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Birmingham remained at the top of the Championship after a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

The Blues went ahead following a Garry O'Connor header from a Sebastian Larsson free-kick after 11 minutes.

However, Wednesday were level within three minutes when Etienne Esajas hit an unstoppable 25-yard shot into the net.

Within a minute Blues regained the lead when O'Connor got his second of the game following Larsson's throw-in.

Kevin Phillips (pictured) almost put the hosts further ahead but was thwarted in the six-yard box by Owls keeper Lee Grant.

Phillips could not be stopped though and he finished off a pass from Franck Queudrue with a shot across Grant.

Wednesday's task was made harder when Jimmy Smith was sent off for violent conduct following a foul on Stuart Parnaby.

Wolves remain in second after an eventful 3-2 win at Watford.

The Black Country side scored the first goal of the day through Chris Iwelumo in the first minute.

Carl Ikeme sent a long ball down field which was helped on by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's pass with Iwelumo helping the ball into the net

Grzegorz Rasiak levelled for the hosts after the 'keeper spilled the ball midway through the first half.

Wolves regained the lead through David Jones five minutes before half-time with a 25-yard free-kick.

However, the hosts were back on level terms just after the break through John-Joe O'Toole's close-range shot.

The Hornets then missed a penalty after Jones fouled O'Toole but Tommy Smith's spot-kick sailed over the bar.

Wolves took advantage through Michael Gray who scored with a close-range shot with 20 minutes remaining.

Bristol City failed to keep pace after a 0-0 draw with lowly Barnsley. The Tykes moved out of the drop zone, leapfrogging Southampton in the process.

Cardiff leapfrogged the Robins with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Joe Garner hit the post for Forest early on as the hosts dominated.

It was inevitable the Bluebirds would score and the first goal came 10 minutes after half-time following a foul by Lewis McGugan on Stephen McPhail in the box.

Ross McCormack scored with the spot-kick to leave the hosts rooted to the bottom of the table.

Sheffield United moved into fifth thanks to a 1-0 win over Preston at Bramall Lane.

James Beattie came close early on but it was Ugo Ehiogu who scored the only goal of the game shortly after half-time when he stabbed home from five yards following a scramble in the area.

Burnley started the day in sixth but they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Charlton at The Valley.

Steven Thompson put the Clarets ahead after 13 minutes from Joey Gudjonsson's right-wing cross.

The Addicks drew level through Svetoslav Todorov's close-range header with quarter-of-an-hour left.

Plymouth went down to an emphatic 3-1 home defeat against Ipswich with Owen Garvan scoring twice.

Garvan put Town ahead after a scramble in the box in the 28th minute and the same player doubled the visitors' lead after the defence failed to clear.

Kevin Lisbie made it 3-0 before the Pilgrims pulled one back through Craig Cathcart with a little over 10 minutes remaining with a header for his first senior goal.

Former Argyle midfielder David Norris was dismissed at the death for his second bookable offence.

Swansea claimed a 3-0 home win over Southampton.

The Swans went ahead through Darren Pratley, Jordi Gomez doubling the hosts' lead with Thomas Butler sealing the win.

Norwich claimed a last-minute win over lowly Doncaster.

The South Yorkshire side took the lead through Brian Stock's penalty but the Canaries levelled in the 83rd minute through Antoine Sibierski's header.

Leroy Lita then broke Rovers' hearts with a close-range volley in added time.

Coventry also scored a last-minute goal to claim a 1-1 draw with Derby at the Ricoh Arena.

Rob Hulse had put the Rams ahead with a thumping header before Clinton Morrison's late intervention.

Blackpool and Crystal Palace shared a 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road.

Palace went ahead through Paul Ifill before Ben Burgess equalised just after half-time.

However, Craig Beattie immediately put the Eagles ahead again before Ian Evatt levelled from close range.

In the evening match, QPR began life post Ian Dowie with a 0-0 draw at Reading.

Sporting Life / Eurosport