Malky Mackay's chances of being made Watford manager on a permanent basis were dented by the 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Barnsley that kept the Hornets in the Championship relegation zone.

Tommy Smith put Watford ahead but the hosts came out on top thanks to two goals in as many minutes from Miguel Mostto and Stephen Foster.

Mackay said: "If we'd have got a second goal we'd have killed them off but we dropped too deep and had a mad few minutes."

Chelsea reserve-team coach Brendan Rodgers remains the bookies' favourite to succeed Aidy Boothroyd, with Craig Levein understood to be staying at Dundee United.

There was no joy for fifth-bottom Charlton at Birmingham as the they went down 3-2 after goals from Hameur Bouazza and Andy Gray had put them ahead.

Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was to blame for the Blues' replies with Charlton boss Alan Pardew saying: "An uncharacteristic mistake gave them a lift and then another one straight away gave them the win. Those two errors cost us."

Crystal Palace lost 2-1 at Cardiff, for whom striker Michael Chopra converted one penalty but missed another. Palace boss Neil Warnock (above), who saw Sean Scannell equalise and Matt Lawrence sent off, said: "I don't think the first penalty was deserved."

Queens Park Rangers dropped to tenth following a 2-1 defeat at home to in-form Burnley. Dexter Blackstock gave them an early lead but the visitors took the points with goals either side of the break from Robbie Blake and substitute Alan Mahon.

Caretaker Rangers boss Gareth Ainsworth was also convinced his side had suffered spot-kick injustice with referee Andy Woolmer twice refusing to penalise challenges that sent Blackstock sprawling.

In League One, Dave Martin's stunning free-kick gave Millwall a 1-0 home win over Stockport and brought them level on points with second-place Leicester.

Leyton Orient's relegation fears were eased by a 2-0 win at Crewe, with Tamika Mkandawire and Adam Boyd on the score-sheet.

It's tight at the top in League Two with Brentford's 3-0 win at Port Vale taking them level with third-place Shrewsbury as one of six teams on 27 points.

Dagenham went down 2-1 at Luton while Barnet were thrashed 4-0 at home to Notts County.