Wolves stumble, Fulham, Villa win

CHAMPIONSHIP leaders Wolves’ promotion push suffered another setback as they lost 2-0 at Fulham yesterday 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 nine-point lead over the Welsh side, who were scheduled to travel to playoff hopefuls Bristol City yesterday.

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 halftime 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 halftime 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 illtempered Tees-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland remain four points adrift of safety despite defeats for fellow strugglers Birmingham and Burton.

Oli McBurnie scored twice and missed a penalty as Barnsley moved out of the drop zone with a 2-0 victory at Birmingham.

Ben Marshall’s second-half goal condemned Burton to a 1-0 defeat at home to Millwall.

Mustapha Carayol netted the winner as Preston’s play-off push stuttered with a 1-0 defeat to Ipswich at Deepdale.

Liam Cooper’s first-half header gave Leeds a 1-0 home win over Brentford, earning Paul Heckingbottom his first victory as head coach, while Norwich and Bolton drew 0-0 at Carrow Road.

Lee Tomlin netted twice as Nottingham Forest won 5-2 at QPR. – AFP