The victory stretched the Bluebirds lead at the top as Birmingham could only draw at home to Leicester. Wolves task was made even tougher when veteran defender Gary Breen was sent off for lashing out at Steven Thompson midway through the first half. And the visitors went a goal down when Riccardo Scimeca headed home unmarked as the match approached the interval.
Wolves defender Jody Craddock was unfortunate to deflect home a second for the league leaders after the Black Country side again failed to clear their lines in the 50th minute. Malvin Kamara sealed the victory with 20 minutes remaining and Paul Parry compounded Wolves misery with a fourth. Gary McSheffrey had given Birmingham a 58th-minute lead as the home side got their act together following a slow start.
However, the introduction of Foxes substitute Elvis Hammond proved decisive as the striker equalised four minutes from time. Third-placed Southampton failed to earn a point at St Marys as QPR came from behind to win. Saints took an early lead at home to QPR as Jermaine Wright found the net three minutes in, after Mario Lickas cross. Former Saints youngster Dexter Blackstock equalised with a glancing header after 34 minutes, before error-prone Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis gifted QPR the lead before the half was out.
The former Sunderland player tried to let the ball run out but was robbed of the ball by Ray Jones, who then found the net to give QPR the lead. Promotion hopefuls West Brom rode out a late storm at home to Leeds to win 4-2 despite the early sending off of Paul McShane. McShane was dismissed for a professional foul having brought David Healy down in the area but the Northern Ireland strikers resultant penalty went wide. West Brom seized their chance when Martin Albrechtsen headed home five minutes before the break.
Diomansy Kamara made it 2-0 and his brilliant run set up veteran striker Kevin Phillips who made it three 11 minutes before the end. Geoff Horsfield pulled a goal back, before Steve Stones 88th-minute goal gave Leeds real hope - but Kamaras second in added time took the wind out of their sails. Sunderland had to hold on to beat Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light. After a fruitless first half Grant Leadbitter broke the deadlock for Sunderland shortly before the hour mark, converting Liam Lawrences cross. The Owls rallied but Roy Keanes side held firm to record three welcome points.
A brace by on-loan Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli helped Derby to a 3-0 win at home to Southend. Lupoli gave Derby the lead after 40 minutes and veteran defender Michael Johnson got forward to double the lead three minutes into the second half. Lupolis second after 63 minutes capped an impressive performance. Michael Turners 90th-minute equaliser rescued a point for Hull at home to Crystal Palace after Leon Cort had scored against his former team. Ahmet Brkovic scored an injury-time winner for Luton as they beat Barnsley 2-1 at Oakwell while Cherno Samba scored a late winner for Plymouth at Coventry. Stoke and Preston drew 1-1 in the Potteries after Patrick Agyemang cancelled out Ricardo Fullers opener for the home side. |
