Championship wrap: Late goals save Cardiff, Swansea

Cardiff City went second on the table and Swansea City came from behind at Middlesbrough in a day of thrilling finishes in the Championship.

Cardiff looked to be heading for a goalless draw against lowly Scunthorpe United on Saturday before Nigerian midfielder Seyi Olofinjana combined with replacement striker Jon Parkin in the 85th minute.

Parkin rose to meet Jason Koumas’ left-footed cross and nodded across goal to Olofinjana, who made no mistake with his header to seal a 1-0 win and draw Cardiff within five points of table-toppers Queens Park Rangers.

Fast-finishing Swansea stunned Boro with three late goals to snatch a 4-3 win at Riverside Stadium, despite trailing 3-1 after the break.

Substitute striker Craig Beattie thrashed a left-footed drive into the net in injury time to seal the remarkable comeback, one that began when Scott Sinclair struck from the penalty spot on the hour.

Ashley Williams poked in another eight minutes later to tie the game at 3-3, following strikes from Boro trio Marvin Emnes (8), Jonathan Grounds (34) and Leroy Lita (53).

Nathan Dyer had earlier equalised for Swansea in the 14th minute.

The victory nevertheless sees Swansea tumble to fourth on the table following wins to Cardiff and third-placed Norwich City.

Norwich needed an injury-time winner from prolific striker Grant Holt to sneak past 10-man Reading 2-1, after Henri Lansbury (16) and Shane Long (26) got on the scoresheet early in the match.

Reading lost Turkish midfielder Jem Karacan to a straight red in the 71st minute.

Meanwhile, Leeds United remain just two points away from the promotion places following a 2-0 win at Bristol City.

Robert Snodgross and Mark-Alain Gradel did the damage in either half for the visitors as Leeds recorded back-to-back victories.

In other results, Burnley kept up their pursuit of the top six with a 3-1 win at Watford, while Millwall stole a point in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United thanks to Kevin Lisbie’s injury-time equaliser.

Coventry City snapped their three-game losing streak with a 2-1 defeat of Crystal Palace, and 10-man Portsmouth earned their first win in the past 10 games with a 2-0 result at Doncaster Rovers, though the visitors lost Jonathan Hogg to a second caution in the 89th minute.

Barnsley snatched a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town on Jacob Mellis’ late equaliser and Hull City defeated Preston North End 1-0.