QPR scorch seven clear as Cardiff lose ground

QPR claimed their first away victory in six attempts as they dispatched Coventry 2-0 yesterday to enter 2011 with a seven-point lead at the top of the npower Championship.

On-loan Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker hit the target 16 minutes into the second half only to see what would have been his first professional strike go down as a Keiren Westwood own goal as the ball came off the Sky Blues goalkeeper’s shoulder.

Tommy Smith’s header from a sublime Adel Taarabt cross wrapped it up for QPR.

Watford came from behind to pick up three home points with a thumping 4-1 win over Cardiff.

Hornets striker Danny Graham missed an early penalty but did score to cancel out Peter Whittingham’s 16th-minute opener before goals from Marvin Sordell and John Eustace put the home side in control. Graham added a late fourth from the penalty spot.

Andy O’Brien’s own goal in stoppage-time denied Leeds a return to second as Portsmouth twice fought back from two goals down to draw 3-3.

Leeds centre-back O’Brien deflected Pompey substitute Nadir Ciftci’s 93rd-minute cross into his own net for his second own goal of the afternoon to hand the visitors an unlikely point.

Simon Grayson’s side extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches, but failed to capitalise on Cardiff’s defeat at Watford and closed out 2010 in fourth.

Former Shelbourne star Wes Hoolahan stepped off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick as Norwich won for the fourth time in five games with a 4-2 victory over Sheffield United.

Simon Church’s goal eight minutes from time helped Reading move into the play-offs as they claimed a 1-1 draw at Hull.

The substitute netted from close range after Nigel Pearson’s men had failed to clear Ian Harte’s free-kick.

Brian Laws came under heavy fire from Burnley supporters after struggling Scunthorpe claimed a deserved 2-0 victory at Turf Moor with goals from Martyn Woolford and Chris Dagnall.

Sven-Goran Eriksson was stung by goals from Steve Morison and Jason Puncheon as Leicester crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Millwall.

Preston will go into 2011 rooted to the bottom of the Championship after a 3-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Middlesbrough at Deepdale.