Cardiff climbed into the top six of the Championship with a 4-0 victory over Derby to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games under new manager Mick McCarthy. Leandro Bacuna gave the Bluebirds the lead in the 22nd minute before Kieffer Moore headed home another goal three minutes into the second half, with Curacao international Bacuna curling in Cardiff’s third from 20 yards in the 56th minute. Will Vaulks completed a fine night for the home side with a long-range effort in stoppage time.
McCarthy, who arrived in January with the Bluebirds 15th having lost six successive games, has now won seven and drawn three during his time in the Welsh capital.
“If you lose it’s all doom and gloom and ‘sack the manager’,” McCarthy said. “Now ‘we’re flying’ and ‘we’re in the play-offs’, ‘we’re getting promoted’. You won’t get me carried away with it. Everybody gives you a pat on the back but suddenly there’s a knife in their hand.”
Cardiff, though, lost left-back Joe Bennett to injury shortly before half-time when he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
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League One roundup: Hull gain ground on leaders Peterborough
League One leaders Peterborough were denied a sixth successive win after being held to a goalless draw at mid-table Oxford. Posh still hold a three-point advantage at the top after former leaders Lincoln crashed to their second straight defeat at home to Fleetwood.
Hull took advantage to leapfrog the Red Imps into second place with a 2-0 win over Rochdale at the KC Stadium.
Doncaster showed no ill effects from the sudden departure of manager Darren Moore to Sheffield Wednesday, as they held on to clinch an important 2-1 win over fading Portsmouth.
Sunderland also stepped up the pace in the quest to seal at least a play-off place as Charlie Wyke's 70th minute strike - his 24th of the season - proved enough to see off Swindon 1-0.
Northampton clambered off the bottom of the table as they beat Plymouth 2-0 to claim their first win in 12 league games.
Wigan fell back to the foot of the table after Chuks Aneke's 19th minute effort proved enough to see Charlton to a 1-0 win at the DW Stadium.
Burton's resurgence under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink continued as Jon Smith's 55th-minute effort made it five wins in six for the Brewers at the expense of visitors Bristol Rovers, who had Luke McCormick sent off early in the second half.
James Norwood scored the winner as Ipswich came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Accrington – the first game since the departure of Paul Lambert, with new manager Paul Cook looking on.
On-loan Sunderland striker Will Grigg fired a fourth minute opener for MK Dons but it was not enough to prevent the visitors sliding to a 3-2 defeat at Gillingham.
Stephen Walker's 86th minute equaliser earned Crewe a 1-1 draw at Blackpool, who led through Danny Ballard's first-half header.
Wimbledon also salvaged a point at Shrewsbury with Ayoub Assal scoring six minutes from time after Harry Chapman had put the Shrews ahead. PA Media
Reading kept their play-off push on track with a 1-0 win over Blackburn. George Puscas knocked in the only goal from close range in the 24th minute, with the Royals moving two points behind fourth-placed Swansea.
Middlesbrough remain within striking distance of the top six after a late goal from George Saville secured a 2-1 win at Coventry. An own goal from Boro defender Anfernee Dijksteel opened the scoring but the visitors equalised in the 42nd second minute when defender Grant Hall headed home from a free-kick – his first goal for the club since joining from QPR last summer. With time running out, midfielder Jonny Howson set up Saville to score the winner with three minutes left.
Millwall came from behind to beat Preston 2-1 at the Den. Ched Evans fired the visitors ahead in the 12th minute with a well-taken volley. The Lions, though, were level six minutes before half-time through left-back Scott Malone’s fine strike into the top corner. With four minutes left, Mason Bennett headed in the winner to leave Millwall in 10th place.
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Watford condemn 'loathsome individuals' after racist abuse of Lerma
Watford are working with Hertfordshire Police to identify the "loathsome individuals" who posted online abuse towards Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma.
The two Championship clubs are challenging for promotion, with Bournemouth having won an ill-tempered match between the teams at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Tempers had flared during stoppage-time of the Cherries' 1-0 victory, with a late brawl resulting in Watford's João Pedro and Bournemouth's Jack Wilshere both being sent off for second cautions.
The fracas was sparked by Pedro's late sliding challenge on Lerma (pictured), and subsequently saw both clubs charged with misconduct by the Football Association.
Watford highlighted abusive comments towards the Colombian in reply to a post on the official Championship Twitter account promoting the EFL's anti-discrimination campaign 'not today or any day'.
The Hornets said in a statement: "While HertsPolice and ourselves will attempt to identify these loathsome individuals, let it be known that they are not welcome to support our wonderful club. We condemn their comments in the strongest possible way." PA Media
Relegation-battlers Birmingham fought back to draw 1-1 at Huddersfield. Fraizer Campbell gave the hosts the lead in the 63rd minute with a 20-yard strike but Marc Roberts equalised for the Midlands side following a corner. The draw leaves Birmingham six points clear of the relegation zone.
Ryan Tunnicliffe’s goal in the 64th minute proved enough to give Luton a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest – their first at Forest since 1983 – and extend their unbeaten run to three league games.
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