{"id":586635,"date":"2021-03-14T16:33:55","date_gmt":"2021-03-14T20:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=586635"},"modified":"2021-03-17T19:46:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T23:46:37","slug":"bristol-city-middlesbrough-star-championship-game-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/03\/14\/bristol-city-middlesbrough-star-championship-game-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Barnsley Star in Latest Championship Game-Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bristol City<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Middlesbrough<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Barnsley<\/span><\/a>\u00a0all starred in the latest Championship game-week in what proved to be another good weekend for the division’s top six.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Barnsley Star in Latest Round of Championship Fixtures<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0Bristol City Inflict Further Relegation Worries on Blues<\/span><\/h3>\n

Birmingham City<\/span><\/a>\u00a0continued their awful record on home soil with a 3-0 loss against\u00a0<\/span>Nigel Pearson<\/span><\/a>‘s Bristol City. The situation is looking increasingly bleak at St Andrew’s and remain just a place above the relegation zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the home side had struck the post twice,\u00a0<\/span>Kasey Palmer<\/span><\/a>\u00a0opened the scoring for the travelling Robins, capitalising on some sloppy play in midfield before coolly slotting past\u00a0<\/span>Neil Etheridge<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the Birmingham goal.\u00a0<\/span>Antoine Semenyo<\/span><\/a> rather fortuitously doubled Bristol City’s lead, when Etheridge’s clearance bounced off the forward and into an empty net.\u00a0<\/span>Callum O’Dowda<\/span><\/a>\u00a0sealed the victory in the 76th minute when he latched onto Palmer’s perfectly-weighted through ball before converting a third.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Bristol City, the three points and the manner of the victory was encouraging, but regarding this season, they still look set for mid-table mediocrity. Birmingham remain three points above water, but Rotherham United in 22nd, now have three games in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Middlesbrough Keep Play-Off Ambitions Alive With Convincing Home Victory<\/span><\/h3>\n

Middlesbrough have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, but recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over\u00a0<\/span>Stoke City<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to remain chasing a play-off spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grant Hall<\/span><\/a>\u00a0opened the scoring in the 21st minute, tapping home\u00a0<\/span>Chuba Akpom<\/span><\/a>‘s flick-on from Mark Bola’s corner.\u00a0<\/span>Paddy McNair<\/span><\/a>\u00a0extended the hosts’ lead five minutes before half-time, when he fired low past\u00a0<\/span>Angus Gunn<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the Stoke goal. Both sides created opportunities for the all-important third goal, but\u00a0<\/span>Nathaniel Mendez-Laing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0added a third for the hosts in the 88th minute, when he finished off a well-worked counter-attack, with a perfectly-executed lob.<\/span><\/p>\n

Middlesbrough are still eight points from the play-offs and will be looking to pounce, should any of the top eight drop points. The defeat seemingly eliminates a possible play-off charge for the Potters who now sit 13 points from the top six.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tykes Solidify Play-Off Stance in Win Over Cherries<\/span><\/h3>\n

In perhaps the standout tie of this week’s fixture list, Barnsley maintained their wonderful recent record with a\u00a0<\/span>3-2 victory<\/span><\/a>\u00a0at the Vitality Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michal Helik<\/span><\/a>\u00a0opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he tapped in from Mads Anderson’s flick-on. Parity was restored just six minutes later when Arnaut Danjuma slotted home after a swift counter-attack. Moments before half-time,\u00a0<\/span>Dominic Solanke<\/span><\/a>\u00a0finished off a second well-worked Bournemouth move, after Danjuma had turned provider. On the hour mark, it was all level again, when\u00a0<\/span>Dominik Frieser<\/span><\/a>\u00a0converted expertly from\u00a0<\/span>Cauley Woodrow<\/span><\/a>‘s cross. Barnsley’s victory was sealed in the 80th minute when\u00a0<\/span>Carlton Morris<\/span><\/a>\u00a0nodded\u00a0<\/span>Alex Mowatt<\/span><\/a>‘s free-kick beyond\u00a0<\/span>Asmir Begovic<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the Cherries’ goal.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a game that made a huge impact on the play-off race, Barnsley opened up a five-point gap from Bournemouth, who now face an uphill battle if they are to make the much-desired top six.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>