Wolves stumble again at Fulham, Villa close in on Cardiff

LONDON: English Championship leaders Wolves’ promotion push suffered another setback as they lost 2-0 at Fulham to extend a winless streak to three games.

Ryan Sessegnon and Aleksandar Mitrovic struck for fifth-placed Fulham, who consolidate their place in the playoffs and close to within five points of Cardiff in the second automatic promotion place.

Wolves still enjoy a healthy ninepoint lead over the Welsh side.

However, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are slowing up at the wrong part of the season following draws against Preston and Norwich.

Wolves are now just 10 points clear of Aston Villa in third as they ramped up the pressure on Cardiff by striking twice in the final three minutes to win 4-2 at Sheffield Wednesday.

Villa were trailing at half-time to goals from Sean Clare and Lucas Joao either side of Lewis Grabban’s leveller.

But Glenn Whelan’s 67th-minute equaliser was added to late on by Conor Hourihane and Robert Snodgrass, from the penalty spot, to give Villa a first win in three games.

Fourth-placed Derby drew 3-3 at Reading after Jon Dadi Bodvarsson netted a late equaliser for the hosts.

Despite Kasey Palmer firing Derby into an early lead, Reading went ahead through goals from Liam Kelly and Mo Barrow.

County responded either side of half-time through Richard Keogh and Tom Lawrence, only for Bodvarsson to grab an equaliser 10 minutes from time before Chris Baird was sent off for the visitors.

Callum McManaman denied Middlesbrough the chance to leapfrog Bristol City into the final playoff place as Sunderland struck late to salvage a point from a thrilling 3-3 draw in an ill-tempered TeesWear derby at the Stadium of Light. — AFP