Coventry City’s grip on top spot in the Championship loosened as Birmingham City claimed a 3-2 derby victory, while Queens Park Rangers strengthened play-off ambitions with a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, on a day that also left Middlesbrough sensing a chance to trim the gap in the promotion race.
The defeat was Coventry City’s second in three league matches and extended a difficult spell for Frank Lampard’s squad, who have now taken only two wins from their last eight Championship fixtures, leaving an opening for Middlesbrough after Ipswich Town’s trip to Portsmouth was postponed.
Birmingham City ended a six-game winless run in the Championship by overcoming Coventry City in a five-goal contest at St. Andrew’s, with Marvin Ducksch scoring
twice, including the decisive strike on 63 minutes, after earlier efforts from Josh Eccles and Ellis Simms had twice dragged the league leaders level.
The hosts started fast when Marvin Ducksch volleyed in Kai Wagner’s precise far-post cross after six minutes, but Coventry City replied within two minutes as Josh Eccles curled a superb 25-yard shot into the bottom corner, before Lewis Koumas restored Birmingham City’s lead on 17 minutes after collecting Patrick Roberts’ throughball and rounding Carl Rushworth.
Coventry City pushed again after half-time and levelled on the hour when Ellis Simms drove a low shot inside the post from the edge of the area, though Chris Davies’ Birmingham City side responded almost immediately, with Marvin Ducksch squeezing a finish past Carl Rushworth from a tight angle, and Coventry City’s frustration deepened in stoppage time when Bobby Thomas received a straight red card for raising a hand towards Phil Neumann.
SERIOUSLY, WHAT A WINpic.twitter.com/H85F9bFqJ1Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) January 4, 2026
Elsewhere in the Championship, Queens Park Rangers boosted play-off prospects with a confident 3-0 success against bottom club Sheffield Wednesday, as Rumarn Burrell struck his 10th goal of the season on 14 minutes before a hamstring problem forced a substitution, and replacement Rayan Kolli delivered two late goals in the final nine minutes to secure the points and halt QPR’s three-game winless sequence.
Coventry City’s current form now shows three league matches without victory, and only two wins from eight, despite skipper Matt Grimes attempting 106 passes against Birmingham City, the highest figure recorded by any Coventry City player in the Championship this season, while QPR finally defeated Sheffield Wednesday in the division for the first time since April 2021, ending a separate run of five league meetings without success.
| Team | Championship run | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry City | 3 matches without a win | Only 2 victories in last 8; Matt Grimes completed 106 pass attempts |
| Birmingham City | Win after 6-game drought | Marvin Ducksch scored twice, including the winner in a 3-2 derby |
| Queens Park Rangers | Ended 3-game winless run | Beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0; Rayan Kolli scored a late brace |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Remain bottom of table | First Championship defeat to QPR since April 2021 meeting |
The derby loss leaves Coventry City vulnerable at the top as Middlesbrough can move within six points by beating Southampton later on 4 January 2026, while Birmingham City gain momentum from ending their poor sequence, and QPR’s strong home display against Sheffield Wednesday adds fresh intrigue to both promotion and relegation battles in the Championship.
