Championship roundup: Millwall close gap on top two with fine win at Hull

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Millwall moved five points clear of Hull in the Championship playoffs and closed the gap on second-placed Middlesbrough for 24 hours at least as second-half goals from substitute Mihailo Ivanovic and Josh Coburn earned their side a 3-1 win at the MKM Stadium.

Ivanovic cashed in on the goalkeeper Ivor Pandur’s error in the 70th minute before Coburn’s fierce hit eight minutes later provided Alex Neil’s side with a victory that had looked highly unlikely after a one-sided first half.

The visitors opened the scoring after 14 minutes through Jake Cooper’s instinctive volley from close range, but they were extremely fortunate to have been level at the break. Hull equalised four minutes later when Joe Gelhardt scored his 12th of the season. Hull twice struck the bar in a breathless first half and Kyle Joseph contentiously had a goal ruled after David Webb adjudged Oli McBurnie had fouled the goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Neil’s decision to replace the floundering duo Zak Sturge and Tommy Watson at half-time proved a masterstroke. Millwall were far more assured thereafter and left East Yorkshire with three points courtesy of goals from Ivanovic and Coburn.

Despite the victory, Neil was critical. “It was a pleasing victory, but it wasn’t a good performance,” the Millwall manager said. “I wasn’t pleased at half-time, hence why I made two changes … I thought Hull were better, performance-wise, and carried a threat, but we are obviously delighted to get three points.”

Hull’s head coach, Sergej Jakirovic, though Webb’s decision to rule out Joseph’s header was the key incident of the game. He said: “A goal all day. I’m very shocked. When you watch it back, it is a goal. How has McBurnie fouled if he is in front of the goalkeeper? You can complain about VAR [the video assistant referee system], about how long it takes to make a decision, but at least it’s fair.”

At the other end of the table, Hayden Carter scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Blackburn snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Portsmouth.

Blackburn defender Hayden Carter gees up the crowd after his late equaliser

Michael O’Neill’s hosts had the better of a nervy encounter but looked set to be plunged into further relegation trouble when they were suckerpunched by Connor Ogilvie’s deflected strike in the 84th minute. However, Blackburn’s character shone through and they scored a vital stoppage-time goal for the second home game in three as Carter’s flicked header – his second goal in two games – earned what could be a vital point in their fight to stay up.

They certainly deserved something from the game and will rue Yuki Ohashi’s early miss which should have set them on their way, with the draw leaving Rovers four points clear of the relegation zone despite failing to win in three.

Portsmouth fell away somewhat in the second half and remain a place and point above Blackburn with a game in hand.

On Friday, Oxford shocked Preston with a 3-1 win at Deepdale to move out of the relegation zone at least until Saturday’s 3pm games. Michal Helik prodded United ahead in the fourth minute before Milutin Osmajic’s 12th-minute equaliser. Will Lankshear’s improvised 54th-minute finish gave Matt Bloomfield’s men a deserved lead and Ciaron Brown’s header seven minutes later sealed the points.

Oxford moved a point above Leicester, who visit Ipswich on Saturday afternoon, and above West Brom, who are at Sheffield United, on goal difference six days after beating Albion. Relegated Sheffield Wednesday are rock-bottom.