Cardiff triumph in day of late Championship drama
Cardiff midfielder Seyi Olofinjana fired a late winner on Saturday to defeat Scunthorpe 1-0 and keep his team in the hunt for automatic promotion from the Championship.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: February 13, 2011 11:17 AM IST
Cardiff midfielder Seyi Olofinjana fired a late winner on Saturday to defeat Scunthorpe 1-0 and keep his team in the hunt for automatic promotion from the Championship.
Olofinjana's 85th minute header from Jon Parkin's cross finally broke the resistance of the struggling visitors, helping the Bluebirds to close within five points of leaders QPR, who host Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Cardiff's 1-0 win ensured they remain in the automatic promotion places by virtue of goal difference after third place Norwich also netted a late winner.
The Canaries were heading for a draw after a goal from Reading's Shane Long cancelled out loan-star Henri Lansbury's early strike.
However, striker Grant Holt won the points for the home team, converting Andrew Crofts' assist four minutes into added time.
There was further late drama at the Riverside Stadium where fourth place Swansea secured a thrilling 4-3 win over Middlesbrough.
Boro seemed to be in control after opening up a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Marvin Emnes, Jonathan Grounds and Leroy Lita.
Former Chelsea player Scott Sinclair pulled the Swans back into the game with a penalty on the hour mark before Ashley Williams equalised with a close-range strike.
Just when it seemed the spoils were to be shared, Scotland forward Craig Beattie planted a 20-yard drive into the bottom corner to steal the points.
Leeds continued their push towards a play-off place after comfortably seeing off struggling Bristol City 2-0 at Ashton Gate.
A superb solo effort by midfielder Robert Snodgrass opened the scoring at Ashton Gate before Max Gradel added a second. The game was marred by crowd fighting, which flared after the opening goal.
At the bottom of the table, Preston manager Phil Brown suffered disappointment on his return to former club Hull.
Bottom-placed PNE put up spirited resistance at the KC Stadium, but were ultimately undone by Anthony Gerrard's first-half header. Brown's team are now 10 points from safety.
Sheffield United manager Micky Adams came within moments of recording his first win as Blades boss, but was denied in the last minute as Millwall's Kevin Lisbie rescued a 1-1 draw.
United, who occupy the final relegation position, took the lead thanks to a disputed penalty, converted by Daniel Bogdanovic, but were denied a vital victory by Lisbie's late strike.
Coventry ended a run of 10 games without a win with a 2-1 victory over fourth-bottom Crystal Palace at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues raced into a two goal lead thanks to defender Richard Wood and striker Marlon King with veteran forward Steffen Iversen registering a late consolation.
Palace and the Blades meet next in a vital game for both clubs.
In the league's other games, Barnsley drew 1-1 with Ipswich, Portsmouth beat Doncaster 2-0 and Watford lost 3-1 at home to Burnley.