Championship round-up: Neil Warnock’s Rotherham revival shocks wasteful Middlesbrough

Rotherham manager Neil Warnock (Getty Images)

Rotherham made it three wins on the trot under Neil Warnock and inflicted a big blow on Middlesbrough’s promotion hopes as Lee Frecklington gave the Championship strugglers a 1-0 win at the New York Stadium last night.

Boro had the better of the chances in a closely fought game but Frecklington ghosted into the penalty area with two minutes left to ram home a cross by Jonson Clarke-Harris from the left to leave Rotherham just a point adrift of safety at the bottom. However, Warnock’s side had full-back Greg Halford sent off in added time.

Brighton could only draw 0-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday, although the point puts them up to third in the table.

Derby County lost 2-0 at Queen’s Park Rangers to leave them seven points adrift of the automatic promotion places. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s QPR bounced back from their 2-0 defeat at MK Dons to dominate the first half and take a deserved lead through Tjaronn Chery’s smart far-post volley in the 24th minute.

Derby had the better of the second half but Rangers wrapped up the points when Gabriele Angella bundled in a free-kick from close range with four minutes to go.

Birmingham City’s play-off chances suffered a blow as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers. Tony Watt gave Paul Lambert’s side the lead with a neat turn and finish after 20 minutes.

The visitors were convinced they should have been awarded a penalty soon after but as they were disputing the referee’s decision Blackburn counter-attacked and Danny Graham fired home to make the score 2-0.

Cardiff City, who started the night in seventh, also lost, going down 2-0 at home to Leeds United. Souleymane Doukara eased the pressure on the visitors’ manager Steve Evans by scoring from 15 yards after being set up by Mirco Antenucci’s superb run and cross down the left.

The home side had full-back Fabio da Silva sent off just past the hour-mark and Antenucci got the second Leeds goal late on.

Ipswich Town could not take full advantage of the stumbles above them, blowing a two-goal lead at struggling Bolton to draw 2-2, Stephen Dobbie’s penalty deep in added time earning the bottom club a point.