Hal Robson-Kanu's strike earned Southend a 1-1 draw against Swansea and stopped the visitors extending their lead at the top to 12 points, while Doncaster's automatic promotion hopes were dented by a 2-1 defeat at Yeovil.

Robson-Kanu, who is on loan from Reading, netted with a fine header from Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick from the right in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

It was the striker's third goal in three games and cancelled out Jason Scotland's penalty, which was awarded after Mulgrew tripped Thomas Butler as he ran into the Southend box.

Scotland sent Shrimpers' keeper Darryl Flahavan the wrong way as he kicked the ball into the right side of the goal for his 26th strike of the season.

In an evenly contested match, Peter Clarke went close to scoring twice through headers for Southend, while substitute striker Lee Barnard shot wide when clear through on goal following a Ferrie Bodde error.

But the woodwork came to Southend's rescue when Bodde hit the crossbar midway through the second half and Nicky Bailey ensured a share of the spoils for Steve Tilson's (pictured) side when he cleared Kevin Austin's back-heel off the line following a spell of sustained Swansea pressure.

Northampton 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Nathan Tyson hit a second-half winner from the penalty spot to earn 10-man Nottingham Forest a 2-1 triumph at Northampton.

Forest played much of the game with 10 men after the first-half dismissal of James Perch not long after Brett Ormerod's opener, and Poul Hubertz brought the play-off chasing Cobblers level only for Tyson to win it.

Ormerod gave Forest a ninth minute lead, clinically finishing off a neat move involving Chris Cohen and Julian Bennett, but Perch was sent off in the 20th minute by Premier League referee Rob Styles for a challenge on Hubertz.

Northampton took full advantage and drew level in the 32nd minute when Hubertz equalised with a superb overhead kick for his 11th goal of the season.

But Forest were the better side in the second half as the impressive Sammy Clingan hit the bar shortly after the restart, Wes Morgan miskicked from close range and Bennett headed over before they regained the lead in the 63rd minute when keeper Mark Bunn was adjudged to have brought down Tyson and he put away the resulting spot-kick.

Northampton's late pressure almost brought an equaliser through a Daniel Jones free-kick and an effort from substitute Giles Coke which went just over but Forest held on.

Yeovil 2-1 Doncaster

Home skipper Terry Skiverton put his side in front after 22 minutes when he headed home Anthony Barry's cross, and Doncaster were 2-0 down before half-time thanks to a blunder from goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

The former Wimbledon custodian tried to dribble the ball past Lloyd Owusu but was dispossessed, allowing Owusu to slot the ball into the empty net.

Paul Heffernan halved Yeovil's advantage with a sweet long distance effort 17 minutes from time, but Russell Slade's men held firm to claim the three points.

The result keeps Doncaster in second place, but they remain level on points with third-placed Carlisle, who now have two games in hand.

The win takes Yeovil above Bristol Rovers into 16th.

TEAMtalk / Eurosport