Championship wrap: QPR surge ahead

Queens Park Rangers extended their lead in the Championship after Swansea were the only team in the chasing pack to win on Saturday.

Hogan Ephraim’s 46th-minute goal at the Keepmoat Stadium gave QPR a 1-0 win away to Doncaster Rovers.

Neil Warnock’s team are now nine points clear of second-placed Norwich after they could only draw 1-1 away to Hull City.

Zak Whitbread put Norwich ahead 26 minutes in at the KC Stadium, but veteran Nick Barmby equalised for Hull in the 72nd minute.

Swansea City are one point behind Norwich after their 3-2 win at home to fellow top-six side Nottingham Forest.

Scott Sinclair’s opener and a brace from Fabio Borini guaranteed all three points for Swansea, with Kris Boyd’s effort and a late consolation from Paul Anderson not enough to salvage a draw for the visitors, who remain sixth.

Leeds United, one point above Forest in fifth, suffered a surprise 2-0 loss away to third bottom Sheffield United.

Cardiff City in fourth place also dropped points with a 3-3 draw away to Millwall – Steve Morison’s 87th-minute equaliser snatching a share of the spoils for the hosts at the New Den.

Nathan Ellington struck the winner four minutes into injury time as bottom side Preston North End beat Coventry City 2-1 while second-from-bottom Scunthorpe United went down 2-0 away to Ipswich.

Crystal Palace twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to Derby County, while Middlesbrough also fought back from a goal down to beat visitors Watford 2-1.

David Nugent’s first-half goal proved to be the winner as Portsmouth beat Leicester City 2-1 away from home.

Brett Pitman and Nicky Maynard were on target as Bristol City saw off the visit of Burnley 2-0, while Mathieu Manset scored the only goal of the game in Reading’s 1-0 win away to Barnsley.