What a chance for Cardiff! Kenneth Zohore was released by Callum Paterson down the left and barrels into the penalty area before cutting back for Paterson, whose volley is well saved by Daniel Bentley.

All that came after the home side had been peppering the Cardiff box with crosses.

It's open, it's lively. Good advert, as TV broadcasters like to say.

QPR striker Matt Smith looks like he's going to keep Villa centre-backs John Terry and James Chester busy this evening.

He forces Sam Johnstone into another save with a header.

QPR come close to taking a very early lead but home keeper Sam Johnstone turns Matt Smith's effort around the post.

Bright lights, decent surface at Griffin Park for this tussle.

An early chance for Neal Maupay has Neil Etheridge in the Cardiff goal sprawling low to turn it away with his feet. Smart work.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Villa Park

"It's obviously not the same derby atmosphere at Villa Park tonight as that which the home fans enjoyed so much when they hammered leaders Wolves on Saturday night with three goals in the final half hour.

"But there's an unmistakably excited buzz in the air. Villa boss Steve Bruce has already played down the risk of over ambition by warning of an 'After the Lord Mayor's Show' effect. And the key for unchanged Villa tonight is to work just as hard and show just as much quality against lowly QPR as they did against Wolves."

The teams are out and we are under way across the country.

Image source, Getty Images

In such a tight Championship promotion mix, even Brentford down in 11th are just eight points off the play-offs.

However, their bid to claw back points and gain some ground has been hampered by poor results against their fellow challengers.

Since beating now second-placed Aston Villa on Boxing Day, the Bees have failed to to win against Wolves, Derby, Preston or Millwall - all teams above them in the race for the Premier League.

Victory tonight would go a long way to igniting their fading hopes, both in terms of points and psychology.

Image source, Getty Images

Rochdale fans will undoubtedly remember this season for their FA Cup victory over Millwall and subsequent 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Success in the Cup came at the expense of results in League One and Keith Hill's men find themselves seven points adrift of safety.

However, Dale have won their last two matches and have four games in hand on 20th-placed Northampton.

Elsewhere in League One, fellow strugglers Bury and MK Dons host play-off chasing Peterborough and Rotherham respectively, while Blackpool host eighth-placed Charlton.

In League Two, second plays eighth as Luton visit Coventry, Exeter will be hoping to boost their play-off bid with a win at Yeovil and lowly Barnet host fellow strugglers Port Vale.

Image source, Rex Features

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo makes four changes to the side that lost 4-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday, with Roman Saiss and Helder Costa among those recalled. Reading make two changes to the side that drew with Leeds at the weekend.

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock makes two changes from the team that beat Birmingham City 3-2 on Saturday. Brentford, eight points outside the play-offs, make three alterations to the side that lost to Millwall on Saturday.

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has stuck with the XI that started the win over Wolves. QPR counterpart Ian Holloway makes three changes after the win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

The dictionary definition of warlock is a man who practices witchcraft; a sorceror.

It's a fair assessment of the seemingly magical powers possessed by Neil Warnock in achieving seven career promotions, and who is tantalisingly close to securing an eighth with Cardiff.

He picked up his ninth manager of the month award for February's run of five wins in six unbeaten games, and has continued that form with two further successes in the month of March.

Ominous for the rest of the Championship, even with Aston Villa also surging up on the rails.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce says his experience of the Championship means "nothing surprises" him about the league.

Third-placed Villa cruised to a 4-1 win over leaders Wolves on Saturday but remain seven points behind their local rivals with 10 matches to play.

Bruce, who has won four promotions to the Premier League as a manager, told BBC Sport: "Our duty is to try to chase. Cardiff are making a hell of a run, Fulham are on a run and we're having a go too.

"Wolves are there to be shot at and there's all to play for."

"With the standards they've set, it would take an almighty collapse from them, but this is the Championship and nothing surprises me about how difficult it is."

Image source, Getty Images

If Wolves do fall to a surprise defeat by struggling Reading then Cardiff could go level on points with the league leaders.

Neil Warnock's men have won their last six matches and visit a Brentford side whose play-off ambitions were dented by a defeat at Millwall on Saturday.

Slightly further down the table Aston Villa, fresh from a dominant win over Wolves, host QPR hoping to cut the gap on the top two and build a bigger cushion from Fulham.

Elsewhere, play-off chasing Sheffield United host relegation-threatened Burton, lowly Barnsley host Norwich and fellow strugglers Hull City visit Ipswich.

We'll also be doing our best to keep you across the four games in League Two and three League One matches.

Image source, Getty Images

It has not been a good few days for Championship leaders Wolves.

After last Wednesday's comprehensive win at Elland Road Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani questioned the link between the club's owners Fosun and agent Jorge Mendes, prompting the EFL to request a meeting with the Molineux side.

Worse was to follow with a 4-1 thumping at local rivals Aston Villa on Saturday and yesterday Radrizzani told BBC Sport he has written to the Football Association, Premier League and EFL to clarify the relationship between Mendes and Wolves.

Still, despite the distractions, Nuno Espirito Santo's men could end the day with a 10-point cushion from third-placed Villa if they beat Reading.

Good evening and welcome to live text commentary of Tuesday evening's EFL action.