Football: Naylor pegs back Wolves

PORT VALE scored a surprise 2-1 win over Wolves, one of the First Division's supposed favourites for promotion, with goals from Peter Beadle and Peter Naylor at Vale Park last night.

Mark McGhee's team were given a lifeline by the club's prodigy Robbie Keane, but his effort proved in vain.

Birmingham took over at the head of the division after defeating Stockport 2-0 at St Andrew's, Chris Marsden and Bryan Hughes scoring the goals.

Andy Goram, who has joined Sheffield United on a two-month contract, helped his latest club to a 3-2 home win over Grimsby.

Huddersfield's Marcus Stewart opened the scoring after 21 minutes against Watford and Wayne Allison added another four minutes before half-time for a 2-0 win.

Chris Morgan received a second yellow card and his marching orders in Barnsley's 3-1 defeat at home to Norwich.

The Crystal Palace striker Matt Jansen eased Terry Venables' worries when he scored at Crewe for a 1-0 victory.

In the Second Division, Manchester City were again unconvincing in the 2-1 home win against Bournemouth. Danny Alsop and Paul Dickov scored for Joe Royle's men.

Gillingham's Paul Smith scored a second-minute penalty against Northampton but Roy Hunter, Carlo Corrazzin and Duncan Spedding sealed a 3-2 win for the visitors.