Championship round-up: QPR open up gap while Chris Martin caps Derby fightback

QPR’s Charlie Austin celebrates scoring the opener in the 2-0 win over Bolton (Getty Images)

A good night for the top two in the Championship, Leicester and Queen’s Park Rangers, saw them both win and move away from Burnley in third who were held to a draw at home.

Leicester have now won eight league games on the trot. Lloyd Dyer gave them a first-half lead at Birmingham and after weathering pressure from the home side, Jamie Vardy earned some breathing space with the second with seven minutes to go. Peter Lovenkrands fired a late consolation for Birmingham.

Charlie Austin’s 14th goal of the season gave QPR the lead against Bolton at Loftus Road, the striker heading in at the far post from Matty Phillips’ cross four minutes from half-time. Karl Henry slammed in the second from the edge of the area after a corner was only partially cleared. Jay Spearing pulled one back for Bolton with five minutes to go.

Burnley are now three points off Rangers in second after they failed to break down a defensive Brighton side, the game at Turf Moor ending 0-0.

Derby, in fourth, stormed back from two goals down at half time to beat Yeovil 3-2. John Lundstram gave the visitors the lead from 25 yards, then Ishmael Miller made it two from an acute angle.

Patrick Bamford pulled one back for Derby in the 50th minute and the Rams drew level with three minutes to go through Craig Bryson. Chris Martin’s header deep in injury time completed a dramatic recovery.

It was a bad night for struggling Charlton and their manager Chris Powell as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Doncaster and had midfielder Lawrie Wilson sent off.

An Adam le Fondre hat-trick inspired high-flying Reading to a 5-1 win over Blackpool.