League round-up: Bothroyd lifts Cardiff to top two

Jay Bothroyd scored Cardiff's second goal in the victory over Portsmouth (GETTY IMAGES)

Cardiff City reclaimed the second automatic promotion berth in the Championship after a straightforward 3-0 win over Portsmouth. Seyi Olofinjana turned in Craig Bellamy's cross after six minutes before Pompey made the win easier when Ricardo Rocha was sent off for head-butting Jay Bothroyd. Bothroyd made it 2-0 on half-time, and Peter Whittingham's second-half tap-in wrapped up the victory.

"Every single player was on top form," the Cardiff manager Dave Jones said, "and Craig Bellamy deserved a goal as he set a very high example."

Reading, the division's form team, continued their charge when goals by Jimmy Kebe, Jobi McAnuff and Noel Hunt beat Leicester City 3-1 to lift them to fourth, three points behind Cardiff. The Royals swept past Swansea City who lost away for a fourth consecutive match, 2-1 at Burnley. The Clarets' supporters acclaimed Graham Alexander, on as a substitute two minutes from time to make his 1,000th career appearance, only the second outfield player ever to do so.

Sixth-placed Leeds United needed a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 home draw with Watford, but Hull City are within two points off them after Matt Fryatt scored two in a 3-1 defeat of Doncaster.

At the bottom, Preston North End and Scunthorpe United have fresh hope after beating fellow strugglers Sheffield United and Crystal Palace respectively. Keith Treacy scored twice as a 3-1 defeat at Preston left the Blades eight points from safety, while in a fractious match at Palace both sides had a man sent off but the Iron won 2-1.

Marlon King scored both goals as Coventry City beat Millwall 2-1, the Lions not helped when substitute Neil Harris was sent off three minutes after coming on at the start of the second half.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough and Barnsley drew 1-1 and promising Josh Carson scored as 10-man Ipswich won 1-0 at Bristol City.

League One

Brighton were crowned champions after Inigo Calderon, Glenn Murray and Elliott Bennett scored in a 3-1 win at Walsall.

League Two

Chesterfield need one more point to earn promotion after a 2-1 home win over Macclesfield.

Europe

Barcelona took a giant stride towards a third straight Spanish title with a 1-1 draw away to10-man Real Madrid to preserve their eight-point lead over their rivals at the top with six games left.

In a tense encounter at the Bernabeu, Lionel Messi scored from the spot in the 53rd minute after Raul Albiol was sent off for a foul on David Villa. Barça were in control until Dani Alves felled Marcelo in the area and Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty to prevent Barça winning a sixth successive "El Classico".

In Italy, Milan look poised for the title after beating Sampdoria 3-0, while Internazionale's hopes of winning a sixth straight title were dealt another blow with a 2-0 defeat at lowly Parma.

Scottish Cup Semi-Final

Motherwell booked a place in a final against Aberdeen or Celtic, who play today, when first-half goals by Stephen Craigan, Jamie Murphy and John Sutton earned a 3-0 win over St Johnstone.