Championship wrap: QPR back on top, Cardiff upset

A second-half double from Adel Taarabt fired Queens Park Rangers to the top of the Championship after they beat Preston 3-1 on Saturday.

The win at Loftus Road extended QPR’s superb unbeaten in the Championship, having not tasted defeat in 18 games this season.

Recent form had seen Neil Warnock’s side draw seven of their last nine matches to lose their grip on top spot of the league, but Taarabt ensured they returned to the zenith.

Experienced striker Rob Hulse fired the hosts ahead after four minutes before Taarabt’s 56th- and 84th-minute strikes sealed victory.

A late own goal from Matthew Connolly prove a mere consolation to under-fire Preston manager Darren Ferguson, whose side sits bottom after winning just one of its last nine matches.

QPR moved to the top after Cardiff City relinquished their lead with a surprising 2-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest.

Despite possessing a side featuring Manchester City loanee Craig Bellamy and England international Jay Bothroyd, Cardiff went behind when Lewis McGugan struck his ninth goal of the season before Dexter Blackstock wrapped up the result six minutes from time.

Swansea City remain in third after Angel Rangel’s injury time equaliser kept Doncaster Rovers out of the top six in a 1-1 draw, while Derby County survived a late scare as they defeated Scunthorpe United 3-2.

Leeds United sit fifth after Max Gradel’s 13th-minute opener was cancelled out by Leon Barnett in the second half as the Yorkshire giants and Norwich City played out a highly entertaining 1-1 draw between two of the division’s newest sides.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Michael Doyle lifted Coventry City ahead of Burnley as they defeated Brian Laws’ side 1-0, while Reading and Watford shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

New Millwall signing Jason Puncheon scored the game’s only goal as his side made the most of Middlesbrough’s turgid form with a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium, as the 2005-06 UEFA Cup finalists dropped into the bottom three.

Middlesbrough replaced Bristol City in the dreaded relegation zone after Keith Millen’s side defeated Leicester City 2-0 thanks to goals from Brett Pitman and David Clarkson.

Slovenia international Robert Koren’s 77th-minute strike gave Hull City a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town while Barnsley won by the same scoreline, with Adam Hammill’s goal the difference against Portsmouth.