Summary

  • Three Championship games on Wednesday

  • Browne & Conway score as Boro fight back to beat Stoke

  • Middlesbrough back up to second in the table

  • Deflected Scienza goal gives Southampton win over Sheff Utd

  • First victory in eight games for Saints

  • Segegic scores for Portsmouth before Doumbia rescues point for Watford

  • Use Get Involved button to have your say on Wednesday's action

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  1. Until the weekend...published at 22:08 GMT 21 January

    #bbcefl

    We promised twists and turns and the Championship delivered. Were you ever in doubt?

    Boro could eat further into Coventry City's lead on Saturday should they beat another promotion hopeful in Preston North End, with the league leaders set to play a resurgent Norwich City on Monday.

    Portsmouth avoid entering the weekend in the relegation zone but they'll be playing for a whole lot more when they face local rivals Southampton at Fratton Park in Sunday's showdown.

    But before all of that, new West Bromwich Albion boss Eric Ramsay will be looking to prove himself after their horrendous 5-0 loss yesterday by getting the better of a Derby County side putting themselves into the play-off race.

    As always, we will have all the action across the weekend so make sure to join us. See you there!

  2. 'A hard worked win from Boro'published at 22:03 GMT 21 January

    FT: Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    Neil Maddison
    Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Tees

    Wow, what a win to get yourself over the line.

    Alan Browne was brilliant, he kept Sorba Thomas quiet all game. What a performance.

    Football is a tough game especially when you come to places like this. Don't underestimate how good of a win this is.

    This was a hard worked win by Middlesbrough.

  3. Boro answer straight backpublished at 22:01 GMT 21 January

    #bbcefl

    Championship table next to Tommy Conway winking and pointing upImage source, Opta/Shutterstock

    After 24 hours, Boro are back above the dotted line.

    Their win at Stoke restores their two-point lead over Ipswich and cuts Coventry's cushion at the summit back to six points.

    The Potters slip to 8th after the loss, coupled with Watford's point at home to Portsmouth, who leapfrog Blackburn who now occupy the final spot in the relegation zone.

    Southampton may only have risen to 15th courtesy of their win over Sheffield United, but the gap to the top six is now just seven points with 18 games remaining.

    The Blades will have lingering ambitions of their own, but they are a further two places and four points adrift and are within four points of the drop-zone once again.

  4. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:56 GMT 21 January

    Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    Tommy Conway celebrates scoringImage source, PA

    Middlesbrough climb to second in the Championship after fighting back to beat Stoke!

    The visitors immediately remedied their poor first 45 when Alan Browne poked in a rebound three minutes into the second half.

    The goal scorer then turned goal maker as he notched in an assist for Tommy Conway's close-range winner, before Stoke defender Bosun Lawal saw red for a second yellow card.

    Stoke boss Mark Robins will be upset to see his spirited side not take anything from this contest, especially with the sending off that was by no means clear cut. But they came across a side who's second-half performance was second place worthy.

  5. Postpublished at 21:56 GMT 21 January

    Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    Boro are playing with fire as they give away a free kick in the dying minutes.

    Lamine Cisse's header is parried away by Boro keeper Sol Brynn but not very decisively and it falls straight at the wingers feet.

    The pressure proves too much for the 22-year-old and he sends his rebounded shot into the stands.

  6. 'Lack of quality and composure has cost Blades'published at 21:51 GMT 21 January

    FT: Southampton 1-0 Sheff Utd

    Brian Howard
    Former Sheffield United midfielder on BBC Radio Sheffield

    Back-to-back losses now for Sheffield UInited and it's disappointing. You'd think they'd come here tonight against a side and a manager under pressure, but they were really sloppy in the first half.

    They were better in the second but the lack of quality and composure has ultimately cost them.

    Ipswich will be a tough game next but maybe that's the type of game they need when they're the underdogs to kick start the back end of the season.

    Chris Wilder gesturesImage source, PA
  7. Postpublished at 21:50 GMT 21 January

    Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    There are five more minutes added to the clock.

    Stoke are going to give it everything but there's a definite feeling that the writing is on the wall in this one.

  8. 'Pompey worked their socks off'published at 21:49 GMT 21 January

    FT: Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

    Lee Brown
    Former Portsmouth defender on BBC Radio Solent

    What a good performance away from home from Portsmouth. Not one for the purists, but they've worked their socks off. That's what you've got to do away from home.

    It's a wet slippery night and we probably didn't put enough balls into the box to test their keeper. But you would have taken a point on the road before the game.

  9. Attentions shift to the derbypublished at 21:48 GMT 21 January

    Portsmouth v Southampton (Sunday, 12:00 GMT)

    Saints get back to winning ways, Pompey pick up four points in as many days...

    This all sets up Sunday's South Coast Derby at Fratton Park perfectly, hey?

    Kick-off is at high noon, and of course we'll be here to bring you every minute of the action.

  10. Postpublished at 21:45 GMT 21 January

    Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    Stoke are still going for it.

    Sorba Thomas' free-kick is too far out for one of his set-piece wonders but it reaches goal scorer Tomas Rigo in space and the midfielder isn't far off, seeing his effort roll across the roof of the net.

  11. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:45 GMT 21 January

    Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

    Mamadou DoumbiaImage source, Shutterstock

    It was never a 0-0.

    Portsmouth climb back out of the relegation zone courtesy of a point at Watford, but it might well have been more.

    Adrian Segecic turned home from close range after good work from Milli Alli 17 minutes from time, and it looked like back-to-back Pompey wins for the first time this season were possible.

    However Nico Schmid spilled a cross five minutes later allowing Mamdou Doumbia to equalise and in the end Pompey were probably glad of the point.

  12. Postpublished at 21:44 GMT 21 January

    Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

    Rocco Vata swings in a cross which Luca Kjerrumgaard glances on but it's too close to Nico Schmid who can clutch to his chest.

    Pompey nails being bitten.

  13. CLOSE!published at 21:43 GMT 21 January

    Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

    Imran Louza so close to nicking it with a low angled strike from the left of the area which flicks off a defender and skids past the base of the post.

    The Hornets trying to find the sting in the tail for Pompey...

  14. Postpublished at 21:41 GMT 21 January

    Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    Sorba Thomas' set-piece delivery has shown to be a work of art this season.

    He's scored some absolute beauties from positions such as the one he finds himself in right now but while his curling effort is lovely to look at, Boro keeper Sol Brynn knows the wingers ways and parries out of play.

  15. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 21:41 GMT 21 January

    Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

    John Swift comes off the Pompey bench for the final few minutes to replace Milli Alli, who gets a hero's reception from the travelling fans.

    He's only played two games but he's got his own song to the tune of Zombie and is already a Fratton Park favourite.

  16. RED CARD - Bosun Lawal (Stoke)published at 21:39 GMT 21 January

    Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    Bosun Lawal has looked fiery in this second-half but his second yellow card is a soft one. He fouls Aidan Morris and is given his marching orders.

    Stoke will feel aggrieved by that but they are still only trailing by one goal. They can pull this back but it's going to be a much harder job now.

  17. Postpublished at 21:39 GMT 21 January

    Watford 1-1 Portsmouth

    Deep into EIGHT added minutes at The Vic.

    Will we have any more late drama?

  18. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:38 GMT 21 January

    Southampton 1-0 Sheff Utd

    Tonda EckertImage source, Getty Images

    The second half was pretty low-key, if we're honest, but Tonda Eckert won't care one jot.

    Saints end a seven-match winless run, inflicting a 15th defeat of the season (fifteen!) on Sheffield United, and extending the club's extraordinary perfect run against Chris Wilder.

    Leo Scienza's deflected strike just seven minutes in was enough to secure a win which will have Saints fans looking at the play-off picture once again but Patrick Bamford's miss when clean through in the closing minutes will live in the mind of Wilder and Blades fans for a while.

  19. Postpublished at 21:37 GMT 21 January

    Stoke 1-2 Middlesbrough

    Boro midfielder Hayden Hackney is given too much breathing room and squeezes his way through Stoke's defence to draw a foul from Bosun Lawal a footstep outside the box.

    Premier League giants Manchester United are reportedly among the admirers of the 23-year-old but boss Kim Hellberg believes he won't be losing his young talent any time soon.

    The way Boro are playing at the moment, Hackney may not be the only Boro player bound for top flight.

  20. YELLOW CARDpublished at 21:34 GMT 21 January

    Southampton 1-0 Sheff Utd

    Shea Charles goes into the book deep in added time for a heavy challenge on Sydie Peck in midfield.

    Blades pushing forward in the closing stages but Oli Arblaster swings a wild cross over the bar from the right of the area with all his big-guns in the mixer.