Cardiff move four points clear of third place as Derby and Norwich both salvage important late draws

Championship round-up: Cardiff beat Ipswich to boost their automatic promotion hopes

Kenneth Zohore struck the winning goal for Cardiff (Getty)

Cardiff City took a big step towards automatic promotion on Wednesday night after Kenneth Zohore’s second half strike was enough to see off Ipswich and pull his side four points clear of the chasing play-off pack.

Cardiff were the only side in the top six to pick up three points on matchday 33 in the Championship, as Wolves, Fulham, Derby and Aston Villa all drew their midweek fixtures.

The Bluebirds lost captain Sean Morrison to injury in the first half but they still went ahead in the second when Zohore struck around the hour mark.

The away side held firm despite pressure from Mick McCarthy’s side, with defenders Sol Bamba and Bruno Manga putting their bodies on the line to deny Grant Ward and Adam Webster.

The result leaves Ipswich 14th in the table, while Neil Warnock celebrated his ninth success against the Tractor Boys in 11 league meetings.

Late goals elsewhere did little to dampen what was an excellent night for the Welsh club.

Both Norwich and Derby struck late to salvage draws, denying runaway leaders Wolves and Paul Heckingbottom’s Leeds United.

Mick McCarthy's side fell to defeat (Getty)

The Rams had Huddersfield Town loanee Kasey Palmer to thank as his stoppage time strike prevented Leeds from recording their first win since Boxing Day.

Leeds had led twice during the game, first taking the lead in the first half through Pierre-Michel Lasogga before Ezgjan Alioski scored on the counter attack with ten minutes to go.

But substitute Palmer was alive in the box when Leeds failed to clear a corner, salvaging an important point for Gary Rowett’s side after Andreas Weimann had earlier netted.

Derby are now five points adrift from the top two despite being favourites to snatch the second automatic spot behind Wolves just a few weeks ago. The Rams have now won once in their last six games, and Rowett will be desperate to avoid another late season slump as we head towards the business end of the season.

Gary Rowett's side managed to hold on (Getty)

Wolves were denied at the death by Nelson Oliveira’s late long range strike as Norwich came from two goals down to snatch a point at Molineux.

League leaders Wolves raced into a 2-0 lead inside 25 minutes thanks to a header from Alfred N’Diaye and an own-goal from Jamal Lewis.

Christoph Zimmerman ensured Norwich still had a foothold in the game by striking moments after Wolves’ second effort, and after extended second half pressure, Norwich finally snatched a point after Oliveira’s long range effort crept home.

The result cuts Wolves’ lead at the top of the table, however they still have a nine point gap ahead of Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City.

Bristol City and Fulham also lost ground on the top two as they played out a scoredraw at Ashton Gate.

Aleksandr Mitrovic netted his first goal for Fulham since joining on loan from Newcastle inside 15 minutes, but the visitors were pegged back 20 minutes later by Robins top scorer Bobby Reid, who poked home beyond Whites’ stopper Marcus Bettinelli.

The result means Lee Johnson’s side have recorded three successive draws, while Fulham remain unbeaten in 11.