Championship: Norwich, Blackburn, Rotherham and Stoke earn wins, Burnley held by Millwall
- Simon Wilkes
- 21 February 2023
Two goals from Marcelino Nunez guided Norwich to a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Birmingham at Carrow Road, while Championship leaders Burnley were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Millwall on Tuesday.
Chile international Nunez produced a stunning volley from well outside the box to open the scoring after 27 minutes and quickly added a second to seemingly put the Canaries in command.
Birmingham gave them a scare by pulling one back early the second half through Maxime Colin and went on to give a good account of themselves until a late third from substitute Christos Tzolis settled the issue.
The win boosted Norwich's Championship play-off bid while a third straight defeat for Blues left them looking anxiously over their shoulders at the teams below them.
Substitute Tom Bradshaw's late strike rescued a point for Millwall against Championship leaders Burnley who had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Den.
Ashley Barnes' poacher's effort in the 51st minute, his second goal in as many games, was looking it would be the difference on Tuesday evening in south London.
But Bradshaw kept his cool five minutes from time to slot home his 11th goal of the season and give the Lions' play-off push even more credibility.
Following a thrilling 3-2 win over second-placed Sheffield United on Saturday, Millwall are now up to fifth, while Burnley are 12 points clear of the Blades.
Blackburn moved into the play-off places with a dominant 1-0 win over struggling Blackpool.
Jon Dahl Tomasson's men made it back-to-back single-goal victories but unlike the Swansea game, they were in control here and the outcome never looked in doubt once Tyrhys Dolan had emphatically put Rovers ahead with his fifth goal of the season just after the half-hour mark.
Substitute Tyler Morton missed a chance to make the game safe late on but Blackburn, backed up by a defence that had kept three successive clean sheets at Ewood Park before this, held on to move up to fourth.
For Blackpool, it is not difficult to see their problem. Although they put in a committed performance, one of the Sky Bet Championship's leanest attacks failed to register a shot on target and they are now four points adrift of safety.
Rotherham boosted their Sky Bet Championship survival chances with a much-needed 2-1 win over Sunderland at the New York Stadium.
The Millers had won just once in 12 games since beating Sheffield United in November but came good with goals either side of half-time from Ollie Rathbone and Shane Ferguson.
They had to work hard for it as Joe Gelhardt's first goal for Sunderland since his January loan move from Leeds made a game of it, but Matt Taylor's side held on to move five points clear of the drop zone.
The Black Cats suffered their first defeat in six games, which damages their play-off hopes, though they are still within striking distance of the top six.
Stoke eased their relegation worries with a 3-1 win at Swansea as Josh Laurent delivered his first league goals for the Potters.
Laurent's first-half double and a stoppage-time third from substitute Lewis Baker lifted Stoke two places to 17th in the Sky Bet Championship.
Morgan Whittaker had given Swansea the perfect start inside two minutes, but Russell Martin's side ran out of ideas before Baker added the late icing to Stoke's first away league win road since December 17. Swansea stay 12th.
