Championship wrap: Southampton close on West Ham

Southampton returned to winning ways in the Championship on Saturday, while Cardiff City were surprise losers.

Nigel Adkins’ Southampton, winless in four matches in all competitions heading into their clash with Burnley, recorded a 2-0 win at St Mary’s Stadium.

Adam Lallana’s looping header in the eighth minute put the hosts ahead, before Ben Mee scored an own goal to double Southampton’s lead.

The win moved Southampton to within a point of league leaders West Ham United, while Burnley are 11th.

Fourth-placed Cardiff City suffered a shock 2-1 loss at Leicester City, who had Paul Gallagher net once in each half.

Peter Whittingham pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 77th minute, but they left without a point.

Hull City climbed into fifth after a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Bristol City.

Jack Hobbs, Robert Koren and Matty Fryatt were on the scoresheet at KC Stadium as Nick Barmby’s men moved into the playoff spots.

Elsewhere, first-half goals from Jimmy Kebe and Jason Roberts saw Reading to a 2-0 win at home to lowly Coventry City.

Brighton and Hove Albion remain unbeaten in 2012 after a 2-1 win over Leeds United at Elland Road.

Luciano Becchio had cancelled out Craig Mackail-Smith’s opener, but the visitors clinched a late win thanks to Alan Navarro’s goal.

Nottingham Forest ended a four-game losing run in all competitions with a 1-1 draw at home to Watford, who had Troy Deeney cancel out Garath McCleary’s 19th-minute opener.

In other matches, Millwall and Derby County drew 0-0, while Middlesbrough’s clash at Ipswich Town was suspended at 0-0 after 37 minutes due to freezing conditions.

The weather also forced the postponement of West Ham’s trip to Peterborough United, Barnsley’s clash against Birmingham City and Crystal Palace’s meeting with Doncaster Rovers.