The Championship promotion race took another turn in Watford's favour last night as Brentford failed to win for the fourth game in a row.

However, a thumping victory for league leaders Norwich City suggests that the league title may just be out of reach.

The Hornets' draw at Middlesbrough on Monday extended their lead over both Swansea and Brentford to ten points.

The Swans then scored a late own goal in their game against Preston on the same day to maintain that gap, while the Bees only managed to pick up a point in their game against Birmingham City last night, meaning the gap between them and second spot is nine points.

Both Brentford and Swansea have a game in hand on Watford, but wins in those matches would only claw back the lead to six and seven points respectively, keeping the fate of the title race in the Hornets' hands.

Xisco Munoz's men will have the chance to keep the pressure on the chasing pack on Friday night, when they play Reading.

A win in that game would send Brentford and Swansea into their games on Saturday against Preston and Millwall with 12 and 13 points to make up.

It would also reduce the gap on top of the league Norwich City to five points, although the Canaries' 7-0 win over Huddersfield last night suggests they are still very much on course to claim top spot this season.

The league leaders' current points tally (87) would have been enough to secure promotion in eight of the last ten seasons.