Round-Up: Rodgers outraged by Swansea's slump
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Your support makes all the difference.Brendan Rodgers, the Swansea manager, reacted bitterly to his side's 2-1 defeat at Burnley on Saturday, their fourth successive reverse on the road, which leaves them five points behind big rivals Cardiff in the race for the second automatic promotion spot.
Rodgers said: "We shot ourselves in the foot. We had plenty of opportunities in the first half and when they don't go in you wonder whether luck will be on your side. But for us to get that goal and then turn around and lose like we did is bitterly disappointing."
Fabio Borini had opened the scoring shortly after the break with his fourth goal in five games since joining Swansea on loan from Chelsea, but an Ashley Williams own goal and a Chris Eagles penalty kept Burnley's slim hopes of a play-off spot alive. The game also marked the Burnley defender Graham Alexander's 1,000th career appearance – he is only the second British outfield player to reach the milestone.
Cardiff stayed in second, seven points behind leaders Queen's Park Rangers, who play Derby tonight, with a comfortable 3-0 win over a 10-man Portsmouth. Manger Dave Jones was full of praise for his team – "I'd give everyone of them 10 out of 10" – but singled out captain Craig Bellamy: "He's dragging them along. He sets an example of the highest level and if players don't want to be a part of that he'll let them know and give them an ear-bashing."
Josh Carson, 17, scored his third goal in as many games to help Ipswich to a 1-0 win at Bristol City, despite Lee Martin being sent off for the visitors. There were serious concerns for Grant Leadbitter, who suffered concussion after colliding with City's Damion Stewart but he has since been released from hospital.
At the bottom, Preston beat Sheffield United 3-1 while Scunthorpe won another relegation six-pointer 2-1 at Crystal Palace, the Eagles' first home defeat since October. "It was a really bad day at the office," said the Palace manager Dougie Freedman. "We've been on a great run at home but it's come to an end just when we didn't want it to."
Championship results
Saturday
Bristol City (0) 0 Ipswich (0) 1
Burnley (0) 2 Swansea (0) 1
Cardiff (2) 3 Portsmouth (0) 0
Coventry (1) 2 Millwall (1) 1
Crystal Palace (0) 1 Scunthorpe (1) 2
Hull (2) 3 Doncaster (1) 1
Leeds (0) 2 Watford (0) 2
Middlesbrough (0) 1 Barnsley (1) 1
Preston (0) 3 Sheff Utd (0) 1
Reading (2) 3 Leicester (0) 1
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