Bristol City boost Championship play-off bid

LONDON: Bristol City climbed into Championship play-off places as Adam Webster clinched a crucial 1-0 win at top-six rivals Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Lee Johnson's side moved above Derby and Aston Villa to take fifth place as they followed Saturday's impressive win at promotion-chasing Sheffield United with another memorable success.

Middlesbrough had plenty of opportunities, but Jonny Howson and Britt Assombalonga both hit the woodwork, setting the stage for Webster to head the winner in the 31st minute.

Tony Pulis's team have now suffered five straight defeats, slipping two points adrift of the play-off berths as their form has imploded at just the wrong time.

Even the long-awaited return of Stewart Downing was unable to help them, with the former England international failing to arrest a goalless run that now stands at three games.

Downing returned to Middlesbrough's Championship starting line-up for the first time in 2019 after signing a waiver that scrapped the automatic award of a new one-year contract.

Elsewhere, Swansea ended a run of four games without a win as a first-half brace from Nathan Dyer inspired a 3-0 victory over Brentford at the Liberty Stadium.

Dyer opened the scoring with less than a minute played and then added a second for his first league goals for Swansea since August 2014.

Daniel James added Swansea's third with the goal his outstanding performance deserved.