Leaders Cardiff City battled to a 2-1 win at Sunderland on Tuesday to preserve their four-point lead at the top of the Championship. Preston kept up the chase by thrashing Leeds United 4-1 while Burnley moved up to third with a 2-0 win at Luton Town and Birmingham City jumped to fourth with a 1-0 win at Coventry.

Cardiff, who won thanks to Michael Chopra's first-half double, have 33 points ahead of Preston on 29 with Burnley a further point back ahead of Birmingham who now have 27.

West Bromwich Albion slipped two places to fifth after a 3-3 draw at home to Queen's Park Rangers while Plymouth dropped one spot to sixth following a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.

Leeds's encouraging start under new manager Dennis Wise lasted just one game and they stay fourth from bottom with just 13 points from 15 games.