Middlesbrough Thrash Preston To Halve Coventry Lead In Championship

Middlesbrough cut Coventry City’s lead at the top of the Championship to three points with a 4-0 home victory over 10-man Preston North End, while Millwall, Sheffield United and Hull City also claimed

important wins in a busy set of fixtures across the division.

Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough side surged to a fourth straight league win and matched their biggest margin of victory this season, as Tommy Conway struck twice and Alan Browne and Morgan Whittaker also scored in a one-sided contest at Riverside Stadium.

Browne opened the scoring against former club Preston in the ninth minute, putting Middlesbrough in control early. Conway then finished clinically to make it 2-0, before Whittaker added a third before half-time. Preston’s challenge faded further when Jordan Storey received a red card for a last-defender foul on Conway.

The hosts added a fourth after the break from a set-piece situation. Leo Castledine saw a free-kick saved, but Conway reacted first to turn in the rebound and complete his brace. That double meant Conway scored twice in a match for the first time since November 2024, highlighting growing influence in Middlesbrough’s attack.

KIM HELLBERG'S RED AND WHITE ARMY! pic.twitter.com/R8maVDlR1UMiddlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 24, 2026

This result extended Middlesbrough’s unbeaten home sequence against Preston to four games, with two wins and a draw in that stretch. They have scored 13 goals across those fixtures, matching the 13 goals netted during their current four-match winning streak, which underlines their momentum while Coventry City wait to play on 26 January 2026.

The wider Championship picture tightened further as Millwall also recorded a 4-0 win, this time away at Charlton Athletic, keeping Alex Neil’s side within reach of the top four. Ipswich Town stayed third in the table but saw their cushion over Millwall cut to a single point after slipping to defeat against 10-man Sheffield United.

Championship top-four battle shaped by Millwall and Ipswich results

Millwall’s victory over Charlton started when Kayne Ramsay diverted the ball into his own net early on. The match remained in the balance until late, when Caleb Taylor struck in the 81st minute. Camiel Neghli then had a 91st-minute penalty saved but quickly recovered to assist Luke Cundle, before Aidomo Emakhu made it 4-0 a minute later.

Ipswich’s trip to Sheffield United brought a setback in their promotion push. Callum O’Hare, Andre Brooks and Patrick Bamford all found the net for the Blades in a 3-1 success. Jack Clarke’s penalty offered Ipswich brief hope, but Bamford’s dismissal for two yellow cards, for dissent and simulation, did not prevent the hosts from finishing the job.

Championship mid-table and survival battles: Hull, Wrexham and Leicester

Hull City moved level on points with Ipswich after a 2-1 win against Swansea City. Oli McBurnie converted a penalty and Regan Slater added a second before the interval, giving Hull control. Swansea responded when Liam Cullen reduced the deficit before the hour mark, yet Hull held firm to secure all three points and strengthen their top-six credentials.

It's all over in the #SkyBetChampionship#EFL pic.twitter.com/ax55NOH2dzSky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) January 24, 2026

Wrexham climbed into the play-off positions after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers, having trailed twice. The turnaround came deep into stoppage time, when substitute Josh Windass scored in the 93rd minute and fellow substitute Oliver Rathbone struck again in the 94th minute to complete a late comeback.

At the other end of the Championship table, Oxford United boosted survival hopes with a 2-1 win over Leicester City, increasing scrutiny on Leicester head coach Marti Cifuentes. Oxford moved to within two points of safety with that result, while Leicester’s defeat added further pressure during a difficult domestic campaign.

Championship form guide: Middlesbrough data and key numbers

Kim Hellberg’s team produced another dominant home display, collecting a fourth consecutive league victory. Over those four games, Middlesbrough have scored 13 times and continued to show strength at Riverside Stadium. The latest performance also ensured Coventry City face growing pressure at the top, with the gap narrowed and form strongly favouring the chasing side.