Championship wrap: Cardiff into second, Norwich slip up

Cardiff leapfrogged Norwich into second place in the Championship with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday.

Goals from Craig Bellamy and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas handed Cardiff the win as Norwich slipped up again, following up on their 3-0 loss to Swansea on Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Watford.

Sam Vokes gave Norwich the lead after two minutes, but Watford hit back with strikes from Danny Graham and Don Cowie before Simeon Jackson ensured a point for Norwich with a goal after 69 minutes.

Runaway leaders Queens Park Rangers moved 10 points clear with a 1-0 win at Barnsley courtesy of a goal from their Moroccan captain Adel Taarabt, while fourth-placed Swansea were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Hull after Corry Evans cancelled out Mark Gower’s opener for the hosts.

Leeds lost further ground on the top five after being beaten 2-1 at Derby, their second loss in succession.

Max Gradel put Leeds ahead on 58 minutes, but Derby hit back three minutes later through Jamie Ward, and Ben Davies scored the winner after 63 minutes to leave Leeds just one point clear of Nottingham Forest in the race for the final play-off spot.

Reading skipped five points clear of Leeds in fifth with Shane Long and Ian Harte getting on the scoresheet in their 2-0 win at Scunthorpe.

The victory was the seventh straight win for Brian McDermott’s side, who have not lost a league game since mid-February.

Notts Forest enjoyed a 2-0 win over Burnley thanks to a brace from substitute David McGoldrick to keep the pressure on Leeds, while Burnley finished the game with 10 men following midfielder Marvyn Bartley’s dismissal just after the half-hour mark.

Middlesbrough dropped to 18th after letting a 3-1 lead slip in their 3-3 draw with Ipswich, who had a brace from Grant Leadbitter to thank for securing them a point, and relegation strugglers Preston North End claimed a point at Doncaster with a 1-1 draw.

Crystal Palace moved six points clear of the bottom three with a 1-1 draw at Leicester, Millwall played out a 0-0 draw with Bristol at The New Den and Coventry climbed to 17th place in the table with a 3-0 win at Portsmouth, helped by a double from Marlon King.