Ebanks-Blakebrace fires Wolves top

SYLVAN EBANKS-BLAKE scored twice to move Wolves one point clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with a 2-1 win over Swansea at Molineux.

The striker scored in each half to give Mick McCarthy’s men a welcome home win, as rivals Birmingham slipped up at QPR.

He opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time when he jinked through the Swansea defence before hammering home.

The visitors then hit back through Darren Pratley four minutes after the break when the Wolves defence failed to clear a Swansea corner.

But eight minutes later Ebanks-Blake glanced home an inswinging cross to seal the win.

Birmingham lost top spot after a 1-0 defeat to QPR, despite playing against 10 men for the second half at Loftus Road.

QPR’s Mikele Leigertwood saw red on the stroke of half-time after a foul on Ireland’s Lee Carsley.

A stunning strike from Samuel di Carmine nine minutes after the break gave Gareth Ainsworth his first win as caretaker manager.

Derby extended their unbeaten home run to six matches with a 3-1 win over Norwich.

Paul Green opened the scoring after 14 minutes when he tapped home from close-range after Nathan Ellington had rounded Norwich goalkeeper David Marshall.

Ellington got his second assist of the night when he crossed for Rob Hulse to head home just before the half hour.

John Kennedy pulled one back in the second half but Derby substitute Przemyslaw Kazmierczak secured the win with 10 minutes left.

Nottingham Forest ended their 11-match winless run with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace which moved them off the foot of the table.

* SPORTING FINGAL overcame Athlone Town 1-0 at Lissywollen last night in their eircom First Division clash thanks to a 51st-minute Conan Byrne strike.

Teammate Barry Ferguson was sent off two minutes later but the visitors held out for the victory.