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Newcastle United maintained their lead at the top of the Championship with a convincing 3-0 victory over Swansea City at St James' Park.

Marlon Harewood scored twice either side of Peter Lovenkrands's effort to stay two points clear of second-placed West Bromwich Albion.

But the Baggies went one better to keep up the pressure on the Magpies with a 4-0 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Simon Cox's brace gave them a perfect start and the game was all over at half-time after Jerome Thomas's superb solo effort. Chris Brunt added a fourth with five minutes remaining.

A dramatic late equaliser by Scunthorpe's Martin Woolford saw them rescue a point against Leicester.

Iron keeper Joe Murphy made a series of superb saves as the Foxes failed to finish them off following Martyn Waghorn's early strike.

Nottingham Forest ran out 4-1 winners over Doncaster. A Gareth Roberts own-goal set Forest on their way and goals from Wes Morgan, Robert Earnshaw and Lewis McGugan meant Jason Shackell's late goal was a mere consolation.

There was late drama at Loftus Road too, as visitors Coventry salvaged a 2-2 draw against QPR.

Leon Best headed the visitors 1-0 up from eight yards after 16 minutes, but Jay Simpson cleverly flicked in a reply.

QPR led through Akos Buzsaky on 69 minutes, only for Richard Wood to claw Coventry level 10 minutes from time. The away side then had Stephen Wright sent off for a second booking.

Crystal Palace dominated Watford to run out 3-0 winners. Victor Moses and Alan Lee had the Eagles 2-0 up inside six minutes and Julian Speroni saved David Graham's spot-kick before Darren Ambrose scored the third.

Middlesbrough were held 2-2 away at basement club Peterborough. Dave Kitson put the visitors 1-0 up in the first half, but George Boyd equalised.

Kitson got his second after great work by Adam Johnson but Sean Batt smashed in a long-range leveller. Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan was livid late on as he felt a foul on Sean St Ledger should have earned his side a penalty.

Bristol City thought they had grabbed a late equaliser against Sheffield United, only for the game to be snatched away.

United looked to be cruising after Darius Henderson's quickfire double but Louis Carey cut the deficit on 53 minutes and Alvaro Saborio scored in the fifth minute of injury time - but Henderson completed his hat-trick a minute later.

Barnsley will count themselves unlucky as they recovered from Karl Duguid's early goal for Plymouth to lead 4-1 through Daniel Bogdanovic, Emil Hallfredsson, Adam Hammill and Ryan Shotton - but a waterlogged pitch ended proceedings and they will have to do it all over again.

Nigel Clough's Derby came from behind to win a bottom-of-the-table clash against Reading 2-1. Gylfi Sigurdsson put the Royals 1-0 up on 56 minutes but Rob Hulse set up Paul Green to equalise on the hour and scored the winner himself 13 minutes later. Reading's Shane Long was sent off late on for a dangerous tackle.

Eurosport / PA Sport