LONDON: Wolves defeated Middlesbrough 2-1 on Friday to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Championship despite finishing with just nine men.
Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro scored in the space of five first-half minutes to leave Wolves needing just three more victories to secure their place back in the Premier League.
Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty were sent off in a bad-tempered affair before Patrick Bamford scored a last-minute consolation goal for 'Boro who remain in sixth place, the last play-off spot.
Cardiff City stay second and have a seven-point lead over third-placed Fulham thanks to a 3-1 win over Burton on Friday.
Only the top two sides at the end of the season are assured of automatic promotion to the Premier League, with the next four clubs having to contest a series of play-off matches for the remaining spot in English football's lucrative top-flight.
Goals from Kenneth Zohore, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson helped Cardiff extend their winning streak to eight games, with Darren Bent scoring for visitors Burton.
Second-half goals from Stefan Johansen and Tom Cairney saw Fulham to a 2-0 win at Norwich.
Elsewhere, Shaun Williams scored after just 27 seconds as Millwall beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in Friday's early kick-off to sustain their bid for a play-off place.
Victory extended the south London club's unbeaten run to 13 league matches and took them within one point of the top six with seven matches remaining.
Williams' header gave the Lions a very early boost before Lee Gregory's 10th goal of the season doubled their lead before half-time.
Brentford and Sheffield United both had a man sent off in a 1-1 draw at Griffin Park.
Chris Basham put United in front 10 minutes into the second half, only for Chris Mepham to equalise 13 minutes later.
And immediately after Mepham's goal, United goalkeeper Jamal Blackman and Ryan Woods were shown straight red cards for clashing as the Brentford man attempted to grab the ball.
The Blades' local rivals, Sheffield Wednesday, enjoyed a commanding win as Atdhe Nuhiu scored twice in a 4-1 victory over play-off hopefuls Preston.
Lucas Joao and fit-again Fernando Forestieri were the Owls' other scorers, with Louis Moult on target for Preston.
Caleb Ekuban and Pablo Hernandez scored for Leeds as they beat Bolton 2-1 in a game where Adam Le Fondre's goal kept the visitors in the game at Elland Road before the hosts took all three points.