Bluebirds flying again thanks to Bellamy

CRAIG BELLAMY set Cardiff on their way to reclaiming the second automatic promotion place in the Championship as rivals Swansea and Norwich both drew last night.

Bellamy fired home in the 21st minute and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas added a second after 71 as Dave Jones’ men beat rock-bottom Sheffield United 2-0 at Bramall Lane.

QPR took another giant stride towards the Premier League with Adel Taarabt’s first-minute strike enough to beat Barnsley at Oakwell and move Neil Warnock’s men 10 points clear.

Norwich took a second-minute lead through Sam Vokes at Watford but Danny Graham and Don Cowie replied for the home side and the Canaries needed Simeon Jackson to earn them a 2-2 draw.

The Swans also led through a 63rd-minute Mark Gower strike but Corry Evans’ equaliser seven minutes later gave Hull a 1-1 draw.

Reading stay in the play-off zone with second-half goals from Irish duo Shane Long and Ian Harte handing the Royals a 2-0 win at Scunthorpe.

Leeds slipped up again, blowing Max Gradel’s 58th-minute opener at Derby, who replied through Jamie Ward and Ben Davies for a 2-1 win. Millwall were held 0-0 at home to Bristol City. Notts Forest are on the brink of the top six with a 2-0 win over Burnley.

Crystal Palace edged closer to safety in a 1-1 draw at Leicester with Sean Scannell’s opener for the visitors cancelled out by Matt Oakley.

Second-bottom Preston drew 1-1 at Doncaster while Ipswich claimed a 3-3 draw with Boro at Portman Road. Coventry beat Portsmouth 3-0.

l Brighton secured promotion from npower League One after a 4-3 home win over Dagenham and Redbridge.