Cardiff City moved back into the second automatic promotion place in the Championship with a comfortable 3-0 win over out-of-sorts Portsmouth.

It took only eight minutes for Seyi Olofinjana to put Cardiff in front after some smart work by Craig Bellamy. Dave Jones's side doubled their lead just before half-time when a Peter Whittingham corner sparked a scramble in the box and the ball fell to Jay Bothroyd, who converted a simple chance. Whittingham added a third in the 73rd minute.

Cardiff spirits will have been lifted further by Swansea City's loss at Burnley, which leaves Brendan Rodgers' side five points off the automatic places. Swansea took the lead at Turf Moor through Fabio Borini, but an Ashley Williams own-goal and Chris Eagles' penalty earned victory for Burnley, for whom Graeme Alexander was making his 1,000th professional appearance, becoming only the second player to achieve the feat.

Leeds and Nottingham Forest's wobbles will have encouraged Hull City, who remain in contention for a play-off place after two Matty Fryatt goals led them to a 3-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers at the KC Stadium. Richard Garcia scored Hull's first goal, before Franck Moussa levelled for Doncaster.

Scunthorpe United added another twist to the relegation tussle with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park that dragged Crystal Palace back into trouble. Goals in each half from David Mirfin and Ramón Núñez put Scunthorpe in control before Sean Scannell pulled one back for Palace with 20 minutes to go. That set up a frantic finale in which the visitors' Joe Garner then Scannell were sent off. Victory takes third-bottom Scunthorpe to within three points of their opponents.

In the day's other relegation battle, Preston North End also kept their survival hopes alive, while probably ending Sheffield United's, in a 3-1 win at Deepdale. Keith Treacy scored twice in the second half to put Preston only four points from safety.

Brighton and Hove Albion secured the League One title with a 3-1 win at Walsall. Inigo Calderon put them ahead in the sixth minute with a header. The hosts levelled five minutes later through Andy Butler's header before Glenn Murray and Elliott Bennett struck to seal the title.

League Two leaders Chesterfield are now only a point away from securing promotion after their 2-1 win over Macclesfield.