Championship roundup: Millwall salvage point at Ipswich but Boro fail to capitalise

Josh Coburn earned what could prove to be a priceless point with a second-half equaliser as Millwall drew 1-1 against promotion-rivals Ipswich at Portman Road.

The home side took the lead late in the first half through Jack Clarke with Coburn responding early in the second period. The result kept the two teams in third and fourth respectively, two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough, who drew 0-0 at Blackburn, but with Ipswich having a game in hand.

Jake Cooper cleared Darnell Furlong’s effort off the Millwall goalline in the ninth minute before Clarke, Ipswich’s leading scorer, gave his side the lead in the 41st minute. He picked up the ball just outside the area from Azor Matusiwa and weaved his way into a shooting position, firing low and hard past the unsighted Anthony Patterson from 25 yards.

Millwall enjoyed a perfect start to the second half when Coburn equalised in the 50th minute. Camiel Neghl’s cross evaded Jacob Greaves and allowed the Millwall striker to fire home from close range.

Millwall struck the crossbar late on through substitute Mihailo Ivanovic after a goalmouth scramble

Middlesbrough wasted an opportunity to tighten their grip on second place at Ewood Park. It was a familiar story as they failed to capitalise on their dominance against relegation-threatened Blackburn and means they are now winless in three matches, having scored once.

Derby boosted their playoff hopes by dealing a big blow to Birmingham’s own chances with a 1-0 win at Pride Park. The game was decided towards the end of the first half when the Birmingham keeper, James Beadle, misjudged a Rhian Brewster header although Derby could have won by a bigger margin.

On Friday, Alfie Devine scored twice as Preston ended a seven-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Stoke at Deepdale. The 21-year-old Tottenham loanee cancelled out a fourth-minute volley from Sorba Thomas with a composed finish in the 15th minute and his second came via a delightful dink for Preston’s third on the hour mark. Milutin Osmajic had earlier headed the home side in front with his eighth goal of a turbulent season.