Leeds had gone into the game in fourth place in the table but moved up to second thanks to Gradel's goals.

Gradel broke the deadlock after 25 minutes before netting his second late on.

QPR's Paddy Kenny had made a fine save to deny Luciano Becchio with an early header which was aimed at the top corner.

But Becchio headed down a far post cross and Gradel smashed home the opener under Kenny after 25 minutes.

Adel Taarabt went close to getting Rangers back on level terms but saw his goal-bound effort blocked at the expense of a corner.

But Gradel led a counter-attack from the halfway line and drilled the ball home at the near post to secure the win for Leeds with 20 minutes to go.

Swansea's hopes of moving up to second were dealt a blow as Sheffield United's Ched Evans scored a minute before the break at Bramall Lane.

United had an early goal from Mark Yeates disallowed for offside against third-placed Swansea but Evans made no mistake with a clinical finish to earn his struggling side three vital points in their first game since manager Gary Speed quit to take the Wales job.

Hull won 2-0 at home to resurgent Bristol City with both goals coming from Jay Simpson.

Cameron Stewart crossed from the left and Simpson tapped home from close range after 13 minutes.

Stewart also missed a good chance to extend the lead when he fired wide but Simpson made it 2-0 after 62 minutes to earn Hull the win.

Reading striker Shane Long scored twice to earn Reading a 2-1 win over Derby at Pride Park.

Long had opened the scoring from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Shaun Barker.

Kris Commons had equalised Long's opener before the striker netted his second late on.

Adam Federici denied Derby's Stephen Pearson after a free-kick from Commons had fallen to him following two deflections.

But Long made no mistake from the spot with two minutes of the first half remaining.

Noel Hunt was denied early in the second half when his shot was well saved by Stephen Bywater and the keeper was also equal to Simon Church's effort when he was put through on goal.

Derby were level after an hour as Commons headed home at the far post from a Paul Green cross.

Luke Moore should have done better but Federici's amazing save kept the scores level and Long scored with two minutes to go to secure the win.

Luke Chambers, Marcus Tudgay and Gareth McCleary scored as Nottingham Forest beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at the City Ground.

Chambers put Forest in front after half an hour and Tudgay extended the lead when he lobbed Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni a minute into the second half.

Robert Earnshaw then saw his deflected shot kept out by Speroni before McCleary added a third goal with two minutes left.

Grant Holt scored twice as Norwich beat 10-man Coventry 2-1 at the Ricoh Arena.

Coventry had Aron Gunnarsson dismissed for a foul on Henri Lansbury after 35 minutes against Norwich who started the game one place below them in sixth in the table.

Coventry held out for until the hour mark when Holt made them pay for Gunnarsson's dismissal.

Marlon King netted with 17 minutes to go but Holt struck late as Norwich went above Coventry in the table.

The games between Cardiff and Burnley, Millwall and Barnsley, Portsmouth and Scunthorpe and Watford against Preston were all postponed because of heavy snow.