Cardiff City's difficult spell continued on Saturday when ten-man Preston inflicted defeat on the Bluebirds at Deepdale. However, City still retain sixth spot in the Championship, despite the chasing pack closing in. Simon Glanville reports.
Newcastle United look a stronger bet for an instant return to the Premier League as each week goes by and they strengthened their grip at the top of the table with victory at Watford on Saturday. Headed goals by Fabricio Coloccino and Andy Carroll gave the visitors a two goal cushion, and a late Watford reply through Will Hoskins proved to be nothing more than consolation. The Mapgies now have a twenty point advantage over Cardiff and are six points ahead of second place West Bromwich Albion. The Hornets meanwhile have some catching up to do if they want to mount a late push for the Play-Offs, sitting as they are now ten points adrift of the sixth-place Bluebirds.
They had to come from behind to do it, but West Bromwich Albion got back to winning ways and moved fourteen points ahead of City after seeing off Derby County at the Hawthorns. Chris Porter gave the Rams a surprise lead shortly after the interval, but a Chris Brunt brace and a late Simon Cox strike sealed the three points for the Baggies. Despite this defeat, Nigel Clough's Derby have improved of late and are now five points clear of the relegation zone.
Nigel Pearson's Leicester City have not given up on automatic promotion after they became the first side since August to score more than one goal against Nottingham Forest in a league game. Goals from Bruno Berner, Paul Gallagher and Andy King clinched an impressive 3-0 win and moved the Foxes five points clear of Cardiff and within seven points of the top two. Billy Davies' third place Forest remain twelve points ahead of the Bluebirds.
Dave Cotterill's first-half penalty stretched Swansea City's unbeaten run to twelve games and pushed Peterborough United closer to relegation in the process. Cotterill's spot kick was the only goal of the game and saw the Swans move seven points clear of Cardiff; the Posh meanwhile could well be preparing for life in League One now as they remain bottom of the division and some ten points clear of safety.
Sheffield United are now just a point behind Cardiff after they came through a seven-goal thriller against lowly Plymouth Argyle. The Blades were coasting after a goal from Henri Camara and a Jamie Ward brace put them into a 3-0 lead, but the Pilgrims threatened an unlikely comeback after Yannock Bolasie and then Joe Mason scored to make it 3-2. Richard Creswell added a fourth United goal, but Jamie Mackie got another for the visitors to make it a tense finish. Defeat for Plymouth keeps them in deep trouble - they are now five points adrift of safety.
Cardiff still hold a two point advantage over Blackpool after Ian Holloway's side narrowly lost out at Barnsley. Substitute Iain Hume grabbed the only goal of the game with fifteen minutes remaining to claim the three points and move Barnsley to within four points of the Bluebirds in the process.
Another side who are within two points of the Bluebirds are Middlesbrough after they saw off struggling Queens Park Rangers at the Riverside. Two Barry Robson penalties proved to be the difference between the sides and moved Gordon Strachan's side to within two points of the Play-Off places. The Super Hoops continue to struggle and are now only three points clear of the drop zone.
Ten-man Coventry City are now just three points behind Cardiff and the top six after they came out on top against Scunthorpe United at the Ricoh Arena. Jon Stead put the Sky Blues ahead before the Iron missed their chance to level from the penalty spot after Leon Barnett was given his marching orders. Gary Hooper missed his penalty and Sammy Clingan then doubled Coventry's lead with a screamer before Grant McCann pulled one back late on. Scunthorpe will know they need some more wins for safety, but they remain four points clear of the relegation zone.
Ipswich Town drew for the seventeenth time this season after Bristol City held them to a goalless stalemate at Portman Road. The result leaves the Tractor Boys four points above the drop zone, while the Robins remain in mid table, seven points short of the Bluebirds.
Crystal Palace moved out of the relegation zone after coming from behind to draw at Doncaster Rovers, in what some suggest could have been Neil Warnock's last game in charge of the club. The Eagles fell behind at the Keepmoat Stadium when James Coppinger broke the deadlock, but they earned a deserved point after the break when Kieran Djilali finished off Darren Ambrose's strong run. A point for Donny leaves them in fourteenth, eight points behind Cardiff and a top six place.
In-form Reading boosted their survival prospects with a five-goal beating over relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Braces from Jimmy Kebe and Grzegorz Rasiak and a Simon Church stunner saw the Royals cruise home, moving them four points clear of the bottom three in the process. The Owls have slipped into the relegation zone following this thrashing, but are level on points with twenty-first place Crystal Palace.
