Championship round-up: Gyepes plugs Watford gap for Bluebirds

Cardiff City's Premiership quality strikeforce of Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd all scored in the first half-hour at home to Watford, but the Hornets reacted strongly as goals by Will Buckley and Marvin Sordell made it 3-2 early in the second half. Buckley had a goal disallowed and hit the post before Gabor Gyepes' 83rd-minute effort wrapped up the points in a 4-2 win that saw Dave Jones' side reclaim the second automatic promotion place on goal difference because Swansea City drew 1-1 at Barnsley. The Swans needed a late Scott Sinclair penalty to salvage the point that leaves them fourth.

The Welsh sides are separated by Norwich City who won 2-1 at Sheffield United, Andrew Crofts scoring both Canaries goals. Elsewhere in the top six, Leeds United twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Portsmouth, twice left in the dark by floodlight failures at Fratton Park.

Reading needed a late Ian Harte penalty to draw 1-1 with Hull City at the Madejski Stadium, relief for the defender who had gifted Corry Evans the Tigers' opener. Eddie Howe's first match as Burnley manager ended 0-0 at Scunthorpe United. The Clarets have won only once in 12 away games, but have drawn seven times.

The Iron stay in the bottom three as do Crystal Palace, who drew 0-0 with Bristol City, and Preston North End, who also drew, 1-1 at Middlesbrough.

Sol Bamba, signed from Hibernian, scored twice for Leicester City in their 4-2 defeat of Millwall. The Lions had missed an early penalty and had Jens Berthel Askou sent off with 18 minutes remaining. Paul Jewell's first home match in charge of Ipswich Town brought the smiles back to Portman Road after a 3-2 win over Doncaster Rovers.

Scottish Premier

Is the Glasgow duopoly in Scotland's top flight about to be broken? Ryan Stevenson's scrambled goal at Tynecastle gave Hearts a 1-0 win over Rangers that took them to within two points of the second-placed side, seven behind leaders Celtic who beat Aberdeen 1-0. Hearts go to Celtic on Wednesday. "With our record away from home, we've got nothing to fear going there," Hearts manager Jim Jeffries said.