Round-Up: Howson caps stirring Leeds recovery

A stirring second-half recovery at Turf Moor saw Leeds United fight back from 2-0 down to beat Burnley 3-2 and move to fourth in the Championship, two points off an automatic promotion place.

Goals by Brian Easton and Jay Rodriguez put the Clarets in charge at half-time, but when Max Gradel fired in from Luciano Becchio's knock down, Leeds revived. Becchio's sixth goal in as many games levelled the scores and Jonathan Howson was allowed to run from his own half to win the match with a 25-yard shot.

Leeds were the only top-six side to win. Second-placed Cardiff City spurned a chance to close the gap on Queen's Park Rangers when Julio Arca's penalty earned Middlesbrough a 1-0 win at the Riverside. If the Bluebirds' manager, Dave Jones, buys in the January sales, a defender seems high on the list. "I don't know how often we are going to leave the door open at the back," he said. "A bit of fear has crept in there somehow. At the moment that unit isn't working."

Fifth-placed Coventry City dug out a point from a goalless draw at Reading, but Norwich City slipped to sixth after they lost 2-0 at home to Portsmouth. David Nugent created Dave Kitson's 73rd-minute opener and was fouled in the 90th minute by Leon Burnett – Greg Halford fired in the penalty after Burnett had been sent off. Albert Adomah set up Brett Pitman's two goals in Bristol City's 2-0 win over Derby County at Ashton Gate.

Bottom of the table Preston North End closed the gap on the sides above them after Iain Hume's goal was enough to beat Roy Keane's Ipswich Town 1-0. "You wouldn't believe how much this is hurting," Keane said. "Nine defeats in 11 is not acceptable."

Crystal Palace drew 0-0 with Hull City at Selhurst Park and at Oakwell Hugo Colace's first goal of the season saw Barnsley beat Sheffield United 1-0.

League One

Sheffield Wednesday had six scorers in a 6-2 thrashing of Bristol Rovers that lifted them to second behind Brighton, who lost 2-1 at Huddersfield. The Terriers are up to third. Thomas Ince, son of Notts County manager Paul, scored scored the first in the Magpies' 2-0 defeat of MK Dons.

League Two

Chesterfield took over at the top after Jack Lester's close-range 28th-minute effort earned a 1-0 win over Torquay United and Port Vale lost by the same score at Morecambe. Gillingham scored four goals away from home for the third time this season. Having previously lost 7-4 and 5-4, they won 4-2 at Macclesfield.

Scottish Premier

Craig Brown watched his first Aberdeen game after taking over as manager and saw them hammered 5-0 at Hearts, which left the Dons bottom of the table. At the top the leaders, Rangers, were held 1-1 at Inverness. Kenny Miller scored for Rangers but also had a penalty saved.