A last-gasp equaliser by Derby substitute Giles Barnes prevented Cardiff City reopening a six-point gap at the top of the Championship - the English second division.

Dutch defender Glenn Loovens and striker Michael Chopra scored for the leaders in a 2-2 draw. The Bluebirds now have 30 points from 14 matches, four ahead of second-placed Preston, who lost at Burnley on Friday.

Said Cardiff manager Dave Jones: ‘’I’m disappointed in drawing the game but not in the way we played. Iot’s a good point for us because the two teams below us lost points.’’

West Bromwich Albion, level with Burnley on 25 points, passed up the opportunity to climb to second when they went down 2-0 at Birmingham City. Striker Gary McSheffrey netted twice for Steve Bruce’s men.

Plymouth Argyle soared to fifth on 24 points, above Birmingham on goal difference, with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace. Wolverhampton Wanderers should have joined West Brom and Burnley on 25 points but were held to a 2-2 home draw by lowly Sheffield Wednesday.

Fallen giants Leeds United won their first match under the new management team of Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet, beating Southend 2-0 at home to climb out of the relegation zone. Ian Moore and Robbie Blake were on target for the Yorkshire strugglers.