Round-up: Kitson keeps up his run as Reading close on leaders

Reading cut the lead of the top two in the Championship to two points yesterday thanks to a 2-1 win over Cardiff City at the Madejski Stadium as fourth-placed Sunderland kept pace, but West Ham United dropped to sixth as a lack of goals again cost them.

Reading cut the lead of the top two in the Championship to two points yesterday thanks to a 2-1 win over Cardiff City at the Madejski Stadium as fourth-placed Sunderland kept pace, but West Ham United dropped to sixth as a lack of goals again cost them.

Cardiff had hoped to keep third-placed Reading quiet in the opening exchanges, but a Dean Morgan goal after 13 minutes meant they were chasing the game early on. Six minutes before the break, Dave Kitson's fifth goal in five games and 12th in all made it 2-0. Cardiff's Graham Kavan-agh was sent off in the 56th minute, but Cameron Jerome scored to ensure a tense finish for the Royals.

Meanwhile, the Wearsiders endured a difficult first half at Leicester City, but Stephen Caldwell's goal midway into the second half earned Sunderland a 1-0 win.

Brighton had striker Steve Claridge, 38, making a comeback to League football at Upton Park, but it was centre-back Guy Butters who scored the only goal as West Ham lost ground after a 1-0 defeat. The Hammers' Hayden Mullins and Brighton's Adam Virgo were sent off after a second-half tussle.

Just outside the top six, Sheffield United and Derby County press for a word in the play-off debate. The Blades drew 1-1 with visitors Watford, while the Rams won 2-0 at Gillingham to go seventh.

With two games in hand on most teams above them, Millwall are not far off the top-six pace either after a 1-1 draw at Preston North End, Barry Hayles equalising for the Lions three minutes from the end.

Plymouth Argyle, having inflicted the season's first League defeat on leaders Wigan last week, lost 2-1 at Coventry City, Stephen Hughes and Graham Barrett putting the Sky Blues on top after 15 minutes. Micky Evans scored early in the second half as Argyle sought a point.

At the bottom, Rotherham United still await their first win of the season after managerless Wolves won 2-1 at Millmoor. When Martin McIntosh headed his first goal of the season from Chris Sedgwick's corner to give the Millers a 36th-minute lead, no one got too excited; Rotherham had led in several recent games only to give up the advantage in the second half. So it proved as Kevin Cooper equalised and Carl Cort struck the late winner.

One place above the Millers, Nottingham Forest, with the board's vote of confidence still ringing in manager Joe Kinnear's ears, lost 1-0 at Burnley, Robert Blake's ninth goal of the season after six minutes deciding it. Crewe also lost, 1-0 to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.