Cardiff stretch Championship lead with fine win against Crystal Palace

Cardiff extended their lead at the top of the Championship to five points after substitute Aron Gunnarsson nodded home the winning goal against fellow title rivals Crystal Palace.

An action-packed first half was book-ended by two goals 40 minutes apart, Mike Jedinak stunning the sell-out crowd at Cardiff City Stadium with the opener before Craig Noone equalised late in the first period.

Lukas Jutkiewicz struck the game's solitary goal midway through the second half as Middlesbrough bounced back from Saturday's defeat at Leeds to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive with a 1-0 victory against Blackburn.

Peterborough made it three wins on the bounce as Wolves joined Cardiff and Bolton on the growing list of recent sides that have been slayed by resurgent Posh.

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Goals from Lee Tomlin, Tommy Rowe and Dwight Gayle did the damage as Darren Ferguson's side received the perfect Christmas present by lifting themselves off the foot of the table with a 3-0 victory.

Charlie Austin scored his 23rd goal of the season to set Burnley, Leicester City's next opponents, on their way to a first victory in six Championship matches as Derby were beaten 2-0 at Turf Moor.

Austin struck five minutes before half-time, turning the ball into the net after a defensive mistake by the visitors.

More poor defending enabled Michael Duff to nod home the second.