Cardiff sink Palace to boost promotion push

Cardiff boosted their bid to reach the Premier League with a 2-1 win over promotion rivals Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Malky Mackay's side moved five points clear at the top of the Championship thanks to Aron Gunnarsson's second half winner as the Bluebirds came from behind to see off Palace at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The visitors had made a superb start when Australia midfielder Mile Jedinak fired home in the fourth minute, but Craig Noone equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Cardiff's goal led a charmed life with Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target Wilfried Zaha hitting the bar, but half-time substitute Gunnarsson helped turn the tide for the Bluebirds.

And that pressure paid off in the 73rd minute when Gunnarsson rose to head in Craig Bellamy's right-footed corner via the underside of the bar.

Palace's defeat dropped Ian Holloway's team to fourth place, two points behind second placed Hull and one behind Middlesbrough in third.

Hull were frustrated by former boss Nigel Pearson as the hosts had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Leicester at the KC Stadium.

The Tigers came closest to scoring when striker Jay Simpson saw a shot cleared off the line by Richie De Laet in the first half.

Fifth-placed Leicester have now failed to score in their last three matches.

Middlesbrough bounced back from Saturday's defeat at Leeds to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Blackburn at the Riverside Stadium.

Polish striker Lukas Jutkiewicz struck for the second successive game with a clinical low finish from the edge of the penalty area to lift Tony Mowbray's side to within a point of Hull.

Blackburn, who have now won only once under manager Henning Berg in 10 matches, were made to pay for missed chances and continue to slide down the table after securing just one point from their last six fixtures.

Watford remain in the final play-off place after their match at Bristol City was postponed at the last minute due to a waterlogged pitch.

Billy Sharp struck twice as Nottingham Forest turned on the style either side of half-time to send in-form Leeds spiralling to a 4-2 defeat at the City Ground.

Forest, who had slipped to 11th place after taking only four points from their previous five matches, equalised when Sharp converted a late first-half penalty to cancel out Paul Green's early opener for Leeds.

Sharp fired his second of the game soon after the restart and a three-goal blitz in nine minutes - Rodolph Austin scored a clumsy own goal and Dexter Blackstock headed home the fourth - stunned the visitors.

Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday maintained their recent revival with a 1-0 win at Bolton, while Peterborough improved their hopes of avoiding relegation thanks to a 3-0 victory at Wolves.

Burnley beat Derby 2-0, Ipswich won 2-1 at Charlton, Birmingham defeated Barnsley 2-1 and Huddersfield drew 1-1 with Blackpool.

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