Championship: Reading rock Blades as Bournemouth are denied again

Bournemouth gave further hope to the Championship’s chasing pack after failing to win for a fourth successive match, with a 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough.

Scott Parker’s side failed to break down play-off chasing Boro and were just five points clear of third-placed Huddersfield, with one game in hand, before the Terriers’ late kick-off against QPR.

Sheffield United’s play-off hopes were dealt a blow after a shock 2-1 home defeat to Reading, who gave a major boost to their survival chances. Lucas João put Reading ahead after 17 minutes but the Blades appeared to have snatched a late point through Iliman Ndiaye in the 90th minute. Tom McIntyre went down the other end, though, grabbing a vital Reading winner to move them nine points clear of danger.

Blackburn failed to capitalise on the Blades’ slip-up after losing at relegation battlers Peterborough. Rovers were reduced to 10 men when Tayo Edun received his second yellow card after 41 minutes. Ben Brereton Díaz hammered the 10 men ahead after 77 minutes but Sammie Szmodics levelled six minutes later. Jack Marriott scored the winner three minutes from time but Posh remain nine points adrift of safety.

Coventry kept alive their play-off hopes after coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Birmingham. Kristian Pedersen headed in from a corner after 12 minutes and Gary Gardner made it 2-0 six minutes before the break. But Mark Robins’ men were soon back on level terms as Ben Sheaf struck twice before half-time. The Sky Blues completed their comeback when Michael Rose headed in after 71 minutes, before Callum O’Hare grabbed a late fourth.

Barnsley are 10 points adrift of safety after a 1-1 draw at Swansea. Claudio Gomes gave the visitors a 54th-minute lead but it lasted only 10