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Cardiff City in pole position

ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS: PETER WHITTINGHAM’S superb second-half free-kick ensured Cardiff will defend…

Mon May 10 2010 - 01:00

ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS:PETER WHITTINGHAM'S superb second-half free-kick ensured Cardiff will defend a slender 1-0 lead in the Welsh capital on Wednesday night in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.

Leicester goalkeeper Chris Weale was caught out by the set-piece specialist in the 78th minute as Whittingham whipped a left-footed shot inside the near post from out on the right-hand side.

Cardiff were slight favourites heading into the tie to reach the Wembley showpiece on May 22nd and have put themselves in a strong position with their home leg still to come.

But manager Dave Jones feels Whittingham’s 78th-minute strike has piled more pressure on his side. “I think it adds extra pressure being ahead going into the second game. People will be expecting us to finish the job now,” he said.

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“But we have only got a foot in the door, we need to make sure we close it.”

Leicester created little until the closing stages. Their best opportunity fell to substitute Matty Fryatt but goalkeeper David Marshall stood up to block his shot when one-on-one with the striker.

Marshall then produced a superb reaction save deep into injury time to claw away Alex Bruce’s header to edge Cardiff closer to a return to the top flight for the first time in 50 years.

On Saturday, Charlie Adam’s second-half penalty ensured Blackpool will defend a slender advantage at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Tuesday.

Ian Holloway’s side, promoted from League One via the play-offs in 2007, hit back from a goal down in the first leg at Bloomfield Road to edge their noses in front after Chris Cohen’s thunderbolt had given Forest a 13th-minute lead.

Keith Southern levelled for Blackpool midway through the first half and Adam held his nerve to deservedly edge Holloway’s side closer to a return to the top flight of English football for the first time since 1971.

Ups and downs

CHAMPIONSHIP

Champions: Newcastle United.

Promoted: West Brom.

Play-offs:Nottingham Forest (1) v Blackpool (2). Cardiff (1) v Leicester (0).

Relegated:Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle , Peterborough Utd.

LEAGUE ONE

Champions:Norwich CIty

Promoted:Leeds United

Play-offs:Millwall v Huddersfield, Swindon v Charlton .

Relegated:Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers, Southend United, Stockport County.

LEAGUE TWO

Champions:Notts County.

Promoted:Bournmouth, Rochdale.

Play-offs:Dag Red v Morecambe , Aldershot v Rotherham