Millwall Mend Goal Difference, Wondergoal Whips Wrexham into Play-off Spots - Football Park’s Championship Recap

Millwall Mend Goal Difference, Wondergoal Whips Wrexham into Play-off Spots - Championship Round 29 in Review

Another round of Championship action wrapped on Saturday with 18 teams in action throughout the day, after Derby and West Brom clashed on Friday.

The day's play saw many sides hunting down the playoff spots slip up, while moments of magic such as this goal below meant that the chasing pack could capitalize on their rivals' mistakes.

In the 2nd division of English football, Wrexham scored a winning goal in the 94th minute against QPR. Incredible commentary. 😅🍿 pic.twitter.com/ucJv7K90u9

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 24, 2026

Football Park is here to guide you through the matches across this game week, and the impact the results had on the standings.

Goal Line Scramble Costs Rams Dearly

Derby 1-1 West Brom - Agyemang (44'); Mepham (90'+5).

The game week began in the Midlands as play-off hunting Derby County welcomed a struggling West Brom side who were looking to bounce back following a costly 5-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Norwich City earlier in the week.

It was the Rams who unsurprisingly flew out of the blocks the brightest, hoping to inflict an 11th straight away league defeat to the Baggies for the first time in 134 years.

And it did look as though this would be the case heading into the break, as Patrick Agyemang pounced on a costly error by debutant keeper Max O'Leary to score a goal that would have sent the Rams soaring into the playoff places.

The game seemed to be heading the way of the hosts; despite some increased pressure and chances, West Brom's xG landed at 1.33 - and they eventually reaped their reward. A heartbreaking goal from a Derby perspective, as Chris Mepham directed a precise header past Jacob Zetterstrom to rescue a point for the visitors.

It still isn't a good look for the Baggies, with that point seeing them go just three points clear of the drop zone, while Derby's missed opportunity left them in 11th.

Boro Move Within Three of Leaders While The Den Erupts to Strengthen Millwall's Grip on Play-offs

Middlesbrough 4-0 Preston - Browne (9'), Conway (28', 54'), Whittaker (42').

The 12 o'clock kickoffs proved to be an entertaining viewing for the neutral, and at the Riverside, the day welcomed a crucial clash between sides both hunting down a playoff place, as Preston made the trip to the northeast.

It proved to be a very tough day for the visitors, who simply were not at the races this weekend. Boro took the lead early when ex-Preston captain Alan Browne put his current club ahead in a tidy attacking play.

It didn't take too long for Tommy Conway to double the hosts' lead just before the half hour, before Morgan Whittaker made the cushion very plump when he made it three all before the interval.

Things were made even worse for North End after the break, as Jordan Storey was shown a straight red after fouling Conway, who then went on to bag his second of the afternoon minutes after reacting quickest to a free-kick.

The result puts even more pressure on leaders Coventry, who travel to Norwich on Monday evening, while North End lose their third league game in a row and slip to ninth.

Millwall 4-0 Charlton - Ramsay (7' OG), Taylor (81'), Cundle (90'+2), Emakhu (90'+3).

In the other lunchtime kick-off, things exploded at The Den, with the hosts bagging a flurry of late goals to finally take their goal difference out of the negative numbers and into the positive with a dominant victory over Charlton.

The Lions struck very early on, with Kayne Ramsay putting the ball in his own net just seven minutes into proceedings. Millwall continued to apply the pressure and somehow couldn't add to their lead before or just after the break, despite taking 23 shots throughout the game to the Addicks' three.

Eventually, Alex Neil's side found their stride, with Caleb Taylor's header giving them a two-goal cushion. The cherry was then put on top with a ribbon to follow, as stoppage-time goals from Luke Cundle and Aidomo Emakhu sealed their fourth win in six to send them six clear of Bristol City in seventh.

As for Charlton, it is consecutive defeats as they remain in 18th, but are just three points clear of the drop zone.

Watford and Stoke Drop Costly Points While Tractor Boys Fall to Sharp Blades

Blackburn 1-1 Watford - Miller (28'); Kayembe (26').

We now continue this recap with sides who made blunders this weekend, falling behind in the play-off race. Here, Watford travelled to Ewood Park to take on relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.

The Hornets dominated the opening period, and came close to getting their reward on multiple occasions, with the pressure rising. They eventually got their lead, as Edo Kayembe struck in what would have confirmed their retention of the fourth play-off spot for another week.

However, just two minutes later, Rovers were back on level terms, with Lewis Miller netting his second goal of the campaign. Watford didn't let up and continued to push for another goal, and could have done just that through Giorgi Chakvetadze, but he shot high and wide.

Blackburn held on for a vital point to rise out of the relegation zone provisionally, while Watford lost ground on the play-offs and will need to make up for it when they host Swansea City next weekend.

Birmingham 1-1 Stoke - Iwata (42'); Neumann (71' OG).

Stoke City were also in action, taking on a Birmingham side who were hoping to extend their unbeaten run to five games, and a win would send them into the top half. As for the Potters, victory would have seen them rise into the play-off spot, so there was a lot on the line for both sides at St Andrews.

The visitors entered the clash in the midst of an awful injury crisis, plaguing 11 players with problems which ruled them out of this weekend's fixture. This could be seen during the game, as Brum's home record showed by their dominance all over the pitch, which saw them produce 2.03 xG to Stoke's 0.36.

Birmingham eventually found themselves in front just before the break as Tomoki Iwata's headed effort found the goal, giving them a deserved lead heading into the break.

Aaron Cresswell saved his side's blushes, however, with his corner kick finding Steven Nzonzi, whose header bounced off Phil Neumann and into his own goal. It was a matter of a missed opportunity for both sides, who are now five and two points off the play-offs, respectively.

Sheffield United 3-1 Ipswich - O'Hare (38'), Brooks (45'+4), Bamford (66'); Clarke (60' pen).

We then headed to an Ipswich Town side, who were seeking their sixth win in a row, as they travelled to a Blades side who had lost their last three. With the Tractor Boys in third and United in 17th, you would think this could only go one way.

Chris Wilder's side, however, started this game much better than how they did at St Mary's earlier this week, and Callum O'Hare's smart finish put the Blades deservedly in front. Just minutes later, Andre Brooks saw his effort deflected to make it a 2-0 first-half lead, leaving Ipswich with a lot of work to do in the second half.

15 minutes into the second period, Ipswich did get their chance to halve the deficit, with Mark McGuinness being penalised for handball, and Jack Clarke stepped up calmly to make the score 2-1.

It didn't take long, however, for Patrick Bamford to then get in on the action, with his strike restoring his side's two-goal cushion. The 32-year-old did get sent off six minutes from time, but the Blades held on for a much-needed win. The loss for the visitors sees them sit five points back from Middlesbrough and gives Coventry the chance to open up an 11-point gap on Monday.

Play-offs Made Interesting as Robins, Tigers and Dragons All Apply Pressure to the Top

Bristol City 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday - Twine (64'), Bell (78').

At Ashton Gate, Bristol City welcomed League One-bound Sheffield Wednesday, as the hosts were hoping for no wobbles as they looked to get back in the play-off race.

The biggest headline of the match, however, came as Barry Bannan was given a standing ovation by Owls fans, as he had played his final game before a reported move to Millwall.

Scott Twine found the first goal of the game just after the hour mark, as he headed home from Ross McCrorie to continue what has been an impressive individual season for him so far.

Sam Bell then added to the tally in his first game back in a Robins shirt, following his loan spell to Wycombe, as the hosts comfortably controlled the second half, cruising to victory and into seventh.

Hull 2-1 Swansea - McBurnie (24' pen), Slater (39'); Cullen (59').

In Hull, they came into this clash looking to make it three wins on the bounce and keep up the pressure on the top three when they welcomed Swansea to the MKM Stadium.

It didn't take long for the hosts to start the match as they looked to go on, with Oli McBurnie slotting home a penalty inside the first 30 minutes after Ben Cabango had handled Amir Hazdiahmetovic's free kick.

The visitors looked for a swift reply, and almost had one too, but Zan Vipotnik failed to find the target from close range. The Tigers then doubled their lead 15 minutes on from the opener, as a stunning Regan Slater strike gave Hull a two-goal cushion.

The Swans found an early reply in the second period through Liam Cullen, with the Welshman converting Josh Tymon's pinpoint corner kick. The visitors continued to chase for an equaliser, but Hull held on for a crucial win to go level on points with Ipswich.

QPR 2-3 Wrexham - Vale (6'), Cook (80'); Doyle (54'), Windass (90'+3), Rathbone (90'+4).

Two late blinders from AFC Wrexham as they completed a stunning late turnaround in the capital to enter the play-offs.

Harvey Vale put the hosts in front just six minutes into the game, as Rangers searched for a win which would have sent them level on points with sixth on goal difference. Instead, the northern Welsh outfit hit back, and hit back hard.

Despite QPR taking a first-half lead, it didn't take long for the visitors to respond, as Callum Doyle struck with Wrexham's first real chance of the afternoon.

Steve Cook sent the home fans into raptures with 10 minutes to go, with his headed effort thought to be the goal to give them all three points. We enter stoppage time, and the game still stands at 2-1, until...

First, Josh Windass stepped up three minutes into stoppage time, firing them level from the edge of the box, before Ollie Rathbone powered the away end into jubilation with virtually the last kick of the game to send them into the play-offs and in a great position for four consecutive promotions.

U's Survival Bid Aided at the King Power After Relegation Rivals Slip Up

Leicester City 1-2 Oxford United - Fatawu (84'); Long (4'), Harris (71').

Oxford United travelled to the King Power desperately looking for three points which would send them closer to safety, but things didn't look good for them considering they travelled to Leicester having lost their last four games.

Sam Long gave the visitors some hope and belief early on, however, with his tap-in from close range giving Oxford the lead within four minutes. The Foxes looked rather lacklustre throughout the afternoon, as they rarely threatened the U's goal with quality chances, despite dominating the ball.

The U's then hit their hosts on what was a deadly counterattack 20 minutes from time to double their lead, courtesy of a Mark Harris finish. The Foxes did find a late reply by Abdul Fatawu, but they failed to make the most of their opportunities and fell to defeat.

Oxford now move within two points of safety, while Leicester stay in 14th.