Championship round-up: Cardiff held by Terriers but Grant McCann sinks pursuers Leicester
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Your support makes all the difference.Championship leaders Cardiff City were held to a goalless draw by Huddersfield Town in the Terriers' fourth match under caretaker managers Mark Lillis and Steve Eyre, but the Bluebirds stretched their lead to 11 points after pursuers Leicester City and Middlesbrough both led and lost to sides in the bottom three. A late strike from Grant McCann saw Leicester lose 2-1 at Peterborough United, while Jason Scotland scored Barnsley's late goal in their 3-2 win at Boro and Hull City, fourth, lost 1-0 at Brighton.
"Peterborough had more drive than us, especially after they had got themselves level," Leicester's disappointed manager, Nigel Pearson, said, but the Cardiff manager, Malky Mackay, was happier with his team's point. "I will always take 0-0 away from home. It keeps us undefeated in a difficult division."
Another managerless side, Blackpool, came from behind to beat Millwall 2-1. Tom Ince scored again after his double in midweek for the England Under-21s. Nottingham Forest have less trouble finding managers. About to start life under their third different boss in seven weeks, Billy Davies, their fortunes showed no sign of improving as Steven Davies and Marvin Elliott scored to give Bristol City's chances of another season in the Championship a boost thanks to the 2-0 win at Ashton Gate. City, of course, are improving under Sean O'Driscoll, sacked by Forest in December.
"People asked me if I wanted to win more because we were playing Forest." O'Driscoll said. "How could I want to win more than usual? If that was the case I must have been approaching other games in the wrong way."
An injury-time header from Danny Batth earned Wolves a 2-2 home draw with Leeds United, the point keeping the Molineux side out of the bottom three on goal difference.
League One
The top two both lost, leaders Tranmere 2-1 at Leyton Orient and Doncaster by the same score at home to Walsall. Third-placed Swindon drew 1-1 with bottom club Hartlepool.
Africa Cup of Nations
For the second year running Mali won the third-place play-off and their beaten opponents were once again Ghana. The Eagles took the lead after 21 minutes from Mahamadou Samassa's header. Three minutes into the second-half Mali doubled their lead, captain Seydou Keita scoring from close range.
Ghana came back into the match in the closing stages when Kwado Asamoah fired in from long range. But substitute Sigamary Diarra's injury-time strike settled Mali nerves.
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