Surprise promotion contenders Burnley consolidated their position on top of the Championship with a 2-1 win over Reading on Saturday.

The Clarets have emerged as challengers for a place in the Premier League thanks to their best start to a season since 1961, when they finished as runners-up in the English top-flight.

Sean Dyche's side maintained that fine form by seeing off promotion rivals Reading at Turf Moor for their eighth win in 11 league matches.

Danny Ings bagged his seventh league goal of the season to open the scoring in the 21st minute before Vokes doubled the hosts' advantage with his fifth in four league games with 10 minutes remaining.

Jason Shackell's own goal two minutes later gave Reading hope, but the hosts held on to earn their fifth successive league win.

QPR remain hot on Burnley's heels in second place after a 2-0 win over bottom of the table Barnsley at Loftus Road.

Harry Redknapp's team are behind Burnley only on goal difference after setting a new club record by keeping an eighth consecutive clean sheet.

Charlie Austin scored from close range after being set up by substitute Junior Hoilett as QPR finally broke Barnsley's resistance in the 66th minute.

And Austin sealed the points for unbeaten QPR five minutes from the end when he slotted home from the penalty spot after he was tripped by Martin Cranie.

Third placed Leicester lost for just the second time in the league this season as an own-goal from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel condemned Nigel Pearson's men to a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster.

Schmeichel, the son of Manchester United legend Peter, inexplicably punched a corner into his own net in the 17th minute.

Czech Republic defender Daniel Pudil capped Watford's fightback as Gianfranco Zola's team won 2-1 at Huddersfield.

Pudil was first to react when Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies spilled Lewis McGugan's free-kick on 44 minutes.

Watford had fallen behind on 17 minutes when Danny Ward glanced a header in unmarked.

But Watford's Argentina-born Italian Fernando Forestieri equalised with a fine strike just one minute later.

Elsewhere, Derby, with former England manager Steve McClaren in charge for the first time, beat Leeds 3-1 at Pride Park.

The Rams went 2-0 up through Chris Martin and Johnny Russell and after Jason Pearce pulled a goal back, Will Hughes wrapped up the victory.

Bolton moved out of the relegation zone after securing a 2-1 victory at Birmingham for their first league win of the season.

Jermaine Beckford and Neil Danns scored for Dougie Freedman's side before Serbia striker Nikola Zigic reduced the deficit.

Sheffield Wednesday are still waiting for their first win of the campaign after drawing 1-1 at home with Ipswich.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth beat 10-man Millwall 5-2, Middlesbrough thrashed Yeovil 4-1 and Blackpool drew 0-0 at Charlton.