Nine-man Wolves stay on Premier League path

London: Wolves defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the English Championship despite finishing with just nine men.

Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro scored in the space of five first-half minutes on Friday to leave Wolves needing just three more victories to secure their place back in the Premier League.

Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty were sent off in a bad-tempered affair before Patrick Bamford scored a last-minute consolation goal for ‘Boro who remain in sixth place, the last playoff spot.

Cardiff stay second and have a seven-point lead over third-placed Fulham thanks to a 3-1 win over Burton on Friday.

Only the top two sides at the end of the season are assured of automatic promotion to the Premier League, with the next four clubs having to contest a series of playoff matches for the remaining spot in English football’s lucrative topflight.

Goals from Kenneth Zohore, Nathaniel Mendez- Laing and Callum Paterson helped Cardiff extend their winning streak to eight games, with Darren Bent scoring for visitors Burton.

Second-half goals from Stefan Johansen and Tom Cairney saw Fulham to a 2-0 win at Norwich.

Sunderland boosted their survival hopes when they won away for the first time since December by beating Derby 4-1 at a rain-lashed Pride Park.

Chris Coleman’s team ended a 10-match winless run with first-half goals from George Honeyman and Ashley Fletcher before Matej Vydra replied with his 18th Championship goal of the season.