Cardiff 3-1 Burton: Bluebirds close in on Premier League promotion

Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City are closing in on promotion to the Premier League following their 3-1 win at home to Burton Albion on Good Friday.

The result leaves the Bluebirds seven points ahead of Fulham in the automatic promotion spots with a game in hand on the Cottagers, and 10 points ahead of Aston Villa down in fourth.

Victory never really looked in doubt for the hosts on Friday, despite Darren Bent’s 21st minute equaliser for Nigel Clough’s side after Kenneth Zahore had put Cardiff ahead.

Goals in either half from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (45′ + 1) and Callum Paterson (64′) ensured the three points that edge the Welsh side closer to their second promotion to the Premier League.

Cardiff City trail Wolverhampton Wanderers by six points but with a game in hand at the top of the Championship following the West Midlands’ club’s slip ups in recent weeks.  Wolves picked up a valuable 2-1 win at Middlesbrough on Friday, despite being reduced to nine men in the second half.

Meanwhile, it’s looking doom and gloom for Championship minnows Burton Albion who sit bottom and four points from safety with seven games to play.  They were not helped by Sunderland thrashing Derby County 4-1 at Pride Park later in the day, moving the Black Cats off the foot of the Championship and given them confidence to move away to safety.