CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDUP
LEO Bonatini scored twice as Wolves survived a late scare to beat Preston 3-2 at Molineux and cling onto top spot in the Sky Bet Championship.
The hosts looked set to cruise to a second successive win after Bonatini built on Ivan Cavaleiro’s first half opener with a 59th minute penalty and his second from close-range five minutes later.
But the visitors reduced the deficit within a minute through Jordan Hugill, before a Conor Coady own goal 12 minutes from time led to a frantic finale in which Preston’s Alan Browne was sent off.
Sheffield United stayed level on points with the second-placed Bluebirds after a 2-1 win over struggling Reading at Bramall Lane.
Paul Coutts marked his return from injury by firing the Blades in front after 19 minutes and Billy Sharp’s fifth goal of the season made it 2-0 before half-time.
Roy Beerens reduced the deficit for Reading six minutes from time but it was not enough to prevent the Royals sliding to another defeat.
Leeds bounced back from three successive losses in style and ended Bristol City’s run of 12 games unbeaten with an emphatic 3-0 win at Ashton Gate.
Samuel Saiz struck twice in the first 14 minutes to get the visitors off to a flying start and a Pierre-Michel Lasogga header completed an impressive performance.
At the bottom there was more woe for Sunderland who blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Brentford and extend their winless run to 11 games.
The visitors responded well to Nico Yannaris’ early opener for the hosts, with Lewis Grabban equalising and a Daniel Bentley own goal putting Simon Grayson’s men in control.
When Grabban hit his second from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime it looked like the Black Cats’ fortunes were finally turning - but late goals from Florian Jozefzoon and Neal Maupay earned the Bees a point.
Bottom club Bolton were denied a second straight win as Idrissa Sylla’s 78th minute strike salvaged a 1-1 draw for Queen’s Park Rangers at the Macron Stadium.
Derby capitalised on the fourth minute sending-off of Sheffield Wednesday’s Glenn Loovens to cruise to a 2-0 win at the iPro Stadium.
John Terry scored his first goal for Aston Villa in a 2-1 home win over Fulham. Stefan Johansen equalised Terry’s header before half-time, but Albert Adomah won it early in the second half.
Fraizer Campbell’s 78th-minute effort gave Hull a 1-0 win at Barnsley while goals from Barry McKay (58) and Eric Lichaj (78) saw Nottingham Forest beat Burton 2-0 at the City Ground.
In the late game Millwall beat Birmingham 2-0.