LONDON: Hull City's bid for a quick return to the Premier League gathered pace as they swept back to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 win against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Steve Bruce's side dominated at Ewood Park and eventually secured their seventh win in their last eight matches thanks to goals from Abel Hernandez and Mohamed Diame.
Diame found Hernandez who rounded Jason Steele before stroking home his 17th goal of the season.
Blackburn's new signing Elliott Ward had one cleared off the line moments later, but that would have been unfair overall and Hull put the result beyond doubt in the 63rd minute when Hernandez squared to give Diame his easiest finish of the season.
Hull's first success at Ewood Park since 1986 took them two points clear of Middlesbrough, who drop to second but could regain top spot with a win over Leeds United on Monday.
"I thought we looked a very good team today and it was a good performance from everybody," Bruce said.
"We knew we had more in the tank. That's as good as we've played for a long time."
Third-placed Burnley's hopes of automatic promotion suffered a blow when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Although Burnley extended their undefeated league run to eight matches, they still finished frustrated after missing a 59th-minute penalty, when Andre Gray's spot-kick was saved by home goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche hit out at Reading winger Hal Robson-Kanu, who appeared to kick the ball off the spot -- and also scuff the spot -- before Gray could take the penalty.
"From where I was looking, I did see their player (Robson-Kanu) dig the spot up," Dyche said.
"I've never seen that in my career and I hope my players never conduct themselves in that manner. I think that's really poor."
Burnley are one point behind the top two and level on points with fourth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion, who defeated Bolton Wanderers 3-2 at the Amex Stadium.
Sheffield Wednesday cruised to a 4-0 victory over 10-man Brentford at Hillsborough.
An early red card for Brentford's Yoann Barbet opened the floodgates as goals from Fernando Forestieri, Gary Hooper, Kieran Lee and Lucas Joao moved the in-form Owls up to fifth place.
Derby County started life under new head coach Darren Wassall with a 1-0 defeat against Milton Keynes Dons at the iPro Stadium.
The Rams, who sacked former Chelsea and Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement on Monday after less than a season in charge, were rocked when the visitors scored with a Jake Forster-Caskey free-kick eight minutes from full-time.
Neil Warnock's survival mission at third-from-bottom Rotherham United began with a 0-0 draw against Birmingham City.
The 67-year-old was appointed as the Millers' new manager on Thursday after Neil Redfearn was sacked.
Elsewhere, Fulham won 3-1 at west London rivals Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City beat Ipswich Town 2-1 and Huddersfield Town beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.
Preston North End won 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic drew 0-0 with Cardiff City.
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