Championship talking points: Millwall blow autos race open; Wrexham back into top six
The Sky Sports Football writers analyse where the Good Friday action has left the state of play in the Championship; as Millwall move up to second in the table after a win at Middlesbrough, Wrexham climb into sixth and all the relegation battlers shown signs of resolve.
Friday 3 April 2026 19:23, UK
Millwall in dreamland after Boro blow big chances again
Thirty-two shots. Sixty-nine touches in the opposition box. An xG of 3.12. Yet Middlesbrough were beaten at home again.
It was 34 shots, 86 touches in the box and 2.3xG when Boro lost to Millwall's south London neighbours Charlton at the Riverside last month. Their repeated failure to capitalise in the final third has cost them again.
This time it really hurts because Millwall have leapfrogged them into second and an automatic promotion place. "Over time it will turn," said Boro boss Kim Hellberg, who could scarcely believe his side had lost after complete dominance in the first half. But time is running out.
And Millwall may have timed their run perfectly. For the first time this season they go into the top two.
It's dreamland for their supporters. They went into back-to-back away days with Ipswich and Boro knowing it could define the narrative of their run-in.
Four points and two second-half fightbacks later, a first-ever promotion to the Premier League is now a serious possibility.
"We'll see over the next six games how big a win it is but at the moment it feels like a huge win," Lions boss Alex Neil said.
His side will need to take this momentum into a tricky Easter Monday home game with in-form Norwich. But a win there really would set them up, with a favourable schedule of fixtures to finish the campaign…
Peter Smith
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Wrexham fail to take full advantage of Saints not playing
Ultimately it was a good point for Wrexham, as they battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with West Brom.
It took them above Southampton into sixth, with the Saints in FA Cup action this weekend and not back in Championship battle until they visit Wrexham on Tuesday night.
But it may also have felt like an opportunity missed for the Red Dragons, and leaves things very finely poised heading into that blockbuster clash.
"There was a fantastic response after the break because we were a bit passive first half," Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said after the draw. "We asked the lads for character and an improvement in the quality of our play second half and they did that brilliantly."
Hull, meanwhile, continued to tick along in fifth as they took a point at Oxford, despite leading at the Kassam Stadium. Six games to go and a play-off spot remains firmly in their grasp.
"We should be happy with a point, this is maybe a great result today," said Hull boss Sergij Jakirovic. "It's always the main target to take three points, but it was an opponent today who was good and we should be happy with 1-1.
"Our position in the league is good, we have everything in our own hands. We can blame nobody else, but ourselves from here."
Simeon Gholam
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Clubs scrapping at the bottom show signs of resolve
Just a point separates 21st and 23rd in the table now, with Portsmouth just above the dotted line on 41 points, while Leicester and Oxford sit on 40 in the relegation zone.
All three picked up a draw on Good Friday, with Portsmouth nicking a 1-1 at Norwich as Pelle Mattsson scored at both ends for the Canaries.
It was a huge result for Pompey, especially considering the form Norwich are in and the way they fell apart at QPR to lose 6-1 before the international break.
“I am really pleased with both the point and the performance after what happened in our last match,” said boss John Mousinho. “It was just what we needed going into another big game on Monday [against Oxford]."
Oxford themselves hit back from behind to draw 1-1 against Hull City, they head to Fratton Park for the lunchtime kick-off on Easter Monday.
“Unfortunately for us it wasn’t to be, but in terms of effort, endeavour, creativity - the feeling in the crowd which was incredible," said U's boss Matt Bloomfield.
"It’s not easy against a team like Hull to come back from a goal down either so there’s lots to be pleased with. Now we have to focus on repeating that performance for the last six games."
Sandwiched between those two sides is Leicester, who led, trailed and then finally earned a 2-2 draw against Preston. Patson Daka scoring both goals for the Foxes at the King Power Stadium.
“It’s up to us," said Leicester boss Gary Rowett. "It’s making sure we stay united, but ultimately we’ve got to win games of football. If you don’t, then you don’t deserve to get above other teams.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve been incredibly competitive. We’ve been on the better end of the performances. We should have more points than we have. So we’ve got to make sure we get those points.”
Simeon Gholam
