Joey Barton cemented QPR's position on top of the Championship as the controversial midfielder's strike inspired a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp's team are bidding for an immediate return to the Premier League after last season's relegation and they look well on course after another dominant display at Loftus Road.

The west Londoners' seventh consecutive clean sheet equalled a club record and allowed them to stay three points clear of second placed Burnley.

Barton, who spent last season on loan at French club Marseille after falling out with previous boss Mark Hughes, has been revitalised this term and he opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a low shot through a crowd of players from the edge of the penalty area.

QPR's second goal arrived in the 35th minute when Gary O'Neil's shot was handled by Ben Gibson and Charlie Austin stepped up to drive home the resulting penalty.

Burnley kept up the pressure on QPR with an emphatic 3-0 win against struggling Charlton at Turf Moor.

Danny Ings got the first goal for Sean Dyche's team in the 38th minute and Sam Vokes bagged a second half brace, netting in the 67th and 86th minutes, to seal the points.

Third placed Leicester enjoyed a 2-1 home win over bottom club Barnsley with a second-half brace from David Nugent, who scored in the 50th and 62nd minutes, the latter a penalty.

Jason Scotland gave the Tykes hope with a 73rd minute reply, but Leicester held on.

A late strike from substitute Cristian Battocchio fired fourth placed Watford to a 1-0 win against FA Cup holders Wigan at Vicarage Road.

Battocchio lashed home from the edge of the area after a shot from Davide Faraoni had been blocked in the 82nd minute.

Fifth placed Nottingham Forest won the bragging rights with a 1-0 win against local rivals Derby at the City Ground.

A first-half goal from Jack Hobbs - his first for Forest since signing on loan from Hull - clinched the points for Forest, who saw striker Darius Henderson's 79th minute penalty saved by Lee Grant.

Reading are also in the top six after they beat Birmingham 2-0 at the Madejski Stadium, with a goal in each half from midfielder Danny Guthrie.

Elsewhere, Bolton rescued a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Yeovil thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Alex Baptiste after Edward Upson's late strike for the visitors at the Reebok Stadium.

Sheffield Wednesday are in the bottom three after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Yorkshire rivals Doncaster, who took the points thanks to a header from on-loan Manchester United forward Federico Macheda in the 71st minute.

Blackburn won 3-1 at Bournemouth, Ipswich defeated Brighton 2-0 and Millwall beat Leeds 2-0.