SOUTHAMPTON HAVE MOVED closer to securing automatic promotion to the Premier League after a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Nigel Adkins’ side now lead second-placed Reading, who have one game in hand, by three points with four matches of the campaign remaining.

Rickie Lambert opened the scoring for Southampton after 39 minutes of the match at Selhurst Park.

The prolific striker sealed the result with his second 11 minutes into the second half. Lambert has now scored 30 goals for the club in all competitions this season.

Hope for Holloway

Elsewhere, 10-man Blackpool remain fifth after they salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw against Barnsley.

Keith Southern was shown a straight red card after 21 minutes, making life difficult for Ian Holloway’s Blackpool side in front of their home fans at Bloomfield Road.

David Perkins took advantage of Barnsley’s numerical advantage when he put the visitors in front just after the break.

However, with just 19 minutes remaining, Matt Phillips levelled, giving Blackpool a point that could be crucial in their bid to make the playoffs.

Leeds slide continues

Cardiff City sit sixth after a 1-1 home draw at home to Watford, with Nyron Nosworthy equalising for the visitors in the 82nd minute to cancel out Kenny Miller’s opener.

Leeds United’s slide shows no sign of ending as they lost for the fifth time in six games. They were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Derby County at Elland Round and now lie 14th in the table.

Craig Bryson and Steven Davies were on the scoresheet for County and Leeds were reduced to 10-men when former Wigan midfielder Michael Brown was sent off after only 25 minutes.

Joshua King and Matty Fryatt scored second-half goals as Hull City came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1. Bristol City moved four points clear of the relegation zone thanks to a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Coventy City.

Nottingham Forest won 1-0 at Peterborough United. Leicester City and Burnley notched 2-1 away wins over Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers respectively.