CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE: All the Easter Monday action from around the grounds as it happened

By Dan Ripley

PUBLISHED: 05:02 EST, 1 April 2013 | UPDATED: 13:44 EST, 1 April 2013

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the eight Championship matches on a busy Easter Monday.

Leaders Cardiff entertain Blackburn as they look to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at Peterborough on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ian Holloway returns to his old club as his Crystal Palace side, who were thrashed 4-0 by Birmingham at Selhurst Park, travel to Blackpool.

Struggling Wolves are also searching for a much needed win in their battle to beat the drop as they make the short trip to Birmingham.

Elsewhere, FA Cup semi-finalists Millwall take on Ipswich at The Den while the late kick-off sees Leeds face Derby at Elland Road.

Send all your thoughts on the action to me at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk or contact me on Twitter @Ripinho.

20.00: Boos at the final whistle for the home side but those three points for Derby mean it's three wins in a row for the Rams now, who rocket up to eighth and just six points behind play-off hopefuls Brighton.

That's all from here but click here to follow tonight's Premier League action as Fulham host QPR. Thanks for following.

19.57: Full-time: Leeds 1-2 Derby

19.57: Last chance saloon for Leeds as Kenny comes up for a long throw into the box. Derby have everyone back though and clear their lines.

19.54: There will be four minutes added on as Davies is replaced by Valentin Gjokaj for Derby.

19.51: GOAL! Leeds 1-2 DERBY

But justice is eventually served as Davies' corner is headed home by Jake Buxton inside the area with just two minutes left. What a turnaround for Nigel Clough's side!

19.49: Derby have had one penalty given but they should have another here. Michael Jacobs is brought down by White inside the area but incredibly the referee gives a free-kick on the very edge of the box. Massive injustice as Ben Davies' free-kick is punched behind for a corner.

19.47: This is by far Derby's best spell of the match. They have Leeds camped in their own half at the moment but they are just struggling to create chances despite their possession.

18.45: Derby sense three points as they start to build up a string of attacks and they win a free-kick 25 yards from goal to the right.

The cross is sent towards the far post but Leeds head clear.

18.43: We are inside the final 10 minutes and Derby have a decent opportunity to pull ahead. Coutts steals the ball of Warnock, but his curling inswinging cross seconds later just evades the head of the charging Sammon.

18.41: McCormack is getting further away now. Picking up a short free-kick from 30 yards, the forward lets fly only for his shot to fly well over the bar.

18.38: And Leeds nearly retake the lead, only for the crossbar to deny them as Byram's header from a far post cross crashes off the woodwork.

18.35: GOAL! Leeds 1-1 DERBY

Madness from the Leeds defence, not once but twice! Jason Pearce's clumsy challenge brings down Martin for a penalty, and although Sammon's spot-kick hits the post, Paul Coutts is first to the rebound to volley home.

18.34: PENALTY (DERBY)

18.32: McCormack has got his radar in now as the forward attempts another curler across goal, only this time he just fires wide of the far post.

18.29: GOAL! LEEDS 1-0 Derby

Top class. Fielding can only punch clear a corner to Green, whose lay-off across the 18-yard line is curled home first time into the top corner by substitute Ross McCormack. Cracking strike.

18.28: A second Leeds change as Aidy White replaces Diouf. It's been a very even second half as the game begins to show signs of becoming stretched.

18.26: We are getting closer to a goal. Hendrick's low cross into the box is turned by a Leeds defender into his own goal but the strike is ruled out after Sammon was in an offside position. Seeing as the striker forced the Leeds error , he was interfering with play.

18.23: Green is booked for Leeds after making a late challenge to concede a free-kick 25 yards out, but the effort from the visitors strikes the wall before a touch off Hendrick sees the ball fall behind for a goal kick.

18.21: First switch for Leeds and it's young Dawson making way for Ross McCormack. It's been an impressive debut from the 18-year-old and the Leeds fans agree as they chant his name as he takes his place on the bench.

18.19: Leeds respond with their own drive from distance, as Austin's low 25-yard effort drags wide across goal after the midfielder picked up a loose ball.

18.17: And there is our shot on target! Jeff Hendrick's 20-yard strike is well hit but Kenny dives well to his right to punch away the ball. This has been a good spell for Derby.

Put under pressure: Leeds' El Hadji Diouf vies for the ball with Derby's Kieron Freeman (left)

18.15: An opportunity for Derby to counter after Dawson loses the ball, but despite Sammon running through in open space, Austin gets back to make a good clean tackle.

18.13: And that's a little better from Derby. After some build-up play around the Leeds box, Martin volleys towards goal with Sammon failing to get a small deflection as Kenny comfortably takes.

18.11: Leeds are showing the more ambition at the start of this period, as Green again shoots from 20 yards only to see his effort blocked clear.

18.08: The players are back out at Elland Road - no changes as Leeds restart.

18.06: There's already been seven Championship games today folks, and you can read all the match reports from those fixtures by clicking on the relative hyperlinks in the green box above.

18.03: Leeds need three points too if they want to keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the play-offs. A draw today would put them seven points behind sixth-placed Brighton.

More worryingly though, a draw would also mean they are closer to the bottom three. Huddersfield in 22st place would be just six points behind. Ridiculous and fascinating at the same time.

17.58: A very uninspiring first half. That Green shot aside we have hardly come close to a breakthrough goal - we haven't even had a shot on target.

17.53: Half-time: Leeds 0-0 Derby

17.50: There will be two minutes of injury time - the referee may as well save us the bother and blow to end the first half now.

17.49: Soon after Leeds hit the bar, Connor Sammon raced up the other end for Derby on the counter attack but Paddy Kenny raced out his goal to force a corner which the hosts survived.

17.46: After 40 minutes of toiling in front of goal from both sides, Leeds go incredibly close to taking the lead. After neat play from Chris Dawson finds Diouf inside the box, the forward lays the ball back to Paul Green, whose first time effort crashes off the underside of the bar and out to safety.

17.43: Leeds are unfortunate not to win a free-kick on the right flank near the penalty area, after Diouf is blatantly tripped on the touchline. I can forgive the referee for not seeing it, but the incident happened no more than two yards in front of one of his assistants.

17.40: Finally we have a half-chance! Varney is onside as he picks up the ball in the Derby box, but his snapshot across goal drifts wide of the post.

Derby are forced into a change as the injured Craig Bryson is replaced by Michael Jacobs.

Debutant: Chris Dawson made his Leeds debut at the age of 18

17.37: Over half-an-hour gone and I can't recall either side having a worthwhile shot at goal. Defences dominating but this game has been played at a slow pace.

17.34: Derby have threatened just as little as Leeds and the closest they have come in the last few minutes is through Chris Martin.

It wasn't a shot though, the striker instead looked like he had breached the Leeds backline before his touch let him down and he conceded a free-kick. That's the sort of scraps I'm feeding off at the moment folks.

17.31: The Derby back four is eventually breached but Rodolph Austin's through ball is a little too heavy as it rolls out of play for a goal kick just in front of the chasing Byram .

17.28: Fielding remains Derby's busiest player but it's only because he has to constantly deal with crosses rather than shots. The keeper punches clear another corner before claiming a high Stephen Warnock ball moments later.

17.25: Keogh to the rescue again as now on the other side of the penalty area he blocks Diouf's cross as the ball deflects comfortably to Fielding.

17.22: Leeds are looking much the better team but to Derby's credit they are denying the hosts any chances as Fielding punches clear a corner.

17.19: Leeds are picking up the tempo now and only a great challenge from Richard Keogh denies Luke Varney from inside the box - the Derby skipper timed it to perfection.

17.16: No chances in the opening 10 minutes with Leeds' only attacking effort coming with Sam Byram's cross being plucked out of the air by Derby stopper Frank Fielding.

17.13: From OptaJoe:

5 - Lewis McGugan has now scored in each of Nottingham Forest's last five league games. Lifesaver.

17.10 Derby haven't won away since December but they have made a bright enough start as they take the game to the hosts.

Late-kick-off: El Hadji Diouf's Leeds host Derby

17.07: And we are underway at Elland Road which has a fair few empty seats.

17.05: Full-time: Burnley 1-1 Nottingham Forest

17.04: GOAL! Burnley 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Simon Cox is fouled inside the area and Lewis McGugan scores from the penalty spot in the 98th minute to keep Billy Davies' unbeaten start in his second spell at Forest in tact.

17.03: PENALTY (Nottingham Forest)

17.01: We are still playing at Turf Moor where Burnley lead Nottingham Forest deep into injury time.

16.59: Full-time: Cardiff 3-0 Blackburn

Full-time: Bristol City 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Full-time: Birmingham 2-3 Wolves

Full-time: Blackpool 1-0 Crystal Palace

16.57: Full-time: Millwall 0-0 Ipswich

16.57: GOAL! CARDIFF 3-0 Blackburn

Grant Hanley's foul enables Peter Whittingham to convert from the penalty spot.

Not enough: Wade Elliott scored twice in the second half but his Birmingham side were defeated 3-2 by Wolves

16.57: GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 2-3 Wolves

Handball is given against a Wolves defender but Wade Elliott sees his spot-kick saved before netting the rebound.

16.56: PENALTY (Cardiff)

16.56: PENALTY (Birmingham)

16.55: Full-time Barnsley 2-0 Leicester

16.53: GOAL! BRISTOL CITY 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Salvation for Bristol City? In injury time the Championship's bottom side may have rescued a point after Sam Baldock pounces from inside the box. Can they find a winner?

16.50: Full line-ups from the 5.05pm kick-off at Elland Road:

Leeds v Derby
Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Peltier, Pearce, Warnock, Green, Dawson, Austin, Varney, Morison, Diouf. Subs: Ashdown, White, Brown, Tonge, Norris, Habibou, McCormack.

Derby: Fielding, Freeman, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Coutts, Hendrick, Bryson, Davies, Martin, Sammon. Subs: Legzdins, Jacobs, Doyle, O'Connor, Bennett, Gjokaj, Hoganson.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

16.47: GOAL! BLACKPOOL 1-0 Crystal Palace

Well would you believe it? The top-half curse strikes again as Matt Phillips pounces with a curling effort five minutes from time to fire Blackpool ahead. Palace are heading for back-to-back defeats.

16.45: GOAL! CARDIFF 2-0 Blackburn

Four minutes from time and the points are deservedly safe now for the league leaders as Joe Mason doubles the lead for the Welsh side.

16.42: Palace are failing to make their extra man count at Blackpool as Wilfried Zaha's ball to the back post sees Glenn Murray miss a good opportunity to open the scoring.

16.39: It's taken 80 minutes but Leicester are finally starting to show some venom at Oakwell as Dave Nugent's effort is well saved by Barnsley keeper Luke Steele.

16.36: Another big moment has gone against Bristol City. Greg Cunningham looks like he is brought down to win a penalty for the hosts but the City player is instead booked for diving. Looks very harsh.

Leading the way: Junior Stanislas's (front) deflected shot handed Burnley the lead against Nottingham Forest

16.33: GOAL! BURNLEY 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Just 22 minutes left and it's another top-half team that has fallen behind! It's slightly fortunate as Junior Stanislas's effort takes a big deflection before hitting the back of the net, but is another promotion chasing team about to bite the dust over Easter.

16.30: Blackburn's best chance of getting an equaliser at Cardiff has been through set-pieces, but the table toppers still look comfortable as David Marshall keeps out Morten Gamst Pederson's free-kick.

16.27: Birmingham's goal at the start of the half gifted them an avenue to get back into the Midlands derby with Wolves, but the visitors nearly restore their three goal advantage as Bjorn Sigurdarson fires over from 20 yards.

16.24: Interesting team news from Leeds as Neil Warnock hands a debut to 18-year-old Chris Dawson when they take on Derby at 5.05pm. Full line-ups to come.

16.21: Another ruled out goal for Barnsley with Perkings this time seeing the offside flag. Still the Tykes are dominate Leicester.

Held back: Wolves' David Davis battles Birmingham's Ravel Morrison for the ball

16.18: It's just constant bad news for Blackburn. Now goalkeeper Kean has been taken off on a stretcher injured, with Grzegorz Sandomierski replacing him.

16.15: GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 1-3 Wolves

No mistakes from 12 yards at St Andrew's though, as Wade Elliott converts from the penalty spot after Jamie O'Hara's foul inside the box.

16.12: PENALTY (Birmingham)

16.10: But it's saved by Schmeichel! Scotland's penalty is very poor to be fair as the Leicester keeper dives low to keep it out. It's been a half that just like the first period the hosts have been on top in.

16.08: PENALTY (Barnsley)

16.05: The second halves are getting underway again.

Off you go: Blackpool's Barry Ferguson is sent off in his side's match against Crystal Palace

16.00: Players are coming out in preparation for the second-halves. Once again it's a bad afternoon for the top teams so far (apart from Cardiff.) Can we expect any changes in this next 45 minutes.

15.54: Cardiff have been known to go on a late season-slump but surely they are heading for the Premier League now? They have dominated Blackburn and surely won't blow their huge lead they have in the table as it stands.

Blackburn meanwhile will be looking over shoulder towards the bottom three. Leads for Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves will have caused one or two headaches in the bottom half of the table.

15.49: As the half-times come in, it looks VERY close down the bottom of the Championship. Just five points separate Huddersfield in the bottom three from 10th place Birmingham.

15.46: It's a second bookable offence for Ferguson who brought down Yannick Bolasie. Can Crystal Palace capitalise at Bloomfield Road where the pitch looks more like a beach today?

15.45: RED CARD (Barry Ferguson, Blackpool)

15.43: GOAL! BARNSLEY 2-0 Leicester

Another goal that's been coming as the struggling Tykes double their lead after Chris O'Grady keeps his cool to fire past Kasper Schmeichel.

Going up? Fraizer Campbell (left) heads Cardiff in front against Blackburn

15.42: GOAL! CARDIFF 1-0 Blackburn

It's been coming and Cardiff finally take a deserved lead as Fraizer Campbell nods home for the Welsh side. As it stands they go 11 points clear of the sides in the play-off places.

15.39: GOAL! Bristol City 0-1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

A pivotal goal in the battle against relegation and it's gone against the rock bottom side as Jermaine Johnson pounces on hesitation in the Bristol City defence, before taking the ball past Tom Heaton and firing the Owls ahead.

15.38: GOAL! Birmingham 0-3 WOLVES

And to think it could be much worse for Birmingham. Jack Butland is fortunate to only get a yellow card after wiping out Kevin Doyle inside the box, and from the resulting penalty, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sends the keeper the wrong way to put Wolves into a commanding lead.

15.37: PENALTY (Wolves)

Doubling up: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake celebrates doubling Wolves' lead at Birmingham

15.35: From OptaJoe:

3 - S.Ebanks-Blake has scored 3 goals in his last 5 apps for Wolves, one more than he had netted in his previous 13 games for the club. Vital.

15.32: Birmingham nearly pull a goal back at Wolves, but while Shane Ferguson found the top corner with a free-kick against palace on Friday, he can only strike the woodwork on this occasion.

15.29: It's like the table has been turned on its head this afternoon. Barnsley have already had one strike ruled out but they go close to grabbing a second goal, after Jason Scotland failed to convert following good play from David Perkins.

15.26: GOAL! Birmingham 0-2 WOLVES

Birmingham responded well after going behind and were pressing for an equaliser but they have been hit by a sucker punch as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake nods home the visitor's second goal.

15.23: So with Barnsley and Wolves leading, that pulls them both out of the bottom three and it drops Peterborough and Huddersfield into the relegation zone as it stands.

Derby delight: Stephen Hunt celebrates after pouncing to put Wolves ahead at Birmingham

15.21: GOAL! Birmingham 0-1 WOLVES

And this is far from good news for those involved at Ashton Gate. Jack Butland saves well from David Davis but Stephen Hunt is on hand to turn home the rebound.

15.18: Huge game for Bristol City at home to Sheffield Wednesday today and despite the nervous atmosphere, it's the home side that have started brighter against their rivals to beat relegation to League One.

Lewin Nyatanga has a decent effort from 18 yards but it is well saved by Chris Kirkland.

15.15: An even enough start in the derby at St Andrews, with the home fans booing former Blues defender and Wolves' Roger Johnson, who is making his first return to Birmingham since leaving the club in 2011.

15.12: Nearly a bad start for Ian Holloway on his return to Blackpool, but Julian Speroni ensures his Crystal Palace side stay level after diving down low to save well from a Nathan Delfouneso shot.

15.09: Cardiff are laying siege to the Blackburn goal but Kean is again on hand to keep out the hosts as the keeper does well to block Bellamy's free-kick.

15.06: For Barnsley of course that is a boost for their survival hopes as that takes them out of the relegation zone and into 20th as it stands.

15.05: GOAL! BARNSLEY 1-0 Leicester

Leicester had Wes Morgan sent-off after a few seconds in the defeat against Millwall on Friday, but they have made an even worse start today after Michael Keane turns the ball into the back of his own goal.

15.03: First chance for Cardiff but Leon Barnett's strike off a Craig Bellamy pass is well saved by Blackburn keeper Jake Kean.

Top of the pile: Cardiff's Matthew Connolly puts Blackburn's Leon Best under pressure

15.00: Away we go in Easter Monday's Championship action.

14.57: The teams are making their way out across the country - we should be underway shortly.

14.52: Here are the starting line-ups from St Andrew's:

Wolves: De Vries, Doherty, Johnson, Gorkss, Robinson, Sigurdarson, Davis, O'Hara, Hunt, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake.

Birmingham: Butland, Caddis, Davies, Robinson, Hancox, Redmond, Morrison, Elliott, Ferguson, Thomas, Zigic.

14.49: The full line-ups from St Andrew's will be in very soon, but it's a huge Midlands derby at Wolves this afternoon.

The visitors are struggling inside the bottom three of the Championship and face a Birmingham side that defeated Crystal Palace 4-0 on Good Friday.

14.46: Full line-ups from the Cardiff City Stadium:

Cardiff v Blackburn
Cardiff: Marshall, Taylor, Turner, Connolly, Barnett, Conway, Kim, Gunnarsson, Bellamy, Mutch, Campbell. Subs: Lewis, Whittingham, Cowie, Gestede, Noone, Mason, Lappin.

Blackburn: Kean, Dann, Kane, Morris, Grant Hanley, Pedersen, Murphy, Bentley, Jones, Best, Kazim Richards. Subs: Sandomierski, Givet, Dunn, Rhodes, Rekik, Goodwillie, Stewart.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Return to the Seasiders: Ian Holloway takes his promotion chasing Crystal Palace side to Blackpool

14.41: Of course the Bloomfield Road clash marks Ian Holloway's first return to Blackpool since leaving the club earlier this season to take charge of Crystal Palace.

The Eagles of course were one of the top-half chokers on Good Friday after they crashed to a 4-0 home defeat against Birmingham. I hope Holloway gets a good reception - did a great job for the Seasiders.

14.38: Full line-ups from Bloomfield Road:

Blackpool v Crystal Palace
Blackpool: Gilks, Baptiste, Broadfoot, MacKenzie, Crainey, Ferguson, Sylvestre, Basham, Phillips, Delfouneso, Ince. Subs: Halstead, Eardley, Grandin, Osbourne, Martinez, Derbyshire, Futacs.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Richards, Ramage, Delaney, Parr, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Dobbie, Bolasie, Murray, Zaha. Subs: Price, Ward, Marrow, Wilbraham, Williams, Moritz, Gabbidon.

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear)

Under pressure: Nigel Pearson's Leicester have won just one game in their last 11

14.35: Full line-ups from Oakwell:

Barnsley v Leicester
Barnsley: Steele, Wiseman, Hassell, Cranie, Kennedy, Mellis, Etuhu, Dawson, Perkins, O'Grady, Scotland. Subs: Alnwick, Foster, O'Brien, Dagnall, Harewood, Cywka, Rose.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Keane, Whitbread, Konchesky, Knockaert, James, King, Dyer, Wood, Nugent. Subs: Logan, Marshall, Vardy, Schlupp, Wellens, Moore, Kane.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)

14.32: Full line-ups from Ashton Gate:

Bristol City v Sheff Wed
Bristol City: Heaton, Moloney, Nyatanga, Fontaine, Cunningham, Kelly, Skuse, Elliott, Pearson, Baldock, Davies. Subs: Gerken, Louis Carey, Kilkenny, Howard, Anderson, Adomah, Bates.

Sheff Wed: Kirkland, Lee, Gardner, Llera, Reda Johnson, Prutton, Pugh, Coke, Jermaine Johnson, Howard, Helan. Subs: Bywater, Taylor, Semedo, Madine, Maguire, Mattock, Lita.

Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)

Four-midable? Millwall are aiming for a fourth consecutive victory when they host Ipswich

14.29: Full line-ups from the Den:

Millwall v Ipswich
Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Shittu, Beevers, Lowry, Keogh, Trotter, Jack Smith, Chaplow, Marquis, Easter. Subs: Maik Taylor, Hulse, Feeney, Woolford, Adam Smith, Abdou, St. Ledger.

Ipswich: Loach, Stearman, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, Emmanuel-Thomas, Hyam, N'Daw, Martin, Chopra, Nouble. Subs: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, Kisnorbo, Edwards, McGoldrick, Tabb, Murphy.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire)

14.26: Full line-ups from Turf Moor:

Burnley v Nottm Forest
Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Long, Shackell, Mee, Wallace, Bartley, McCann, Stanislas, Vokes, Austin. Subs: Jensen, Paterson, Ings, Mills, Kacaniklic, Edgar, Stock.

Nottm Forest: Darlow, Jara Reyes, Ward, Halford, Moussi, Cohen, Reid, Lansbury, Blackstock, McGugan, Sharp. Subs: Evtimov, Harding, Collins, Henderson, Greening, Cox, Majewski.

Referee: Nigel Miller (Durham)

14.23: One result to bring you comes from Stamford Bridge where Chelsea have set-up an FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley after defeating Manchester United 1-0.

14.20: After the start of the Easter weekend went down with the majority of the clubs in the top half of the table choking, I just wonder what this afternoon will bring.

There are not many games left in the Championship, but from the very top to the very bottom business is far from done and far from predictable. I for one am certainly looking forward to this with the team news on the way.