Championship wrap: Cardiff go top

24 November 2012 19:40

Cardiff City reclaimed top spot in the Championship on Saturday, while Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace suffered shock defeats.

Cardiff recorded their first away victory in four attempts with a 2-1 win at Barnsley.

Ben Nugent, who made his first senior appearance against Middlesbrough last week, headed home the opening goal on 22 minutes before Aron Gunnarsson doubled the visitors lead six minutes into the second half.

Jacob Mellis pulled a goal back in the 76th minute but Malky Mackay's men held on for maximum points despite Simon Lappin's last-minute dismissal.

Cardiff are now one point clear at the top of the table following Crystal Palace's 2-1 loss at Leeds.

Palace had gone 14 games unbeaten but second-half goals from Luciano Becchio and Paul Green ended that run.

Bristol City climbed out of the relegation zone courtesy of a 3-1 result at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.

Bristol were looking for their first win in 11 games, a run going back to September 18, and they got it thanks to goals from Albert Adomah, Stephen Pearson and Steven Davies.

Middlesbrough fall five points off the pace as a result of the defeat, while Bristol move out of the relegation places.

Chris Wood and James Henry netted in the final 20 minutes as Millwall clinched an impressive 2-0 victory at promotion hopefuls Blackburn - their 10th game without defeat to see them into sixth position.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Nottingham Forest overcame Wolverhampton 2-1, Leicester City continued their good form with a 2-0 win at struggling Sheffield Wednesday and Dean Marney proved the difference as Burnley edged Hull City 1-0.

Blackpool came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Watford with Isaiah Osbourne netting a 90th minute-equaliser, and Huddersfield salvaged a 1-1 draw at Charlton.

Former Liverpool striker David N'Gog ensured the honours were shared in Bolton's 1-1 stalemate against Brighton, while strugglers Ipswich and Peterborough settled for a 1-1 draw.

In the late kick-off, Derby County won a thrilling clash over Birmingham City 3-2 at Pride Park, with four goals exchanged in an 11-minute period late in the second half.

Conor Sammon scored a brace for Derby, while Nathan Tyson fired the winner for the Rams in the 84th minute.