Wolves on the verge of promotion

Championship: Wolves on the verge of promotion

Wolves moved to the brink of automatic promotion from the Championship with a dramatic victory at Derby.

Andy Keogh scored his second goal of the game with three minutes remaining to give the league leaders a 3-2 win after they had trailed 2-1.

Mick McCarthy's side took the lead in the seventh minute when Keogh rifled a brilliant volley past Stephen Bywater, but the Rams equalised on the half hour with a curling free-kick from Przemyslaw Kazmierczak and took the lead 10 minutes into the second half through Mile Sterjovski.

Wolves were far from finished though and Matt Jarvis tucked away an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining before Keogh's late winner.

The result puts them six points clear of second-placed Birmingham, who endured a torrid afternoon at St Andrews against Plymouth.

Goalkeeper Maik Taylor was controversially dismissed after 23 minutes and Paul Gallagher converted the resulting penalty, but Birmingham showed grit to come back, substitute Franck Queudrue levelling with a header five minutes after the break.

Sheffield United missed the chance to take advantage and stay a point behind the Blues in third after drawing 0-0 at home to Nottingham Forest, who were reduced to 10 men after just 16 minutes when Kelvin Wilson was sent off for a head-butt.

Cardiff closed the gap on the Blades in fourth, Jay Bothroyd and a Ross McCormack brace sealing a 3-1 win over Burnley, who remain in the final play-off spot.

Reading occupy the other play-off place in fifth after throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Blackpool.

The Royals went ahead in the 10th minute through Noel Hunt and doubled their lead 15 minutes later, Jem Karacan netting his first for the club.

But Keith Southern made it 2-1 on the half hour and DJ Campbell equalised for Blackpool midway through the second half.

Seventh-placed Swansea kept their play-off hopes alive with a 3-1 victory at Barnsley, Ashley Williams getting on the end of a free-kick after two minutes, Jordi Gomez doubling the lead before the break and top-scorer Jason Scotland capping the win in the second half.

And Preston are also in the running for a top-six place after notching a 2-0 win at Doncaster, Chris Brown and Neil Mellor with a goal in each half.

At the bottom, Norwich moved out of the bottom three with a 2-0 win over Watford thanks to a spectacular own goal from Danny Rose, who curled the ball over his own keeper, and a late second from Gary Doherty.

Southampton are still in the drop zone but also secured three vital points, David McGoldrick's 25-yard winner giving them a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

And rock-bottom Charlton need a mathematical miracle to prevent their relegation to League One after a goaless draw at Coventry.

Elsewhere, QPR came back from two down to beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 while Bristol City and Ipswich drew 1-1 at Ashton Gate.

Soccernet.