Championship Round-Up: Burnley extend lead at the top as Boro lose to Rotherham

Burnley extended their lead at the top of the Championship to four points after coming from behind at Craven Cottage to beat Fulham 3-2.

This match up of the league’s two top scoring clubs looked set to be full of goals and didn’t fail to produce. Sam Vokes put the visitors ahead inside the opening ten minutes, only for their hosts to come back and lead by the interval. Ross McCormack’s 18th league goal of the season and a Moussa Dembele effort putting Slaviša Jokanović’s side up at the break.

However, Vokes’ second of the night brought the Clarets level early in the second period, before Andre Gray, the league’s top marksman, netted his 22nd of the season to move Sean Dyche’s side four points clear. The Cottagers remain 19th and just two points above the bottom three.

Middlesbrough remain second but lost ground on the leaders, after they were beaten 1-0 by relegation-threatened Rotherham. Lee Frecklington’s 88th-minute winner settled this tie for Neil Warnock’s boys, who have now won their last three games. The Millers, who had Greg Halford dismissed after the goal, stay in the relegation zone but move to within a point of safety.

Brighton move up to third after they drew 0-0 with play-off rivals Sheffield Wednesday. A point takes Albion ahead of Hull and just two points off of automatic promotion. The Owls stay in sixth.

Chris Hughton’s Brighton are now just two points from the automatic promotion places. Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Derby’s promotion charge took a knock after they lost 2-0 away at QPR. Tjaronn Chery’s volley put Rangers ahead, before Gabriele Angella added a second to earn three points for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Londoners and lift them up to 11th. The Rams stay fifth.

Cardiff missed the opportunity to jump into the top six after they lost 2-0 at home to Leeds. Unbeaten on their own turf in the league since September 15, the Welsh side were stunned when Souleymane Doukara put the visitors ahead before half-time. Russell Slade’s men then had Fabio dismissed just after the hour-mark, before Mirco Antenucci’s injury-time strike completed a miserable night for the Bluebirds who sit seventh, one point outside the play-offs. Steve Evans’ side move up a place to 15th.

A late penalty prevented Ipswich from joining the top six as they were held 2-2 by struggling Bolton. The Tractor Boys appeared to be cruising to victory with Kevin Bru and Christophe Berra putting them two up, but Lawrie Wilson pulled one back before Stephen Dobbie’s penalty in time added-on completed the comeback. A point, sadly, does little to aid their survival bid as the Trotters remain bottom, ten points from safety.

On a night where teams at the top struggled, Birmingham also missed out on a chance to make the play-off places after they lost 2-0 away at Blackburn. First half goals from Tony Watt and Danny Graham were enough to give Rovers all three points and lift them up to 16th.

The big game at the wrong end of the table ended 0-0 as second-from-bottom Charlton played host to fellow strugglers MK Dons. The Addicks, who had Yaya Sanogo sent of in second half injury-time, are still seven points from safety, but the Dons are now only a point above the drop zone.

Bristol City are still in the relegation scrap after losing 2-1 away at Wolves. Aden Flint’s equaliser, after Nathan Byrne had put Wanderers ahead, looked to have earned the Robins a point until Matt Doherty’s late winner gave the hosts victory. Lee Johnson’s West Country outfit are now only two points above the bottom three.

Huddersfield moved themselves away from the struggling pack with a 3-1 win over FA Cup quarter-finalists Reading. Nakhi Wells opened the scoring with his 14th league goal of the season, before Jamie Paterson and Flo Bojaj confirmed the Terriers’ win. Ola John netted the Royals’ consolation as they drop to 14th.

The evening’s other game saw Nottingham Forest end their four-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Preston. On-loan Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira scored the game’s only goal to move Dougie Freedman’s men into 13th. North End stay 10th.

Championship Player of the Week: Sam Vokes (Burnley)
Championship Team of the Week: Rotherham United
Championship Goal of the Week: Kevin Bru (Bolton Wanderers vs IPSWICH TOWN)