Championship wrap: Cardiff City maintain buffer

19 January 2013 20:24

Cardiff City consolidated their 10-point lead at the top of the Championship with a hard-earned win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Tommy Smith secured victory for the Bluebirds with a fiercely struck volley in the 64th minute.

Cardiff opened the scoring through Kim Bo-Kyung after a scoreless first half, before Gary Taylor-Fletcher equalised with a diving header on the hour.

It was the fourth consecutive away win for Malcy MacKay's team.

Meanwhile, lowly Peterborough United held third-placed Hull City to a 1-1 draw at home.

Joe Newell's 33rd-minute own goal gave Hull the lead, though they were unable to hold on as Grant McCann levelled proceedings from the spot with 11 minutes to go.

Elsewhere, Nikola Zigic's 92nd-minute equaliser handed 20th-placed Birmingham City a 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.

In other matches, Watford consolidated their position in sixth with a 4-0 victory over Huddersfield Town, while Burnley secured their third consecutive win after beating Millwall 2-0.

Fourth-placed Crystal Palace and Bolton Wanderers played out a 0-0 stalemate, and Leeds United defeated bottom-placed Bristol City 1-0.

Derby County entertained Nottingham Forest in a 1-1 draw, while the clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Wolverhampton ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

Blackburn Rovers went down to Charlton Athletic 2-1, and Ipswich Town hosted Barnsley in a 1-1 draw.