Nottingham Forest secured a fifth consecutive Championship victory with a 2-0 win over Birmingham, putting Fulham’s promotion party on hold. An early goal from on-loan Aston Villa forward Keinan Davis and a powerful second-half header from Scott McKenna put Steve Cooper’s side in front, and Forest comfortably saw out 12 minutes of added-time after an injury to Birmingham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge following a collision with Djed Spence. The result extended Forest’s unbeaten league run to 10 matches, and denied Fulham the chance to confirm their promotion against Coventry on Sunday. Sheffield United and Bournemouth both dropped points in the race for promotion in an edgy 0-0 draw at Bramall Lane. United were denied what they felt was a clear penalty late on when referee Dean Whitestone waved away appeals after Morgan Gibbs-White was felled in the box. Moments later, with practically the last kick of the game, Filip Uremovic sent a half-volley wide. Paul Heckingbottom said he had spoken to the referee about the penalty call after the game. The Sheffield United manager said: “I don’t know why I bothered. You go in to see them wanting to knock their heads off and then come out having behaved yourself and just feel even more frustrated.” Middlesbrough’s play-off hopes were hit by back-to-back home defeats as they lost 1-0 to Hull. Keane Lewis-Potter struck the only goal with 15 minutes remaining and Boro, who lost by the same score at home to Fulham in midweek, are three points off the top six. Blackburn also missed the chance to climb into the play-off places after being held 1-1 by Blackpool at Ewood Park. Blackpool defender Marvin Ekpiteta’s effort soon after the interval cancelled out Sam Gallagher’s early opener for Blackburn. QPR’s miserable run continued as they slipped to a fifth straight defeat, beaten 2-1 at Preston. Hoops defender Jimmy Dunne’s first-half own-goal put Preston ahead and they doubled their lead through Cameron Archer early in the second half. Andre Gray’s late penalty for the visitors was scant consolation. Barnsley’s survival hopes were dealt a blow as they lost 4-1 at Millwall. Millwall defender Danny McNamara scored his first goals for the club either side of half-time. Romal Palmer fired Barnsley back into it, but Oliver Burke restored Millwall’s two-goal lead and Benik Afobe smashed home their fourth. Stoke made it three wins from their last four with a 3-1 win at West Brom. Jake Livermore’s first-half own goal gave Stoke the lead and Jacob Brown headed his 12th goal of the season after the break to put them 2-0 up. Callum Robinson’s eighth of the season for West Brom set up a grandstand finish but Stoke sealed the points through Lewis Baker’s stoppage-time effort. Joel Piroe struck an early double as Swansea won 2-1 against Derby. Piroe struck his 17th and 18th goals of the season inside the first 16 minutes to put Swansea in control before Tom Lawrence’s penalty for Derby reduced the deficit. Will Vaulks secured Cardiff a 2-1 win at struggling Reading. Lucas João’s header gave Reading an early lead, but Alfie Doughty curled Cardiff level and Vaulks struck five minutes from time. Jonson Clarke-Harris rescued a point for 10-man Peterborough in a 1-1 draw at Bristol City. Rob Atkinson headed City in front and Peterborough defender Joe Ward was shown a straight red card for his second-half challenge on Andreas Weimann, but Posh hit back to level through Clarke-Harris’s close-range finish.