Afobe at the double as Wolves push on for Prem

BENIK Afobe scored twice as Wolves extended their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship to six points with a 3-1 win against Burton.

With second-placed Cardiff not in action until Sunday, Wanderers took full advantage, opening the scoring on the quarter-hour when Helder Costa chested down Conor Coady’s ball over the top and fired past the goalkeeper.

Afobe added a second for the home side, latching on to a through-ball from Ruben Neves and finding the top corner.

Burton were back in it before the break when Lloyd Dyer slammed the ball home via a deflection, but Afobe’s coollytaken second sealed the points for Wolves.

Fulham missed the chance to close the gap on the Bluebirds as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with QPR at Craven Cottage.

Tom Cairney and Lucas Piazon had put Slavisa Jokanovic’s side in control, but Massimo Luongo pulled one back for the visitors in first-half added time before Pawel Wszolek completed the comeback in the 81st minute.

Middlesbrough remained in the play-off places following a 1-1 draw at Brentford.

Adama Traore’s second goal in as many games – a low driven shot from the edge of the area - put the visitors in front after 21 minutes.

But the Bees were back on level terms when Lewis Macleod fired home his first goal for the club at the second attempt.

Substitute Romaine Sawyers was sent off late on for Brentford for two bookings but Dean Smith’s side held on for a point.

Milan Djuric’s diving header was enough for Bristol City to claim a 1-0 win against Ipswich which moved them a point behind Boro, while Preston maintained their push for a topsix spot with a 2-0 win at Sunderland, who remain five points adrift of the safety zone.

After a goalless first half, Sean Maguire opened the scoring with a diving header and after Jake Clarke-Salter was sent off for a second booking, Callum Robinson nodded in a second to seal the points.

Elsewhere at the bottom, Birmingham drew level on points with fourth-bottom Barnsley following a 3-0 win against Hull.

Meanwhile Aston Villa’s promotion hopes were dealt a huge blow by defeat at Bolton.