Burnley lead Rams to the slaughter

BURNLEY took advantage of Reading’s weekend off — Steve Coppell’s side face Coventry tonight — to move up to fourth place with a 3-0 win over Derby County on Saturday.

Kevin McDonald volleyed Owen Coyle’s Clarets into the lead and Martin Paterson then struck twice more before half time to seal victory early.

It was a display that left Coyle beaming through the fog. “We have been in terrific form at home, and in the opening period of the game our energy and movement meant we had four or five options,” he said.

“We looked a young, vibrant team, full of energy.”

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Sheffield United needed James Beattie’s 89th-minute penalty, following Alan Quinn’s handball, to claim a 1-1 draw at Ipswich.

The hosts had taken the lead from the spot themselves in the 41st minute when Tommy Miller converted, after Matt Kilgallon also handled.

Plymouth missed the chance to climb into the playoff places after Liam Dickinson’s two late goals condemned them to a 2-1 defeat by Blackpool.

QPR are just a place behind the south-west club in eighth after their London derby with Crystal Palace ended goalless at Selhurst Park.

Doncaster returned to the foot of the table, despite claiming a creditable 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Watford.

Tommy Smith gave the Hornets the lead before Steve Brooker levelled.

Rovers slipped to 24th thanks to Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 defeat of Barnsley at the City Ground, which came courtesy of Joe Garner’s 36th-minute header while Charlton could only register a 0-0 draw with Southampton at The Valley.

Norwich are a place above the relegation zone, after they came out on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller against Sheffield Wednesday.

A first-half strike from Stephen Elliott and Ross Wallace’s second goal of the season gave Preston a 2-0 victory over Bristol City at a foggy Deepdale.