
Derby County 1-2 Wrexham
Hull City P-P Watford
Middlesbrough 4-0 Southampton
Millwall 2-1 Swansea City
Norwich City 0-2 Stoke City
Portsmouth P-P Ipswich Town

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