Bellamy strike sends Cardiff clear

Craig Bellamy sent Cardiff three points clear at the top of the Championship on Saturday with a 1-0 win at Leicester, one of the pack chasing promotion to the English Premier League.

The smash-and-grab style victory at the King Power Stadium gave the Welsh side a welcome cushion over Hull, who won 2-1 at Derby on Friday.

Crystal Palace had the opportunity to overtake the Tigers in second spot in Saturday's late match at home to Huddersfield.

Former Liverpool striker Bellamy showed excellent technique to score the only goal of the game at Leicester, taking a Craig Conway pass and beating keeper Kasper Schmeichel with a shot into the bottom left-hand corner from 12 yards out. Cardiff had suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to bottom club Peterborough on December 15 and so had a point to prove this time out.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay made three changes, including restoring South Korea midfielder Kim Bo-Kyung to the starting line-up.

Fifth-placed Leicester have now suffered two straight defeats, harming their promotion push.

Middlesbrough are in fourth after losing 2-1 at former English giants Leeds.

Boro took the lead at Elland Road in front of 25,400 spectators, the Championship's biggest crowd of the day.

AFP