Wolverhampton Wanderers moved four points clear at the top of the table thanks to an early two-goal blitz against Cardiff City at Ninian Park.
Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a double mistake by the Cardiff defence.
Sylvain Ebanks-Blake then doubled that lead on eight minutes after beating the off-side trap to finish in the corner.
Cardiff's Ross McCormack pulled one back on 19 minutes to score his 10th Championship goal of the season.
Iwelumo found his way in behind the Cardiff defence when centre-half Roger Johnson misjudged a header 35 yards out.
The Scotland forward ran in on goal, dodging a mistimed tackle by Joe Ledley to slot the ball past goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
Ebanks-Blake's strike came after some intricate passing saw him latch onto a through-ball to beat last man Darren Purse.
After a clear run into the box he slipped a left-foot shot past Heaton from the edge of the six-yard box for a 2-0 lead and a goal to mark his 100th appearance in league football.
The home side's luck worsened when Wolves old boy Jay Bothroyd limped off after pulling up with a hamstring injury on 10 minutes.
But Cardiff pulled a goal back on 19 minutes after a Miguel Comminges overlap and cross from the left was brought down superbly by Ross McCormack, lurking on the penalty spot.
As the ball dropped, the Bluebirds' top scorer struck an unstoppable left-foot shot for his 11th Championship goal of the season.
Wolves had the better of the half's remaining chances, hitting Cardiff on the break through Michael Kightly and Ebanks-Blake.
But both Wolves scorers failed to take advantage, with Iwelumo failing to convert Kightly's goalmouth cross while only two last-ditch tackles prevented Ebanks-Blake doubling his tally.
A goal-line clearance by Peter Whittingham prevented Wolves increasing their lead in first-half injury-time after Heaton overran an incoming cross from a corner.
McCormack provided the opening action of the second half after he latched onto a long ball from the Cardiff defence on 54 minutes.
With just the keeper to beat he was clipped on the ankle by Wolves full-back Kevin Foley, but the grounded forward's plea for a penalty was turned down by referee Steve Tanner.
Unfortunately, the trip resulted in Cardiff's second hamstring injury of the night as McCormack was replaced by Eddie Johnson a minute later.
Cardiff had another penalty appeal pushed away on 70 minutes after Eddie Johnson's weak cross was handled by defender Richard Stearman on the edge of the area.
And with two minutes to go Roger Johnson somehow managed to slot a Cardiff in-swinging corner past the far post from three yards out.
Eddie Johnson was then denied the final chance of the game when his right-foot volley was blocked by keeper Carl Ikeme deep into injury time.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"We had a mountain to climb due to poor defending.
"We pulled one goal back and were playing well but half-time probably came at the wrong time for us.
"It was hard losing Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack to possible hamstring injuries, but you can't chase a game for 80 minutes."
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy:
"I was shocked by our start and it is a pleasant change as usually we find ourselves a goal down.
"It was a very tough game and I bet Dave Jones is fuming at the two goals his defence has let in.
"My two centre-backs, Richard Stearman and Michael Mancienne, were immense at the back."
Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, Roger Johnson, Ledley, Whittingham, Rae, McPhail, Parry, Bothroyd (Comminges 13), McCormack (Eddie Johnson 55).
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Blake.
Goals: McCormack 19.
Wolverhampton: Ikeme, Foley, Stearman, Mancienne, Gray (Collins 85), Kightly (David Edwards 89), Henry, Jones, Ward, Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 78), Iwelumo.
Subs Not Used: Hennessey, Carlos Edwards.
Goals: Iwelumo 4, Ebanks-Blake 8.
Att: 17,734
Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset)
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