Championship wrap: Southampton beat Palace to go clear

Southampton closed in on promotion from the Championship to the English Premier League with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Nigel Adkins’ side now lead second-placed Reading – who have one game in hand – by three points with four matches of the campaign remaining.

Rickie Lambert opened the scoring for Southampton after 39 minutes of the match at Selhurst Park.

And the prolific striker sealed the result with his second 11 minutes into the second half.

Lambert has now scored 30 goals for the club in all competitions this season.

Elsewhere, 10-man Blackpool remain fifth after they salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw against Barnsley.

Keith Southern was shown a straight red card after 21 minutes, making life difficult for Ian Holloway’s Blackpool side in front of their home fans at Bloomfield Road.

And David Perkins took advantage of Barnsley’s numerical advantage when he put the visitors in front just after the break.

But with just 19 minutes remaining, Matt Phillips levelled, giving Blackpool a point that could be crucial in their bid to make the playoffs.

Cardiff City sit sixth after a 1-1 home draw at home to Watford, with Nyron Nosworthy equalising for the visitors in the 82nd minute to cancel out Kenny Miller’s opener.

Joshua King and Matty Fryatt scored second-half goals as Hull City came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1.

Craig Bryson and Steven Davies were on the scoresheet for Derby County in their 2-0 win against a 10-man Leeds United at Elland Road.

Bristol City moved four points clear of the relegation zone thanks to a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Coventy City, and Nottingham Forest won 1-0 at Peterborough United.

Finally, Leicester City and Burnley notched 2-1 away wins over Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers respectively.