Championship Round-Up: Middlesbrough extend lead at the top as Derby are held

Middlesbrough have extended their lead at the top of the Championship to six points after a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Brentford.

The Bees dominated possession but it was a mistake by David Button that gifted the visitors their goal. The goalkeeper misjudged a corner, punched the ball over his head and into the goal.

Aitor Karanka’s side have now won eight of their last nine matches and haven’t conceded in that time.

Derby lost ground on the leaders as they were held 1-1 at home by Reading.

The Rams, with new signing Nick Blackman playing against his old club, took the lead  when Jason Shackell headed in from a corner. However, the Royals were level by half-time when Danny Williams netted with his head.

Paul Clement’s side have now slipped to third after Hull beat Cardiff 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Abel Hernandez’s penalty and Sam Clucas’ strike early in the second half was enough for the Tigers to record their fifth win in seven matches.

The Bluebirds’ third defeat in four games means they are now seven points adrift of the play-offs.

Sean Dyche saw his Burnley side thrash MK Dons 5-0 on Tuesday night.

Burnley lifted themselves up into fourth with a 5-0 thumping away win at struggling MK Dons.

A rare Joey Barton goal started the rout, before second half strikes from Sam Vokes, Andre Gray, Matt Lowton and George Boyd completed the scoring.

Sean Dyche’s side are just four points off Derby, while the Dons, who had Antony Kay dismissed in the second half, are only two points above the bottom-three.

Ipswich are now fifth after a dramatic 2-1 win at home against Leeds.

The visitors arrived undefeated in their last seven league matches and looked on course to continue that run when Souleymane Doukara opened the scoring after just 12 seconds.

But the Tractor Boys regrouped in the second half and equalised through captain Luke Chambers, before Brett Pitman’s injury-time winner snatched all thee points.

Brighton are now winless in seven matches after suffering a first away defeat of the season, losing 2-0 away at relegation-threatened Rotherham.

Goals from Danny Ward and Matt Derbyshire gave the Millers a third successive home victory to move them three points clear of the drop zone.

After their impressive start to the season, which saw them go the first 21 games unbeaten, Albion have now lost their last three matches and are just two points above seventh-placed Sheffield Wednesday, who beat bottom club Bolton 3-2.

Carlos Carvahal’s Owls side are closing in on the play-off positions.

A brace from Gary Hooper and a stunning Fernando Forestieri strike gave the Owls all three points to keep them on the Seagulls’ tail.

Despite their off-field issues, the Trotters showed some fighting spirit, twice coming from behind to draw level through Gary Madine and David Wheater.

But it wasn’t enough, and the Lancashire outfit remain six points from safety.

Also at the bottom, Charlton remain in big trouble after they were on the receiving end of a 5-0 thrashing at Huddersfield, who are now unbeaten in four and sit 10 points above the drop zone.

Mark Hudson and Nahki Wells scored first half goals before Jamie Paterson, Duane Holmes and Jason Davidson found the net during the second period.

The Addicks’ night was made worse by a late red card to Reza Ghoochannejhad for two yellow cards in quick succession.

Interim boss Karel Fraeye has won just two of his 14 matches in charge of a side which hasn’t won in nine and are three points from safety.

Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill is under pressure following another defeat.

Bristol City also remain in the bottom three after losing 2-1 at home to Preston.

A Nathan Baker own goal and a Greg Cunningham strike was enough to earn North End a third league win in a row to lift them up to 13th.

The Robins, who are winless in six, are still 22nd and two points from safety.

Birmingham are still in the hunt for promotion, but a 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest sees them fall four points behind the top-six.

Jon Toral’s diving header put the Blues ahead before Forest, who had David Vaughan sent off in the second half, equalised just six minutes later with Matt Mills’ fifth of the season.

Wolves proved their is life after Benik Afobe with a 3-2 win against a struggling Fulham side.

League debutant Michal Zyro was the hero, putting Wanderers two up inside 15 minutes, but Matt Doherty’s wonder strike from distance proved to be the winner as Kenny Jackett’s boys move up to 10th.

Goals from Lasse Vigen Christensen and Ross McCormack’s 16th of the season was not enough for the Cottagers who, after a run of one win from their last 12 matches, are just six points above the bottom-three.

QPR are still looking for their first win under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink after they drew 1-1 with Blackburn.

Leroy Fer’s first half strike looked like giving the Dutchman that elusive first victory, but Hope Akpan levelled late on for Rovers as both sides remain mid-table.

Player of the Week: Michal Zyro (Wolves)
Team of the Week: Burnley
Goal of the Week: Matt Doherty (Wolves)

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