Derby County strengthened their position at the top of the Championship with a 2-1 win at Barnsley on Saturday.

Billy Davies' side are three points clear of second-placed Sunderland after goals from David Jones and Matt Oakley put the Rams in control.

Sam Togwell got one back for Barnsley, but they were more concerned about a serious injury suffered by goalkeeper David Lucas, who was taken to hospital after being knocked out in a collision that led to Derby's second goal.

Jones opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he tapped-in after Lucas had parried a Giles Barnes shot.

Then Lucas suffered his injury when Barnes clattered into him in the 43rd minute and Oakley scrambled home as the keeper slumped to the turf. Togwell's last minute strike gave Derby a few nerves but they held on.

Sunderland assume promotion place, Saints run riot
Sunderland moved into the automatic promotion places with a 1-0 win at Cardiff that came courtesy of Ross Wallace's superb goal.

Wallace, who come on as a second half substitute, struck in the 72nd minute with a curling free-kick to give Roy Keane's team their tenth win in 13 games.

Sunderland can be passed by Birmingham on Sunday if the Blues beat Coventry, but their impressive unbeaten run has ensured they are firmly in the race for a top two finish.

West Bromwich Albion got their promotion bid back on track as they won 2-1 at struggling QPR - their first victory in six matches. Kevin Phillips had opened the scoring for Tony Mowbray's side in the 48th minute when he slotted home Jason Koumas's pass. Dexter Blackstock equalised 15 minutes later and Albion keeper Dean Kiely then saved Paul Furlong's penalty, before Zoltan Gera won it with a close range volley in the 84th minute.

Southampton produced one of the performances of the Championship season as they closed the gap on play-off rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers with a 6-0 demolition of Mick McCarthy's team at Molineux. Saints, who were missing eight first team regulars, are just three points outside the top six after Marek Saganowski hit a hat-trick. Leon Best and Andrew Surman also scored, while Gary Breen's own goal added to the hosts' misery.

Dean Windass hit a hat-trick as Hull City boosted their survival hopes with a 4-0 defeat of relegation rivals Southend United at the KC Stadium. Phil Brown's side are now five points clear of the drop zone thanks to Windass's treble and a late Sam Ricketts strike.

Southend remain in the bottom three, along with Leeds United - who beat Preston North End 2-1 on Friday, and Luton Town, who held Burnley to a goalless draw.