This afternoon's Championship action has left Norwich City eight points clear of the relegation zone, after Burton Albion won 2-1 at Reading.

City could only watch on as the games unfolded following a thoroughly disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Brentford last night, starting the day in 16th place in the table.

Daniel Farke's team have stayed 16th after QPR drew 1-1 at home to Bristol City and Millwall lost 3-0 at Derby, both missing the chance to move above Norwich in mid-table.

However, with Burton winning the gap from the Canaries to the bottom three has been reduced to eight points – following City's worrying run of seven defeats in their last 10 games.

Taking five points from a possible 30 has seen City slide closer to the relegation battle than the play-off places, having moved into the top six in October thanks to an eight-game unbeaten run.

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With bottom-of-the-table Birmingham City drawing 1-1 at fellow strugglers Sunderland today, Norwich are only 10 points off the foot of the division at the halfway point of the campaign.

The Canaries head to Birmingham on Boxing Day, who are set to be without Scottish forward Sam Gallagher, who became the Blues' top scorer when he scored his third league goal of the season during their draw at the Stadium of Light, only to be sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

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City remain 10 points adrift of the play-off places, although that will increase following the 5.30pm kick-off between Aston Villa and Sheffield United, who sit sixth and seventh respectively.

Ipswich remain eight points better off than their East Anglian rivals, in eighth, after a narrow 1-0 defeat at leaders Wolves.

Following the trip to Birmingham another away game, at Burton, awaits on Saturday, December 30, before a home game against Millwall on New Year's Day.

The Lions thrashed the Canaries 4-0 at The Den in August and will arrive in Norfolk without an away win, having drawn six and lost six of their 12 attempts so far.

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