Ipswich strengthened their push for a Premier League return with a 2-1 victory over Oxford on Thursday, moving up to second place in the Championship.

Jaden Philogene and Chuba Akpom scored for Kieran McKenna’s side at Portman Road, keeping Ipswich just one point ahead of third-placed Middlesbrough in the battle for automatic promotion.

Middlesbrough suffered a setback themselves as Bobby Clark’s second-half strike earned Derby a 1-0 win at Pride Park. Despite dominating the match, Middlesbrough’s failure to convert chances saw them lose for the third time in four games.

Joe Rankin-Costello netted his first goal for Charlton to earn a 1-1 draw against league leaders Coventry at The Valley. Ellis Simms had given Coventry an early lead, but Rankin-Costello’s equalizer forced a share of the points, leaving the Sky Blues eight points clear of Ipswich.

Watford’s Tom Ince produced his first league hat-trick in a decade as the Hornets thrashed Birmingham 3-0 at Vicarage Road, while Millwall dropped out of the play-off places after a goalless draw at Southampton. Thierno Ballo missed a late chance to snatch victory, extending Southampton’s winless streak to five games.

Elsewhere, Stoke secured a 1-0 win at fifth-placed Hull, and Preston defeated bottom club Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Deepdale to hold on to the final play-off spot.

In the relegation battle, Bristol City hammered fourth-bottom Portsmouth 5-0, and third-bottom Norwich edged QPR 2-1, moving within a point of safety.