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Wolves restored their six-point lead at the top of the Championship after overcoming Blackpool 2-0 at Molineux thanks to a double strike from Chris Iwelumo.

The Scotland striker struck either side of half-time to give Mick McCarthy's side their third straight home win and condemn Blackpool to their third successive defeat.

Wolves took the game to the visitors right from the start and their pressure paid off after 30 minutes when Iwelumo rifled home a right-foot drive from just inside the box.

Iwelumo, who played for Scotland in their 1-0 defeat to Argentina in midweek, then tapped in a Michael Kightly cross on 66 minutes to pick up his 13th goal of the season and put more light between his side and Birmingham, who won 3-2 at Swansea on Friday.

Reading's unbeaten home run was ended by Southampton who ran out 2-1 winners at the Madejski Stadium thanks to a Bradley Wright-Phillips double.

Wright-Phillips met a brilliant Lloyd James cross at the back post to give the Saints a surprise lead before he doubled their advantage with a 20-yard bullet on 49 minutes.

Jimmy Kebe pulled one back for Reading eight minutes later after Kelvin Davis spilled a Kevin Doyle shot but the Saints held on to pick up their first win in three.

Charlton were pummelled 5-2 by Sheffield United at The Valley in a game which led to manager Alan Pardew leaving the club.

James Beattie got the Blades on their way with his eighth of the season before Linvoy Primus put the Addicks back on terms.

Gary Speed put the visitors ahead before Matthew Kilgallon added another in first-half injury time with a delightful lob. Kelly Youga's own goal then put United 4-1 up before Stephen Quinn screamed a left-foot volley past Nicky Weaver for United's fifth.

Hameur Bouazza then got a consolation for the Addicks, who now drop into the relegation zone.

Paulo Sousa's life as Queens Park Rangers manager got off to a terrible start with a 3-0 hammering by Watford at Vicarage Road.

Tommy Smith and Darren Ward put the Hornets ahead before Lee Williamson's long-range effort on 45 minutes killed off QPR who had Fitz Hall sent off late on for a bad challenge on Will Hoskins.

Sousa watched from the stands as temporary boss Gareth Ainsworth took charge of his final game.

Crystal Palace picked up their first win in seven by hammering Bristol City 4-2 at Selhurst Park.

John Oster, Sean Scannell, Craig Beattie, Jose Fonte were on target for Neil Warnock's side while Dele Adebola and substitute Nicky Maynard bagged for City.

Preston picked up their seventh home win of the season after overcoming Barnsley 2-1 thanks to goals from Richard Chaplow and Sean St. Ledger.

Doncaster played out a goalless draw with Burnley at Turf Moor while Plymouth ran out 2-1 winners over Cardiff at Home Park thanks to goals from Emile Mpenza and Paul Gallagher.

Strike partners Paulo Counago and Jonathan Walters scored for Ipswich as they beat Derby 2-0 at Portman Road while Sheffield Wednesday suffered only their second home defeat of the season as they went down 1-0 to Coventry thanks to a Clinton Morrison strike.

In the day's late game, goalkeeper David Marshall produced a string of top-drawer saves to earn 10-man Norwich an unlikely 2-1 victory in their clash with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Marshall kept the visitors on level terms before Chris Cohen's own goal with 17 minutes remaining gifted Glenn Roeder's men their first win in five games and left Forest rooted to the foot of the table.

Paul Anderson had earlier capitalised on an unfortunate slip by Marshall to cancel out Matthew Pattison's opener.

Sporting Life / Eurosport