LONDON: Ipswich improved their prospects of promotion to the Premier League with a 6-0 rout of struggling Sheffield Wednesday yesterday.
With promotion rivals Leeds not in action until today's clash with Millwall, Ipswich climbed into second place in the Championship after their goal spree at Portman Road.
Kieran McKenna's side are just one point behind leaders Leicester, who travel to Chelsea for their FA Cup quarter-final today.
Leeds are two points behind Ipswich and will regain the second automatic promotion spot if they beat Millwall as the promotion race heats up.
Omari Hutchinson put Ipswich ahead in the 15th minute, with Cameron Burgess adding another from a corner and Nathan Broadhead slotting in a third in first half stoppage-time.
On-loan Chelsea forward Hutchinson drilled in a fourth soon after the restart and substitute Ali Al-Hamadi added two further late goals as McKenna's side bounced back from last weekend's late defeat at Cardiff.
West Bromwich Albion consolidated fifth place with a 2-0 win over Bristol City at The Hawthorns.
Tom Fellows put the Baggies in front at the end of the first half, with Jed Wallace on target five minutes after the restart.
Norwich hold the final play-off berth after a 3-0 win at lowly Stoke, with Josh Sargent, Gabriel Sara and Ashley Barnes on target for the Canaries.
Swansea took the bragging rights in the south Wales derby with a 2-0 win over bitter rivals Cardiff at the Liberty Stadium.
Liam Cullen gave the hosts a 34th-minute lead and then missed a penalty early in the second half.
Jamal Lowe wrapped up the points deep into stoppage-time following an incisive counter-attack.
Preston won 1-0 at Plymouth through Liam Millar's first half goal.
Watford's new interim boss Tom Cleverley got off to a positive start with a 1-0 win at struggling Birmingham.
Emmanuel Dennis capitalised on a defensive error just before the break in their first match following Valerien Ismael's sacking.
Bottom of the table Rotherham drew 0-0 against third bottom Huddersfield, who finished with 10 men after Sorba Thomas was sent off for a second booking.
Middlesbrough's three-game winning run came to an end in a goalless draw against Blackburn, while Sunderland and QPR also played out a scoreless stalemate. - AFP