By Craig Hope

NEWCASTLE United were knocked off top spot in the Championship following Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Derby County.

The reverse, The Magpies' biggest of the season, allowed West Brom to claim pole position in the second-tier promotion race following a 2-0 success at home to Scunthorpe United.

That win took Roberto Di Matteo's men onto 59 points, the same as United, but a superior goal difference sees the West Midlands club leapfrog their North East counterparts.

There was good news for Chris Hughton's men, though, as third-placed Nottingham Forest slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Coventry City to remain four points adrift of the top two in third position.

United, who have a game in hand on both of their of their rivals, travel to Swansea City on Saturday, Forest travel to Doncaster Rovers and West Brom are in FA Cup action at Reading.

Current top three standings; 1 WBA Pld 30 Pts 59 2 NUFC Pld 29 Pts 59 3 NFFC Pld 30 Pts 55

Tuesday's results;

Cardiff City 2-0 Peterborough United
Coventry City 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace 0-1 Swansea City
Derby County 3-0 Newcastle
Leicester City 0-0 Doncaster Rovers
Middlesbrough 2-1 Barnsley
Preston North End 2-1 Sheffield United
QPR 1-2 Ipswich Town
Reading 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Blackpool
Watford 2-0 Bristol City
West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Scunthorpe United