Yeates goes it alone to give Sheffield a lift

SOCCER:DUBLINER MARK Yeates grabbed the only goal of the game as the Championship's two lowest-scoring sides went head to head at the KC Stadium. Yeates scored a superb solo effort early in the second half against Hull City to make it nine goals for the season for Sheffield United and light up a dull game.

A Liam Lawrence penalty was enough to sink Millwall and lift Portsmouth further away from trouble. Republic of Ireland midfielder Lawrence hit his fifth goal of the season with 12 minutes remaining as the south coast club extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

Leaders QPR had Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny to thank as they came away from Swansea with a point. The Welsh side had a great chance to take the lead in the 39th minute but Kenny kept out David Cotterill’s spot-kick to keep the score at 0-0.

Second-placed Cardiff closed the gap by beating Coventry 2-1.

Third-placed Norwich slipped to a shock 2-1 home defeat against struggling Crystal Palace, who recorded their first away win of the season.

Grant Holt’s goal just before half-time put Norwich in front but Julian Bennett equalised (56) and a rare goal from on-loan Hull defender Anthony Gardner (63) completed the turnaround.

Managerless Middlesbrough suffered a further setback as Lewis McGugan’s strike earned Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win.

Bristol City had the worst home record of any team in the Football League going into their clash with Reading but Danny Haynes’s half-volley (28) gave them a 1-0 win at Ashton Gate.

Scunthorpe edged out Preston by the odd goal in five.

A Kris Commons double helped Derby win by the same 3-2 scoreline at Doncaster. Burnley hammered Barnsley 3-0 at Turf Moor.

On-loan Tottenham full-back Kyle Naughton and striker Steve Howard earned Leicester a 2-1 win at Leeds, for whom Luciano Becchio was on target.

Watford had struggled to break through a stubborn Ipswich defence but two goals in three minutes from Stephen McGinn and Marvin Sordell just before half-time put them 2-0 up. David Norris pulled one back with a header but Watford held on.