• Southampton striker took his tally for season to 26
• Jon Stead scores at both ends as Bristol City beat Coventry
Two goals from Rickie Lambert were enough for Southampton to win 2-0 at Crystal Palace and go three points clear of Reading at the top of the table.
The Saints are looking to heap pressure on Reading, who play Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, and Lambert's 25th and 26th league goals of the campaign helped them do just that. The 30-year-old had an effort disallowed before scoring in each half to lead Nigel Adkins's side to a comfortable victory at Selhurst Park.
The Bristol City striker Jon Stead scored for both sides in the relegation battle against Coventry City at Ashton Gate as the home side won 3-1. The Coventry midfielder Sammy Clingan whipped in a free-kick and it went in off the head of Stead to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. But Stead made amends with a 47th-minute equaliser before late goals from the substitutes Yannick Bolasie and Chris Wood turned the result in their favour. The Robins had to play the last few minutes with 10 men after Brett Pitman was shown a straight red card, but they held on to move four-points clear of Coventry.
A Kenny Miller goal just before half‑time looked to have given Cardiff City a victory over Watford but the Hornets secured an unexpected point thanks to a late Nyron Nosworthy goal. The Bluebirds remain sixth in the table as Malkay Mackay was left frustrated by his former club.
Ten-man Blackpool kept their play‑off hopes alive after coming from behind at home to Barnsley to snatch a 1-1 draw. Keith Southern was sent off by referee Andy D'Urso before half-time and the Barnsley midfielder David Perkins then gave the visitors the lead shortly after the interval. Ian Holloway's side pushed for an equaliser and it came courtesy of Matt Phillips with just less than 20 minutes remaining to keep the Seasiders fifth in the table.
Middlesbrough missed the chance to go seventh as they threw away the lead to lose 2-1 at Hull City. Marvin Emnes scored his 13th goal of the season to open the scoring for Boro, but they could not enhance their lead and were made to pay when the Manchester United loanee Joshua King levelled after 58 minutes. Matt Fryatt then secured the points for the home side with an 88th-minute winner as the Tigers won their first match in five.
Bottom side Doncaster have not won at the Keepmoat since early 2012 and were beaten at home again, this time falling 2-1 to mid-table Burnley. Josh McQuoid scored from distance to give Burnley the lead at half-time with Chris Brown giving Doncaster hope with a 56th-minute equaliser. A 76th-minute winner for the visitors came courtesy of a Charlie Austin penalty after Adam Lockwood fouled Danny Ings.
Nottingham Forest moved six points clear of the relegation zone with Dexter Blackstock's 38th-minute goal enough to beat Peterborough 1-0. Gareth McCleary saw red late on for Forest.
Leicester City came from behind to beat Ipswich Town 2-1 and keep their slim play-off hopes alive. Jason Scotland gave Ipswich the lead in the 43rd minute but a long-range Ben Marshall free-kick meant the sides went in level at the break. David Nugent then struck just before the hour to give Nigel Pearson's side the three points, leaving them only five points off the play-offs.
Leeds United dropped into the bottom half of the table after losing 2-0 at home to Derby County after Michael Brown was sent off. Brown was dismissed in the 26th minute with Craig Bryson and Steve Davies scoring in each half to earn Derby the win.