Norwich City moved into third place with a 1-0 victory over league leading Queens Park Rangers.
Swansea City moved into second place with a 1-0 win over Reading. Leeds United are in fourth place after being held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Middlesbrough. Cardiff City fell to fifth after losing 3-0 to Bristol City, and Watford moved up to sixth by beating Portsmouth 3-0.
Millwall and Burnley are only one point below the playoff spots, after wins over Crystal Palace and Sheffield United respectively.
At the other end of the table, rock bottom Preston North End are now six points adrift of safety after losing 2-1 to Derby County. Scunthorpe United remain in the bottom three after their 3-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.
Leeds United extended their unbeaten run to 12 games with a 1-1 draw against struggling Middlesbrough. David Wheater opened the scoring for the visitors, before Luciano Becchio snatched a point for United with an injury time equalizer. The result leaves fourth place Leeds two points outside of the automatic promotion slots, while Middlesbrough sit two points above the relegation zone.
Defender Wheater missed an early chance for Boro, and Leeds threatened at the other end with a long range Robert Snodgrass shot. Wheater put Boro in front after 20 minutes when he rose highest to head a Julio Arca corner past Kasper Schmeichel for a 1-0 lead.
Middlesbrough had the majority of the play for the remainder of the first half, but failed to add to their lead as they went in at the break with a one goal lead.
Leeds got back into the game and Ross McCormack threatened with a 59th minute free kick. Lloyd Sam then brought the home crowd to their feet with a fine run and shot that went close minutes later.
Boro fullback Joe Bennett almost scored a fine individual goal but failed to finish after a winding run.
Leeds kept looking for a goal to level the scores, and finally got one in injury time when Becchio pounced on a rebound to fire past Jason Steele. Leeds then went close to a dramatic winner, but McCormack headed wide when presented with a glorious chance.
Millwall beat Crystal Palace 3-0 courtesy of a hat-trick from Southampton loanee Jason Puncheon. The win means Millwall are now only one place and one point below the playoff spots, Palace remain in the relegation zone.
The home side were in front in the 8th minute when Palace failed to clear a Josh McQuoid header, and Puncheon slammed the loose ball past Julian Speroni. Palace were unable to find an equalizer before the break, with Sean Scannell twice firing wide of the target.
Millwall doubled their lead in the 65th minute, when Puncheon finished after being played in by Scott Barron. The winger completed his hat-trick six minutes later after he was set up by Liam Trotter.
John Marquis went close to adding fourth for Millwall, but could not get on the end of Jack Smith’s cross, and the Lions completed a 3-0 victory.
Nottingham Forest recovered from being two goals down to rescue a point with a 2-2 draw against Barnsley. Goals from Matthew Hill and Andy Gray put Barnsley 2-0 up, before Lewis McGugan and Nathan Tyson earned Forest a point.
Barnsley took a 17tth minute lead when Hill dispossessed Marcus Tudgay and raced clear to fie the Tykes in front.
Forest twice went close to equalizing before half-time, when Wes Morgan headed over and Rob Earnshaw was denied by a good Luke Steele save.
Barnsley doubled their lead five minutes after the restart, when Kieran Trippier crossed for Gray to head past Lee Camp and make it 2-0.
Forest were awarded a 68th minute penalty when Chris Gunter was brought down inside the area by Adam Hammill. McGugan slammed home the spot kick to bring the score to 2-1.
Earnshaw had a good chance to equalize soon after, but blazed over from a Tyson cutback. Tyson did the job himself with 10 minutes remaining when he fired Forest level and made it 2-2.
Both teams pushed for a winner, but neither could find a cutting edge and the points were shared. The draw means Forest are two points below the playoff spots, while Barnsley are a further four points back.
Two goals from Chris Porter gave Derby County a 2-1 victory at rock bottom Preston North End. An injury time penalty by Callum Davidson provided little consolation for the hosts. The win means Derby are now three points behind the playoff spots, while rock bottom Preston are now six points adrift of safety.
Preston started the better with Chris Brown firing wide, and Keith Treacy having a shot blocked. PNE had another glorious chance when Wayne Brown headed down in the area, but Paul Parry was just unable to connect with the goal begging.
Derby were galvanized after the break and went close to taking the lead through first Kris Commons and then Stephen Pearson.
The deadlock was broken with 20 minutes remaining, when the ball fell to Porter outside the area, and the former Motherwell striker fired past Andy Lonergan to put the Rams in front. Porter doubled the lead in the 84th minute after he was set up by Robbie Savage.
Savage handled in the area in injury time to award PNE a late penalty. Davidson converted but it was too late and Derby held on for a 2-1 win.
Swansea City lifted themselves into second place with a 1-0 win over playoff contenders Reading. Darren Pratley’s winner means Swansea have cut the lead of Queens Park Rangers to four points at the top of the table. Reading saw their eight game unbeaten streak ended, and are two points below the playoff spots.
Swansea started brightly and Andrea Orlandi had a diving header saved by Adam Federici. Swansea then needed two fine saves from Dorus de Vries to keep the scores level. First the Dutch goalkeeper saved from Alex Pearce, before keeping out Shane Long from point blank range.
De Vries was again called into action early in the second half when he saved well at the feet of Simon Church.
Swansea took the lead after 65 minutes when Angel Rangel had a shot blocked, and Pratley fired home from the rebound.
Reading pushed forward in search of an equalizer, and Smans defender Garry Monk produced two fine blocks to deny Jimmy Kebe and Hal Robson-Kanu. Church then had a glorious chance to level matters, but headed over from a Kebe cross.
Swansea threatened mostly on the counter attack, but defended well to close out an important 1-0 win.
Norwich City moved into third place with a 1-0 victory over league leading Queens Park Rangers. Russell Martin scored the decisive goal for Norwich, while QPR had Matthew Connolly sent off in the second half for a professional foul.
QPR had the first chance of the match, but Jamie Mackie headed wide from an Adel Taarabt cross. Norwich took the lead soon after, Chris Martins’ shot was blocked by Kaspars Gorkss, and Martin fired the loose ball past Paddy Kenny.
The Canaries poured forward during the first half and Aaron Wilbraham thought he had doubled the lead, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
Things got worse for QPR five minutes into the second half, when Connolly hauled down Grant Holt and was dismissed for a professional foul.
QPR forward Patrick Agyemang struck the goal post in the 74th minute as the Hoops pushed for an equalizer, but Norwich held on for a 1-0 win that means they are now only one point away from the automatic promotion slots. QPR’s lead at the top of the table has now been cut to four points.
Stuart Gray and Micky Adams enjoyed contrasting managerial debuts at Turf Moor. Gray took charge of Burnley as caretaker manager and guided the Clarets to a 4-2 win over struggling Sheffield United. Adams clearly has work to do as manager of the club he supported as a boy.
Mark Yeates opened the scoring for United before Chris Eagles equalized. The Clarets then took a 3-1 lead courtesy of two goals scored during first half injury time by Chris Iwelumo and Jay Rodriguez. Ched Evans pulled a goal back for the Blades, before Steven Thompson wrapped up the 4-2 win.
Yeates put the visitors in front after only nine minutes, before Eagles leveled the score just before the half hour mark with a blistering 30 yard strike.
The game looked to be heading into half-time at 1-1 before a dramatic injury time burst by the Clarets. Iwelumo headed home a Michael Duff cross in the 46th minute, before Jay Rodriguez fired past Richard Wright less than a minute later.
The Blades hit back and were awarded a penalty two minutes after the restart when Leon Britton was brought down by Wade Elliott. Evans stepped up to convert the penalty and bring the deficit back to 3-2.
United pushed for an equalizer but Burnley settled matters with five minutes remaining, when Eagles set up Thomson to fire home and seat the three points.
The win leaves Burnley only one point outside the playoff spots, while United sit only two points above the drop zone.
Doncaster Rovers produced an impressive 3-0 win over struggling Scunthorpe United. The win means Doncaster close to within three points of the playoff spots, while Scunthorpe remain in the drop zone.
First half goals from Billy Sharp, James Hayter and Joseph Mills were good enough to seal the three points for Donny.
Kickoff was delayed for almost an hour after an ambulance broke down and did not make it to the stadium. When things did get going it was Scunthorpe who had the games first chance. Michael O’Connor swung in a free kick, and the ball fell to Jonathan Forte who had his shot saved by Neil Sullivan.
Sharp opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he headed home a Brian Stock corner. The lead was doubled 12 minutes later when James Coppinger’s cross evaded everyone and Hayter was on hand to turn the ball past Joe Murphy. Mills made it 3-0 in first half injury time when he was set up by John Oster to score his first senior goal.
Scunthorpe could not find a way back into the game during the second half, and it was Doncaster’s David Healy who went closest to scoring as he had an effort just wide from a Mills cross.
Rovers defender Sam Hird was sent off late on for a second bookable offence, but the damage was already done.
Coventry City were reduced to 10 men but continued their playoff push with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town. Rory Fallon put Ipswich ahead just before half-time, before Freddy Eastwood equalized early in the second half. Coventry then survived the sending off of Marlon King to hold on a for a point.
Ipswich started quickly and had the first chance when Carlos Edwards sent in a deep cross, and Fallon had his header saved by Keiren Westwood.
Coventry hit back and went close themselves when a King header struck the goal post. Ipswich then hit the woodwork at the other end, when an Edwards shot rattled the crossbar.
Fallon opened the scoring for Ipswich one minute before half-time. Jack Colback had a shot saved by Westwood, and the New Zealand World Cup striker was on hand to turn home the loose ball.
Coventry were level only three minutes after the restart. King held up the ball and fed Eastwood, and the Wales international fired past Marton Fulop to make it 1-1.
The home side were reduced to 10 men after 58 minutes, when King was dismissed for a reckless foul on Darren O’Dea.
Ipswich poured on the pressure in search of a winner, but could not break down the Coventry back line and the points were shared. The result leaves Coventry only one point outside of the playoff places, and Ipswich are five points above the relegation zone.
Former England striker Darius Vassell scored the decisive goal as Leicester City produced a 1-0 win over Hull City. The win saw Leicester move above Hull into 14th place, and ended an eight game unbeaten run for the Tigers.
Leicester started quickly and Vassell fired wide after only three minutes. The striker did open the scoring in the 11th minute when he volleyed home a Richie Wellens cross. The Foxes remained on the front foot, with Paul Gallacher and Lloyd Dyer both had chances to add to the lead.
Cameron Stewart had Hull’s best chance of the first half, but his shot was saved by Chris Weale. Leicester started the second half as strongly as they did the first, and Paul Gallacher fired wide when represented with a chance. Things got worse for Hull when Liam Rosenior was dismissed just after the hour mark for a leg breaking foul on teenage midfielder Greg Cunningham.
Hull battled gamely with 10 men and thought they had equalized through Paul McShane, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Weale.
Leicester almost added to the score line late on, but debutant goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved from Vassell. The Foxes went on to complete a 1-0 win that closes them to within four points of the playoff zone.
Brett Pitman scored his seventh goal in as many games as Bristol City handed promotion chasing Cardiff City a surprising 3-0 defeat. Lee Johnson and Jamal Campbell-Ryce were also on the score sheet for the Robins.
Bristol got off to a fling start when Jon Stead crossed for Pitman to open the scoring in only the 3rd minute. Things got worse for Cardiff after 15 minutes when defender Chris Riggott limped out with injury.
Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton kept the score down with a fantastic double save, blocking a Pitman shot before denying Campbell-Ryce from the rebound. The Bluebirds then went close to equalizing, but Michael Chopra’s shot hit the goal post after he was sent through by Peter Whittingham.
Bristol doubled their lead six minutes before the interval. Stead was again the creator as he set up Johnson to fire past Heaton and send the Robins into the interval with a 2-0 lead.
Campbell-Ryce made it 3-0 with a cool finish only 10 minutes after the restart, and Bristol looked the better team throughout the second half as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win. The win opens up a seven point gap between Bristol and the relegation zone, while Cardiff drop to fifth place.
Watford recorded their fourth straight win with a 3-0 triumph over visiting Portsmouth. The win moves Watford into the top six, while Portsmouth are six points off the playoff places. Andrew Taylor gave the Hornets a half-time lead, before second half strikes from Marvin Sordell and Danny Graham wrapped up the 3-0 win.
Portsmouth almost took the lead in less than two minutes when David Nugent fired over, but that is as good as it would get for a Pompey team who mustered only two shots on target the whole game.
Watford’s first chance came when defender Taylor crossed to the back post, and Graham nodded down for Will Buckley who fired over the bar. Middlesbrough loanee Taylor put the Hornets in front three minutes before the break with his first professional goal. A corner was punched to the edge of the area by Jamie Ashdown, and Taylor smashed the loose ball home for a 1-0 lead.
Watford doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart when Graham played a through ball for Sordell to collect and fire past Ashdown. Graham then rounded off the 3-0 win in the 69th minute when he was played through by Jordon Mutch, and produced a neat finish.
Portsmouth’s misery was made complete when Greg Halford was sent off late on for Portsmouth for a foolish head butt on Taylor.
Millwall and Burnley are only one point below the playoff spots, after wins over Crystal Palace and Sheffield United respectively.
At the other end of the table, rock bottom Preston North End are now six points adrift of safety after losing 2-1 to Derby County. Scunthorpe United remain in the bottom three after their 3-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.
Leeds United extended their unbeaten run to 12 games with a 1-1 draw against struggling Middlesbrough. David Wheater opened the scoring for the visitors, before Luciano Becchio snatched a point for United with an injury time equalizer. The result leaves fourth place Leeds two points outside of the automatic promotion slots, while Middlesbrough sit two points above the relegation zone.
Defender Wheater missed an early chance for Boro, and Leeds threatened at the other end with a long range Robert Snodgrass shot. Wheater put Boro in front after 20 minutes when he rose highest to head a Julio Arca corner past Kasper Schmeichel for a 1-0 lead.
Middlesbrough had the majority of the play for the remainder of the first half, but failed to add to their lead as they went in at the break with a one goal lead.
Leeds got back into the game and Ross McCormack threatened with a 59th minute free kick. Lloyd Sam then brought the home crowd to their feet with a fine run and shot that went close minutes later.
Boro fullback Joe Bennett almost scored a fine individual goal but failed to finish after a winding run.
Leeds kept looking for a goal to level the scores, and finally got one in injury time when Becchio pounced on a rebound to fire past Jason Steele. Leeds then went close to a dramatic winner, but McCormack headed wide when presented with a glorious chance.
Millwall beat Crystal Palace 3-0 courtesy of a hat-trick from Southampton loanee Jason Puncheon. The win means Millwall are now only one place and one point below the playoff spots, Palace remain in the relegation zone.
The home side were in front in the 8th minute when Palace failed to clear a Josh McQuoid header, and Puncheon slammed the loose ball past Julian Speroni. Palace were unable to find an equalizer before the break, with Sean Scannell twice firing wide of the target.
Millwall doubled their lead in the 65th minute, when Puncheon finished after being played in by Scott Barron. The winger completed his hat-trick six minutes later after he was set up by Liam Trotter.
John Marquis went close to adding fourth for Millwall, but could not get on the end of Jack Smith’s cross, and the Lions completed a 3-0 victory.
Nottingham Forest recovered from being two goals down to rescue a point with a 2-2 draw against Barnsley. Goals from Matthew Hill and Andy Gray put Barnsley 2-0 up, before Lewis McGugan and Nathan Tyson earned Forest a point.
Barnsley took a 17tth minute lead when Hill dispossessed Marcus Tudgay and raced clear to fie the Tykes in front.
Forest twice went close to equalizing before half-time, when Wes Morgan headed over and Rob Earnshaw was denied by a good Luke Steele save.
Barnsley doubled their lead five minutes after the restart, when Kieran Trippier crossed for Gray to head past Lee Camp and make it 2-0.
Forest were awarded a 68th minute penalty when Chris Gunter was brought down inside the area by Adam Hammill. McGugan slammed home the spot kick to bring the score to 2-1.
Earnshaw had a good chance to equalize soon after, but blazed over from a Tyson cutback. Tyson did the job himself with 10 minutes remaining when he fired Forest level and made it 2-2.
Both teams pushed for a winner, but neither could find a cutting edge and the points were shared. The draw means Forest are two points below the playoff spots, while Barnsley are a further four points back.
Two goals from Chris Porter gave Derby County a 2-1 victory at rock bottom Preston North End. An injury time penalty by Callum Davidson provided little consolation for the hosts. The win means Derby are now three points behind the playoff spots, while rock bottom Preston are now six points adrift of safety.
Preston started the better with Chris Brown firing wide, and Keith Treacy having a shot blocked. PNE had another glorious chance when Wayne Brown headed down in the area, but Paul Parry was just unable to connect with the goal begging.
Derby were galvanized after the break and went close to taking the lead through first Kris Commons and then Stephen Pearson.
The deadlock was broken with 20 minutes remaining, when the ball fell to Porter outside the area, and the former Motherwell striker fired past Andy Lonergan to put the Rams in front. Porter doubled the lead in the 84th minute after he was set up by Robbie Savage.
Savage handled in the area in injury time to award PNE a late penalty. Davidson converted but it was too late and Derby held on for a 2-1 win.
Swansea City lifted themselves into second place with a 1-0 win over playoff contenders Reading. Darren Pratley’s winner means Swansea have cut the lead of Queens Park Rangers to four points at the top of the table. Reading saw their eight game unbeaten streak ended, and are two points below the playoff spots.
Swansea started brightly and Andrea Orlandi had a diving header saved by Adam Federici. Swansea then needed two fine saves from Dorus de Vries to keep the scores level. First the Dutch goalkeeper saved from Alex Pearce, before keeping out Shane Long from point blank range.
De Vries was again called into action early in the second half when he saved well at the feet of Simon Church.
Swansea took the lead after 65 minutes when Angel Rangel had a shot blocked, and Pratley fired home from the rebound.
Reading pushed forward in search of an equalizer, and Smans defender Garry Monk produced two fine blocks to deny Jimmy Kebe and Hal Robson-Kanu. Church then had a glorious chance to level matters, but headed over from a Kebe cross.
Swansea threatened mostly on the counter attack, but defended well to close out an important 1-0 win.
Norwich City moved into third place with a 1-0 victory over league leading Queens Park Rangers. Russell Martin scored the decisive goal for Norwich, while QPR had Matthew Connolly sent off in the second half for a professional foul.
QPR had the first chance of the match, but Jamie Mackie headed wide from an Adel Taarabt cross. Norwich took the lead soon after, Chris Martins’ shot was blocked by Kaspars Gorkss, and Martin fired the loose ball past Paddy Kenny.
The Canaries poured forward during the first half and Aaron Wilbraham thought he had doubled the lead, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
Things got worse for QPR five minutes into the second half, when Connolly hauled down Grant Holt and was dismissed for a professional foul.
QPR forward Patrick Agyemang struck the goal post in the 74th minute as the Hoops pushed for an equalizer, but Norwich held on for a 1-0 win that means they are now only one point away from the automatic promotion slots. QPR’s lead at the top of the table has now been cut to four points.
Stuart Gray and Micky Adams enjoyed contrasting managerial debuts at Turf Moor. Gray took charge of Burnley as caretaker manager and guided the Clarets to a 4-2 win over struggling Sheffield United. Adams clearly has work to do as manager of the club he supported as a boy.
Mark Yeates opened the scoring for United before Chris Eagles equalized. The Clarets then took a 3-1 lead courtesy of two goals scored during first half injury time by Chris Iwelumo and Jay Rodriguez. Ched Evans pulled a goal back for the Blades, before Steven Thompson wrapped up the 4-2 win.
Yeates put the visitors in front after only nine minutes, before Eagles leveled the score just before the half hour mark with a blistering 30 yard strike.
The game looked to be heading into half-time at 1-1 before a dramatic injury time burst by the Clarets. Iwelumo headed home a Michael Duff cross in the 46th minute, before Jay Rodriguez fired past Richard Wright less than a minute later.
The Blades hit back and were awarded a penalty two minutes after the restart when Leon Britton was brought down by Wade Elliott. Evans stepped up to convert the penalty and bring the deficit back to 3-2.
United pushed for an equalizer but Burnley settled matters with five minutes remaining, when Eagles set up Thomson to fire home and seat the three points.
The win leaves Burnley only one point outside the playoff spots, while United sit only two points above the drop zone.
Doncaster Rovers produced an impressive 3-0 win over struggling Scunthorpe United. The win means Doncaster close to within three points of the playoff spots, while Scunthorpe remain in the drop zone.
First half goals from Billy Sharp, James Hayter and Joseph Mills were good enough to seal the three points for Donny.
Kickoff was delayed for almost an hour after an ambulance broke down and did not make it to the stadium. When things did get going it was Scunthorpe who had the games first chance. Michael O’Connor swung in a free kick, and the ball fell to Jonathan Forte who had his shot saved by Neil Sullivan.
Sharp opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he headed home a Brian Stock corner. The lead was doubled 12 minutes later when James Coppinger’s cross evaded everyone and Hayter was on hand to turn the ball past Joe Murphy. Mills made it 3-0 in first half injury time when he was set up by John Oster to score his first senior goal.
Scunthorpe could not find a way back into the game during the second half, and it was Doncaster’s David Healy who went closest to scoring as he had an effort just wide from a Mills cross.
Rovers defender Sam Hird was sent off late on for a second bookable offence, but the damage was already done.
Coventry City were reduced to 10 men but continued their playoff push with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town. Rory Fallon put Ipswich ahead just before half-time, before Freddy Eastwood equalized early in the second half. Coventry then survived the sending off of Marlon King to hold on a for a point.
Ipswich started quickly and had the first chance when Carlos Edwards sent in a deep cross, and Fallon had his header saved by Keiren Westwood.
Coventry hit back and went close themselves when a King header struck the goal post. Ipswich then hit the woodwork at the other end, when an Edwards shot rattled the crossbar.
Fallon opened the scoring for Ipswich one minute before half-time. Jack Colback had a shot saved by Westwood, and the New Zealand World Cup striker was on hand to turn home the loose ball.
Coventry were level only three minutes after the restart. King held up the ball and fed Eastwood, and the Wales international fired past Marton Fulop to make it 1-1.
The home side were reduced to 10 men after 58 minutes, when King was dismissed for a reckless foul on Darren O’Dea.
Ipswich poured on the pressure in search of a winner, but could not break down the Coventry back line and the points were shared. The result leaves Coventry only one point outside of the playoff places, and Ipswich are five points above the relegation zone.
Former England striker Darius Vassell scored the decisive goal as Leicester City produced a 1-0 win over Hull City. The win saw Leicester move above Hull into 14th place, and ended an eight game unbeaten run for the Tigers.
Leicester started quickly and Vassell fired wide after only three minutes. The striker did open the scoring in the 11th minute when he volleyed home a Richie Wellens cross. The Foxes remained on the front foot, with Paul Gallacher and Lloyd Dyer both had chances to add to the lead.
Cameron Stewart had Hull’s best chance of the first half, but his shot was saved by Chris Weale. Leicester started the second half as strongly as they did the first, and Paul Gallacher fired wide when represented with a chance. Things got worse for Hull when Liam Rosenior was dismissed just after the hour mark for a leg breaking foul on teenage midfielder Greg Cunningham.
Hull battled gamely with 10 men and thought they had equalized through Paul McShane, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Weale.
Leicester almost added to the score line late on, but debutant goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved from Vassell. The Foxes went on to complete a 1-0 win that closes them to within four points of the playoff zone.
Brett Pitman scored his seventh goal in as many games as Bristol City handed promotion chasing Cardiff City a surprising 3-0 defeat. Lee Johnson and Jamal Campbell-Ryce were also on the score sheet for the Robins.
Bristol got off to a fling start when Jon Stead crossed for Pitman to open the scoring in only the 3rd minute. Things got worse for Cardiff after 15 minutes when defender Chris Riggott limped out with injury.
Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton kept the score down with a fantastic double save, blocking a Pitman shot before denying Campbell-Ryce from the rebound. The Bluebirds then went close to equalizing, but Michael Chopra’s shot hit the goal post after he was sent through by Peter Whittingham.
Bristol doubled their lead six minutes before the interval. Stead was again the creator as he set up Johnson to fire past Heaton and send the Robins into the interval with a 2-0 lead.
Campbell-Ryce made it 3-0 with a cool finish only 10 minutes after the restart, and Bristol looked the better team throughout the second half as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win. The win opens up a seven point gap between Bristol and the relegation zone, while Cardiff drop to fifth place.
Watford recorded their fourth straight win with a 3-0 triumph over visiting Portsmouth. The win moves Watford into the top six, while Portsmouth are six points off the playoff places. Andrew Taylor gave the Hornets a half-time lead, before second half strikes from Marvin Sordell and Danny Graham wrapped up the 3-0 win.
Portsmouth almost took the lead in less than two minutes when David Nugent fired over, but that is as good as it would get for a Pompey team who mustered only two shots on target the whole game.
Watford’s first chance came when defender Taylor crossed to the back post, and Graham nodded down for Will Buckley who fired over the bar. Middlesbrough loanee Taylor put the Hornets in front three minutes before the break with his first professional goal. A corner was punched to the edge of the area by Jamie Ashdown, and Taylor smashed the loose ball home for a 1-0 lead.
Watford doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart when Graham played a through ball for Sordell to collect and fire past Ashdown. Graham then rounded off the 3-0 win in the 69th minute when he was played through by Jordon Mutch, and produced a neat finish.
Portsmouth’s misery was made complete when Greg Halford was sent off late on for Portsmouth for a foolish head butt on Taylor.
