EFL Championship Round 37 in Review: Wednesday's Matches as They Happened

EFL Championship Round 37 in Review: Wednesday's Matches as They Happened

As Championship clubs embark on the long and exhausting run-in, all is still to play for in England's second division.

Whether it be clubs fighting for the title, looking to secure their coveted place in the playoffs with a chance to make it to the promised land, or teams scrapping bravely to avoid relegation to the third tier of the football league – everywhere you look drama awaits.

And that was no more apparent than another frantic set of fixtures played out on Wednesday night.

So, if you missed it, buckle up as we take a look at each game as they happened.

Blues Keep Playoff Hopes Alive: Birmingham City 1-0 QPR

Birmingham kept their playoff hopes alive and ended a run of three defeats in a row as they beat a QPR side falling perilously close to a late-season relegation battle at present.

The hosts were quick to break the deadlock, in what ended up being the only goal of the game, when Patrick Roberts finished coolly after Brighton loanee Ibrahim Osman's excellent work on the left-hand side.

The Blues continued to dominate the early going, with a plethora of chances squandered courtesy of a couple of good stops from QPR keeper Joe Walsh.

That trend would continue for the rest of the first half, with Ethan Laird crashing a towering header off the post and the aforementioned Osman bending an effort just wide of the woodwork.

QPR struggled to get anything going, which continued into the second half, and the away side were dealt a massive blow through the injury of experienced centre back Steve Cook an hour in.

Rangers' substitute Kwame Poku was largely their most potent threat, setting up Harvey Vale, who was unable to find the target, and seeing his own effort curl agonisingly wide of the mark.

The final 15 minutes saw QPR pushing for an equaliser but unable to penetrate the Birmingham backline, and the score ultimately remained as it had for most of the game.

Boro Fall to Shock Defeat in Title Race Twist at The Riverside: Middlesbrough 0-1 Charlton

Charlton managed to stun title contenders Middlesbrough and put themselves in an excellent position to secure safety as the hosts slipped to eight points behind Coventry at the top of the table.

Boro controlled much of the early going, with their best chance coming just after the half-hour mark when Will Mannion tipped a vicious Aidan Morris effort onto the crossbar.

Boro just lost at home to Charlton. #hcafc pic.twitter.com/isxmCK1zBb

— Alex (@althurstonsport) March 11, 2026

The hosts continued to create chances without really threatening before the Addicks made them pay for their timidity when Connor Coady scrambled to toe home a Harry Clarke long throw, making the score 1-0.

Boro huffed and puffed but were ultimately unable to muster any big chances and fizzled out to a disappointing defeat and one which gives them an uphill battle to catch runaway Coventry at the top.

Norwich Continue Charge in Home Victory Over Blades: Norwich City 2-1 Sheff Utd

Norwich left it late but ultimately prevailed as they continue their unlikely climb from the bottom of the table to the possibility of a playoff finish come the end of the season.

The game failed to really ignite in the first half, barring one moment by former Crystal Palace midfielder Jairo Riedewald, who found the bottom corner with a lovely finish from about 10 yards out.

The second half saw the Canaries come out with the bit between their teeth, though, with Jack Stacey heading home a corner from close range in the 68th minute to level up the game.

Then, in the 84th minute, Phillipe Clement's substitutions paid off when Paris Maghoma broke from midfield and expertly slid through to Amankwah Forson, who whipped the ball into the top corner to complete the comeback in the 84th minute.

Oxford Continue Charge Against Lacklustre Blackburn: Oxford United 1-0 Blackburn

Oxford took their winning run to three on the bounce as they went within just one point of their opponents on the night in Blackburn and within goal difference of climbing out of the relegation zone.

A minute's silence for Oxford U15's goalkeeper Amelia Aplin preceded the game after she tragically lost her life in an U18 game against Fulham last weekend.

Oxford United will come together ahead of Wednesday night’s fixture against Blackburn Rovers to pay our respects following the tragic passing of Amelia Aplin, who collapsed during a Girls’ Academy game on Saturday.

The Club can confirm a minute’s silence will be observed prior… pic.twitter.com/ppF6NAith7

— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) March 10, 2026

It was the hosts who made the brighter start, with Will Lankshear failing to score with what seemed a certain goal in the 6th minute.

Oxford continued to miss chances before Jamie Donley made no mistake when he was presented the opportunity following a Balazs Toth parry in the Blackburn net.

Rovers managed a few dangerous moments across the 90 minutes but were mostly subdued by a stubborn O's defensive structure.

Myles Peart-Harris could have made the game more comfortable in the 55th minute when he saw his timid strike easily saved by Toth, but it would ultimately prove unimportant as the hosts held on to their one-goal lead until the final whistle.

Spoils Shared as Southampton Rescue Late Point: West Brom 1-1 Southampton

West Brom and Southampton shared the spoils as the visitors rescued an exceptionally late point and ultimately prevented the Baggies from getting some much-needed breathing room from the relegation zone.

It was the hosts who got off to the quick start, with a plethora of early chances seeing them build pressure on the Saints' goal.

And that pressure was rewarded just before the half, when Daryl Dike won two headers in the box, which were both blocked by the Saints.

The second of the two bobbled to the feet of Jason Molumby, who managed to sort his feet out and bundle the ball home from the edge of the 6-yard box.

West Brom continued to search for more goals as the second half began, with a headed opportunity for Dike that was barely clawed away by Peretz in the Southampton net being the most dangerous of the chances.

Southampton began to get on the front foot as West Brom became more nervous about their rare lead, though, and ultimately came up with an equaliser in the 91st minute.

Substitute Sam Edozie whipped a dangerous ball into the box, which Cyle Larin met with his head. The effort rebounded down off the crossbar and dribbled across the line to break Baggies' hearts and put Southampton within three points of the playoffs.

Coventry Put Preston to the Sword and Extended Lead at the Top: Coventry 3-0 Preston

Coventry saw off Preston in a comfortable 3-0 win which saw them capitalise on Middlesbrough's poor result and take their gap at the top to eight points.

The hosts came out all guns blazing and had much of the ball in the early going. That pressure was rewarded in 17 minutes when Sakamoto made it two goals in as many games in rather lucky fashion.

Six wins in a row and Coventry are NOT stopping 🔥

Premier League bound 🔜 pic.twitter.com/0UOTEe7BRw

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) March 11, 2026

A crossfield ping by Frank Onyeka was headed down to Sakamoto, who lined up an audacious strike from outside the box that took a heavy deflection off Ben Whiteman and left Iverson stranded in the Preston net.

Coventry would further that lead just after the 30-minute mark, when Thomas-Asante followed up an excellent Iverson save from Ellis Simms to turn the ball over the line and double the hosts' advantage.

Preston's chances were limited, with the best chance coming in the form of an Alfie Devine free kick which was flicked on by Whiteman but ultimately well saved by Carl Rushworth in the Sky Blues' net.

Coventry completed the win just after half-time courtesy of a Matt Grimes penalty. Mason-Clarke was brought down by Pol Valentin, which gave the Coventry captain a chance he couldn't refuse.

Efforts by Mason-Clarke, following a weaving run that ended in a skied strike, and Josh Eccles, who couldn't convert a menacing Jahnoah Markelo cross, could have made it four – but Lampard's men were already home and dry in a game which takes them eight points clear of Boro in second.