Middlesbrough Climb While Oxford Keep Fighting: Football Park's EFL Championship Roundup

Middlesbrough Climb While Oxford Keep Fighting: Football Park's EFL Championship Roundup

We are into the second to last Saturday of the Championship season and today we saw 9 matches and 18 teams in action. Here at Football Park, we will be having a dive into all those games and seeing what sides have been the most effected by the results today.

In these 9 matches there was a total of 34 goals scored. We will be having a look into all these goals and who scored them.

Charlton vs Hull

This was a vital match for both these sides. Charlton while unlikely currently, are still in the battle to stay up and call themselves a Championship side, while Hull are on the other side of the coin. They are still very much alive in fighting for the final place in the promotion play-offs.

The first half was a relatively even half with both sides having the same amount of xG created, however, there was one difference, Hull had more shots and hit the target more with those shots. This was highlighted in the 20th minute when Charlie Kelman scored to put the relegation battling team 1-0 ahead. The score was levelled in the 7th minute of added time as John Egan scored just before halftime. It looked as if Hull would take control of the second half until Jayden Fevrier scored making it 2-1. This would be how the game ended.

It will be a massive 3 points for Charlton and points that will more than likely keep them in the second tier of English football.

Middlesbrough 5-1 Watford

This was a massive game for Middlesbrough as they look to fight back for the automatic promotion place that they held for most of the season. They are still very much in the fight for it and need all the points that they can get.

The game started quick as Middlesbrough took the lead after just 6 minutes with Morgan Whittaker scoring. It was then doubled just before halftime as David Strelec scored to make it 2-0. Watford soon got one back as James Abankwah scored making it 2-1. However, in the 58th minute hopes of a comeback were ended as Whittaker got his second. The game would be completely killed off when Tommy Conway scored 2 in the 75th and 92nd minute.

Pick that out ☄️ pic.twitter.com/95Yt0EsH6q

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) April 25, 2026

These 3 points are vital for Middlesbrough as they could be the points that take them back into the second position. A position they were holding for a long time.

West Brom 0-0 Ipswich

This was the chance for Ipswich. The game that would see them take second place as their own. They needed all 3 points to make sure they took advantage of Millwall drawing yesterday and keep them the favourites for automatic promotion.

That wasn’t the case, however. Neither side could find a way to break the deadlock and find a way through. Both goalkeepers had amazing games stopping any chances from going in and in the end the game ended goalless.

It was a massive chance missed by Ipswich as they could’ve finally had some daylight and breathing room between them and Millwall.

Birmingham 2-1 Bristol City

This was a game between two sides that don’t really have much to play for anymore. They are both safe from relegation and too far away from promotion.

The game started very quick as Phil Neumann would score in the 6th minute before Jhon Solis would make it 2-0 in the 29th minute. Bristol tried to come back late with Tomi Horvat scoring in the 82nd minute from the spot. However, it was too little too late.

Norwich 1-1 Swansea

Once again, we see a game between two sides who don’t have anything left to play for. Both safe from relegation and very unlikely that they can challenge for promotion.

It was a game where the scoring started against the run of play as after Norwich dominated the first half making more chances, it was Swansea who took the lead in the 53rd minute as Zan Vipotnik scored. However, in the 83rd minute Swansea’s pressure finally paid off as Kenny McLean scored from the spot to level the game.

Oxford United 4-1 Sheffield Wednesday

This was a battle at the bottom. Sheffield who has already gone down are still looking for points as they look to achieve the goal of reaching positive points. However, Oxford are still able to survive and needed this game and all the points it offered and they showed this.

Once again, we saw an early goal as Will Lankshear would score after just 5 minutes making it 1-0. He would then get a second in the 27th. Oxford were dominating the game and this only got better for them in the 67th minute when Will Vaulks scored to make it 3-0. Sheffield did get one in the 72nd minute as William Grainger scored. Although Myles Peart-Harris would end these celebrations scoring just a minute later.

This was a massive 3 points for Oxford as they look to survive, however, with West Brom drawing, they have unfortunately seen this effort end in vain as they see themselves now unable to survive.

Full time in OX4.

Despite a strong performance from the boys, following other results, the Club’s relegation from the Championship has been confirmed.

We would like to thank our supporters for their unwavering support throughout the season. pic.twitter.com/y2x6qFH5l1

— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) April 25, 2026

QPR 2-3 Derby

We have now reached the final team who are still looking for promotion today in Derby. They needed these points, with Wrexham playing Coventry tomorrow they have a massive chance to take this race to the final game week and push into the top 6.

The game started badly for Derby who went behind after Harvey Vale scored to make it 1-0 QPR. They levelled just 12 minutes later in the 25th minute with Oscar Fraulo scoring to make it 1-1. However, just 10 minutes into the second half they were behind again as Richard Kone would score making it 2-1. Finally, they made the game level again in the 76th minute as Sondre Klingen Langas scored. Then in the 88th minute they have the lead. Jaydon Banel scored making it 3-2.

Now Derby has done everything they can, all eyes are on Wrexham tomorrow, can they respond?

Sheffield United 2-3 Preston

After the excitement of the promotion battle, we are back to two sides who have nothing much to play for anymore. Both teams will be Championship sides next season. However, this didn’t stop them from putting a show on.

Preston found themselves 2-0 up inside 20 minutes as Liam Lindsay would score twice pushing them into a very comfortable lead. However, some pressure was put on as Sheffield won a penalty in the 71st minute and Gustavo Hamer would slot it away. Preston responded just 5 minutes later reclaiming their 2-goal lead. However, it was made back to a 1 goal lead in the 82nd minute when Patrick Bamford scored to make it 3-2 and this would be how the game would end.

Stoke 1-3 Portsmouth

We end this week off with the final game that doesn’t see any teams in trouble nor fighting to get promoted as both sides have escaped the threat of relegation, however, we did see the best performance of the week in this game.

Adrian Segecic would make it 1-0 Portsmouth in the 32nd minute and that would be the only action we saw in the first half. However, this changed quickly. After just 3 minutes of the second half starting the game was level as Lamine Cisse would score. This looked to have lit a fire inside Segecic as he would then score 2 more to complete his hat trick with the second being in the 66th minute before completing it in the 82nd. He would walk away with MOTM and the match ball. While it wasn’t an important game for either side it will be important for him.