Championship wrap: Leicester rampant, Cardiff pull away

1 January 2013 18:58

Leicester City thrashed Huddersfield 6-1 win in the Championship on Tuesday, while Cardiff City extended their lead at the summit.

New Zealand striker Chris Wood marked his debut with a brace and Anthony Knockaert added two of his own, while Ritchie de Laet and Martin Waghorn chipped in at King Power Stadium on Tuesday.

Wood, who this week completed his switch from English Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion, opened his account with a close-range header after six minutes.

The 21-year-old doubled the hosts' lead on 24 minutes before former Manchester United defender De Laet made it three on the stroke of half-time.

French attacker Knockaert bagged a quick-fire double in the space of two minutes after the interval before Scott Arfield pulled a goal back for Huddersfield.

However, Nigel Pearson's men restored their five-goal advantage courtesy of Waghorn's strike 13 minutes from time.

Leicester remain fifth but closed to within three points of Middlesbrough, who fell to a 3-1 defeat at Derby County.

Cardiff's bid for automatic promotion received a boost after the Welsh side edged Birmingham 1-0 at St Andrews.

Joe Mason's 42nd-minute effort was enough to separate the two teams and hand Cardiff a fourth victory on the bounce.

As a result, Malky Makay's men move out to a seven-point lead following Hull City's goalless draw at Blackpool.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Andre Moritz scored a brace as Crystal Palace accounted for struggling Wolves 3-1 to move within two points of second spot, Leeds snapped a two-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over Bolton and Blackburn netted three second-half goals to beat Nottingham Forest 3-0.

Charlton Athletic twice came from behind to prevail 4-3 at high-flying Watford, former England international Wayne Bridge got himself on the scoresheet as Brighton ran out 3-0 winners against Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday suffered a 2-0 defeat to Burnley.

Peterborough's resurgence continued as they overcame Barnsley 2-1, their fourth win from five games, while Adam Smith struck a 75th-minute goal to hand Millwall a 2-1 victory against lowly Bristol City.