Championship: Reading rock Blades as Bournemouth are denied again
Bournemouth gave further hope to the Championship’s chasing pack after failing to win for a third successive match, with a 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough.
Scott Parker’s side failed to break down play-off chasing Boro but remain four points clear of third-placed Huddersfield, with two games in hand, after the Terriers were held to a 2-2 draw by QPR. Huddersfield led twice, first through an early Yoann Barbet own goal and Harry Toffolo’s secondhalf strike, but Rangers twice fought back through Luke Amos and Ilias Chair to end their five-game losing streak.
“I think that’s a big point, that’s how I see it,” Parker insisted after the game at the Vitality Stadium. “Of course we wanted all three, but Boro are a well-organised team and we knew they would be hard to play against. We are in a fantastic place with six games to go. I understand the anxiousness, everyone wanting us to get promoted. We need to stay focused and very calm. We will be alright.”
Sheffield United’s play-off hopes were dealt a blow after a shock 2-1 home defeat to Reading, who gave a major boost to their survival chances. Lucas João put Reading ahead after 17 minutes but the Blades appeared to have snatched a late point through Iliman Ndiaye in the 90th minute. Tom McIntyre went down the other end, though, grabbing a vital Reading winner to move them nine points clear of danger.
Blackburn failed to capitalise on the Blades’ slip-up after losing at relegation battlers Peterborough. Rovers were reduced to 10 men when Tayo Edun received his second yellow card after 41 minutes. Ben Brereton Díaz hammered the 10 men ahead after 77 minutes but Sammie Szmodics levelled six minutes later. Jack Marriott scored the winner three minutes from time but Posh remain nine points adrift of safety.
Coventry kept alive their play-off hopes after coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Birmingham. Kristian Pedersen headed in from a corner after 12 minutes and Gary Gardner made it 2-0 six minutes before the break. But Mark Robins’ men were soon back on level terms as Ben Sheaf struck twice before half-time. The Sky Blues completed their comeback when Michael Rose headed in after 71 minutes, before Callum O’Hare grabbed a late fourth.
Barnsley are 10 points adrift of safety after a 1-1 draw at Swansea. Claudio Gomes gave the visitors a 54thminute lead but it lasted only 10 minutes before Olivier Ntcham equalised. Hull secured a 2-1 win over Cardiff, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Lewis Coyle striking in the first 11 minutes before Aden Flint pulled one back nine minutes from time.
West Brom snatched an added-time winner to beat Blackpool 2-1. The Baggies were ahead three minutes before the break through Andy Carroll but Blackpool, now winless in five, hit back to level through Marvin Ekpiteta. Karlan Grant struck three minutes into stoppage time to keep the Baggies’ late play-off charge alive.
Preston and Millwall also drew 1-1, while Jay Dasilva’s 84th-minute winner gave Bristol City a 1-0 win at Stoke. In the early game, Lutonbeat fellow playoff hopefulsNottingham Forest through Kai Naismith’s penalty.