Championship wrap: Scunthorpe stun QPR, Reading pip Forest

Leaders Queens Park Rangers were stunned at Scunthorpe 4-1, while top-six hopefuls Cardiff and Reading won in the Championship on Saturday.

Neil Warnock’s side travelled to Glanford Park hoping to extend their nine-point gap on second-placed Norwich City, and would have fancied their chances against a Scunthorpe side who had scored just one goal in their last eight matches, losing seven of them, including a 6-0 defeat to Norwich last weekend.

And another victory for the league leaders looked likely when Rob Hulse opened the scoring for the visitors after just seven minutes.

But Scunthorpe, inspired by Leeds United loanee Ramon Nunez, grabbed an equaliser after 28 minutes through Joe Garner, who then doubled his tally three minutes after the break.

Michael O’Connor added a third after 58 minutes and Mark Duffy’s goal 11 minutes from time wrapped up a huge win for the bottom side which saw them move off the bottom of the table and within five points of safety.

A late Jason Koumas double helped third-placed Cardiff City to a 3-1 away win at Doncaster, who have won just two of their last 20 matches in all competitions and dropped to 20th.

Chris Burke’s 15th minute opener put Cardiff in front and although James Coppinger equalised with 12 minutes remaining, Koumas grabbed a brace in injury time to seal the victory.

Reading jumped to fourth with a see-sawing 4-3 win at Nottingham Forest that keeps the Royals 10-match unbeaten run in the Championship alive.

Ian Harte put Reading in front after 19 minutes, but a Kris Boyd penalty and Robert Earnshaw strike gave Forest the lead, only for Jem Karacan to equalise.

Jimmy Kebe put Reading in front after 62 minutes and although Lewis McGugan’s 88th minute penalty restored parity, a Luke Chambers own goal in injury time sealed victory for Brian McDermott’s side.

Leeds United dropped to sixth after a 3-2 loss at Millwall, with goals from James Henry, Liam Trotter and Steve Morison giving the hosts victory in a result that saw Millwall climb to seventh.

Leicester City and Hull City are now only five points behind Leeds as they kept their playoff charges alive with the Foxes thumping Burnley 4-0 while Hull won 2-1 at Watford.

Sheffield United slipped to the bottom of the league after Marvin Emnes’ 89th minute strike saw them slump to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough while fellow strugglers Preston drew 1-1 at Portsmouth.

Derby County came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Coventry at Pride Park, a Josh Carson double saw Ipswich defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 and Barnsley came from behind to defeat Bristol City 4-2 at home.