Chairboys taking a stand

ADEBAYO AKINFENWA’S penalty in added-time kept alive Wycombe’s hopes of an unlikely Championship great escape with a 2-1 defeat of Bristol City.

With the final seconds ticking away, Wanderers goalkeeper David Stockdale went up for a corner and fired in a shot on goal that struck the visitors’ Kasey Palmer on the arm. Substitute Akinfenwa, right – the beefy 38-year-old striker nicknamed ‘The Beast’ – stepped up to send keeper Daniel Bentley the wrong way.

The win leaves the Chairboys six points off safety with three games to go. They had looked doomed when Tyreeq Bakinson fired the Robins ahead in the first half, but Uche Ikpeazu headed the home side level in the 65th minute, before the late drama.

Boss Gareth Ainsworth said: “Even I didn’t know what was going on at the end. It’s a great night for us and this win keeps us alive. This isn’t over yet.”

Another sub, Viktor Gyokeres, all but confirmed Coventry City’s safety after the Sky Blues edged a five-goal thriller at Stoke. Tyler Walker and substitute Maxime Biamou were on target, but Stoke had twice levelled, through Jacob Brown and Sam Clucas, before Gyokeres struck.

A Lewis Grabban penalty in the 98th minute snatched a point for Nottingham Forest at Birmingham after a Marc Roberts header had given the hosts the lead early in the second half.

Daryl Dike’s strike saw Barnsley boost their play-off bid with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield. Reading’s top-six hopes took a knock with a 0-0 draw at Luton.

ROTHERHAM 1 MIDDS’BRO 2

ROTHERHAM will hope they have seen the back of Darren Bond after he sent off Matt Crooks following a clash of heads with Grant Hall.

Rotherham manager Paul Warne said: “It was ridiculously harsh.”

Referee Bond also dismissed Michael Smith during The Millers’ win at Sheffield Wednesday last month, a decision that was later rescinded.

Angus MacDonald put Rotherham ahead early on before George Saville equalised. Chuba Akpom hit the winner for Boro in the 55th minute to leave Rotherham four points from safety.