Championship wrap: Cardiff continue strong start

Cardiff City continued their perfect home record in the Championship this season with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City on Tuesday.

The Welsh outfit – who top the table with 19 points from nine matches – made it five wins from as many matches in front of their home fans at the Cardiff City Stadium thanks to another impressive performance.

Striker Craig Bellamy fired Cardiff into the lead on 39 minutes and it was an advantage they carried into the half-time break.

Struggling Birmingham levelled proceedings just nine minutes after the break thanks to Leroy Lita’s effort but parity was only brief.

Defender Mark Hudson restored Cardiff’s lead only moments after and Malky Mackay’s men held on from there to claim an important victory.

Leicester City made it four wins on the trot with a 2-0 success at Huddersfield Town thanks to a double from French midfielder Anthony Knockaert.

Nigel Pearson’s side now sit second on the Championship table, while third-placed Brighton and Hove Albion drew 1-1 with Ipswich Town thanks to substitute Will Buckley’s late leveller.

Blackpool scored twice in the last 20 minutes as they returned to winning ways with a 3-2 triumph at Hull City.

Matt Phillips gave Ian Holloway’s side the early advantage after 11 minutes but goals from Sone Aluko and Stephen Quinn fired Hull in front.

Substitutes Kevin Phillips and Nouha Dicko both struck late for Blackpool though as they bounced back from two successive defeats.

Highly rated Ivorian Wilfried Zaha scored twice in the second half as Crystal Palace came from behind to win 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Bolton and Leeds United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Sam Byram and Luciano Becchio scored for Leeds but a Kevin Davies double was enough for Bolton to rescue a point.

Charlie Austin – the Championship’s top-scorer – continued his superb run of form, bagging a hat-trick for Burnley in a 3-3 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Turf Moor.

All of Austin’s goals put Burnley in front but a Chris O’Grady double and Michail Antonio’s 85th-minute equaliser saw both sides share the spoils.

Peterborough United may still be on the bottom of the table but a 2-0 success at Barnsley, thanks to early goals from George Boyd and Tyrone Barnett, gave them their second win in a row while fellow strugglers Millwall came from behind to win a point in a 1-1 draw at Bristol City.

Tuesday’s other fixture saw a 10-man Watford defeat Charlton Athletic 2-1, with Swiss midfielder Almen Abdi netting the winner for Gianfranco Zola’s side with 20 minutes remaining.