Championship roundup: Hull fight back to dent Ipswich’s promotion challenge

Omari Hutchinson scored twice but Hull came from behind three times to stop Ipswich moving into the Championship promotion places with a 3-3 draw at the MKM Stadium.

Ipswich started the day a solitary point behind Leeds having played two games less, knowing a victory would put them in healthy position to return to the Premier League, and George Hirst fired the visitors in front in the 19th minute to give them a perfect start.

Hull capitalised on some slack defending to draw level through Ozan Tufan but the Chelsea loanee Hutchinson curled in from outside the box to restore the lead. Liam Delap equalised but Ipswich went in front a third time as Hutchinson was given space outside the box again and bent into the bottom corner, before Noah Ohio struck late on to deny Ipswich and keep Hull’s own playoff hopes alive.

Earlier in the day, Norwich and West Brom dropped points in the battle for Championship playoff places – while Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Birmingham will all go into the final day at risk of relegation, with Huddersfield all but down.

Sheffield Wednesday’s second successive win took their survival fight to the final day and left West Brom’s position in the top six precarious. Goals from Anthony Musaba, Ike Ugbo and Josh Windass sealed a dominant victory, and the Baggies’ playoff place is still not secure.

Norwich, meanwhile, missed the chance to all but secure their place in the playoffs when they were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Swansea at Carrow Road. The Canaries went behind midway through the first half when Jamie Paterson fired home but were ahead at the break thanks to goals from Gabriel Sara and top scorer Josh Sargent. But the impressive Swans equalised early in the second period through a Matt Grimes penalty and held on for a deserved point.

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Fourth-placed Southampton fell to a third successive defeat, beaten 1-0 by Stoke. Steven Schumacher’s Stoke side secured safety by holding on for three points with just 35% possession after taking the lead in the first half through a low Tyrese Campbell finish.

Blackburn are still not safe from the drop as they were held to a 0-0 draw despite having 30 shots against 10-man Coventry. Blackburn had manager John Eustace dismissed, while Coventry’s Liam Kitching also saw red.

Huddersfield’s relegation was all but confirmed as they drew 1-1 with fellow strugglers Birmingham at the John Smith’s Stadium. The Terriers now need a final-day win at Ipswich and to overcome an almost insurmountable goal deficit to Plymouth after they could only take a point against the third-bottom Blues.

Birmingham took the lead in the closing stages of a first half devoid of quality when Koji Miyoshi showed composure at the far post to fire back across goal and into the net. The second half was two minutes old when Rhys Healey swept home the equaliser following a move down the right.

Plymouth’s safety also goes to the final day after Jake Cooper’s late goal gave Millwall a 1-0 win at The Den. An uninspiring opening 45 minutes ended 0-0, but Cooper’s header in the closing stages won it for the hosts. Plymouth host Hull at Home Park next weekend.

Middlesbrough lit up a match with little but pride at stake as they thrashed dismal Cardiff 4-1 in the Welsh capital. A goal on the stroke of half-time by Boro centre-back Matt Clarke was improved by further second-half strikes via Finn Azaz, Emmanuel Latte Lath and midfielder Alex Gilbert. Josh Bowler pulled a goal back in injury-time for the Bluebirds, but they were still humiliated in their final home match of the season.

A goal in each half from Tommy Conway and Scott Twine enabled Bristol City to extend their unbeaten run to seven games with a 2-0 win over relegated Rotherham at Ashton Gate. And substitute Ryan Andrews ended Watford’s dismal run of form at Vicarage Road as they clinched a 1-0 victory over Sunderland. It was the club’s first home victory since 28 November, ending a run of 12 winless games.