Wolves run riot to go top

Wolves went to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after a 5-1 demolition of Nottingham Forest.

Chris Iwelumo played an integral part in the victory at Molineux with Michael Kightly scoring twice as the Black Country club went ahead of Preston and Birmingham thanks to their superior goal difference.

The first goal came when Iwelumo laid the ball off to David Jones who slotted home from outside the area.

Wolves doubled their lead when Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith tried to punch the ball but succeeded only in sending it against the back of defender Wes Morgan and into the net.

Kightly with a shot from 25 yards and Iwelumo made it 4-0 in the five minutes before half-time as Wolves ran wild.

Forest pulled one back when Richard Stearman scored an own goal following a mix-up between the Wolves goalkeeper and defence.

Wolves restored the four-goal lead when Kightly curled the ball in.

Preston went second as they came back from a goal down to beat Charlton 2-1 at Deepdale.

The Addicks, sixth at the start of play, went ahead when Andy Gray converted a 19th-minute penalty following a foul on Luke Varney.

Preston deservedly levelled through Neil Mellor after half-time when he smashed a fierce shot in from close range for his third goal of the season.

Barry Nicholson then put the Lilywhites ahead after 66 minutes and they held on for victory.

Birmingham had led the division at the start of the day but find themselves in third after drawing 1-1 at Norwich.

The Canaries dominated in the first half and had two penalty appeals turned down but Blues went ahead against the run of play.

The goal itself was simple with Sebastian Larsson converting James McFadden’s cross five minutes before half-time.

However, Norwich levelled just after the break through Darel Russell after Arturo Lupoli’s cross.

Kevin Phillips and Gary McSheffrey both missed gilt-edged chances in the closing stages for Birmingham.

Bristol City dropped one place to fourth when they drew 1-1 with a QPR side reduced to 10 men in the second half.

Dexter Blackstock put the visitors ahead after 18 minutes but Dele Adebola volleyed home from six yards shortly after to equalise.

However, the west Londoners found themselves down to 10 men shortly into the second half when Emmanuel Ledesma was sent off for his second yellow card.

Fifth-placed Sheffield United missed the chance to claim another victory when they drew 0-0 at Bramall Lane with Cardiff although the game marked the return of former England striker James Beattie following injury.

Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle grabbed a hat-trick for Reading in a see-saw clash with Crystal Palace at the Madejski Stadium.

James Harper put Reading ahead after he reacted quickest to a save by Julian Speroni. The Royals dominated but Palace levelled through Nick Carle’s penalty awarded for Harper’s handball to claim the Eagles’ first goal of the season.

Palace then went ahead through Calvin Andrew who chested the ball down and converted from close range.

Kevin Doyle brought matters level again before grabbing a second and he wrapped up his hat-trick at the death.

At the other end of the table Paul Jewell’s job appears to be in grave danger with Derby at rock-bottom following a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Barnsley.

Iain Hume volleyed the Tykes into the lead in the second half and Stephen Foster headed the hosts further ahead with seven minutes to go.

Southampton’s miserable start to the season continued with a 1-0 home defeat by Blackpool.

The Seasiders, many people’s favourites for relegation, took all three points courtesy of Ben Burgess’ penalty on the stroke of half-time which was awarded following a foul on by Simon Gillett on Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

Doncaster beat Coventry 1-0 thanks to a stunning long-range shot by Richard Wellens, Swansea took a 1-0 lead through Ferrie Bodde’s unstoppable shot against Sheffield Wednesday but Steve Watson equalised for the visitors while Chris Eagles was sent off for the hosts as Burnley and Plymouth shared a 0-0 draw at Turf Moor.