Norwich City slipped into the relegation positions in the Coca Cola Championship for the first time this season last night when the two teams immediately below them both recorded excellent victories.

Norwich City slipped into the relegation positions in the Coca Cola Championship for the first time this season last night when the two teams immediately below them both recorded excellent victories.

Watford and Barnsley made full use of the first of three games in hand they have on the Canaries to increase the pressure on Bryan Gunn's side going into Saturday's crunch clash with promotion-chasing Burnley at Carrow Road.

The Hornets recorded the result of the night in the Championship, ending Swansea's long unbeaten run with a 2-0 success at Vicarage Road, with first half goals from Tamas Priskin and Tommy Smith seeing them home.

Meanwhile, Barnsley went to South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday and won 1-0, courtesy of Jamal Campbell-Ryce's 38th minute strike.

The Tykes are now three points clear of City with two games in hand, while Watford are a point ahead, also with two extra games to play.

The one bright spot for Gunn last night was another defeat for struggling Plymouth, who were beaten 3-1 at home by mid-table Crystal Palace.

The result increased the pressure on under-fire manager Paul Sturrock, whose side have now won just once in 15 matches, and left the Pilgrims still just three points ahead of the Canaries, having played the same number of games.