Championship news: Bristol City deny Wrexham victory, Portsmouth earn vital three points

Wrexham were twice pegged back by Bristol City as Phil Parkinson’s side missed the chance to climb into the top six, while Portsmouth secured an impressive 3-1 away win at Charlton Athletic.

The Red Dragons were denied all three points when Max Bird struck late to earn the home side a share of the spoils.

The result leaves Wrexham level on points with sixth-placed Derby County and eighth-placed Preston North End, with the Robins just a point behind all three sides in a tightly-contested play-off race.

Elsewhere, Pompey netted three at The Valley to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

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

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Bristol City 2-2 Wrexham

Bristol City denied Wrexham a fifth successive Championship away win as Bird’s spectacular late volley secured a 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate.

The prize at stake for the winner on a bitterly cold night was sixth spot and a place in the play-offs.

Wrexham hit the front when Callum Doyle’s cross ricocheted into the path of Ollie Rathbone, who smashed a first-time left-footed shot high past Radek Vitek.

City players were booed off at the break after failing to manage a single on-target attempt.

Robins boss Gerhard Struber’s triple substitution at the interval turned the game on its head, with Sinclair Armstrong, Delano Burgzorg and Jason Knight making an immediate impact.

The equaliser arrived when Tomi Horvat fed Armstrong down the right and the substitute made light of a difficult angle by powering the ball across Arthur Okonkwo and into the corner of the net.

The momentum then shifted Wrexham’s way as Issa Kabore guided the ball into the middle of the box and the unfortunate Joe Williams was unable to sort his feet out and put the ball past Vitek.

However, Bird’s fantastic volley provided a sting in the tail and allowed Derby to cling onto sixth spot.

Charlton Athletic 1-3 Portsmouth

Terry Devlin scored a spectacular long-distance strike as his brace helped Portsmouth move four points clear of the Championship relegation zone with a 3-1 win at Charlton.

Pompey recorded a first league double over their opponents since the 1985-86 season.

The two clubs held a minute’s applause before kick off in memory of Addicks supporter Norman Barker, whose passing during the December 6 fixture saw the match abandoned in the 12th minute.

Thomas Kaminski will not want to watch back the opening goal as Devlin’s swerving low strike from outside the area squeezed between his legs – ending the home team’s hopes of recording a fourth straight clean sheet.

It got worse for the London club when referee Leigh Doughty, who dished out six cautions in the opening 45 minutes, ruled that Amari’i Bell had handled Gustavo Caballero’s cross inside the penalty area.

Kaminski was booked for his protests before Colby Bishop tucked his spot-kick down the middle. It was only the forward’s second league goal of the campaign and his first since August 23.

Portsmouth went further ahead after the break with a sensational strike from distance by Devlin, which flew into the top right corner.

Charlton substitute Jayden Fevrier managed to cut the deficit by one, finishing cutely from Lyndon Dykes’ flick-on from a long throw.

Championship full scores

Bristol City 2-2 Wrexham

Charlton Athletic 1-3 Portsmouth

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