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Wolves missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Championship as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Preston at Molineux.

Wolves had their lead cut to four points after Reading beat Watford 4-0 on Friday night but two goals from Stephen Elliot and one from Sean St Ledger condemned Mick McCarthy's men to just their second home defeat of the season.

Wolves were gifted the lead after 20 minutes when Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan inexplicably kicked straight to Sylvain Ebanks-Blake who ran unimpeded from just outside the area to slot under the embarrassed Preston stopper.

Preston levelled four minutes later through Elliot and then shocked the Molineux faithful by taking the lead on the stroke of half-time when St Ledger tapped in from close range after Jon Parkin's header had come back off the bar.

Parkin then had a goal disallowed before Alan Irvine's men gave themselves a two-goal cushion thanks to Elliot, who turned home a miscued Chris Sedgwick shot from close range just after the hour.

Billy Davies began life as Nottingham Forest manager with a 2-0 win over bottom side Charlton at the Valley.

Davies' side defied early pressure to race into a two-goal lead thanks to Nathan Tyson and Robert Earnshaw.

Tyson tapped home from close range after 34 minutes before Earnshaw capitalised on a poor Matthew Spring backpass to sneak in and beat Robert Elliot two minutes later.

Charlton rarely threatened in the second half and Forest held steady for the win, which moves them three more points away from the relegation zone into 20th.

Sheffield United moved into fourth by beating Norwich 1-0 at Bramall Lane.

United boss Kevin Blackwell left out Stoke transfer target James Beattie but his absence was not felt by the Blades, who pressed their opposition from the off.

The home side took the lead after 17 minutes when Danny Webber found the unmarked Darius Henderson at the back post to head past David Marshall.

Dexter Blackstock scored a late goal to rescue a point for QPR in their match with 10-man Coventry at Loftus Road.

Stephen Wright was shown a straight red card for high tackle in the first half but Coventry defied their numerical disadvantage to go ahead thanks to a superb 25-yard free kick from Danny Fox 17 minutes from the end.

Blackstock raced on to a long ball from Radek Cerny to head past Keiren Westwood in injury time, though, to seal a 1-1 draw.

Barnsley were left to rue missed chances at Oakwell where they lost 1-0 to Southampton.

The Tykes dominated the first half and had a Jon Macken effort ruled out for offside before the visitors stole all three points with a David McGoldrick header 14 minutes from time.

Pablo Counago's second-half header denied Sheffield Wednesday their first win in six against Ipswich at Portman Road.

Steve Watson headed Wednesday ahead just after the break but Counago met Gareth McAuley's cross after 66 minutes to level the scores and earn Ipswich a point.

Nigel Clough's first game in charge of Derby, a trip to Cardiff, was a victim of the weather, as were Blackpool v Birmingham, Doncaster v BristolCity and Plymouth v Crystal Palace.

Sporting Life / Eurosport