Championship round-up: Middlesbrough rally to victory, Southampton end winless run

To complete the midweek Championship action, Middlesbrough’s comeback win over Stoke City on Wednesday night saw them move back into second place.

Kim Hellberg’s side fell behind in the first half at the bet365 Stadium, but second-half goals secured all three points, keeping the pressure on leaders Coventry City and lifting Boro back above Ipswich Town.

Elsewhere, Southampton ended a miserable league run with a victory over struggling Sheffield United.

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

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Stoke City 1-2 Middlesbrough

Alan Browne scored and then assisted for Tommy Conway’s winner as Middlesbrough moved into the Championship automatic promotion places with a 2-1 comeback victory at 10-man Stoke.

For the second time in six days, Hellberg’s side came from behind to leapfrog Ipswich into second, six points behind Coventry.

Slovakian Tomas Rigo opened the scoring as the midfielder’s low 20-yard shot ended up in the net as Sol Brynn failed to push the ball away.

Boro came from 2-0 down to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 last Friday and again proved slow starters.

Brynn partially atoned for his mistake after tipping Million Manhoef’s left foot curler onto the crossbar.

Hellberg brought on West Brom matchwinner Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine for Alex Gilbert and Sam Silvera after the break.

The Teessiders levelled as Tommy Simkin kept out efforts from Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris before Browne smashed in the loose ball from four yards.

The visitors completed their comeback. Sunderland loanee Browne was the provider with a sweet delivery from the right, and although Conway scuffed his first attempt, he recovered quickest to swivel and tap the ball home from inches out.

Stoke’s misery was complete when defender Bosun Lawal received a second booking for a tackle on Morris.

Middlesbrough’s third successive league win was a relief to goalkeeper Brynn for his part in Rigo’s goal.

Southampton 1-0 Sheffield United

Southampton eased pressure on head coach Tonda Eckert by snapping a seven-match winless run in the Championship with a deserved 1-0 victory at home to Sheffield United.

Saints warmed up for Sunday’s south-coast derby at bitter rivals Portsmouth with an overdue success.

The hosts wasted a series of chances to make the scoreline more comfortable before hanging on to climb a place to 15th position, above Swansea City on goal difference.

Saints boss Eckert watched his team take an early lead as Brazilian left-back Welington dispossessed Ki-Jana Hoever deep in opposition territory, allowing compatriot Leo Scienza to drive towards the 18-yard box and find the bottom-left corner via a hefty touch off Blades captain Ollie Arblaster to claim his first goal in nine games.

Patrick Bamford nearly grabbed an equaliser late on, but he was denied by the legs of Daniel Peretz following a defensive mix-up.

Chris Wilder’s side remain 17th – four points above the relegation zone – after slipping to a third-successive defeat in all competitions.

The two clubs started the season among the promotion favourites, but beyond the midway point, both are languishing in the bottom half of the table.

Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

Portsmouth moved out of the Championship relegation places after a 1-1 draw at Watford, whose hopes of regaining a play-off place at the other end of the table were thwarted.

Adrian Segecic broke the deadlock in the second half when Conor Chaplin received Millenic Alli’s pass in the box and swivelled to square the ball for the Australian to slot home his sixth goal of the season.

However, the lead lasted only six minutes, aubstitute Mamadou Doumbia profiting from an error by Pompey goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid, who dropped Watford captain Imran Louza’s delivery into the box.

That allowed Luca Kjerrumgaard to poke the loose ball to Doumbia, who slotted past a couple of defenders.

READ MORE: Championship round-up: Norwich City run riot as Ipswich Town and Coventry City keep up the pace