QPR stumble, Cardiff close in

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Queens Park Rangers remain undefeated in the Championship but Cardiff City moved to within two points of the league-leaders on Wednesday.

QPR were lucky to escape with a scoreless draw away to Swansea and had goalkeeper Paddy Kenny to thank for keeping their unbeaten run intact after he saved a first-half penalty from David Cotterill.

Second-placed Cardiff took advantage of their rivals' slip after defeating Coventry 2-1 at the Ricoh arena.

Cardiff went ahead thanks to a Peter Whittingham spot-kick after just five minutes, but the home side equalised on the stroke of half time through Gary McSheffrey.

But former Coventry striker Jay Bothroyd popped up three minutes from time to score a late winner and give Cardiff their eighth win of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Stephen McGinn and Marvin Sordell scored goals within three minutes of each other to give Watford a 2-1 victory over Roy Keane's Ipswich Town at Vicarage Road.

Burnley moved into fourth after a Chris Eagles brace and a strike from Chris Iwelumo gave them a convincing 3-0 win over Barnsley at Turf Moor.

Norwich dropped out of the top three after they suffered a shock 2-1 loss at home against Crystal Palace, with second-half goals to Julian Bennett and Anthony Gardner doing the damage for the visitors.

Sven-Goran Eriksson scored his maiden victory in charge of Leicester City as they beat Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road.

Bristol City broke a run of three straight losses when they beat Reading 1-0, while Preston North End dropped to second last after they lost a five-goal thriller 3-2 against Scunthorpe United.

Middlesbrough's woes continued as they fell closer to the relegation zone after a 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest, while a Mark Yeates goal gave Sheffield United a 1-0 win at Hull City.

Portsmouth continued their excellent run of form with a 1-0 win over Millwall, as did Derby County who leapt into seventh after a 3-2 win at Doncaster.

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