- Home   > Â
- Football   > Â
- Championship   > Â
- Boro back in wins as Stoke sinks late amid chaos
Boro back in wins as Stoke sinks late amid chaos
Middlesbrough recovered from going behind after just two minutes against Derby County to pull off a 2-1 win at the Riverside, helping it stay second in the EFL Championship and handing new boss Kim Hellberg a winning start to his tenure.
Patrick Agyemang stunned the hosts from an early breakaway, and they were wobbling for a good portion of the first half, but the Rams couldn't score a second and it proved costly.
Callum Brittain almost levelled things before the break for the hosts when his curling effort hit the woodwork, and Derby came out in the second period seemingly happy to defend its lead.
But it couldn't hold out as first Matt Targett thumped home a header from a corner on 15 minutes before Morgan Whittaker found himself on the scoresheet again with a bending effort six minutes from the end.
Boro remains 10 points behind leader Coventry City, but Stoke City fell to fourth after a late 3-2 defeat at Hull City which sparked mayhem in the stands.
Stoke led at half-time through Sorba Thomas's 17th minute goal, but just three minutes after the break, the Tigers were level when Semi Ajay scored, and in the 90th minute, Joe Gelhardt finished the job and all hell broke loose.
John Lundstram appeared to goad some Stoke fans behind one of the goals by putting his finger to his lips in a 'shushing' motion, which led Potters central defender Ashley Phillips to push him away, and a scuffle ensued.
One irate Stoke fan then entered the field and had to be restrained by security before Hull substitute Mohamed Belloumi tried to calm the fans.
Defeat was doubly costly for the Potters after Millwall also grabbed a late win over Southampton which moved it into third place.
Adam Armstrong opened the scoring from the spot on 55 minutes after a goalless first half, before Femi Azeez equalised for the hosts with a fine strike from the edge of the box.
But that was bettered by Caleb Taylor, who fired the Lions in front on 81 minutes with a stunning long-range effort.
Finn Azaz drew the Saints level six minute later, and both sides looked set to share the points.
But seven minutes into time added on, Tristan Crama bundled the ball home after a scramble in the Southampton six-yard box, ending the visitors' run of four straight wins and handing all three points to Millwall.
Sheffield Wednesday remains bottom of the table despite holding a lead twice against Preston North End, which won 3-2 to stay in the top six.
Norwich City remains second bottom but bagged a first win in five and only its third of the season with a 3-1 defeat of Queens Park Rangers to lift the gloom at Carrow Road.
With Portsmouth and Swansea City above Norwich losing their matches – Pompey 1-0 against Bristol City and the Swans 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion – Norwich remains five points from safety, but will look to use the win as a launch pad to get out of the relegation battle in a busy festive period ahead.


































