Npower Championship: Wolves win at managerless Blackburn as Cardiff stay on top

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Wolves players celebrate in front of their fans after Bakary Sako scored their first goal during the npower Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux on September 29, 2012 in Wolverhampton, England.

Blackburn Rovers‘ fall from early Championship summit continued on Saturday as fellow Premier League discards Wolverhampton Wanderers moved to third in the table with a deserved 1-0 win at Ewood Park. More than 17,000 Rovers fans turned up at their club’s first home match since the departure of unpopular manager Steve Kean, but the rousing support could not prevent a well-drilled Wolves side from taking full points in one of the most difficult away matches of the division. Wolves manager Stale Solbakken had a slow start to his Championship managerial career, but an impressive run has ignited dreams of qualifying for the Premier League season come next May, as the Black country side showed enough depth in the squad to rise to the occasion despite some critical injury problems on various parts of the pitch.

The 44-year old Norwegian was extremely pleased with his side after the victory, courtesy of a Bakary Sako strike twelve minutes from time, and he was quoted as saying:

“I think we were rock solid today taking into consideration how this week has been for us, taking into account injuries for Slawomir Peszko, Razak Boukari and Kevin Doyle, who was injured in training yesterday.

“What I’m proud of is the players who played in not the most familiar roles played very well. I think the confidence in the team in the first half was very good. Some of the youngsters also got game time today.”

With an international break coming up next week Wolves would be looking to keep their fingers crossed hoping none of the international players return with knocks or niggles, as the Championship season will be in full flow going right up to the the Christmas and New Year period.

Blackburn’s temporary man-in-charge, Erik Black, is winless in the three games that he has overseen from the dug-out and any hope of being provided with the coveted job might just have gone up in flames as Wolves controlled the game from the outset and deservedly won late in the game to push Rovers down to ninth spot, even as Indian owners Venkys will be spending a timely international break to ponder over the vacant managerial spot at Ewood Park with the likes of Alan Shearer and Roy Keane being talked about as potential replacements.

CARDIFF, WALES – AUGUST 17: Heidar Helguson of Cardiff controls the ball during the npower Championship match between Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town at Cardiff City Stadium on August 17, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales.

In a match between top and bottom on Saturday’s late kick-off, Cardiff City returned to the Championship summit with a come-from-behind win at struggling Ipswich Town, who are second from bottom- just a point above bottom placed Peterborough United. Paul Jewel’s side went into the break with a deserved lead, albeit in controversial circumstances as new boy DJ Campbell, on a three-month loan from Queen’s Park Rangers, used his hand to nod home the opener past a protesting Cardiff backline.

But the goal seemed to bring Malky Mackay’s men into life in the second period and a fine brace from Icelandic international striker Heidar Helguson, with the first goal coming via a Scott Loach spill in the Ipswich goal and the winner two minutes from time courtesy of a header in the back post, turned the match upside down to leave the Blue Birds top of the table a point ahead of a fast improving Leicester side who beat Bristol City 2-0 earlier to briefly go on top.

Goals from David Nugent in the 19th minute and a second half own goal from Bristol’s Richard Foster at Leicester’s King Power Stadium meant that the Midlands side are on a fast track to make their own case for a Premier League promotion bid next season.