The bottom of the division is very tight, with just three points seperating Queens Park Rangers, who are 16th, from Sheffield Wednesday who are 22nd and occupy the final relegation spot.
The bottom two teams look as good as relegated. Peterborough’s 1-0 home loss to Coventry, thanks to Jon Stead’s goal, leaves them 13 points from safety.
Plymouth Argyle, in 23rd, are little better off. They were held to a 1-1 home draw by Preston North End, which leaves them seven points from Palace. They would need to pick up wins quickly to get within touching distance of survival.
The wins for Wednesday and Palace really tighten up the dogfight to stay up. Wednesday remain in the bottom three despite their 2-0 home win over Leicester, thanks to goals either side of half-time from Leon Clarke,
Palace started life after Neil Warnock with victory, Alan Lee’s first-half goal gave them a vital 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Selhurst Park.
Warnock started life after Palace with victory. He left the Eagles during the week to take charge at QPR, citing job security as the reason for his depature.
He got off to an impressive start, as Rangers defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-1 – only their second win in 12 matches. Jay Simpson, Matt Connolly and Akos Buzsaky were on target for the London side.
Wednesday and Palace both sit on 37 points. Scunthorpe, who did not play on Saturday as scheduled opponents Reading were in FA Cup action, are one of three teams on 38.
Reading top that trio, with Ipswich – who were beaten 1-0 at Blackpool, ahead of the Iron on goal difference.
Watford, one point above on 39, were beaten 2-0 at Derby County. QPR, on 40 points in 16th place, appear the last side in danger of relegation.
At the top of the table, Newcastle United pulled eight points clear as they thrashed Barnsley 6-1.
With West Brom, who were second before the start of the day, losing, Nottingham Forest’s 1-0 win over Swansea City saw them move into the second automatic promotion spot.
Doncaster were 5-2 victors at Bristol City and Cardiff secured a 1-0 home win over Middlesbrough to maintain their play-off push.
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