City Slip Into Deeper Trouble

Colchester continued their great home record to make it eight successive victories at Layer Road. Nicky Forster had given City the lead after 16 minutes, before Chris Iwelumo equalised minutes later. The U's forward won a penalty shortly after half time which he took and scored to give Colchester the lead, and he then set up Jamie Cureton to make it 3-1. Iwelumo went on to score another two, to make it a 5-1 defeat for Phil Parkinson on his first return to Layer Road since leaving to become City manager.

Barnsley go above Leeds and out of the relegation zone after beating bottom of the table Southend 2-0 at Oakwell. The Shrimpers remain 5 points behind City with 20 games gone, while Barnsley are now 4 in front of the Tigers.

City do stay within touching distance of Leeds, whose 2-1 defeat at Burnley means they remain just 2 points ahead.

Defeats for Luton and Leicester leave them in trouble, while Crystal Palace go up to 18th after drawing 1-1 at Wolves, courtesy of Dougie Freedman's 84th minute equaliser.

QPR followed Saturday's home defeat to Coventry with another loss at Loftus Road against Sunderland this evening.