Division One: Baggies close on Norwich

Division One leaders Norwich suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at Cardiff after conceding two goals in three first-half minutes to their mid-table opponents.

Paul Parry gave the hosts a 17th-minute lead with a freak goal when his cross was caught by the swirling wind and drifted over Canaries keeper Robert Green.

Rob Earnshaw then doubled the lead when he converted Alan Lee’s cross three minutes later.

Phil Mulryne’s bobbling cross into the area saw Leon McKenzie score in the 55th minute but the Canaries could not find an equaliser.

With second-placed West Brom not playing until later on it gave West Ham a chance to close the gap at Sunderland but they failed after a 2-0 defeat.

The Hammers, who had Matthew Etherington carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg, went behind in the 61st minute when Kevin Kyle stabbed home a free-kick bouncing around the area and Jeff Whitley made the points safe 14 minutes from time.

Wigan went third but will not have been pleased with a 0-0 draw at Bradford while Sheffield United pushed the Hammers down to fifth after their 2-0 win at Watford, courtesy of goals from Jack Lester (42) and Andy Gray (90).

Neil Harris’ double ensured Millwall kept up the pressure among the promotion chasers as the Lions won 3-1 at Ipswich.

Harris had been on the pitch as a substitute for only two minutes when he opened the scoring on the half-hour and Darren Ward made it 2-0 seven minutes later.

A free header from 14 yards presented Harris with his second with a little help from the underside of the crossbar and Darren Bent’s 53rd-minute strike was a mere consolation.

There was no change in the relegation places with bottom side Wimbledon going down to Neil Emblen’s solitary 27th-minute goal for Walsall and Derby remaining third from bottom in spite of Paul Peschisolido’s debut goal in the 61st minute giving them a 1-0 win at Rotherham.

However, Burnley are now perched just above the drop zone after being hammered 4-0 at Coventry as Gary McSheffrey scored in the 33rd minute and added a penalty just before half-time, after Julian Joachim had opened the scoring after 10 minutes. Muhamed Konjic completed the rout 12 minutes from time.

Nottingham Forest boosted their chances of avoiding relegation after a nerve-wracking 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.

Scotland international Gareth Williams opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Irish international Andy Reid’s goal (13) appeared to have put Forest in control but Neil Shipperley pulled one back in the 58th minute from close range.

Williams added a second 16 minutes from time, latching onto Reid’s flick on to fire low past Cedric Berthelin, but Danny Granville’s header two minutes later ensured there were some frayed nerves before the end.

There were goalless draws in the games between Preston and Gillingham, and Reading and Stoke.

Second-placed West Brom moved level on points with leaders Norwich when they came from behind to secure a 2-1 win at Crewe.

Dean Ashton fired Crewe ahead just after the hour but Andy Johnson grabbed an equaliser on 69 minutes after a left-wing cross from substitute Lloyd Dyer.

And four minutes later Geoff Horsfield knocked the ball over his shoulder and into the six-yard box where Lee Hughes beat Stephen Foster to flick home what turned out to be the winner.