Championship round-up: Mackie double leaves QPR sitting three points clear

(GETTY IMAGES)

Two goals from Jamie Mackie extended Queens Park Rangers' lead to three points at the top of the Championship last night as they beat Ipswich 3-0 at Portman Road while Cardiff in second lost 2-1 at Leicester City.

Mackie struck in the 31st and 42nd minute to put Neil Warnock's side in charge at previously unbeaten Ipswich, who started the game in third place in the table. A Heidar Helguson penalty with 22 minutes to go rounded things off for QPR.

Leicester had Welsh midfielder Andy King to thank for their first league win of the season. Lee Naylor had put Cardiff in front at the Walkers Stadium but King scored twice to relieve the pressure on manager Paulo Sousa.

Scunthorpe under caretaker manager Ian Baraclough since Nigel Adkins' departure to Southampton earlier this week won 4-0 at Sheffield United. James Vaughan, on loan from Everton, hit a hat-trick to earn Crystal Palace a 4-1 win that leaves Portsmouth languishing on the bottom and Doncaster midfielder James Coppinger also scored three in Rovers' 3-1 win over Norwich. Meanwhile, Barnsley enjoyed a 5-2 win over Leeds in the Yorkshire derby at Oakwell.