Championship: Middlesbrough close gap on leaders Coventry

Middlesbrough cut the gap on Championship leaders Coventry City to five points after Tuesday’s 2-1 away win over Charlton Athletic.

Having smashed Hull City 4-1 last Friday, Kim Hellberg’s side came flying out of the blocks again with first-half goals from Riley McGree and the in-form Morgan Whittaker at The Valley.

Boro passed up plenty of chances to extend their lead in the second half, before being forced to hold on for a third straight win under new boss Hellberg after substitute George Edmundson’s 81st-minute own goal.

An impressive opening to life under Hellberg was made all the better by Coventry’s 1-1 draw away to Preston North End at Deepdale.

Liam Lindsay’s first-half red card had Paul Heckingbottom’s side up against it, and their task was made even harder when Andrew Hughes turned into his own net with 20 minutes remaining.

But Daniel Jebbison levelled just six minutes later from Pol Valentin’s cross, making it two games without victory for Coventry and leaving Preston fourth, seven points behind Boro.

A point at Preston. pic.twitter.com/qouo0aUpse

— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) December 9, 2025

QPR also surged into the play-off picture after late drama at Loftus Road, where the hosts eventually prevailed 2-1 against Birmingham City after two goals in second-half stoppage time.

Captain Jimmy Dunne sent QPR ahead just before the interval, though Patrick Roberts thought he had snatched a point in the 93rd minute.

Kieran Morgan had other ideas, however, finding the net in the sixth additional minute to lift QPR to sixth before Wednesday’s other second-tier games.

Southampton are hot on the tails of QPR in a wide-open race for the top six, though, having recorded their sixth win in seven league games with a 3-2 home victory over West Brom.

Adam Armstrong’s first-half double after Leo Scienza’s opener seemed to have Southampton on course for a routine win, but they were made to sweat late on after Nat Phillips’ 86th-minute header followed Karlan Grant’s strike just past the hour.

Tonda Eckert’s side still managed to hold on, leaving them in eighth and just a point behind QPR.

Data Debrief: Coventry’s Preston curse continues

Frank Lampard may have always been concerned about the trip to Deepdale, considering Coventry had never won in 23 away league games against Preston (D8 L15).

A peculiar record in the north west marks the most Coventry have faced a side on the road without ever winning (now 24 games), and the most Preston have faced a side at home without defeat.

Lampard will have been frustrated not to end that remarkable record here, however, given that Coventry accumulated 1.69 expected goals (xG) to Preston’s meagre 0.29.