By Tony Jimenez

Steve Bruce's Birmingham City maintained their three-point cushion at the top of the second division with an emphatic 3-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Wednesday, 13th in the 24-team division, were sunk by goals from Stephen Clemence, Gary McSheffrey and Cameron Jerome.

Birmingham have 46 points from 23 matches, three ahead of Derby County who earned a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace thanks to a 22nd-minute goal from on-loan midfielder David Jones.

Preston North End, third on 41 points, breezed past Plymouth Argyle 3-0 with goals from Danny Pugh and Brett Ormerod and a penalty by Graham Alexander.

Rob Earnshaw gave Norwich City a first-half lead at fourth-placed Southampton before the hosts battled back to secure a 2-1 triumph with goals from Gareth Bale and Kenwyne Jones.

Cardiff City continued their slide down the table, slipping to fifth after a 4-1 drubbing at managerless Hull City.

West Bromwich Albion stole the day's goalscoring honours, Diomansy Kamara scoring twice in a 5-0 demolition of Midlands rivals Coventry City at the Hawthorns.

Leeds United, managed by former Chelsea and England midfielder Dennis Wise, had captain Kevin Nicholls sent off as they slumped to second from bottom with a 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.