QPR rise above off-field problems

QPR put their off-field issues to one side to extend their advantage at the summit of the npower Championship courtesy of a hard-fought 2-1 victory in their London derby with Crystal Palace.

The Hoops could face a possible points deduction after the Football Association this week charged them, along with chairman Gianni Paladini, with breaches of regulations relating to third-party ownership and agents over the signing of Alejandro Faurlin.

Adel Taarabt put in a virtuoso performance, setting up Heidar Helguson to open the scoring before winning a penalty to allow the Iceland international to net his second after the interval.

Patrick McCarthy saw red on the back of that incident as Palace's challenge petered out after James Vaughan had restored parity on the stroke of half-time.

Second-placed Swansea, meanwhile, suffered a 2-1 defeat at struggling Derby.

Ashley Williams' early own goal set County on their way to a first home victory since November and extended the promotion-chasing Swans' winless streak to three games.

Steven Davies doubled the home side's advantage from Conor Doyle's corner in the second half, before substitute Darren Pratley grabbed what proved to be a mere consolation.

By comparison, Leicester reignited their promotion challenge as a brace from Portuguese defender Miguel Vitor helped Sven-Goran Eriksson's side to a deserved 3-0 victory at Scunthorpe.

The Foxes' hopes of a top-six finish had been hurt by a run of three defeats in four matches but they returned to winning ways in emphatic style thanks to Vitor's double and Kyle Naughton's 76th-minute effort.