Championship wrap: Peterborough shock Cardiff

Peterborough United have stunned Championship leaders Cardiff City 2-1 thanks to two late penalties from Grant McCann.

Darren Ferguson’s side came from behind to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches after Icelandic midfielder Aron Gunnarsson had given Cardiff the lead at London Road.

Peterborough moved out of the relegation zone with their victory over the Championship’s top team, rising to 20th on 45 points after their second consecutive win.

Cardiff headed to Peterborough with a seven-point lead over Hull City at the top of the Championship despite having won just one of their past five matches and manager Malcom Mackay would have been hopeful of another victory when Gunnarsson scored from a corner in the 23rd minute.

But with less than 20 minutes remaining on Saturday, Cardiff’s Don Cowie fouled Mark Little in the box and Peterborough were awarded a penalty.

McCann made no mistake from the spot and when Dwight Gale was tripped by Matt Connolly seven minutes later, Peterborough’s Northern Irish midfielder scored his second penalty of the match to give the home side the lead and they held on for a crucial victory.

Peterborough have now taken maximum points off Cardiff this season after also winning 2-1 away to the promotion favourites in December.

On a high-scoring day in England’s second tier, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic both had 3-2 wins at home, defeating Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers respectively.

Charlton came from behind at The Valley after Marvin Sordell and Mohamed Kamara put Bolton 2-0 ahead after just 20 minutes.

Johnnie Jackson scored five minutes after Kamara’s goal to drag Charlton within a goal by half-time and after the break Dorian Dervite and Yann Kermorgant completed the hosts’ comeback.

In Wolverhampton, the home team were pegged back twice before Kevin Doyle scored the decisive goal to finish Middlesbrough off.

Despite a brace from Grant Leadbitter, Middlesbrough were handed their fourth consecutive defeat.

In other Championship results, Sheffield Wednesday defeated Barnsley 2-1, Ipswich Town thumped Leeds United 3-0 and Nottingham Forest played out a 2-2 draw with fellow promotion challengers Brighton and Hove Albion.