CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP

IVAN Toney scored twice as Brentford came from a goal down to beat Middlesbrough 4-1 and move up to second place in the Championship.

Boro got off to a great start as new signing Neeskens Kebano floated a dangerous cross in from a short corner which bounced in off Bees keeper David Raya before Brentford’s top scorer Toney side-footed his side level.

Boro hit the post shortly before half-time and Vitaly Janelt made them pay after the break as he shot in low from the edge of the box.

Mathias Jensen got Brentford’s third as he pounced on Paddy McNair’s slip on the halfway line and raced through before Toney headed the fourth after Marcus Bettinelli had tipped Rico Henry’s shot onto the bar.

It could have been worse for Boro, who have now won just once in their last six Championship games, but Mathias Jensen hit the post in the 89th minute for the visitors as Neil Warnock’s side stay seventh, five points off sixth-placed Bournemouth.

As for Bournemouth, Philip Billing’s late winner saw Bournemouth end a four-game losing run as caretaker manager Jonathan Woodgate led his side to victory over Birmingham City.

Having had some excellent chances, Birmingham took a deserved lead when the recalled Scott Hogan tapped in after Gary Gardner’s low cross was fumbled by Asmir Begovic, but Bournemouth levelled soon after as Arnaut Danjuma curled in after excellent buildup play by Jack Wilshere.

But Billing was on hand to tap in from close range at the far post after Danjuma’s curled free-kick from wide on the left.

Watford moved up to fourth in the Championship with a battling draw against an impressive Coventry City at St Andrew’s.

The Sky Blues were sharp and inventive – particularly in the first half – but wayward in front of goal and unable to make their dominance count.

Max Biamou came closest with a header that went agonisingly past the post.

Stoke City’s winless run stretched to 10 matches after a dour stalemate with promotion hopefuls Reading at Bet365 Stadium.

Steven Fletcher found the net with an acrobatic finish in the game’s first goalmouth action after 30 minutes but it was ruled out for offside.

Reading, who went into the game fifth in the table, struggled to create any clear-cut chances but did go close through Ovie Ejaria in the second half. Elsewhere, there were wins for QPR, Millwall and Rotherham.